Foreign Object Detection
Foreign Object Detection
(OP)
Hi All,
I am wondering if there is technology currently available that is able to detect foreign objects within a box of fresh cut leaves (baby leaf spinach, lettuce etc...)
The foreign objects in particular are frogs, mice, moths and other small animals.
I have seen sorting machines currently available within food processing industry to perform this task however all product is required to pass the detection equipment in a single layer for efficient detection and foreign object removal.
Our requirement is for a whole box of product to be scanned and identify whether or not foreign objects are present in the box.
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Regards.
I am wondering if there is technology currently available that is able to detect foreign objects within a box of fresh cut leaves (baby leaf spinach, lettuce etc...)
The foreign objects in particular are frogs, mice, moths and other small animals.
I have seen sorting machines currently available within food processing industry to perform this task however all product is required to pass the detection equipment in a single layer for efficient detection and foreign object removal.
Our requirement is for a whole box of product to be scanned and identify whether or not foreign objects are present in the box.
Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Regards.





RE: Foreign Object Detection
RE: Foreign Object Detection
RE: Foreign Object Detection
Trying to find this type of contamination AFTER the fact is a losing proposition. As with product defects, the earlier you can weed out the contamination, the cheaper it is to do. Throwing away or reprocessing an entire crate is much more expensive than throwing out or reprocessing a few leaves.
TTFN

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RE: Foreign Object Detection
We would like this scan to be the first step after harvest before the product enters the processing factory.
In our current setup, the product is mechanically harvested and travels up a short conveyor before filling 84L plastic crates (approx 560mmx495mmx360mm). These crates are stacked on pallets before the cool chain and then sent onto the processors.
If it were possible to detect the object in one of these crates, we would simply manually remove the crate before its stacked and search for the foreign material.
the other option is to try to scan the product as it is travelling up the conveyor, as the product thickness would be 4-5 leaves at worst.
Our current detection is visual. As you can imagine it is easy for a couple of leaves to hide a small animal underneath.
Would an IR camera be a suitable option?
RE: Foreign Object Detection
Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.
WWW.amlinereast.com
RE: Foreign Object Detection
Some years ago I attended a large RF and microwave conference. Among the many highly technical papers being presented on the newest semiconductor physics and THz microwave techniques was one where the title was something like: "The dielectric properties of rice weevils". Your post reminds me of that. Always struck me as a humorous subject to present a paper on.
RE: Foreign Object Detection
THz imagining would certainly be able to do it as would X-raying, both possibly a bit extreme though.
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: Foreign Object Detection
RE: Foreign Object Detection
"You measure the size of the accomplishment by the obstacles you had to overcome to reach your goals" -- Booker T. Washington
RE: Foreign Object Detection
TTFN

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RE: Foreign Object Detection
Maybe if the scanning trays or conveyor belts were sloped uphill? Would critters run "up" away from "danger" into the facility, or down (away) from danger and outside?
Add high-intensity IR and UV lights right above the scanning trays to scare light-phobic insects back outside (into the darker, lower points?) before the IR scanner looking for rats and mice?
Put your HP water-wash sprays there as well (aimed down and out-of-facility) to "encourage" the critters to leave the conveyor belts, which would cool the veggies off (before the IR scanners) with water that could be separated and recycled - since it is not your final sterile "rinse" before processing.
RE: Foreign Object Detection
http://advancedphotonix.com/thzsolutions/
Z
RE: Foreign Object Detection
I think you'll first need to define what your problem children/animals actually are...
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com