Granted Patent B2

US 12,379,248 · App. 18/584,139 · Granted Aug 5, 2025

Inventors: Henry M. Dante (Midlothian, VA); Samuel Timothy Henry (Richmond, VA); Seetharama C. Deevi (Midlothian, VA)

Assignee: ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC

G01J3/28A24B3/16A24B15/18B07C5/342B07C5/366G01J3/2823G01N21/03G01N21/31G01N21/84G06F16/51G06T7/0008G06V20/194G01J2003/2826G01N2021/8461G01N2021/8466G06T2207/20024G06T2207/30108G06T2207/30188

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning a region of a product stream;

generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region;

determining a hyperspectral fingerprint from the hyperspectral images; and

determining whether foreign matter is present in the product stream based on a comparison of the hyperspectral fingerprint and a hyperspectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of hyperspectral fingerprints using a computer processor.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

directing a fluid at a first portion of the product stream to remove the first portion of the product stream in response to determining foreign matter is present,

wherein the directing fluid includes pulses of fluid.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the directing fluid includes directing the fluid from a plurality of ejector nozzles, the plurality of ejector nozzles configured to be individually directed and controlled by a computer processor.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid is pressurized air.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fluid is water.

6. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

collecting the first portion in a receptacle.

7. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

conveying the product stream past an inspection station,

wherein the conveying includes conveying the product stream on a vibrating conveyor.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

conveying the product stream past an inspection station,

wherein the conveying includes conveying the product stream on an inclined conveyor.

9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

causing the product stream to fall in a cascade.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the cascade is a turbulent cascade.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the causing is performed concurrently with the scanning.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the directing fluid is directed at the first portion falling in the cascade.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

after the directing, conveying a remainder of the product stream on a conveyer.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scanning includes using a light source, the light source includes a tungsten light source, a halogen light source, a xenon light source, a mercury light source, an ultraviolet light source, or any combination thereof.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the light source is positioned so as to reduce an angle of incidence of each beam of light with the product stream.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the scanning comprises:

reflecting the light source off of a mirror and to the agricultural product stream.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the foreign matter includes a lubricant.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product stream includes tobacco.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product stream includes a smoking article or a smokeless tobacco product.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the product stream includes tea.

Continuity (6)

References Cited (196)