FEBRUARY 28--The deployment of high-speed machine-vision systems is increasingly becoming important for measuring and maintaining the quality of food processing and packaging. To maintain quality, consistency and efficiency, there is a growing need to replace manual labor for sorting and food inspection.
One developer of such systems is American SensoRx (Glen Rock, NJ; www.AmericanSensoRx.Com). The company's SpectRx Near-Infrared High Speed Production System uses IR spectroscopy to make light rays in the near-IR spectrum impinge on the object being analyzed. Depending upon the composition and physical nature of the object, light incident on the object is absorbed and reflected. The diffuse component of the reflected light is then isolated for analysis by converting them to electronic signals. The computer analyzes these signals to create a spectrum for the object. The machine vision system employs sophisticated neural networks to analyze the constituents of the food or drug.
American SensoRx has won the Frost & Sullivan 2006 Excellence in Technology of the Year Award for its development of the SpectRx. This system uses infrared spectroscopy for applications in the food industry, for instance, inspection of fat, protein, and moisture content of beef, pork, and poultry products.
