Inventors:
Rodney J. Fazzari - College Place WA
Richard J. Hebel - Walla Walla WA
Frank K. Skorina - Walla Walla WA
International Classification:
G06K 900
Abstract:
A high speed mass flow food sorting apparatus and method comprises a product conveyor for receiving and conveying a laterally-distributed stream of bulk food articles past a product diverter. A camera is positioned to view the stream of food articles upstream of a product diverter. A sorting system downstream of the camera including a product diverter is configured to divert undesirable product in response to optically detected undesirable characteristics pursuant to an automated control system. The automated control system connects to the optical inspection system and the sorting system and includes an operator control console having a display and a screen-adjustable graphical slider usable for altering sorting characteristics corresponding to an undesirable optically detected characteristic so as to direct sorting of the undesirable food article during processing. Preferably, the operator control console displays a graphical user interface via a computer on which the control system is implemented and includes a software application pack specifically configured for processing a particular type of food article having corresponding desirable features, at least one having a corresponding screen-adjustable scaling image.