Fruit-cutting equipment based on high-energy beam or jet, combines camera, computer and cutter guidance system, to determine fruit regions and calculate cutting path

摘要

The cutter is a high-energy light beam or jet. The control equipment (96, 102, 104) for the guidance system, includes a camera imaging the fruit to be cut (106). A computer system (102, 104) determines the location and extent of fruit regions (16, 110, 106). Taking these into account, a control signal for a contour-cutting path is calculated and transmitted to the cutter. Adjacent fruit regions which differ in nature, are determined by computation from the images; the cutting contours are calculated along the lines of demarcation between regions. The cutting nozzle forming the cutting jet, is guided in at least two directions of movement. A holder for the fruit, rotates it through an axis at right angles to the cutting beam or jet. A CMOS or CCD sensor takes an image of the fruit. The cutting fluid used, is water, alcohol or mixture of them. It includes added beta -carotene or an abrasive material such as ice- or salt crystals. A laser beam is used. The cutting system includes a casing surrounding a gas-tight cutting chamber (22) with a connection supplying protective gas.