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:
May. 11, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 26, 1997
ENSCO, Inc., Springfield, VA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting agricultural products which includes launching each product individually from an input transport unit with substantially no change in speed or direction across a gap to an output transport unit. Fixed line scan camera and photocell units are mounted at spaced intervals around the gap to simultaneously optically line scan in the same plane the surfaces of the product. A plurality of simultaneous line scans are sequentially taken at intervals timed to the speed of the input transport unit as the product travels across the gap, and data obtained from the sequential line scans is used to determine the size, shape, weight, color and other characteristics of the product. The product is graded based upon this characteristics and is sorted based upon its grade by a mechanical sorting unit.