Using acoustics in assembly lines.(United States. Department of Energy. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)(Brief article)

R & D, July, 2006

Researchers at the Dept. of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Wash., have developed an inspection method based on sound waves in order to detect foreign objects in processing streams. Originally developed to look for bone fragments and foreign materials in poultry, the method can also detect cartilage, metal and plastic--essentially anything that shouldn't be in the product.

A process stream is typically a continuous flow of slurry or liquid that goes through multiple steps on its way to becoming a finished product. During processing, objects can fall into the mixture, bones can be left in meat, or pits and seeds may be left in fruit. The PNNL-developed method combines both ultrasonic and optical capabilities.

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