Method and apparatus for non-destructive inspection of fruits having an axis of rotational symmetry

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method for non-destructive inspection of a fruit () having an axis of rotational symmetry (). The method comprises the step of positioning the fruit () in such a way that its axis of rotational symmetry () has an orientation that is substantially parallel to a predetermined plane () and the step of radiographing the fruit (), where the direction of emission of X-rays is substantially perpendicular to said predetermined plane () and an X-ray image obtained () lies on said predetermined plane (). The X-ray image obtained () is processed to calculate, at corresponding points of the X-ray image (), respective values of attenuation of the X-ray signal through the fruit (). The X-ray image () is divided into a plurality of sections () which are perpendicular to the projection () of the axis of rotational symmetry () on the predetermined plane (). Each section () is the projection of a corresponding slice of the fruit () that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotational symmetry (). For each section (), the deviation between a signal attenuation trend obtained from processing the X-ray image and a reference trend, or the deviation between a trend of a local coefficient of average attenuation obtained from processing the X-ray image and a trend with constant value, is examined in order to identify any anomalies, discontinuities or variations which are indicative of respective non-uniformities in the corresponding slice of fruit. This disclosure also relates to an apparatus () for carrying out a non-destructive inspection of a fruit () having an axis of rotational symmetry (), said apparatus being configured for implementing the method according to the disclosure.