Digital Imaging for Online Monitoring and Control of Industrial Snack Food Processes

Results from the implementation of an online color imaging system on industrial snack food production lines are presented. Feature information is extracted from images using multivariate image analysis based on principal component analysis and is used to develop models to predict the coating content and the coating distribution on the products. The imaging system is used to monitor these product quality variables and to detect and diagnose operational problems in the plants. It is also used to directly implement closed-loop feedback control over the coating concentration.