Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for sorting and labeling food products are provided. Respective spectra of food products for a plurality of segments of a line are received at a controller from at least one line-scan dispersive spectrometer configured to acquire respective spectra of the food products for the plurality of segments of the line. The controller applies one or more machine learning algorithms to the respective spectra to classify the plurality of segments according to at least one of one or more food parameters. The controller controls one or more of a sorting device and a labeling device according to classifying the plurality of segments to cause the food products to be one or more of sorted and labeled according to the at least one of the one or more food parameters.

Abstract: Apparatuses for imaging food products are provided. An apparatus includes a first and second conveyor, the first conveyor configured to move a flexible food product at a first speed, the second conveyor configured to move the flexible food product at a second speed greater than the first speed, a receiving portion of the second conveyor positioned in a downward direction relative to the first conveyor to receive the flexible food product, thereby flipping the flexible food product and stretching the flexible food product for imaging. An apparatus may include a guide mechanism to guide the food product to be flipped. An apparatus may move a plurality of food products and spread apart the plurality of food products for imaging. An apparatus may include a receiving structure having a low-friction receiving surface for stretching or spreading apart food products.

Abstract: Apparatuses for imaging food products are provided. An apparatus includes a first and second conveyor, the first conveyor configured to move a flexible food product at a first speed, the second conveyor configured to move the flexible food product at a second speed greater than the first speed, a receiving portion of the second conveyor positioned in a downward direction relative to the first conveyor to receive the flexible food product, thereby flipping the flexible food product and stretching the flexible food product for imaging. An apparatus may include a guide mechanism to guide the food product to be flipped. An apparatus may move a plurality of food products and spread apart the plurality of food products for imaging. An apparatus may include a receiving structure having a low-friction receiving surface for stretching or spreading apart food products.

Abstract: A device and system for optically analyzing food products is provided. The device comprises first and second imaging devices respectively sensitive to first and second wavelengths; the imaging devices include a line-scan camera to acquire images of food products at a line in a food-path-facing direction, and a line-scan spectrometer to acquire spectroscopic images at the line. The device includes an optical filter configured to: convey the first wavelengths from the line to the first imaging device; and convey the second wavelengths from the line to the second imaging device. The device includes a frame to align the optical filter and respective optical axes of the first and second imaging devices, relative to each other and the food-path-facing direction, such that the first imaging device and the second imaging device are optically aligned via the optical filter to image the line.

Abstract: A lamp for illuminating food products along a line is provided. The lamp comprises: a housing having a longitudinal axis and an opening along the longitudinal axis; a light source located in the housing along the longitudinal axis; a reflector positioned in the housing along the longitudinal axis, the reflector to reflect light from the light source through the opening and focus the light along the line; a removeable frame attached to the housing around the opening, the removeable frame having an aperture aligned with the opening along the longitudinal axis; a glass window in the aperture; a transparent polymer film in the aperture at an outward facing side of the glass window, each of the glass window and the transparent polymer film extending into the removeable frame past a perimeter of the aperture; and a seal between the transparent polymer film and the perimeter of the aperture.