The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 15, 2022
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2019
Atlas Pacific Engineering Company, Pueblo, CO (US);
Russ Mitchell, San Diego, CA (US);
Brandon Evers, San Diego, CA (US);
Brian Dunne, Poway, CA (US);
Daniel Nelson, El Cajon, CA (US);
Mason McInnis, Granite Bay, CA (US);
David Bullock, Pueblo, CO (US);
Atlas Pacific Engineering Company, Pueblo, CO (US);
Abstract
A method of automatically orienting symmetric and asymmetric produce items, such as apples for example, is provided. Individual items of produce are manipulated by a programmable manipulator within the view of one or more depth imaging cameras. Digital three dimensional characterizations of the surface of the produce items are generated by the depth imaging camera or cameras and are utilized by a computer connected to the depth imaging camera or cameras to locate the stem and blossom of each produce item. Asymmetric produce items, such as apples with dropped shoulders as well as symmetric produce items can be properly oriented and processed automatically.