A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation and observing the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant. A system and method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream is also provided.

The present invention is a device for the complete acquisition of the shape of an object by means of a plurality of image sensors arranged around a space for image capture. Image sensors capture a plurality of images that are carried to a reconstruction system formed from said plurality of images corresponding to different views of the object. Document EP2511653 discloses a system where the object falls through the trap area so that there is no type of fastener or support which hides some part of the object. The present invention is a device for the acquisition and reconstruction of objects characterized by the use of an actuator serving as launcher and configured so that the object is positioned at the point of capture of images at either zero or very close to zero speed to improve the resolution of each image without blurring due to movement, even with relatively long exposure times. Additionally, the actuator is configured so that the fall of the object is such that it prevents damage by the impact effect.

A method of sorting is described and which includes a step of acquiring a multiplicity of synchronized image signals of a product stream which is to be sorted; generating a multiplicity of fused sensor signals; forming an image model previously acquired from the objects to be sorted; identifying objects in the product stream, and generating object presence and defect signals; determining a spatial orientation of the objects in the product stream; detecting the defects and removing the defects from the product stream.

A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.

A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.

The present invention has an object to provide a blowing apparatus wherein a piezoelectric element is unlikely to cause insulation deterioration leading to burnout during use of the blowing apparatus. The blowing apparatus of the present invention blows compressed gas supplied from a compressed gas supply unit through a nozzle hole of a nozzle unit by opening a piezoelectric valve. The blowing apparatus comprises a humidity sensor detecting a humidity of the compressed gas inside a flow path unit, and a humidity control unit comparing a detected value of the humidity detected by the humidity sensor with a set value. If the humidity of the compressed gas inside the flow path unit detected by the humidity sensor is equal to or greater than the set value, the humidity control unit replaces the compressed gas inside the flow path unit with the compressed gas whose humidity is less than the set value and which is supplied from the compressed gas supply unit, before starting to use the blowing apparatus.

Provided is a method for monitoring a manufacturing process of an agricultural product. The method utilizes hyperspectral imaging and comprises scanning at least one region along a sample of agricultural product using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the at least one region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the sample of agricultural product from the hyperspectral images; and comparing the spectral fingerprint so obtained to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints obtained at various points of the manufacturing process, using a computer processor, to determine which point in the manufacturing process the sample has progressed to.

A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.

When a granular object is determined to have to be sorted out two or more times in two or more of sort-out necessity/unnecessity determination results determined by a determination portion, a sort-out signal setting portion of an optical sorting apparatus sets a sort-out actuation signal that contains information for actuating an ejector when the granular object advancing in the air passes through a sorting region based on a combination of the sort-out necessity/unnecessity determination results from a predetermined signal setting table.

The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric element; a power supply applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element; a drive circuit that applies a voltage from the power supply to the piezoelectric element by a pulse charge signal and a discharge signal to charge, and discharges the charge charged in the piezoelectric element to drive the piezoelectric element; an abnormality detection circuit that detects an abnormality due to insulation failure of the piezoelectric element, and a control unit that determines whether or not the piezoelectric element is normal based on an abnormality detection signal. The abnormality detection circuit outputs the abnormality detection signal that detects a time corresponding to a period from when a current starts to flow to the piezoelectric element during charging to when a current stops to flow, and it is determined that the piezoelectric element is abnormal when the time is equal to or more than a set time.