A method is provided for use in optimizing ethanol yield from agricultural products. The method includes imaging agricultural products to determine predicted ethanol yields for the agricultural products and assigning characterizations to the imaged agricultural products based on their predicted ethanol yields. An apparatus is provided for collecting, retaining, and/or transporting bulk quantities of agricultural products. The apparatus includes an analyzer configured to image the agricultural products for use in determining the predicted ethanol yields. And, a system is provided for tracking and/or monitoring agricultural products. The system includes an analyzer configured to image the agricultural products for use in determining the predicted ethanol yields, a central processor configured to communicate with the analyzer to thereby link the imaged agricultural products with their predicted ethanol yields, and a telecommunications link coupling the analyzer to the central processor for allowing the communication between the analyzer and the central processor.

An object of the present invention is to improve the quality level discrimination accuracy of the grain G by a grain quality level discrimination device. The device includes an optical unit 3 that emits light to the grain G, receives reflected and/or transmitted light from the grain G by a photosensor, and obtains information for discrimination of the quality level of the grain G from the upper and lower surface side of the grain G, and a quality level discrimination unit 7 that discriminates the quality level of the grain G on the basis of the information. The information on the upper and lower surface sides can be acquired by one optical unit at the same time so that the divergence therebetween due to the displacement or variation of the attitude of the grain G can be avoided. The reference plate for the correction of the information is placed outside of the moving path of the grain G to prevent it from soiling or damaging. Thus the deterioration of information can be avoided. Further, a reference plate especially for the information to be obtained from the side surface of the grain G may be provided for enhancing the accuracy of the side surface information. Thus the quality level discrimination accuracy can be improved further.

Techniques for processing ore include the steps of causing an imaging capture system to record a plurality of images of a stream of ore fragments en route from a first location in an ore processing facility to a second location in the ore processing facility; correlating the plurality of images of the stream of ore fragments with at least one or more characteristics of the ore fragments using a machine learning model that includes a plurality of ore parameter measurements associated with the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments; determining, based on the correlation, at least one of the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments; and generating, for display on a user computing device, data indicating the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments or data indicating an action or decision based on the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments.

An optical measuring device for the spectral measurement of a sample is disclosed. The optical measure device includes an integrating cavity that has a diffusely reflective interior in order to render the light in the integrating cavity diffuse, a light source that is configured to emit light of a predetermined wavelength range into the integrating cavity, and a sensor that is configured to receive light from the integrating cavity, wherein the integrating cavity comprises an optical opening, and wherein the optical measuring device is provided and configured to measure a sample located outside of the integrating cavity directly in front of the optical opening.

The present invention intends to reduce a measurement error in the concentration of a component due to the effect of the grain concentration of grain dispersion liquid. Also, the present invention is one that calculates the concentration of a predetermined component added into grain dispersion liquid in which grains are dispersed in liquid, with use of a light absorption spectrum obtained by irradiating the grain dispersion liquid with light and a preliminarily prepared calibration curve representing the relationship between a light absorption spectrum and the concentration of the predetermined component. Further, the calibration curve is prepared on the basis of multiple light absorption spectra obtained by measuring light absorption spectra of multiple grain dispersion liquids having mutually different grain concentrations for each of mutually different multiple concentrations of the predetermined component.

A powdery material mixing degree measurement device includes a discharger configured to discharge mixed powdery materials to a filler configured to fill, with the powdery materials, a vertically penetrating die bore of a compression-molding machine including a table including the die bore, a slidable lower punch including an upper end inserted to the die bore, and a slidable upper punch including a lower end inserted to the die bore, a plurality of movable portions configured to move the mixed powdery materials to the discharger, and a sensor configured to measure a mixing degree of the mixed powdery materials in the movable portions.

Invention refers to quality control system for detection and identification of insects, pests and the like in such product like cereals, seed, grains and the like. The Quality control system comprises a sample collecting device (1) for collecting a sample in pre-determined amount from a product (P) to be tested, a self-cleaning cyclone filter (2) for cleaning the sample, a vibro separator (3) for separation of the sample in pre-determined sizes or grades, a heating chamber (4) for heating the sample separated in the vibro separator. The system further comprises an identification device (5) for detection and identification of live insects, pests and the like in said sample.

An object of the present invention is to provide a grain transilluminating device capable of detecting all of the cracks whose orientations are variously different depending on grains without causing a sample dish to be rotated. According to the present invention, there is provided a grain transilluminating device causing light to enter a transparent bottom face of a sample dish obliquely from a downside, the device including: a base member; a rotary member rotatably disposed in the base member and having a light source on one lateral side, and provided with a reflective plate reflecting the light from the light source toward the bottom face of the sample dish; and a cover member attached onto the base member to constitute, along with the base member, an outer frame and having an opening part positioned above the rotary member to receive the sample dish, wherein an operating part for rotating operation on the rotary member is provided in the rotary member and an opening is formed in the outer frame, and the operating part is configured to extend outside from the outer frame through the opening and to be swingable with a center of the rotary member being an axis.

Apparatus for determining a property of products, in particular plant or animal products, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor configured for conveying products one-by-one along a transport path in a transport direction; a light source configured for illuminating a first illumination area of the transport path, wherein the first illumination area extends substantially across the transverse width of the transport path; and a sensor structure configured for receiving light from a sensing area of the transport path, wherein the sensing area extends substantially across the transverse width of the transport path, wherein the sensing area is adjacent to the first illumination area.

A method for sorting products and sorting apparatus with a flow of granular products moving in an inspection zone, in which a light beam is moved over the product flow to generate a reflected stream of light. At least one detector unit is provided to detect light reflected by the products to generate detection signals. This detector unit cooperates with a control unit to sort the products by these detection signals. The detector unit contains at least two sensors that are provided one after the other in the reflected stream of light so that a sensor is placed upstream of a downstream sensor. Each sensor detects a different part of the reflected stream of light.