Food Strand Weight Cutting with Multi-Angle Optical Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for cutting food strands into precise weights struggle with irregular shapes, particularly end pieces and surfaces with steep angles, leading to shadowing and imprecise detection of edge contours, resulting in measurement errors and wasted material.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that include a fourth detector arranged on the opposite side of the marking relative to the other detectors, allowing continuous detection of the marking from a different viewing angle, enabling precise measurement and cutting of edge portions with steep inclinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If three detectors arranged on one side of the marking are used for measurement, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but shadowing occurs on irregular convex cambered end pieces and cavities with small curvature radii, preventing reliable detection of the pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a 2D arrangement of detectors on one side of the marking to a 3D distributed arrangement with detectors on both sides (front and rear) of the projection plane. This spatial dimensionality change enables detection of the marking from multiple viewing angles, eliminating shadowing effects on irregular surfaces while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If detectors are arranged to view the marking from the rear side, then detection of steeply inclined end pieces is improved, but the viewing path is blocked by the irregular shape of the food strand itself causing shadowing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the front detector on the projection plane to capture the marking before the food strand's irregular shape can cause shadowing. This preliminary detection action ensures that the marking is recorded from a viewing angle that avoids obstruction by the strand's geometry, particularly for steeply inclined end pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The front detector acts as an intermediary viewing point that captures the marking from the projection plane side, mediating between the marking device and the irregular food strand surface. This intermediary position allows detection without direct line-of-sight obstruction from the strand's complex geometry.
3Productivity
If the marking is generated through a transition gap between conveyor belt elements, then continuous measuring and cutting operations with higher feed velocities are enabled, but the marking detection becomes more difficult due to the complex viewing geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a third dimension to the detection system by placing detectors on both sides of the projection plane (front and rear), creating a distributed 3D detection arrangement. This enables reliable detection of the marking even when generated through the transition gap between conveyor belt elements, as the multiple viewing angles compensate for the complex geometry.
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
This approach ensures accurate detection and cutting of edge portions with complex shapes, reducing waste and improving the precision of slice weights, allowing for higher utilization of the food strand material.
Implementation Method 1
a marking is generated on a surface of the food strand through a marking device of the measuring device
Implementation Method 2
The marking is detected by three cameras, wherein two cameras are arranged above the conveyor belt elements and one camera is arranged below the conveyor belt elements
Data Source
AI summary
A method for cutting a food strand into portions including the steps:feeding the food strand through a feed device towards a cutting device;continuously measuring a cross section of the food strand during feeding with a measuring device;continuously generating a marking on a surface of the food strand through a marking device;continuously detecting the marking through three first detectors arranged on identical sides of the marking with respect to the feed direction;continuously determining a size of a cross sectional surface of the food strand through a processing device from image data generated by the first detectors and a fourth detector;controlling the cutting device and/or the feed device through a control device using data of the size of the cross sectional surface; andcontinuously detecting the marking through a fourth detector arranged on another side of the marking than the three first detectors.