X-Ray Vision Mapping for Precise Bone Removal in Food Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for automatically removing bones from fish and meat fillets, especially pre-rigor salmon fillets and very fresh fish, are inefficient due to bones being stuck tightly and existing technologies failing to provide accurate and reliable detection and cutting, leading to reduced productivity and quality.
Innovation Solution
A food processing apparatus utilizing a combination of x-ray imaging and vision systems to detect tough tissues like bones, cartilage, and fat, with a tracking mechanism and mapping process to ensure accurate cutting on a water jet cutting conveyor, allowing for high-pressure water jet cutting or mechanical cutting with robotic precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If regular camera vision system is used to detect bones, then the system is simple and low cost, but the detection accuracy and reliability are insufficient to meet industry requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an X-ray imaging system as an intermediary detection method between the simple camera system and the final cutting operation. The X-ray system provides accurate bone location data that is then mapped to the camera coordinate system, combining the simplicity of camera-based positioning with the accuracy of X-ray detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical/optical detection (camera) with radiological detection (X-ray) for bone localization. This substitution enables accurate detection of bones embedded in flesh that are invisible to regular cameras, while the coordinate mapping mechanism translates this data back to the original camera system for cutting guidance.
2Productivity
If super chilling fillets prior to cutting is performed, then bone removal efficiency improves, but extensive cost and space requirements increase as well as product quality may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary X-ray imaging and coordinate mapping before the cutting operation, allowing the system to plan and execute precise bone removal without requiring preliminary chilling or other preparatory treatments that affect product quality. The bone locations are identified and mapped in advance, enabling direct cutting at processing temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses X-ray imaging to provide feedback on actual bone locations, which are then mapped to the camera coordinate system to guide the cutting operation. This feedback loop ensures accurate bone removal without requiring extreme temperature treatments, maintaining product quality while achieving high removal efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If estimation of bone location based on surface features is used, then the detection method is simple, but the reliability is insufficient when bone ends are hidden into the flesh
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses X-ray imaging as an intermediary to directly visualize bones embedded in flesh, eliminating the need to estimate bone locations from surface features. The X-ray system provides reliable bone location data even when bones are completely hidden, while the coordinate mapping mechanism maintains operational simplicity by translating this data to the camera system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces surface-based optical detection with internal radiological detection. This substitution allows reliable visualization of bones regardless of their position or visibility from the surface, while the integrated mapping system maintains ease of operation by coordinating with the existing camera-based cutting guidance.
4Manufacturing precision
If x-ray imaging with coordinate mapping is implemented, then cutting precision increases allowing cuts closer to bones, but the device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the X-ray imaging system with the existing camera-based cutting guidance system through coordinate mapping. Rather than creating separate independent systems, the invention integrates the X-ray bone detection data with the camera positioning data, allowing the existing cutting mechanism to operate with enhanced precision without requiring complete system replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a coordinate mapping (a digital copy/representation) that translates bone locations from the X-ray coordinate system to the camera coordinate system. This copying mechanism allows the simple camera-based cutting guidance to access accurate bone location information from the complex X-ray system without requiring direct integration of the complex imaging hardware into the cutting control.
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 and efficient removal of tough tissues from food items, increasing cutting yield by allowing cuts closer to the bones, thus minimizing bone-containing portions and maintaining product quality without stopping the processing line, enhancing productivity and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
at least one x-ray machine associated to said first solid conveyor belt for imaging incoming food items conveyed on the first solid conveyor belt and based on the imaging generating x-ray image data indicating the location of the tough tissues in said food item pieces
Implementation Method 2
a second porous conveyor belt, for water jet cutting
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
This invention relates to a food processing apparatus ( 1000 ) for detecting and cutting tough tissues from food item pieces such as fish or meat fillets or poultry items. At least one x-ray machine ( 1 ) is associated to a first conveyor ( 2 ) for imaging incoming food items conveyed on the first conveyor and based on the imaging generating x - ray image data indicating the location of the tough tissues in the food item pieces. A vision system ( 3 ) supplies second image data of the food item pieces subsequent to the imaging by the at least one x-ray machine. The second image data including position related data indicating the position of the food item pieces on the second conveyor prior to the cutting. A mapping mechanism including a processor determines an estimated coordinate position of the food item pieces on the second conveyor ( 6 ) by utilizing the x-ray image data and tracking position data from the tracking mechanism. The processor compares the estimated coordinate position of the food item pieces to the actual position on the second conveyor based on the second image data.