Patent EP0361625A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0361625A2
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Method and apparatus for examining food products by means of irradiation
Assignee: Meyn BV
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Filing: 1989-09-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A method is presented for examining food products (11) for undesired ingredients by means of irradiation. This method applies a laser beam (10) which scans the food products according to a predetermined pattern. Variations in the local intensity of the laser beam shining through the food products then indicate the presence of undesired ingredients. This method can be carried out by an apparatus which preferably comprises two parabolic mirrors (4, 5), a laser (9) emitting a laser beam (10) such as to originate from the focus of one of said mirrors and a detection mean (8) positioned in the focus of the other mirror. The food products (11) are moved between the mirrors, for example by a conveyor belt (1, 2).
Inventors
- 👤 Cornelis Meyn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:23
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/8806; G01N33/00; G01N33/02; G01N33/12; G01N2021/845; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S250/00; Y10S250/91
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
Method for examining food products (11) such as meat for undesired ingredients, such as bone fragments (12), by means of irradiation, characterized in that for the irradiation a laser beam (10) is applied which scans the food product (11) to be examined according to a predeterminated pattern and wherein the local intensity of the laser beam shining through the food product is determined for detecting the undesired ingredients.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
Method for examining food products (11) such as meat for undesired ingredients, such as bone fragments (12), by means of irradiation, characterized in that for the irradiation a laser beam (10) is applied which scans the food product (11) to be examined according to a predeterminated pattern and wherein the local intensity of the laser beam shining through the food product is determined for detecting the undesired ingredients.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the laser beam (10) scans the food product (11) line by line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the laser beam (10) moves to and fro along the food product (11), wherein the food product is moved over a short distance perpendicularly to the direction of motion of the laser beam whenever said laser beam is in or near to one of its outermost positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method according to one of the claims 1-3, characterized in that it comprises a laser (9) means (4, 5, 6) for moving the laser beam (10) to and fro along the food product (11) to be examined as well as a detection means (8) for determining the intensity of the laser beam shining through the food product.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
134 words
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a conveyor (1,2) for the food product (11) to be examined as well as two singularly curved parabolic mirrors (4, 5), respectively positioned above and below the conveyor, of which the parabolic axes extend mutually in parallel and substantially perpendicularly to the plane of motion of the conveyor, wherein the laser (9) is positioned such that the laser beam (10) is movable to and fro along the surface of one (5) of the parabolic mirrors, however always originates from the focus of this parabolic mirror (5), whereas the detection means (8) is positioned in the focus of the other parabolic mirror (4) and wherein the conveyor (1, 2) near to the plane described by the laser beam (10) is transmissable for said laser beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the laser (9) is stationary and directed such that the laser beam (10) hits a mirror (6) positioned in the focus of said one parabolic mirror (5) and which is pivotable to and fro.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the conveyor comprises at least two conveyor belts (1, 2) adjoining each other with a gap (3) at the plane of motion of the laser beam (10).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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