System and method for sorting larvae cocoons

1. A system for sorting larvae cocoons comprising:

a conveyor arranged for conveying cocoons through a target scanning area;

an x-ray source arranged for directing x-rays at the target scanning area;

a sensor head opposite the x-ray source in relation to the target scanning area so as to be arranged for receiving x-rays which have passed through the target scanning area and arranged for generating a density image of a cocoon in the target area comprising a two-dimensional density image representing an overall through mass of the cocoon;

a processor arranged for comparing the density image to a prescribed density criteria of the processor and arranged for determining a rejected cocoon if the density criteria is not met;

the processor being arranged to identify a region of density different than an outer shell of the cocoon;

the prescribed density criteria comprises at least one average shape criteria, an overall size criteria including a lower size limit, and a consistency criteria comprising a required consistency of density throughout said region of density different than the outer shell;

the processor being arranged to determine a healthy cocoon if said region of density different than the outer shell of the cocoon has a shape which matches said at least one average shape criteria, has a size which is greater than the lower size limit so as to match the overall size criteria, and has a consistent density which matches the consistency criteria;

the processor being arranged to determine a rejected cocoon if said region of density different than the outer shell of the cocoon has a shape which does not correspond to said at least one average shape criteria, has a size which does not correspond to the overall size criteria, or has a discontinuous density; and

a sorting mechanism arranged for removing the rejected cocoon from a remainder of cocoons on the conveyor.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the density criteria comprises a plurality of different shape criteria corresponding to different views of the cocoon.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the prescribed density criteria includes an upper size limit.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the prescribed density criteria comprises identifying distinct regions different in density from one another.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the prescribed density criteria comprises an overall permissible density range of the region.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the sensor head is arranged to generate the density image of the cocoon in its entirety prior to the processor comparing the density image to a prescribed density criteria.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the conveyor is arranged to convey the cocoons in a single layer thickness thereon.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the conveyor is arranged to convey the cocoons thereon spaced apart from one another so that the cocoons do not touch one another.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a mechanism for pre-sorting non-cocoon debris from the cocoons prior to conveying the cocoons through the target scanning area.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a sorting screen in series with the conveyor for sorting non-cocoon debris from the cocoons to be conveyed on the conveyor.

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the prescribed density criteria comprises distinguishing criteria between cocoons comprising leafcutter bee cells with healthy larvae therein and leafcutter bee cells having non-healthy larvae therein.

12. The system according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a transfer system arranged to transfer cocoons from a source area to the conveyor, the transfer system comprising an endless perforated belt rotatably supported so that a portion of the belt is exposed to an internal vacuum pressure and spans from the source area to the conveyor.

13. A method of sorting larvae cocoons comprising:

conveying cocoons through a target scanning area;

providing an x-ray source adjacent the target scanning area;

directing x-rays at the target scanning area from the x-ray source;

providing a sensor head opposite the x-ray source in relation to the target scanning area;

generating a density image of a cocoon in the target area based on x-rays received by the sensor head and which have passed through the target scanning area such that the density image comprises a two-dimensional density image representing an overall through mass of the cocoon;

identifying in the density image a region of density different than an outer shell of the cocoon;

comparing said region of the density image to a prescribed density criteria comprising at least one average shape criteria, an overall size criteria including a lower size limit, and a consistency criteria comprising a required consistency of density throughout said region of density different than the outer shell;

determining a healthy cocoon if said region of density different than the outer shell of the cocoon has a shape which matches said at least one average shape criteria, has a size which is greater than the lower size limit so as to match the overall size criteria, and has a consistent density which matches the consistency criteria;

determining a rejected cocoon if said region of density different than the outer shell of the cocoon has a shape which does not correspond to said at least one average shape criteria, has a size which does not correspond to the overall size criteria, or has a discontinuous density; and

removing the rejected cocoon from a remainder of cocoons.