Hanging Carcass X-Ray Inspection via Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing carcass inspection systems are mechanically complex, expensive, and difficult to integrate into butchering plants where carcasses are moved hanging on a movement line, and they require carcasses to be laid horizontally, leading to reduced precision due to interference from conveyor belts in radiographic images.
Innovation Solution
A method and plant where the animal carcass rotates around a fixed X-ray emitter and receiver, allowing for X-ray scanning while hanging, eliminating the need for a rotating frame and reducing mechanical complexity and cost, with two-dimensional radiographic images processed to determine the carcass structure and optimize cutting patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rotatable frame with X-ray emitter and receiver is used to scan the carcass, then tomographic scanning capability is achieved, but mechanical complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of rotating the X-ray emitter and receiver around the carcass, the invention rotates the carcass itself while keeping the X-ray equipment stationary. This inversion of the rotation target eliminates the need for a complex rotatable frame while achieving the same tomographic scanning effect through multiple angular projections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the rotation function from the X-ray scanning system and applies it to the carcass support mechanism instead. By separating the rotation function from the expensive rotatable frame, the system achieves tomographic capability with simpler, more cost-effective components.
2Extent of automation
If the carcass is positioned horizontally on a conveyor belt for scanning, then automated scanning is achieved, but integration into existing hanging carcass movement lines becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the carcass orientation from hanging to horizontal, the invention maintains the natural hanging position and rotates the carcass in its vertical orientation. This allows seamless integration into existing abattoir lines that transport hanging carcasses, while still achieving automated tomographic scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary X-ray emitter and receiver setup can handle both horizontally conveyed carcasses and vertically hanging carcasses by simply adjusting the rotation mechanism, making the system universally applicable to different abattoir configurations without requiring line-specific customization.
3Ease of operation
If X-rays pass through the conveyor belt along with the carcass, then horizontal scanning is enabled, but image precision deteriorates due to attenuation from the conveyor belt
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the unwanted attenuation source (conveyor belt) from the X-ray path by eliminating the horizontal conveyor setup. By rotating the hanging carcass in place within the X-ray beam, the system achieves scanning without requiring the carcass to traverse through additional materials that would interfere with image quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a rotation mechanism as an intermediary between the stationary X-ray source and the hanging carcass, enabling the carcass to present different cross-sections to the X-ray beam without physical contact with conveyor belts or other interfering structures during the scanning process.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise determination of carcass structure and optimized cutting patterns without modifying existing movement systems, improving integration and reducing processing complexity, while maintaining precision in radiographic imaging.
Implementation Method 1
an X-ray emitter (22) and to the respective receiver (24), between which an animal carcass (9) is moved
Implementation Method 2
it is necessary to apply correction algorithms to eliminate the attenuation produced by the conveyor belt
Data Source
AI summary
An animal carcass is moved along a movement trajectory which passes through an inspection zone between at least one X-ray emitter and at least one X-ray detector, which are stationary relative to the inspection zone. X-ray detections are performed at successive moments during movement of the animal carcass through the inspection zone, the animal carcass being made to rotate around an axis of rotation which is transversal to lines of propagation of X-rays emitted by the at least one X-ray emitter in the inspection zone, so that what is obtained is a plurality of two-dimensional radiographic images of the animal carcass in different angular positions around the axis of rotation. The two-dimensional radiographic images are processed to determine a cutting pattern and/or a structure of the animal carcass, such as a position of bones, fat and/or lean parts in the animal carcass.