| US 7,450,247 B2 | ||
| Automated product profiling apparatus and product slicing system using same | ||
| Glenn Sandberg, New Lenox, Ill. (US); Scott A. Lindee, Mokena, Ill. (US); Salvatore Lamartino, Orland Park, Ill. (US); and Robert Bania, Orland Park, Ill. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Fermax, Inc., Mokena, Ill. (US) | ||
| Filed on Apr. 07, 2005, as Appl. No. 11/100,720. | ||
| Application 11/100720 is a continuation of application No. 09/959876, granted, now 6,882,434, previously published as PCT/US00/10691, filed on Apr. 20, 2000. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/130208, filed on Apr. 20, 1999. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0199111 A1, Sep. 15, 2005 | ||
| This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer. | ||
| Int. Cl. G01B 11/24 (2006.01); G01B 11/30 (2006.01); G01N 9/04 (2006.01); G01N 21/86 (2006.01); G06M 7/00 (2006.01); H01J 40/14 (2006.01); G01V 8/00 (2006.01); A23N 4/04 (2006.01); B26D 5/00 (2006.01); A22C 18/00 (2006.01); A22C 21/00 (2006.01); A22C 25/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 356—601 [250/223 R; 250/559.22; 99/537; 83/364; 452/157] | 33 Claims |
| 1. A method of determining the surface profile of a food product to be processed by a subsequent food product processor based
on surface profile information, comprising:
illuminating the top surface profile of the product in a first plane transverse to a length of the product with at least one
line laser;
imaging the illuminated top surface profile with at least one top camera to generate a top profile image;
conducting the product incrementally in a direction parallel to the length of the product through the first plane;
performing the illuminating and imaging steps at discrete increments along the length of the product to generate a plurality
of said top profile images; and
acquiring said plurality of top profile images from the top camera over the length of the product before the food product
commences processing by the subsequent food product processor;
illuminating a bottom surface profile of the product in a second plane transverse to the product's length;
imaging the bottom surface profile with at least one bottom camera at said discrete increments along the length of the product
to generate a plurality of bottom profile images; and
acquiring the plurality of bottom profile images from the bottom camera over the length of the product.
|