43results about "Carcasses classification/grading" patented technology

Described embodiments relate to methods of determining quality assessment measures of carcases. The method comprises determining video data comprising a sequence of frames, wherein at least some of the frames depict a part of a carcase to be quality assessed. For a first frame of the sequence of frames, the method comprises a) determining a frame suitability score for assessing a first trait; b) responsive to the frame suitability score being greater than a threshold frame suitability score for the first trait, determining the frame as a suitable frame for assessing the first trait; c) determining, by a segmentation model, a region of interest in the frame for assessing the first trait; d) determining, by a first trait prediction model, a prediction score for the first trait based on the determined region of interest; and e) determining an assessment confidence rating for the first trait. The method further comprises responsive to determining that the assessment confidence rating for the first trait has not exceeded the assessment confidence threshold for the first trait, performing steps a) to e) for a subsequent frame in the sequence; and responsive to determining that the assessment confidence rating for the first trait has exceeded the assessment confidence threshold for the first trait, determining a quality assessment measure of the first trait based on the prediction score for the first trait of the determined suitable frames.

An apparatus for facilitating ultrasound scanning of objects. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a reservoir. The housing comprises: a body comprising a transducer mounting, the transducer mounting configured to support an ultrasound transducer; a flange extending from the body to define side walls of the reservoir; and a first flexible membrane mounted on a free end of the flange, the first membrane defining an external contact surface for making contact with an object to be scanned, and the first flexible membrane configured to allow ultrasound waves to propagate therethrough. The reservoir is configured to retain ultrasound propagation fluid to facilitate ultrasound wave propagation between the transducer and the first flexible membrane.

Livestock animal assessment models may be trained using ultrasound images of livestock animals taken over their lifespan and quality measurements of the same livestock animals taken after slaughter that provide quantitate indications of meat quality and / or tenderness. Once generated and / or trained, the livestock animal assessment models may be used to predict livestock quality and / or value during lifespan using ultrasound images of animal tissue and / or other pre-slaughter measurements.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an automated slaughter robot system including a scanning module configured to scan a slaughtered animal moving while hanging on a hanger, a work determination module configured to determine whether to cut or dismember the slaughtered animal based on an image provided from the scanning module, a work control module configured to extract a required cutting or dismembering part of the slaughtered animal from the image acquired through the scanning module, and a slaughter robot module configured to cut or dismember the slaughtered animal according to a work command provided from the work control module.

A method for processing a live fish can include: determining a set of fish attributes of a fish, optionally sorting the fish based on the set of fish attributes, euthanizing the fish, exsanguinating the fish, and / or any other suitable steps. In variants, the method can additionally or alternatively include: discarding the fish after sorting, further processing the fish, and / or tracking the fish. However, the method can additionally and / or alternatively include any other suitable elements.

The method performed by a computer conducting a quality assurance (QA) analysis of a QA sample may include: acquiring image sensor data of the QA sample using an image sensor assembly; generating at least one of a 2D model and a 3D model of the QA sample using the image sensor data with a computing device; and performing a QA analysis of the QA sample by comparing data points of at least one of the 2D model and 3D model of the QA sample with the corresponding 2D model and 3D model from the QA specification of the QA sample with the computing device.

A computer-implemented method of performing a quality assurance (QA) analysis for a QA sample may include capturing image sensor data of a QA sample with an image sensor assembly; generating, with a computing device, at least one of a 2D model and a 3D model of the QA sample using the image sensor data; and performing, with a computing device, a QA analysis of the QA sample by comparing data points of the at least one of the 2D model and 3D model of the QA sample and a corresponding 2D model and 3D model from a QA specification of the QA sample.

A method for processing a live fish can include: determining a set of fish attributes of a fish, optionally sorting the fish based on the set of fish attributes, euthanizing the fish, exsanguinating the fish, and / or any other suitable steps. In variants, the method can additionally or alternatively include: discarding the fish after sorting, further processing the fish, and / or tracking the fish. However, the method can additionally and / or alternatively include any other suitable elements.

The invention relates to a method for automatically determining at least one quality parameter characterizing the processing of a carcass part, comprising the following steps: conveying the carcass part as an input product in a conveying direction to a first processing machine (11) by means of a conveying device (10), a first processing machine for performing a first processing step for processing the carcass portion into an output product; acquiring input sensor data of the carcass part by means of at least one sensor device (12) prior to performing the first processing step; classifying partial data related to the machining quality of the first machining step from the input sensor data; determining the at least one quality parameter based on the partial data; and providing the at least one quality parameter for display and / or transmission to a downstream processing machine, the downstream processing machine being adapted to perform at least one subsequent processing step based on the determined quality parameter. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.

The invention relates to a method for the automated inspection of carcasses (10) by means of ultrasound imaging, the method comprising the steps of: conveying the carcasses (10) along a conveying path (11) by means of a conveying device; and scanning the carcasses (10) by means of ultrasound using an imaging ultrasound sensor (12) in order to generate image data by bringing the carcasses (10) into lateral contact with an ultrasound contact face (13) of the imaging ultrasound sensor. The invention also relates to a corresponding apparatus. Furthermore, the invention to a method for automatically deboning poultry legs, which is characterised by: performing the automated inspection of carcasses (10) by means of ultrasound imaging using the method for the automated inspection of carcasses; locating the position of the knee joint as a skeletal component in the poultry legs by evaluating the image data; and deboning the poultry legs on the basis of the position of the knee joint. The invention also relates to a corresponding arrangement for automatically deboning poultry legs.

The described embodiments relate to a method of determining a quality assessment metric for a carcass. The method includes determining video data comprising a sequence of frames, wherein at least some of the frames depict a portion of a carcass to be quality assessed. For a first frame of the sequence of frames, the method comprises a) determining a frame suitability score for assessing a first trait; b) in response to the frame suitability score being greater than a threshold frame suitability score for the first trait, determining the frame as a suitable frame for assessing the first trait; c) determining a region of interest for evaluating the first character in the frame through a segmentation model; d) determining a predicted score of the first character based on the determined region of interest by a first character prediction model; and e) determining a rating confidence rating for the first trait. The method further comprises: in response to determining that the rating confidence rating of the first trait has not exceeded a rating confidence threshold of the first trait, performing steps a) to e) on subsequent frames in the sequence; and in response to determining that the rating confidence rating for the first trait has exceeded the rating confidence threshold for the first trait, determining a quality rating metric for the first trait based on the determined predicted score for the first trait suitable for a frame.

The invention provides an automatic viscera separation device for synchronous quarantine of pig slaughtering, and relates to the technical field of pig slaughtering. The automatic viscera separation device for synchronous quarantine of pig slaughtering comprises a support and a programmable control box, the programmable control box is arranged at the front end of the support, a base is arranged on the upper end face of the support, a supporting seat is arranged on the upper end face of the base, and a top seat is arranged on the upper end face of the supporting seat. Annular conveying lines are arranged on the lower end face of the top seat and the upper end face of the base, a plurality of automatic clamping and separating structures are arranged on the lower end face of the annular conveying line close to the upper portion, and a plurality of automatic overturning disc structures are arranged on the upper end face of the annular conveying line close to the lower portion. The automatic turnover disc structure comprises a first substrate. The automatic tray overturning structure is arranged to bear the white viscera, when the lesion viscera appear, the lesion viscera do not need to be taken out manually, safety is improved, the white viscera do not need to be taken down manually, and the manual taking-down efficiency is reduced.

A computer-implemented method of performing a quality assurance (QA) analysis for a QA sample may include capturing image sensor data of a QA sample with an image sensor assembly; generating, with a computing device, at least one of a 2D model and a 3D model of the QA sample using the image sensor data; and performing, with a computing device, a QA analysis of the QA sample by comparing data points of the at least one of the 2D model and 3D model of the QA sample and a corresponding 2D model and 3D model from a QA specification of the QA sample.

This disclosure relates to a computer-implemented method for determining a physical position of an engagement part of a leaf lard. The leaf lard is located on an inner surface of a left or right part of a pig carcass. The engagement part of the leaf lard is suitable for engagement by a leaf lard removal tool for at least partially separating the leaf lard from the pig carcass. The computer- implemented method comprises receiving, from an image system, data representing an image, preferably a 3D image, of at least part of the left or, respectively, right part of the pig carcass. The image does not comprise an image region that represents the engagement part. The method also comprises determining a reference image region in the image. The reference image region represents an anatomic characteristic feature of the pig carcass. Further, the method comprises determining, based on the determined reference image region, the physical position of the engagement part of the leaf lard.

A method for processing a live fish can include: determining a set of fish attributes of a fish, optionally sorting the fish based on the set of fish attributes, euthanizing the fish, exsanguinating the fish, and / or any other suitable steps. In variants, the method can additionally or alternatively include: discarding the fish after sorting, further processing the fish, and / or tracking the fish. However, the method can additionally and / or alternatively include any other suitable elements.

A cutting position identification system is provided with an imaging device and an identification device for identifying a cutting position of a pair of carcasses which has been divided into right and left halves along a spine. The imaging device is disposed on a breast side of at least one of the pair of carcasses relative to a reference line that extends from the spine in a direction perpendicular to a cut surface of the carcass. The identification device is configured to identify the cutting position that passes between ribs using an image captured by the imaging device.

This invention relates to a system for processing meat pieces. A radiation inspection apparatus is provided configured to receive a primary stream of meat pieces conveyed by a conveyor and to detect trim products containing undesired objects, a reject device is provided and a control unit that is configured to operate the reject device using the detected undesired objects as an operation parameter such that the meat pieces containing the undesired objects are separated from the primary stream of trim products, an object remover is provided configured to remove the undesired objects from the meat pieces separated from the primary stream of trim products, and a recirculation apparatus is provided configured to receive the meat pieces after undergoing the object remover and recirculate it as a secondary stream into the radiation inspection apparatus, where the secondary stream is separated from the primary stream, where the radiation inspection apparatus is further configured to detect whether any remaining undesired objects are in the secondary stream.

A computing device includes a receiver configured to receive processing data of at least one product processed at a processing plant, the data captured from a plurality of sensors disposed at the processing plant. One or more storage devices are configured to store a machine learning model and the received data. A controller is coupled to the receiver and the one or more storage devices. The controller is configured to estimate, using a machine learning model, one or both of a real-time product yield and a real-time product processing throughput for the at least one product based on the received data.

An apparatus for weighing poultry in a conveyor line can include carriers for the poultry, linked to each other by a driving chain. The conveyor line can include at least a curved track section and a weighing track section, wherein a weighing station is located along the weighing track section. A chain tension control mechanism can include a rotatable wheel having its circumference following the curved track section and pass the weighing track section, which rotatable wheel can support a series of engaging units that engage the chain and / or the carriers in the curved track section to tension the chain and disengage the chain and / or the carriers in the weighing track section to release tension in the chain.

The technology as disclosed herein includes systems, methods, and compositions for detection of disease in a subject using spectroscopy and includes more effective detection of muscular myopathies in commercially farmed animals using infrared spectroscopy, and includes detection of Wooden Breast, White Striping, and / or Spaghetti Meat in broiler chickens utilizing near infrared spectroscopy. Implementations of the systems, methods, and compositions provided herein include and / or utilize and / or provide for detection of Wooden Breast, White Striping, and / or Spaghetti Meat in broiler chickens utilizing near infrared spectroscopy of breast area of live birds for prediction of taurine levels in the muscle.

The technology as disclosed herein includes systems, methods, and compositions for detection of disease in a subject using spectroscopy and includes more effective detection of muscular myopathies in commercially farmed animals using infrared spectroscopy, and includes detection of Wooden Breast, White Striping, and / or Spaghetti Meat in broiler chickens utilizing near infrared spectroscopy. Implementations of the systems, methods, and compositions provided herein include and / or utilize and / or provide for detection of Wooden Breast, White Striping, and / or Spaghetti Meat in broiler chickens utilizing near infrared spectroscopy of breast area of live birds for prediction of taurine levels in the muscle.

A method, arrangement and apparatus are provided for training at least one neural network for locating bony parts present in a poultry leg. The method includes the steps: conveying the poultry legs in a conveying direction by a conveying device; acquiring digital images of the front side or back side of each of the poultry legs conveyed past the imaging system by a first optical imaging system; sequentially providing the digital images as input data to a first neural network configured for locating the bony parts, wherein the first neural network for locating the bony parts has been trained by a described method; and determining position data of the bony parts by the first neural network; and providing the position data, for display and / or transmission, to a downstream machine for processing the poultry legs on the basis of the determined position data.

The method for processing live fish may include determining a fish attribute set for the fish, optionally sorting the fish based on the fish attribute set, euthanizing the fish, bleeding the fish, and / or any other suitable steps. In variations, the method may additionally or alternatively include discarding the fish after sorting, further processing the fish, and / or tracking the fish. However, the method may additionally and / or alternatively include any other suitable elements.

A sampling kit for tissue including a reaction chamber and a sampling device configured for mounting in the reaction chamber and providing a reaction volume defined between the base of the reaction chamber and the sampling device. The sampling device has a proximal handling portion and a distal scraping portion comprising a scraping formation configured to collect a sample of tissue when the distal scraping portion is rubbed against a surface of the tissue. The sampling device comprises an internal lumen configured for the supply of reaction liquid from a distal end of the tissue sampling device to the reaction volume via a distal aperture disposed in the distal scraping portion when the tissue sampling device is mounted in the reaction chamber. An automated high-throughput sampling and indexing system is also described.

The invention relates to a method for automatically determining at least one quality parameter that characterizes the processing of part of a carcass, comprising the following steps: conveying the part of the carcass, as input product, in a conveying direction using a conveyor (11) to a first processing machine (12) for carrying out a first processing step for processing the part of the carcass to form an output product, recording input sensor data from the part of the carcass using at least one sensor apparatus (12) prior to carrying out the first processing step, classifying partial data relevant to the processing quality of the first processing step from the input sensor data, ascertaining the at least one quality parameter on the basis of the partial data and providing the at least one quality parameter to be displayed and / or forwarded to a downstream processing machine designed to carry out at least one further processing step on the basis of the ascertained quality parameter. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for longitudinal cutting of a middle piece of a half carcass into a dorsal part and ventral part. In particular the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the longitudinal cutting of middle pieces using a cutting path as close to the fillet inside the middle piece as possible without cutting in the fillet.

Systems and methods for swine carcass assessment. The system includes a pig carcass detection module that detects heads and tails, thereby enabling pose classification. The system captures lateral and dorsal views of pig carcasses in real-time, utilizing edge devices to process the images. This allows for rapid and efficient assessment of the carcasses, thereby streamlining the overall swine carcass evaluation process.

The method for processing live fish may include determining a fish attribute set for the fish, optionally sorting the fish based on the fish attribute set, euthanizing the fish, bleeding the fish, and / or any other suitable steps. In variations, the method may additionally or alternatively include discarding the fish after sorting, further processing the fish, and / or tracking the fish. However, the method may additionally and / or alternatively include any other suitable elements.

An apparatus for facilitating ultrasound scanning of objects. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a reservoir. The housing comprises: a body comprising a transducer mounting, the transducer mounting configured to support an ultrasound transducer; a flange extending from the body to define side walls of the reservoir; and a first flexible membrane mounted on a free end of the flange, the first membrane defining an external contact surface for making contact with an object to be scanned, and the first flexible membrane configured to allow ultrasound waves to propagate therethrough. The reservoir is configured to retain ultrasound propagation fluid to facilitate ultrasound wave propagation between the transducer and the first flexible membrane.