Sortex Limited

Buhler Sortex Limited

Gabriel Hamid

Charles Dean Mallah

Inspection apparatus comprises a feed system for delivering a stream of articles to an imaging zone. A camera generates image data from the stream at the imaging zone for processing by a computer. The computer comprises a pattern recognition system for identifying defects in areas from the image data, and for ranking identified defects. The pattern recognition system is programmed to operate according to multiple defect criteria. The computer is also coupled to a graphical user interface to display the areas identified from the image data as thumbnails on the interface arranged according to rank of the identified defects in the areas, in each of at least two defect criteria. The areas from the generated image data will normally be defined around each identified defect with the defect central therein. These areas, or thumbnails, can overlap.

Inspection apparatus and method using pattern recognition

A method is disclosed for generating data relating to the quality of product in a bulk stream product during its passage through a monitoring station. An inspection of at least a portion of product in the monitoring station is conducted at intervals while the stream is owing. The inspectors identities individual product pieces in the portion being inspected by using one or more of various techniques. Those individual pieces are then examined according to chosen criteria, and a measure is established of the quantity or proportion of such individual product pieces that fail to meet those criteria. The data generated by these inspections can be analysed to provide an indication of the quality of the bulk stream.

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Loughton, United Kingdom

Gabriel Hamid