Patent US4666045A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4666045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Pit detecting
Assignee: DUNKLEY INTERNATIONAL Inc 1910 LAKE STREET PO BOX 3037 KALAMAZOO MICHIGAN 49003 A CORP OF MICHIGAN
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Filing: 1984-08-06
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Granted: 1987-05-19
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Expires: 2004-08-06
Abstract
Abstract A pit detection apparatus (10) and method for detecting the presence of pits or pit fragments (12) in fruit (14) as the fruit (14) passes through a zone of inspection (16) includes a scanning beam generator (17) for sweeping a transmission scanning beam (28) across the inspection zone (16). The inspection zone (16) is located intermediate the beam generator (17) and an array (38) of transmission sensors (40). The sensors (40) generate transmission sensor signals indicative of received light intensity from the beam (28). A second sizing beam generator (50) and associated array (60) of sensors (62) generate sizing signals representative of te optical path length through which the transmission scanning beam (28) travels within the fruit (14). The transmission sensor and sizing signals are applied to an analysis circuit (44) wherein the signals are analyzed to determine the presence or absence of pits or pit fragments (12). The analysis of the transmission sensor signals is synchronized with the transmission scanning beam (28) so as to utilize only those portions of the signals representative of the direct light in the field of view of the transmission sensors (40). An ejector valve (76) is enabled to direct an air blast against fruit falling through the inspection zone and deflect the fruit (14) from its normal path when a pit (12) is detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Gillespie
- 👤 John R. Ricks
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 12:37
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/342; B07C5/3422; B07C5/36; B07C5/363; B07C5/365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
In a pit detection apparatus for detecting the presence of a pit in pieces of fruit as the fruit passes through a zone of inspection, and comprising first optical means for periodically transmitting a transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone, first sensing means for sensing the light intensity of the transmission scanning beam after the scanning beam has passed through the inspection zone and for generating transmission sensor signals indicative of the light intensity, and detection circuit means responsive to the transmission sensor signals for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals, the improvement which comprises: path length means connected to the detection circuit means for determining the length of the optical path of the scanning beam through the fruit, and for generating a path length signal indicative thereof; and the detection circuit means is responsive to both the transmission sensor signals and to the path length signal for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals compensated by the amplitude of the path length signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
In a pit detection apparatus for detecting the presence of a pit in pieces of fruit as the fruit passes through a zone of inspection, and comprising first optical means for periodically transmitting a transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone, first sensing means for sensing the light intensity of the transmission scanning beam after the scanning beam has passed through the inspection zone and for generating transmission sensor signals indicative of the light intensity, and detection circuit means responsive to the transmission sensor signals for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals, the improvement which comprises: path length means connected to the detection circuit means for determining the length of the optical path of the scanning beam through the fruit, and for generating a path length signal indicative thereof; and the detection circuit means is responsive to both the transmission sensor signals and to the path length signal for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals compensated by the amplitude of the path length signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
The pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising: synchronization detection means for detecting a position of the transmission scanning beam and for generating a scan sensor signal indicative thereof; the first scanning means comprises a plurality of electro-optical sensors each electrically responsive to reception of light from the transmission scanning beam; and the detection circuit means is responsive to the scan sensor signal for determining the presence of a pit based only upon portions of the transmission sensor signals representative of light intensity detected by the transmission sensors during time intervals when the transmission scanning beam is within the field of view of each of the transmission sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the detection circuit means further comprises filtering means for filtering from the transmission sensor signals those signal levels representative of ambient light intensity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising discrimination means for removing optical noise signals from the transmission scanning beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the path length means comprises: second optical means for transmitting a path length detection beam across the inspection zone in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the transmission scanning beam; and second sensing means for sensing the light intensity of the path length detection beam after the path length detection beam has passed through the inspection zone, and for generating the path length signal indicative thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the detection circuit means comprises comparison means for comparing the path length signal indicative of the optical path length through the fruit with the transmission sensor signals, and for detecting the presence of a pit based on the comparison.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein the comparison means compares the path length signal only with those portions of the transmission sensor signals representative of direct light sensed by the first sensing means from the transmission scanning beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
82 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein: the first sensing means comprises a plurality of electro-optical sensors arranged so that each sensor has an individual field of view of one portion of the inspection zone and generates a separate one of the transmission sensor signals; and the detection circuit means comprises amplifier means responsive to the transmission sensor signals for filtering out the signal levels representative of light intensity resulting from ambient light detected by the first sensing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 8 and further comprising: synchronization detection means for detecting a position of the transmission scanning beam and for generating a scan sensor signal indicative thereof; and the amplifier means is responsive to the scan sensor signal for filtering the signal levels of the transmission sensor signals representative of ambient light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the amplifier means comprises means for adjusting the gain of the transmission sensor signals to a selectively adjustable gain level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the detection circuit means further comprises: multiplexer means responsive to the transmission sensor signals for generating a transmission scan signal corresponding to the portion of each transmission sensor signal representative of light intensity sensed by a corresponding transmission sensor only during the time interval when the transmission scanning beam is directly within the field of view of the corresponding sensor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 11 and further comprising: synchronization detection means for detecting a position of the transmission scanning beam and for generating a scan sensor signal indicative thereof; the detection circuit means further comprises multiplex driver means responsive to the scan sensor signal for sequentially transmitting a set of driver control signals; and the multiplexer means is responsive to the driver control signals for sequentially sampling each of the transmission sensor signals only during the time intervals that each of the transmission sensor signals is representative of light intensity sensed by a corresponding transmission sensor when the transmission scanning beam is directly within the field of view of the corresponding sensor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 12 wherein the detection circuit means further comprises: comparison means for comparing the transmission scan signal with the path length signal indicative of the optical path length through the fruit, and for generating a rejection signal indicative of the presence of a pit when the transmission scan signal is below a signal level determined by the path length signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the comparison means comprises means for generating the rejection signal only in response to at least two of the transmission sensor signals being indicative of the presence of a pit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the comparison means comprises means for generating the rejection signal only in response to at least two of the transmission scan signals, each representative of a particular scan, being indicative of the presence of a pit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 13 and further comprising ejection means responsive to the rejection signal for removing the fruit determined to have a pit from the normal path of travel of fruit determined to have an absence of pits.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
65 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein the detection circuit means further comprises processor means responsive to a digitized representation of the transmission scan signal and the path length signal for generating a rejection signal indicative of the presence of a pit when the signal levels of the digitized transmission scan signal are below a level determined by the path length signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
74 words
A pit detection apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the first optical means comprises: a light source generating means for generating a substantially narrow collimated beam of light; and a rotating mirror positioned relative to the position of the light source generating means so that the collimated beam of light impinges on the sides of the rotating mirror in a manner so as to transmit the transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for detecting the presence of pits in pieces of fruit as the fruit passes through a zone of inspection, the method comprising the steps of: periodically transmitting an optical transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone; sensing the light intensity of the transmission scanning beam after the beam has passed through the inspection zone, and generating transmission sensor signals indicative thereof; determining the length of the optical path of the scanning beam through the fruit, and generating a path length signal indicative thereof; and detecting the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals compensated by the amplitude of the path length signal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for detecting the presence of pits in pieces of fruit as the fruit passes through a zone of inspection, the method comprising the steps of: periodically transmitting an optical transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone; sensing the light intensity of the transmission scanning beam after the beam has passed through the inspection zone, and generating transmission sensor signals indicative thereof; determining the length of the optical path of the scanning beam through the fruit, and generating a path length signal indicative thereof; and detecting the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals compensated by the amplitude of the path length signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method in accordance with claim 19 wherein the method further comprises the steps of: detecting a position of the transmission scanning beam during each scan thereof, and generating a scan sensor signal indicative of the position; and determining the presence of a pit based only upon portions of the transmissions sensor signal representative of direct light intensity of the transmission scanning beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
77 words
The method in accordance with claim 19 and further comprising the steps of: transmitting an optical path length detection beam across the inspection zone in a direction transverse to the direction of the transmission scanning beam; and sensing the light intensity of the path length detection beam after the sizing beam has passed through the inspection zone, and generating the path length signal in accordance with the portion of the beam which is blocked by the fruit.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method in accordance with claim 19 and further comprising the steps of: detecting the number of transmission sensor signals or the number of periodic scans of a single piece of the fruit indicative of the presence of a pit; and generating a rejection signal indicative of the presence of a pit only when at least two transmission sensor signals or at least two scans are indicative of the presence of a pit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-05-18 | 1990-11-17 | 1991-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-05-18 | 1994-11-17 | 1995-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-05-18 | 1998-11-17 | 1999-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |