System for topping and tailing lettuce heads using a camera-guided servo-controlled water knife

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 9486008
APP PUB NO 20140030394A1
SERIAL NO

14040076

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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A system for trimming a lettuce head using a digital imaging system and cutting mechanism. The lettuce head is conveyed between a lower feed conveyor and an upper feed conveyor that is disposed a fixed distance over and substantially aligned with a lower feed conveyor. The digital imaging system is configured to capture an image of the lettuce head and determine a cutting profile using the image. The cutting mechanism is disposed over the lower feed conveyor and includes: a servo motor mechanically coupled to a drive shaft; an armature with a pivot end mounted to the drive shaft and a sweep end disposed a radial distance from the pivot end; a cutting nozzle, mounted to the sweep end of the armature, configured to trim the lettuce head; and servo-control circuitry configured to articulate the cutting nozzle through a cutting arc based on the cutting profile.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
BUD ANTLE INC2959 MONTEREY-SALINAS HWY MONTEREY CA 93940

International Classification(s)

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Billingsley, Roger D Laguna Niguel, US 2 26
Davis, Frank E Monterey, US 10 131
Jens, Stephen Chris Winchester, US 4 32
Myers,, Jr Roland C Senoia, US 2 13
Pryor, Rosser W Fayetteville, US 2 26
Ragon, Robert Lake Wylie, US 2 26
Robinson, Stephan C Carmel, US 2 26

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