Flexible Upper Stabilizer Belt for X-Ray Food Sizing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural sizing and sorting systems face challenges in stabilizing food items during X-Ray irradiation without compressing or damaging them, while maintaining accurate size and characteristic determination, and suppressing erratic motion for efficient sorting.
Innovation Solution
A sizing apparatus with an X-Ray source and detectors, combined with a computer for data analysis, and a dual conveyor system including a V-shaped lower conveyor belt and a flexible upper stabilizer belt to ensure items are aligned and stable during irradiation, allowing for precise size, shape, weight, and defect determination, and subsequent sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a rigid upper conveyor belt is used to compress food items during X-Ray irradiation, then measurement precision is improved, but the food items may be damaged or compressed
Solution Approach 1:
The upper conveyor belt is made of flexible material that can conform to the shape of food items without rigid compression. The belt includes a plurality of linked rigid plastic slats that are flexible enough to adapt to item contours while providing sufficient support for stable X-Ray imaging, thereby achieving measurement precision without damaging the food items.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper conveyor belt is designed to be movable and adaptable rather than fixed and rigid. The belt can dynamically adjust its position and shape to accommodate different food item sizes and forms during transit through the X-Ray irradiation area, maintaining stability for accurate measurement while preventing damage through flexible contact.
2Device complexity
If no stabilization mechanism is used, then device complexity is reduced, but erratic motion of food items occurs during delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The upper and lower conveyor belts are combined into a coordinated dual-belt system that works together to stabilize food items. The upper belt merges with the lower belt to form a constrained pathway that prevents erratic motion while maintaining relatively simple device structure through the use of standard conveyor components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the upper conveyor belt runs parallel to the lower conveyor, then item stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual conveyor belt system serves multiple functions: the lower belt provides primary transport while the upper belt provides stabilization and compression control. This multi-functional arrangement improves item stability during X-Ray imaging without requiring entirely separate systems, thereby managing device complexity through functional integration.
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
The system provides accurate and reliable size and characteristic determination, ensuring sharp images and effective sorting by maintaining items in a stable, sequential lineal arrangement, reducing bouncing and bunching, and enabling efficient sorting based on predetermined criteria.
Implementation Method 1
uses X-Ray emissions to detect bone fragments
Data Source
AI summary
A sizing apparatus has input and output ends and a sampling window therebetween. Sizing means determines the size of each item passing through the sampling window. Singulating means arranges the items in a line and delivers them sequentially at the input end of the sizing apparatus. A lower conveyor belt extends through the sizing apparatus from the input end through the sampling window to the output end. The lower conveyor belt is translated at a speed sufficient to receive, transport, and maintain the items in sequential fashion. A flexible upper stabilizer belt is arranged above and generally in alignment with the lower conveyor belt, and is driven to match the speed of the lower conveyor belt. The upper stabilizer belt is suspended so as to engage the items incoming from said singulating means and to maintain loose contact with them until the items have passed through the sampling window.