Vision System Strobe Illumination Product Slicing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing product slicing machines face challenges in accurately determining the product end face area and lean to fat ratio due to difficulties in distinguishing the product from the background, leading to inaccurate image processing and measurement issues.
Innovation Solution
A vision system using two strobed light sources, one for uniform illumination and another for a laser line pattern, allows for consecutive illumination of the end face, enabling the camera to capture patterned and uniformly illuminated images, which are processed to determine the size and shape of the product end face, and send measurements to the slicer controller for precise slicing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light sources are offset to the side or below the product to place non-product material in shadow, then background exclusion is improved, but machine arrangement flexibility is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic strobing of light sources synchronized with the camera to illuminate only the cut face at specific moments, eliminating the need for permanent shadow casting arrangements. This allows flexible machine positioning while achieving precise background exclusion through temporal gating of the light source and camera exposure.
2Measurement precision
If structured light pattern is used to generate electronic mask, then product face identification is improved, but system response time is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores mask data representing the expected product face geometry before the slicing operation. During high-speed slicing, the camera captures images and the pre-stored mask is applied immediately for rapid background exclusion, eliminating the need for time-consuming real-time structured light pattern generation and processing.
3Loss of information
If colour camera is used for structured light imaging, then product analysis capability is improved, but read-out time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the imaging task into two distinct phases: first, a monochrome camera captures the structured light pattern for rapid mask generation; second, a colour camera captures the product face for constituent analysis. This segmentation allows each camera to be optimized for its specific function, with the monochrome camera providing fast temporal response and the colour camera providing detailed spectral information.
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 provides accurate measurements of the end face area and lean to fat ratio, enabling controlled slicing and packaging, with the ability to differentiate product features and exclude background signals, improving the speed and accuracy of the vision system.
Implementation Method 1
the illuminating means comprising two strobed light sources, one of which is for illuminating the region in a generally uniform manner, and a video camera for producing video signals from images containing the end face
Implementation Method 2
the other light source is a laser line source for producing a pattern of parallel spaced-apart lines of light
Implementation Method 3
a video camera for producing video signals from images containing the end face
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A vision system for viewing the end face of product (64) mounted in a machine and which in use produces measurements relating to the area of the end face and of at least one constituent part of the product which is visible in the said end face. The system comprises means for illuminating a region containing the end face and scanning (78) means for producing a video signal from an image of the illuminated region. The region is illuminated consecutively using first one (50) and then the other (58, 60) of two strobed light sources.