DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

[0025] The present invention advantageously overcomes the disadvantages of prior art citrus pulp defect removal systems by using citrus pulp imaging during processing and removing defects from the citrus pulp in an economical and advanced manner without harming the citrus pulp and damaging intact pulp sacks. FIG. 1 illustrates a basic block diagram showing key steps in the system and method for removing defects from citrus pulp in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. An advancing mechanism advances citrus pulp along a predetermined path of travel into an inspection zone in a first step (Block 20). A citrus pulp imager, such as a camera, is positioned at the inspection zone and acquires image data of the citrus pulp (Block 22). A processor is operatively connected to the citrus pulp imager and receives the image data and processes the image data to determine defects within the citrus pulp (Block 24). A rejection mechanism is positioned along the predetermined path of travel and rejects any citrus pulp determined to be defective (Block 26). Citrus pulp is subsequently processed (Block 28).

[0026] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, there is illustrated one aspect of the system and method for removing defects from citrus pulp in accordance with an embodiment showing an advancing mechanism 30 for advancing citrus pulp along a predetermined path of travel 32 into an inspection zone 34 having a citrus pulp imager, indicated generally at 36, and positioned at the inspection zone 34 for acquiring image data of the citrus pulp. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the advancing mechanism 30 includes a nozzle 38 that discharges citrus pulp along the path of travel 32 over a light source 40 that illuminates the citrus pulp from underneath the path of travel. A camera 42, as the citrus pulp imager 36, is positioned adjacent the nozzle 38 and over the citrus pulp to image the pulp as it is ejected from the nozzle into the inspection zone 34. At this time, the camera 42 acquires image data of the citrus pulp. A processor 44 is operatively connected to the camera 42 and receives the image data and processes the image data to determine defects within the citrus pulp. A rejection mechanism, indicated generally at 46 (FIG. 3), rejects any citrus pulp determined to be defective by diverting or blowing the defective citrus pulp into a waste bin 48. The final product 50 as citrus pulp is then discharged into a product bin for subsequent processing. Although different citrus pulp imagers 36 can be used in the present invention, one advantageous pulp imager is a camera 42, such as a line-scan camera or other CCD camera, for obtaining detailed pixel images with fine resolution of the citrus pulp.

[0027] The light source 40 is operative, in one aspect of the invention, for illuminating the citrus pulp at a predetermined range of wavelengths for highlighting defects to be eliminated. In one aspect of the invention, a predetermined range of wavelengths can be chosen such as to cause citrus pulp defects to fluoresce. Not only could white light be used, but different color light having different wavelengths and energies could also be used depending on the type of defect to be identified. Some of the citrus pulp defects to be detected include discolored pulp, peel or portions of peel, albedo or portions of albedo, seeds, portions of seeds, black specks, mold, or non-citrus material such as insects, insect larve or insect parts.

[0028] The processor 44 can be part of a personal computer system or larger mini or mainframe computer system as chosen by those skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the rejection mechanism 46 could include an air rejection mechanism 52 as more clearly shown in FIGS. 6-8. FIG. 6 illustrates a bank or rack 54 of air nozzles 56 with associated valves 58 that are operatively connected to the processor 44. The imager 36 could be a bank or rack of cameras or a single camera with a large scan angle across the predetermined path of travel of the citrus pulp to obtain gray scale or other images of the citrus pulp. Using programming software known or formulated by those skilled in the art, it is possible to determine defects from changes in gray scale intensity, fluorescence, or other imaging techniques.

[0029] Once the processor 44 determines the location of the defect relative to the speed of the advancing citrus pulp, selected valves 58 are operatively turned on to allow air to blow from selected air nozzles 56 onto selected portions of the advancing citrus pulp and divert the citrus pulp determined to be defective from the predetermined path of travel, such as into the waste bin 48, as shown in FIG. 3. Each valve 58 and associated air nozzle 56 can blow air onto a given jet area “A” at a distance “D,” distances and dimensions chosen by those skilled in the art, depending on the type of processing line, its speed, and type of defects most commonly encountered (FIG. 7). FIG. 8 illustrates how the air jet area “A” from each air nozzle 56 can overlap each other to ensure that all defects are removed as desired when multiple valves 58 and air nozzles 56 must be operative at once.

[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of the present invention where a second type of advancing mechanism 30a includes spaced, translucent plates 60a, 60b through which citrus pulp is advanced, such as by extruding or pumping the citrus pulp between the translucent plates to allow imaging of the citrus pulp therein. For example, the spaced translucent plates 60a, 60b could be formed from two sheets of plexiglass or glass material with side portions sealed to form a planar and elongate channel 62 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. A light source 40 passes light upward through the lower translucent plate 60a onto the citrus pulp that is imaged by a camera located above the upper translucent plate 60b. The processor 44 receives image data from the camera 42 and processes the image data to determine citrus pulp defects. The rejection mechanism 46, as shown in FIGS. 6-8, can be located downstream from the formed channel 62 at a known distance for applying air from nozzles onto selected portions of the citrus pulp at a predetermined time and deflecting citrus pulp determined to be defective from the citrus pulp flow.

[0031] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a third type of advancing mechanism 30b using a belt conveyor 64 that has a thickness gate 66 for distributing a predetermined thickness of citrus pulp on the belt conveyor. The citrus pulp advances along the belt conveyor 64 and past a doctor blade 68 that removes citrus pulp from the belt conveyor and passes it into a subsequent area for processing. With this type of belt system, a camera 42 could be located above the belt conveyor 64 and a light source 40 could also be located adjacent the camera 42 for illuminating the citrus pulp from above. Other known illumination systems could be used as determined by those skilled in the art. A rejection mechanism 46 is operatively associated with the belt conveyor for rejecting citrus pulp determined to be defective.

[0032] FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate another rejection mechanism 46a that can be used as an alternative to the rack or bank of air nozzles shown in FIGS. 6-8. A mechanical gate mechanism 70 has individual gates 72 that can divert a section of citrus pulp away from a product destination into a waste bin. As shown in FIG. 12, a hydraulic, pneumatic or other power mechanism 74 operatively receives signals from the processor 44 and forces respective pistons 76 outward to divert one or more gates 72 into the citrus pulp, causing a deflection of a desired amount of citrus pulp into the waste bin 48. Naturally, if only a single defect is imaged by a camera and processed, only one piston 76 would extend for pushing one gate 72 downward for a short period of time and diverting a small portion of the citrus pulp having the one defect into the waste bin. If a large number of defects extend along a large portion of the citrus pulp flow, all gates would be deflected for a predetermined period of time.

[0033] It is evident that the present invention allows greater control over citrus pulp processing and removal of defects using image processing and machine vision technology for imaging citrus pulp at an inspection zone and acquiring image data of the citrus pulp for subsequent processing to determine defects and rejecting citrus pulp determined to be defective.

[0034] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to the mind of one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that the modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the dependent claims.