Mettler-toledo Safeline Limited

Max Derungs

A device and associated method for detecting metallic contaminants in a product using a signal received from a coil-based metal detector. A calibration module is configured to determine a product-specific, bowtie-shaped detection envelope based on calibration phase metal detector signals. A detection module is configured to compare, in a coordinate system for resistive and reactive components of a metal detector signal, a vector representation of the signal to the product-specific, bowtie-shaped detection envelope, and to indicate a presence of a metallic contaminant in the product when the vector representation of the signal extends to an area outside the bowtie-shaped detection envelope.

Device and method for detecting metallic contaminants in a product

A method for operating a metal detection system that comprises a balanced coil system. One embodiment of the method comprises: determining the phase and magnitude of related signals at least for a first metal contaminant for at least two transmitter frequencies and for at least two particle sizes of the first metal contaminant; determining the phase and magnitude of the related signal for a specific product for the at least two transmitter frequencies; comparing information established at least for the first metal contaminant and the information established for the product; determining a transmitter frequency with which signal components of smallest sized particles of the at least first metal contaminant differ sufficiently or most in phase and amplitude from the phase and amplitude of the product signal; and selecting the transmitter frequency for measuring the product. A metal detection apparatus adapted to operate according to an exemplary method is also provided.

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Bolton, United Kingdom

Max Derungs