Next-Generation Orange Assessment powered by Object Detection

Based on Patent Research | CN-113255773-A (2024)

Manual orange sorting often leads to inconsistent quality assessment and wasteful processing. These inefficient methods cause high resource loss and require constant human oversight to manage sorting modules. Object detection, which is a computer vision task that locates and identifies individual items, automates this work. This technology detects defects and routes fruit to the correct processing line. Adopting this system improves throughput, lowers operational costs, and ensures only qualified oranges reach the sectioning stage.

SOLUTION OVERVIEW

Manual Inspection Enhanced by AI

Object detection technology, which identifies and locates items within a digital image, directly addresses quality control hurdles in fruit processing. This system operates by capturing live footage from high speed cameras positioned above the production line. As oranges pass through the field of view, the software scans for specific visual markers like skin blemishes or irregular shapes. It then instantly determines the coordinates of each fruit and assigns a quality label, sending real-time instructions to mechanical diverters to separate premium produce from those needing further refinement.

By integrating this automated vision with conveyor systems, facilities can move away from exhausting manual inspections. The technology works like a tireless digital supervisor, possessing an eagle eye that never blinks or gets distracted during long shifts. This integration ensures that only the highest grade citrus moves toward the final sectioning stage, while lower quality batches are rerouted for juicing or extraction. Adopting these advanced imaging techniques fosters a more sustainable production cycle, optimizes raw material usage, and builds a more resilient supply chain through consistently superior output.

HOW IT WORKS

Analyzing Orange Scans for Defects

Capturing Visual Data Streams

High-speed cameras positioned above the production line record continuous footage of oranges as they move along the conveyor belt. This visual input serves as the raw data for the system, ensuring every piece of fruit is documented from multiple angles before processing begins.

Identifying Individual Fruit Locations

The computer vision software scans the digital frames to find and isolate each orange within the busy production environment. By determining precise coordinates for every item, the system can track individual fruits even as they move at high speeds through the facility.

Assessing Quality and Surface Blemishes

The AI analyzes the surface of each orange to detect specific markers such as skin discolorations, irregular shapes, or mechanical damage. This automated inspection replaces manual oversight, providing a consistent assessment of quality that filters out sub-standard produce based on visual data.

Directing Automated Sorting Modules

Based on the identified quality labels, the system transmits real-time instructions to mechanical diverters located further down the line. These hardware components then physically separate the premium oranges from those designated for juicing or extraction, ensuring only the highest grade fruit reaches the final stage.

Potential Benefits

Consistent Fruit Quality Standards

Automated object detection eliminates human error by using high speed cameras to identify skin blemishes and irregular shapes. This ensures that only premium grade citrus reaches the final sectioning stage for superior product uniformity.

Increased Production Line Throughput

The system operates as a tireless digital supervisor that processes oranges much faster than manual inspection teams. Rapid real time identification allows the conveyor to maintain high speeds while accurately routing fruit to the correct processing lines.

Significant Operational Cost Savings

By automating the sorting and routing process, facilities reduce the need for constant human oversight and manual labor. This efficiency lowers overhead costs and minimizes resource loss caused by inconsistent quality assessment and wasteful processing.

Optimized Raw Material Usage

The technology precisely separates premium fruit from lower quality batches intended for juicing or extraction. This intelligent sorting ensures every orange is used for its best purpose, fostering a more sustainable and resilient production cycle.

Implementation

1 Install Imaging Hardware. Mount high speed cameras above the conveyor lines to ensure full visual coverage of the passing fruit.

2 Configure Detection Parameters. Define the specific skin blemishes and shape irregularities that the object detection software must identify as defects.

3 Connect Mechanical Diverters. Interface the AI software with physical sorting modules to enable real time routing based on quality labels.

4 Calibrate Sorting Logic. Fine tune the coordinate system to ensure the hardware accurately intercepts specific oranges at high speeds.

5 Establish Monitoring Protocols. Set up a centralized dashboard to track sorting accuracy and monitor the health of the production line.

Source: Analysis based on Patent CN-113255773-A "Orange sectioning system and method based on artificial intelligence" (Filed: August 2024).