U.S. patent application number 10/807765 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-16 for method of removing food product defects from a food product slurry.
This patent application is currently assigned to FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. Invention is credited to Schrader, Gregory W..
Application Number | 20040181302 10/807765 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 21889740 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040181302 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schrader, Gregory W. |
September 16, 2004 |
Method of removing food product defects from a food product
slurry
Abstract
A system and method of the present invention removes defects
from citrus pulp. An advancing mechanism advances citrus pulp along
a predetermined path of travel into an inspection zone. A citrus
pulp imager is positioned at the inspection zone and acquires image
data of the citrus pulp. A processor is operatively connected to
the citrus pulp imager and receives the image data and processes
the image data to determine defects within the citrus pulp. A
rejection mechanism rejects any citrus pulp determined to be
defective.
Inventors: |
Schrader, Gregory W.;
(Lakeland, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTOPHER F. REGAN
Allen, Dyer, Doppelt,
Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A.
P.O. Box 3791
Orlando
FL
32802-3791
US
|
Assignee: |
FMC TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
|
Family ID: |
21889740 |
Appl. No.: |
10/807765 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10807765 |
Mar 24, 2004 |
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10036636 |
Jan 3, 2002 |
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6727452 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/110 ;
209/577 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B07C 5/368 20130101;
B07C 5/3422 20130101; G01N 21/94 20130101; G01N 21/85 20130101;
A23N 1/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/110 ;
209/577 |
International
Class: |
G06F 019/00; B07C
005/00 |
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A system for removing defects from citrus pulp comprising: an
advancing mechanism for advancing citrus pulp along a predetermined
path of travel into an inspection zone; a citrus pulp imager
positioned at the inspection zone for acquiring image data of the
citrus pulp; a processor operatively connected to said citrus pulp
imager for receiving the image data and processing the image data
to determine defects within the citrus pulp; and a rejection
mechanism for rejecting any citrus pulp determined to be
defective.
2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said citrus pulp imager
further comprises a light source for illuminating the citrus pulp
at the inspection zone and a camera located at the inspection zone
for acquiring images of the citrus pulp.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said light source is
operative for illuminating the citrus pulp at a predetermined range
of wavelengths for highlighting defects to be illuminated.
4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined range
of wavelengths is such as to cause defects to fluoresce.
5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said advancing mechanism
comprises a belt conveyor, nozzle or translucent material through
which citrus pulp is advanced and can be imaged.
6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said rejection mechanism
comprises a mechanical diverter that diverts any citrus pulp
determined to be defective from the path of travel.
7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said rejection mechanism
comprises at least one air nozzle for blowing air onto citrus pulp
determined to be defective and diverting the defective citrus pulp
from the path of travel.
8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said processor is
operative for determining defects including discolored pulp, peel
or portions of peel, albedo or portions of albedo, seeds, portions
of seeds, black specks, mold, non-citrus material such as insects,
insect larvae or insect parts.
9. A method of removing defects from citrus pulp comprising the
steps of: advancing citrus pulp along a predetermined path of
travel into an inspection zone; imaging the citrus pulp at the
inspection zone to acquire image data of the citrus pulp;
processing the image data to determine defects within the citrus
pulp; and rejecting any citrus pulp determined to be defective.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of imaging
further comprises the step of illuminating the citrus pulp at the
inspection zone and acquiring images from a camera located at the
inspection zone.
11. A method according to claim 10, and further comprising the step
of illuminating the citrus pulp at a predetermined range of
wavelengths for highlighting defects to be imaged.
12. A method according to claim 11, and further comprising the step
of illuminating the citrus pulp at a predetermined range of
wavelengths to cause defects to fluoresce.
13. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of advancing
citrus pulp further comprises the step of conveying citrus pulp
into the inspection zone by one of conveying along a belt conveyor,
discharging through a nozzle, or extruding or pumping through a
translucent material to allow imaging of the citrus pulp
therein.
14. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of rejecting
any citrus pulp determined to be defective comprises the step of
diverting any citrus pulp determined to be defective from the path
of travel to remove any defective citrus pulp.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of diverting
the citrus pulp from the path of travel further comprises the step
of blowing any citrus pulp away from the path of travel.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of diverting
the citrus pulp further comprises the step of mechanically engaging
and diverting the citrus pulp determined to be defective away from
the path of travel.
17. A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of determining
defects further comprises the step of determining discolored pulp,
peel or portions of peel, albedo or portions of albedo, seeds,
portions of seeds, black specks, mold, non-citrus material such as
insects, insect larvae or insect parts.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to citrus pulp processing, and more
particularly, this invention relates to a system and method for
removing defects from citrus pulp.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Citrus pulp is separated from juice typically by processing
the citrus pulp in a juice extractor, which strains out most of the
seeds and membranes through a strainer tube to produce a fine
citrus pulp and juice product. This juice product advances and is
further processed at a juice finisher for separating citrus pulp
from the juice. At this point in the processing, the pulp is
somewhat "clean," after having been broken up into smaller citrus
pulp pieces as a result of processing through the strainer tube at
the juice extractor.
[0003] It is desirable in some cases to produce a larger pulp sack
in a premium pulp system by recovering pulp sacks that are more
intact. For example, this citrus pulp can be added back to the
juice to form a final product, e.g., a pulpy orange juice, or the
citrus pulp can be collected separately, cleaned and pasteurized,
and shipped to customers that package their own juice or sell
citrus pulp wholesale.
[0004] There are also an increasing number of customers that
collect citrus pulp as a byproduct to sell for additional revenue.
Thus, an increasing number of customers require citrus pulp to be
processed with large and intact pulp sacks. One way to accomplish
this goal is to design a juice extractor having larger openings in
the strainer tube. Although larger, intact pulp sacks would be
processed, the use of larger openings in a strainer tube has
drawbacks, however, because undesired material and citrus pulp
defects could pass through the slots.
[0005] One prior art solution is a premium pulp system using a
juice extractor, followed by processing at a juice finisher, and
further processing for cleaning in a fluidized bed cyclone in which
pulp and juice are processed together to separate components out by
gravity. The design of the fluidized bed cyclone allows fluid to
enter in tangentially and spin, with 20-30% of pulpy juice ejected
from the bottom and 70% ejected from the top as a pulp and juice
product. In a preferred mode of operation, small seeds and peel
particles are ejected from the bottom portion of the fluidized bed
cyclone.
[0006] There are some drawbacks to this system because the defects
that are processed as part of the juice and citrus pulp are
unacceptable to many customers. These defects may include
discolored pulp, peel or portions of peel, albedo or portions of
albedo, seeds, portions of seeds, black specks, mold, and
non-citrus material such as insects, insect larvae or insect parts.
Different customers have different specifications concerning these
defects, depending on the citrus pulp defect, category of juice,
and customer end use. In some cases, defects are unacceptable at
any level, such as insect larvae.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a system and method for removing defects from citrus pulp
that advantageously overcome the prior art drawbacks identified
above.
[0008] In accordance with the present invention, a citrus pulp
imager acquires image data of the citrus pulp at an inspection zone
that receives citrus pulp advancing along a predetermined path of
travel. A processor is operatively connected to the citrus pulp
imager for receiving the image data and processing the image data
to determine defects within the citrus pulp. A rejection mechanism
rejects any citrus pulp determined to be defective.
[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, a light source
illuminates the citrus pulp at the inspection zone. A camera is
located at the inspection zone and acquires images of the citrus
pulp. This camera can be a line-scan camera, CCD camera, or other
imaging camera or similar mechanism that is operative for acquiring
images of citrus pulp. A light source illuminates the citrus pulp
and is operative at a predetermined range of wavelengths for
highlighting defects to be illuminated. In one aspect of the
invention, the wavelengths are-such as to cause defects to
fluoresce.
[0010] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
advancing mechanism includes a belt conveyor, nozzle or translucent
material through which citrus pulp is advanced and can be imaged.
The rejection mechanism could include a mechanical diverter that
diverts any citrus pulp determined to be defective from the path of
travel, or an air nozzle that blows a jet of air onto citrus pulp
determined to be defective to eject or divert the defective citrus
pulp from the path of travel. In one aspect of the present
invention, the processor is operative for determining defects in
citrus pulp, including but not limited to, discolored pulp, peel or
portions of peel, albedo or portions of albedo, seeds, portions of
seeds, black specks, mold, or non-citrus material such as insects,
insect larvae or insect parts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Other objects, features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the
invention which follows, when considered in light of the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a high level flow chart showing the basic sequence
of operation for the system and method of removing defects from
citrus pulp in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, isometric view of an advancing
mechanism of the present invention using a nozzle in accordance
with one aspect of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the system
of FIG. 2 and showing the nozzle of FIG. 2, a camera, and rejection
mechanism.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a translucent
material comprising spaced translucent plates between which citrus
pulp is advanced and can be imaged.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the system
for removing defects using the translucent material shown in FIG. 4
and taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a bank of air
valves and air nozzles for blowing air onto citrus pulp determined
to be defective and diverting a desired portion of the advancing
citrus pulp determined to be defective from the path of travel.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a single air
nozzle that blows air onto a given area "A" at a distance "D" for
diverting citrus pulp from the path of travel.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a fragmentary drawing view that shows the overlap
of areas "A" from each air nozzle.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, isometric view of a belt conveyor
that can be used for advancing citrus pulp in accordance with
another aspect of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the belt
conveyor of FIG. 9 showing use of a thickness gate and doctor
blade.
[0022] FIG. 11 is another fragmentary, isometric view of a
rejection mechanism formed as a mechanical gate.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, side elevation view of the
mechanical gate shown in FIG. 11 used with the system for removing
defects from citrus pulp.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The present invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention
may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be
construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,
these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be
thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the
invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like
elements throughout.
[0025] The present invention advantageously overcomes the
disadvantages of prior art citrus pulp defect removal systems by
using citrus pulp imaging during processing and removing defects
from the citrus pulp in an economical and advanced manner without
harming the citrus pulp and damaging intact pulp sacks. FIG. 1
illustrates a basic block diagram showing key steps in the system
and method for removing defects from citrus pulp in accordance with
one aspect of the present invention. An advancing mechanism
advances citrus pulp along a predetermined path of travel into an
inspection zone in a first step (Block 20). A citrus pulp imager,
such as a camera, is positioned at the inspection zone and acquires
image data of the citrus pulp (Block 22). A processor is
operatively connected to the citrus pulp imager and receives the
image data and processes the image data to determine defects within
the citrus pulp (Block 24). A rejection mechanism is positioned
along the predetermined path of travel and rejects any citrus pulp
determined to be defective (Block 26). Citrus pulp is subsequently
processed (Block 28).
[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated one
aspect of the system and method for removing defects from citrus
pulp in accordance with an embodiment showing an advancing
mechanism 30 for advancing citrus pulp along a predetermined path
of travel 32 into an inspection zone 34 having a citrus pulp
imager, indicated generally at 36, and positioned at the inspection
zone 34 for acquiring image data of the citrus pulp. In the
illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the advancing
mechanism 30 includes a nozzle 38 that discharges citrus pulp along
the path of travel 32 over a light source 40 that illuminates the
citrus pulp from underneath the path of travel. A camera 42, as the
citrus pulp imager 36, is positioned adjacent the nozzle 38 and
over the citrus pulp to image the pulp as it is ejected from the
nozzle into the inspection zone 34. At this time, the camera 42
acquires image data of the citrus pulp. A processor 44 is
operatively connected to the camera 42 and receives the image data
and processes the image data to determine defects within the citrus
pulp. A rejection mechanism, indicated generally at 46 (FIG. 3),
rejects any citrus pulp determined to be defective by diverting or
blowing the defective citrus pulp into a waste bin 48. The final
product 50 as citrus pulp is then discharged into a product bin for
subsequent processing. Although different citrus pulp imagers 36
can be used in the present invention, one advantageous pulp imager
is a camera 42, such as a line-scan camera or other CCD camera, for
obtaining detailed pixel images with fine resolution of the citrus
pulp.
[0027] The light source 40 is operative, in one aspect of the
invention, for illuminating the citrus pulp at a predetermined
range of wavelengths for highlighting defects to be eliminated. In
one aspect of the invention, a predetermined range of wavelengths
can be chosen such as to cause citrus pulp defects to fluoresce.
Not only could white light be used, but different color light
having different wavelengths and energies could also be used
depending on the type of defect to be identified. Some of the
citrus pulp defects to be detected include discolored pulp, peel or
portions of peel, albedo or portions of albedo, seeds, portions of
seeds, black specks, mold, or non-citrus material such as insects,
insect larve or insect parts.
[0028] The processor 44 can be part of a personal computer system
or larger mini or mainframe computer system as chosen by those
skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 3,
the rejection mechanism 46 could include an air rejection mechanism
52 as more clearly shown in FIGS. 6-8. FIG. 6 illustrates a bank or
rack 54 of air nozzles 56 with associated valves 58 that are
operatively connected to the processor 44. The imager 36 could be a
bank or rack of cameras or a single camera with a large scan angle
across the predetermined path of travel of the citrus pulp to
obtain gray scale or other images of the citrus pulp. Using
programming software known or formulated by those skilled in the
art, it is possible to determine defects from changes in gray scale
intensity, fluorescence, or other imaging techniques.
[0029] Once the processor 44 determines the location of the defect
relative to the speed of the advancing citrus pulp, selected valves
58 are operatively turned on to allow air to blow from selected air
nozzles 56 onto selected portions of the advancing citrus pulp and
divert the citrus pulp determined to be defective from the
predetermined path of travel, such as into the waste bin 48, as
shown in FIG. 3. Each valve 58 and associated air nozzle 56 can
blow air onto a given jet area "A" at a distance "D," distances and
dimensions chosen by those skilled in the art, depending on the
type of processing line, its speed, and type of defects most
commonly encountered (FIG. 7). FIG. 8 illustrates how the air jet
area "A" from each air nozzle 56 can overlap each other to ensure
that all defects are removed as desired when multiple valves 58 and
air nozzles 56 must be operative at once.
[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the present
invention where a second type of advancing mechanism 30a includes
spaced, translucent plates 60a, 60b through which citrus pulp is
advanced, such as by extruding or pumping the citrus pulp between
the translucent plates to allow imaging of the citrus pulp therein.
For example, the spaced translucent plates 60a, 60b could be formed
from two sheets of plexiglass or glass material with side portions
sealed to form a planar and elongate channel 62 as shown in FIGS. 4
and 5. A light source 40 passes light upward through the lower
translucent plate 60a onto the citrus pulp that is imaged by a
camera located above the upper translucent plate 60b. The processor
44 receives image data from the camera 42 and processes the image
data to determine citrus pulp defects. The rejection mechanism 46,
as shown in FIGS. 6-8, can be located downstream from the formed
channel 62 at a known distance for applying air from nozzles onto
selected portions of the citrus pulp at a predetermined time and
deflecting citrus pulp determined to be defective from the citrus
pulp flow.
[0031] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a third type of advancing
mechanism 30b using a belt conveyor 64 that has a thickness gate 66
for distributing a predetermined thickness of citrus pulp on the
belt conveyor. The citrus pulp advances along the belt conveyor 64
and past a doctor blade 68 that removes citrus pulp from the belt
conveyor and passes it into a subsequent area for processing. With
this type of belt system, a camera 42 could be located above the
belt conveyor 64 and a light source 40 could also be located
adjacent the camera 42 for illuminating the citrus pulp from above.
Other known illumination systems could be used as determined by
those skilled in the art. A rejection mechanism 46 is operatively
associated with the belt conveyor for rejecting citrus pulp
determined to be defective.
[0032] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another rejection mechanism 46a
that can be used as an alternative to the rack or bank of air
nozzles shown in FIGS. 6-8. A mechanical gate mechanism 70 has
individual gates 72 that can divert a section of citrus pulp away
from a product destination into a waste bin. As shown in FIG. 12, a
hydraulic, pneumatic or other power mechanism 74 operatively
receives signals from the processor 44 and forces respective
pistons 76 outward to divert one or more gates 72 into the citrus
pulp, causing a deflection of a desired amount of citrus pulp into
the waste bin 48. Naturally, if only a single defect is imaged by a
camera and processed, only one piston 76 would extend for pushing
one gate 72 downward for a short period of time and diverting a
small portion of the citrus pulp having the one defect into the
waste bin. If a large number of defects extend along a large
portion of the citrus pulp flow, all gates would be deflected for a
predetermined period of time.
[0033] It is evident that the present invention allows greater
control over citrus pulp processing and removal of defects using
image processing and machine vision technology for imaging citrus
pulp at an inspection zone and acquiring image data of the citrus
pulp for subsequent processing to determine defects and rejecting
citrus pulp determined to be defective.
[0034] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention
will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit
of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the
associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed, and that the modifications and embodiments are intended
to be included within the scope of the dependent claims.
* * * * *