Automated Coffee Bean Sorting via Multi-Angle Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual inspection of coffee beans for quality and defects is time-consuming and labor-intensive, making it inefficient to identify and classify large quantities quickly.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that disperse coffee beans into parallel rows, capture images from multiple angles, determine appearance features such as defects and size, and automatically remove or collect beans based on predetermined criteria, using image-capturing devices and removing devices to sort beans efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual inspection is used to identify and classify coffee beans, then quality assessment can be performed, but the process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical inspection system with an automated optical imaging and image processing system. Multiple cameras capture images of coffee beans on a moving conveyor, and computer algorithms automatically analyze the images to detect defects, measure size, and classify beans, thereby eliminating manual labor while maintaining or improving assessment accuracy and dramatically increasing sorting speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies (images) of the coffee beans using multiple cameras from different angles and positions. These image copies are then processed by computer vision algorithms to extract quality information, allowing simultaneous inspection of multiple beans without physical contact, thus improving both speed and accuracy of quality assessment.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of coffee beans to be identified increases, then larger quantity processing is achieved, but manual inspection becomes even more time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a continuous inspection system where coffee beans move along a conveyor belt that passes through multiple imaging stations. The system continuously captures images and processes them in real-time as beans move through the inspection area, allowing large quantities of beans to be inspected without interruption or batching, thereby maintaining constant high-speed processing without increasing inspection time per unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds multiple spatial dimensions to the inspection process by arranging cameras at different positions (top view, side views, multiple heights) to capture images of beans simultaneously as they move along the conveyor. This multi-dimensional imaging approach allows parallel processing of multiple beans across different spatial planes, dramatically increasing the quantity of beans that can be inspected within the same time frame.
3Productivity
If multiple rows of beans are processed simultaneously, then sorting efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bean flow into multiple parallel rows on the conveyor belt, with each row independently imaged and processed. This segmentation allows simultaneous inspection of multiple beans across different rows without interference, increasing overall sorting efficiency. The system uses multiple cameras and processing channels to handle each row independently, maintaining simplicity within each segment while achieving high productivity through parallel operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of automatically selecting beans includes dispersing a plurality of beans on at least a first and a second parallel rows on a motion plane; capturing images of a first part of the beans on the first and second rows; capturing images of a second part of the beans on the first and second rows; determining a plurality of appearance features of the beans; removing the beans with the first appearance feature on the first row; collecting the beans without the first appearance on the first row; removing the beans with the first appearance feature on the second row; and collecting the beans without the first appearance on the second row. The timing of removing the beans with the first appearance feature is related to the motion speed of the motion plane and the positions for capturing the images of the first or second part of the beans.