System for sorting fruit

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9919345
SERIAL NO

15256931

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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As fruit (preferably apples) are harvested, the fruit is placed on a conveyor that conveys the fruit to a fruit singulating section. In the singulating section, the fruit is directed into slots in a lane formed by two cooperating helical drives. The helical drives rotate the fruit and convey the fruit into an imaging chamber where a camera acquires an image of the fruit. The fruit image is evaluated by a processor in communication with the camera. The fruit is then directed into a rotary sorter which sorts the fruit based on the image evaluation by the processor.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Lu, Renfu Okemos, US 1 2
Mizushima, Akira West Des Moines, US 5 25
Pothula, Anand Kumar Okemos, US 1 2
Vandyke, Mario Conklin, US 2 3
Zhang, Zhao Okemos, US 87 312

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