7 - Computer vision for foreign body detection and removal in the food industry

Abstract

A broad range of solutions have been devised to remove foreign body contaminants, prompted by the many injuries and lawsuits that they cause each year. This chapter details the use of computer vision inspection systems to detect the wide variety of these contaminants and remove them from the product stream. Two major approaches are discussed: optical inspection systems, which use images generated using visible or near infrared wavelengths to inspect the exterior of the product, and X-ray inspection systems, which use X-ray imaging to non-destructively search the interior of packages and products.