A leather inspection apparatus is provided for detecting inconsistencies on both upper and lower surfaces of a hide. It includes a first camera assembly movably coupled to a support frame and capable of movement along the upper surface of the hide and a second camera assembly movably coupled to the support frame and capable of movement along the lower surface of the hide. A computing device is coupled to the first camera assembly and the second camera assembly, such that the first camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the upper surface of the hide and the second camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the lower surface of the hide. The computing device digitally stores the locations of the inconsistencies of the upper surface of the hide and the locations of the inconsistencies of the lower surface of the hide.

The present invention discloses a method for authentication of animal species origin of leather products, which includes the following steps: Step 1: Model establishment: (1) Collect leather samples from different animal species origins, set mass spectrometric parameters, cut the surface of leather samples using a preheated electric soldering iron, and detect the resulting sample ions using the mass spectrometer; (2) Create a multivariate statistical model based on principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis of rapid evaporative ionization mass spectrometric data and evaluate the model with cross-validation tests; Step 2: Analysis of real leather samples: detect and authenticate the identity of real leather samples based on the multivariate statistical model. The authentication method disclosed in present invention is a rapid analytical method that requires no sample pretreatment and can identify the animal species origin of leather products rapidly and accurately.

A diagnostic support for a skin includes a radio-transparent structure that defines a folding surface of the skin and on which the skin may be stretched and consequently folded, thereby defining folded, mutually superimposed portions spaced apart from each other. The support may be used for radiographic inspection of a folded animal skin.

An inspecting machine for leathers includes a feeding unit for moving a leather along an advancement direction; a sensor unit for capturing images of the leather during movement and having contact image sensors arranged perpendicularly to the advancement direction of the leather; and a processing device for identifying geometrical features of the leather based on an analysis of sensor-provided images. The image sensors are staggered perpendicularly to the advancement direction of the leather so that the respective optical fields have corresponding first sections that are superimposed according to the advancement direction to capture first image portions of a same first portion of the leather at two different moments, and corresponding remaining sections for capturing second image portions of two other different portions of the leather adjacent to the first portions, the processing device combining the images captured by the image sensors based on an analysis of the first image portions.

A process is provided for marking leather manufactured from hide with an XRF-identifiable marker, the process comprising treating a hide or processed leather with a formulation comprising at least one XRF-identifiable marker to embed said marker in the hide or processed leather, to thereby obtain a marked hide or marked leather, wherein the XRF-identifiable marker is not a native material to a hide or leather or involved in a process for its manufacturing.

A diagnostic support for a skin includes a radio-transparent structure that defines a folding surface of the skin and on which the skin may be stretched and consequently folded, thereby defining folded, mutually superimposed portions spaced apart from each other. The support may be used for radiographic inspection of a folded animal skin.

A diagnostic support for a skin includes a radio-transparent structure that defines a folding surface of the skin and on which the skin may be stretched and consequently folded, thereby defining folded, mutually superimposed portions spaced apart from each other. The support may be used for radiographic inspection of a folded animal skin.

A leather inspection apparatus is provided for detecting inconsistencies on both upper and lower surfaces of a hide. It includes a first camera assembly movably coupled to a support frame and capable of movement along the upper surface of the hide and a second camera assembly movably coupled to the support frame and capable of movement along the lower surface of the hide. A computing device is coupled to the first camera assembly and the second camera assembly, such that the first camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the upper surface of the hide and the second camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the lower surface of the hide. The computing device digitally stores the locations of the inconsistencies of the upper surface of the hide and the locations of the inconsistencies of the lower surface of the hide.

A leather inspection apparatus is provided for detecting inconsistencies on both upper and lower surfaces of a hide. It includes a first camera assembly movably coupled to a support frame and capable of movement along the upper surface of the hide and a second camera assembly movably coupled to the support frame and capable of movement along the lower surface of the hide. A computing device is coupled to the first camera assembly and the second camera assembly, such that the first camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the upper surface of the hide and the second camera assembly detects the locations of inconsistencies in the lower surface of the hide. The computing device digitally stores the locations of the inconsistencies of the upper surface of the hide and the locations of the inconsistencies of the lower surface of the hide.

The invention comprises a method and system for grading and verifying the grading of an animal hide. The animal hide is inspected on a light table to determine the grade of the hide. A tag on the hide is read by a reader to identify the hide. The hide is displayed on a monitor connected to a computer. Touch screen commands are be used for inputting information into the computer database to make a record of the inspection and grading of the hide. A camera connected to the computer is used to photograph the animal hide on the light table and store the data and image in a computer database to make a record of the inspection and provide the ability to verify the condition of the animal hide when it was inspected. The photograph of an animal hide and all information relating to the animal hide is stored in a database to identify the hide and to verify the inspection grade of the animal hide.