GB2172699A - Apparatus and method for separating mixed products - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for separating mixed products Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2172699A
GB2172699A GB08516368A GB8516368A GB2172699A GB 2172699 A GB2172699 A GB 2172699A GB 08516368 A GB08516368 A GB 08516368A GB 8516368 A GB8516368 A GB 8516368A GB 2172699 A GB2172699 A GB 2172699A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mixed products
infrared rays
products
observation station
mixed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB08516368A
Other versions
GB8516368D0 (en
Inventor
Kazuyoshi Anzai
Akira Shibayama
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
ANZAI Manufacturing CO Ltd
Original Assignee
ANZAI Manufacturing CO Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by ANZAI Manufacturing CO Ltd filed Critical ANZAI Manufacturing CO Ltd
Publication of GB8516368D0 publication Critical patent/GB8516368D0/en
Publication of GB2172699A publication Critical patent/GB2172699A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/342—Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour

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  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)
  • Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)

Abstract

Apparatus and method for detecting and removing foreign substances 2' mixed with manufactured articles 2 by detecting and comparing the infrared rays reflected by each product 2,2' with a predetermined reference value to identify each product 2,2' and actuating an ejection mechanism 10 to remove the foreign substances 2' based upon the comparison result. In the embodiment illustrated, a filter 6 for passing only infrared radiation is interposed in the path of the reflected light. Alternatively, (Fig. 2), such a filter 6 may be interposed in the path of the incident light. In a further modification, the wanted product instead of the foreign substance may be separated from a mixed stream. A plurality of assemblies may be positioned around an observation station. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus and method for separating mixed products The present invention relates to apparatus and method for separating mixed products. The invention is especially, but not exclusively, suited to the detection and removal of foreign substances mixed with manufactured articles such as granular members, confectionery, noodles or the like.
Most common foreign substances likely to be mixed with granular members such as grains comprise stone, pumice, pieces of metal, clods of earth and the like.
Two methods have conventionally been adopted for detecting and removing foreign substances mixed with standard or genuine articles. One of the methods is to detect and remove the foreign substances by using the difference of specific gravity or weight between the standard or genuine article and the foreign substance. The other of the methods is to detect and remove the foreign substances by using the colour difference between the colour of the standard or genuine article and the foreign substance.
In the first of the above two methods, the standard or genuine articles mixed with the foreign substances are passed through apparatus having a weighing function, and while passing, foreign substances having a weight/specific gravity ratio beyond a predetermined reference value, that is, the ratio being either over or under the reference value, are detected and removed. This method however has been found unsatisfactory in that the detection precision is insufficient if there is little difference of weight or specific gravity between the standard or genuine article and the foreign substance to be removed.
In the second of the above two methods, a background having a proper colour relative. to the standard or genuine article is prepared.
The brightness of the reflected light from the background is compared with the brightness of reflected light from the standard or genuine articles and from the foreign substances whereby the foreign substances, whose brightness of reflected light is beyond the permissible range, are detected and removed.
However, also in this method using colour difference, the detection precision is insufficient if the colour difference between the standard or genuine article and the foreign substance to be removed is small.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for separating mixed products which has improved detection precision as compared with the above prior art methods.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for separating mixed products which is applicable. not only to granular members mixed with foreign substances but also to noodles or confectionery mixed on the surface thereof with foreign substances.
According to the first aspect of the present invention apparatus for separating mixed products comprises means for feeding mixed products to an observation station, a light source for illuminating the mixed products fed to the observation station, means for detecting infrared rays reflected by each product, means for comparing the detected infrared rays with a pre-determined reference and, means operable in response to the comparison result for removing selected products from the mixed products thereby effecting separation of the mixed products.
According to a second aspect of the present invention a method of separating mixed products comprises feeding the mixed products to an observation station, illuminating the mixed products fed to the observation station with a light source, detecting the infrared rays reflected by each product, comparing the detected infrared rays with a predetermined reference value and, removing selected products from the mixed products thereby effecting separation of the mixed products based upon the comparison result.
The present invention is based on the fact that reflected light from different products irradiated by the same light source has a different wavelength in the infrared region and utilises this fact to provide an apparatus and method for separating mixed products by detecting the reflected infrared rays from each product and comparing the detected value with a predetermined reference value to identify the different products.
Two exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for separating mixed products according to the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a first embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 2 is a schematic view showing a second embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention in which the position of the filter is changed from the position shown in Fig. 1.
Referring first to the embodiment of Fig. 1, numeral 1 represents a chute for feeding mixed products such as granular members 2 mixed with foreign substances 2' to an observation station 3 mounted just below the chute 1.
As shown in Fig. 1, the chute 1 is inclined to the vertical and the observation station is positioned on and along a line parallel to the inclined chute 1. The observation station 3 is of a length sufficient for enabling optical and electrical observation of the mixed products 2,2' during passage of the products 2,2' ther ethrough.
At the observation station 3, a light source 4 for irradiating the mixed products 2,2' is mounted slightly to one side of the path along which the mixed products 2,2' successively drop down from the chute 1. In addition, mounted in successive relation to each other are, an optical lens 5 for light reflected from the mixed products 2,2', a filter 6 for selectively transmitting only reflected light having a particular wavelength range, that is, the infrared wavelength range and, a photosensor 7 for detecting the infrared rays transmitted by the filter 6.
The photosensor 7 may be of any type capable of detecting infrared rays. However, in general, photodiodes, photoelectric conductive cells or the like which are effectively sensitive to infrared rays may be used.
The signal obtained by detecting infrared rays with the photosensor 7 is amplified at an amplifier 8, and then compared at a comparator 9 with a predetermined reference value. If a signal obtained from a product differs from the reference value by more than an allowable amount, then at the time of its detection, an ejection mechanism 10 such as an air gun is operated to remove the product. In this embodiment the ejection mechanism 10 is actuated to remove the foreign substances 2'.
Means for feeding the mixed products 2,2' to be separated to the observation station 3 is not limited to the mechanism by which the products are moved down along the chute 1 as shown in Fig. 1, but other feed mechanisms such as a belt conveyor are also applicable.
Furthermore, more than one assembly comprising the light source 4, optical lens 5, filter 6, photosensor 7, and amplifier 8 associated with the photosensor 7 may be provided at positions spaced apart around the observation station 3. In this way the detection precision is further improved. In particuiar, for example, in case one or both of the mixed products to be separated has an uneven surface, it is more effective to provide a plurality of assemblies at various angles relative to the products.
Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of apparatus according to the present invention in which like reference numerals are used to indicate parts corresponding to those shown in Fig. 1.
In this embodiment, light from the light source 4 is transmitted through the filter 6 for selectively transmitting only light having the wavelength in the infrared region before irradiating the mixed products 2,2' passing through the observation station 3.
The reflected infrared rays from the products 2,2' to be separated pass through the optical lens 5 and photosensor 7, and the signal obtained is thereafter fed to amplifier 8 and comparator 9 to selectively actuate ejection mechanism 10 for performing the separation of the products 2,2' as previousiy described with reference to the embodiment of Fig. 1.
In the present invention, by utilizing as a detection medium infrared rays reflected from the mixed products, the detection precision is considerably improved as compared with the conventional methods using either the difference of weight/specific gravity or the colour difference obtained from reflected light.
The products to be separated are not limited to granular members mixed with foreign substances. For example, noodles, confectionery and the like mixed on the surface thereof with foreign substances may also be effectively separated.
Finally, although in the embodiments described the ejection mechanism is actuated to remove the foreign substance, it will be understood this is not limiting and the ejection mechanism could equally be actuated to remove the granular members.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for separating mixed products comprises means for feeding mixed products to an observation station, a light source for illuminating the mixed products fed to the observation station, means for detecting infrared rays reflected by each product, means for comparing the detected infrared rays with a pre-determined reference and, means operable in response to the comparison result for removing selected products from the mixed products thereby effecting separation of the mixed products.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a filter for transmitting infrared rays only is positioned between the light source and the observation station.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a filter for transmitting infrared rays only is positioned between the observation station and the detecting means.
4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a lens is positioned between the observation station and the detecting means.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the detecting means comprises a photosensor.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the photosensor comprises photodiodes or photoelectric conductive cells.
7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the removal means comprises an air gun.
8. Apparatus according to any one df the preceding claims wherein the feed means comprises a chute.
9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the feed means comprises a belt conveyor.
10. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mixed products are illuminated at a plurality of positions spaced apart around the observation station and the detecting means detects the infrared rays reflected at each position by each product.
11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the removal means is operable to remove products from which the value of the detected infrared rays differs from the reference value by more than an allowable amount.
12. Apparatus for separating mixed products substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.
13. A method of separating mixed products comprises feeding the mixed products to an observation station, illuminating the mixed products fed to the observation station with a light source, detecting the infrared rays reflected by each product, comparing the detected infrared rays with a predetermined reference value and, removing selected products from the mixed products thereby effecting separation of the mixed products based upon the comparison result.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the mixed products are illuminated by infrared rays only.
15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the reflected infrared rays are separated from light reflected by the mixed products.
16. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 15 wherein products are removed when the value of the detected infrared rays differs from the reference value by more than an allowable amount.
17. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 16 including illuminating the mixed products at a plurality of positions spaced apart around the observation station and detecting the reflected infrared rays at each position.
18. A method of separating mixed products substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawing.
GB08516368A 1985-03-19 1985-06-28 Apparatus and method for separating mixed products Withdrawn GB2172699A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP60055237A JPS61216787A (en) 1985-03-19 1985-03-19 Mechanism deciding, selecting and removing mixed foreign matter

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8516368D0 GB8516368D0 (en) 1985-07-31
GB2172699A true GB2172699A (en) 1986-09-24

Family

ID=12992996

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08516368A Withdrawn GB2172699A (en) 1985-03-19 1985-06-28 Apparatus and method for separating mixed products

Country Status (6)

Country Link
JP (1) JPS61216787A (en)
AU (1) AU569796B2 (en)
DE (1) DE3521509A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2579115A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2172699A (en)
IT (1) IT1188240B (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2217176A (en) * 1988-03-03 1989-10-25 Molins Plc Cigarette manufacture
US4915827A (en) * 1988-05-19 1990-04-10 Trebor Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for optical sorting of materials using near infrared absorbtion criteria
EP0460849A2 (en) * 1990-06-04 1991-12-11 Sortex Limited Method and apparatus for sorting materials
EP0504398A1 (en) * 1990-10-15 1992-09-23 Automation Industrial Control, Inc. A computer-controlled system and method for sorting plastic items
WO1994011126A1 (en) * 1992-11-07 1994-05-26 Ford Motor Company Limited Separating plastics materials

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IL90441A (en) * 1988-06-09 1992-11-15 Richert Gerald Ray Product discrimination system and method
DE4235956C2 (en) * 1992-10-23 1995-09-28 Rwe Entsorgung Ag Use of electromagnetic waves in the UV and visible range to identify the materials by detecting the material structure
DE19708457C1 (en) * 1997-02-17 1998-03-26 Elexso Sortiertech Gmbh Feeder for sorting machine for dry granular products
BE1017898A3 (en) * 2007-12-14 2009-10-06 Technology & Design B V B A SORTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SORTING PRODUCTS.

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB986177A (en) * 1962-05-25 1965-03-17 K & H Equipment Ltd Random stream materials sorter
GB993063A (en) * 1962-04-30 1965-05-26 Gunsons Sortex Ltd Photoelectric sorting machine
GB1354623A (en) * 1971-03-15 1974-06-05 Petty Ray Geophysical Inc Sorting apparatus
GB1415197A (en) * 1972-09-08 1975-11-26 Weimar Kombinat Veb Process and apparatus for sorting agricultural produce
GB1460527A (en) * 1973-05-15 1977-01-06 Amf Inc Automatic grader for sorting objects according to brightness and colour tones
GB1546548A (en) * 1977-02-04 1979-05-23 Amf Inc Method and apparatus for sorting articles
GB2009393A (en) * 1977-09-16 1979-06-13 Pickett A J F Photoelectric investigation of crops
GB1548062A (en) * 1976-05-19 1979-07-04 Ultra Sort Corp Sorting apparatus
GB1579741A (en) * 1978-01-09 1980-11-26 Secretary Industry Brit Sorting of items into different classes
GB2057123A (en) * 1979-07-24 1981-03-25 Csr Ltd Sorting apparatus
GB2060166A (en) * 1979-10-09 1981-04-29 Ag Electron Inc Sorting device and method
GB2121535A (en) * 1982-06-02 1983-12-21 Anglo Amer Corp South Africa Detector for use in sorting system

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB929104A (en) * 1961-04-20 1963-06-19 R W Gunson Seeds Ltd Improvements relating to the sorting of translucent objects
US3722676A (en) * 1971-08-23 1973-03-27 Mathews Mining Co Ore separation
GB1449519A (en) * 1973-12-13 1976-09-15 Gunssons Sortex Ltd Light-sensitive sorting machine
BE857904A (en) * 1977-08-18 1977-12-16 Elbicon Electronics Pvba DEVICE BASED ON THE REFLEKTION OF POLARIZED INFRARED LIGHT FOR DETECTION AND REMOVAL OF FOREIGN OBJECTS BETWEEN LOOSE VEGETABLES DISTRIBUTED ON A CONVEYOR BELT IN MOTION
FR2430272A1 (en) * 1978-07-06 1980-02-01 Blitz Electricite Removal of stones etc. from conveyed food prod. esp. beans - by diversion traps operated by detection of different reflectance
US4236640A (en) * 1978-12-21 1980-12-02 The Superior Oil Company Separation of nahcolite from oil shale by infrared sorting
JPS5778980A (en) * 1980-11-05 1982-05-17 Hamamatsu Tv Co Ltd Selector for tea leaf
JPS57107272A (en) * 1980-12-25 1982-07-03 Saika Gijutsu Kenkyusho Selector for granular body

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB993063A (en) * 1962-04-30 1965-05-26 Gunsons Sortex Ltd Photoelectric sorting machine
GB986177A (en) * 1962-05-25 1965-03-17 K & H Equipment Ltd Random stream materials sorter
GB1354623A (en) * 1971-03-15 1974-06-05 Petty Ray Geophysical Inc Sorting apparatus
GB1415197A (en) * 1972-09-08 1975-11-26 Weimar Kombinat Veb Process and apparatus for sorting agricultural produce
GB1460527A (en) * 1973-05-15 1977-01-06 Amf Inc Automatic grader for sorting objects according to brightness and colour tones
GB1548062A (en) * 1976-05-19 1979-07-04 Ultra Sort Corp Sorting apparatus
GB1546548A (en) * 1977-02-04 1979-05-23 Amf Inc Method and apparatus for sorting articles
GB2009393A (en) * 1977-09-16 1979-06-13 Pickett A J F Photoelectric investigation of crops
GB1579741A (en) * 1978-01-09 1980-11-26 Secretary Industry Brit Sorting of items into different classes
GB2057123A (en) * 1979-07-24 1981-03-25 Csr Ltd Sorting apparatus
GB2060166A (en) * 1979-10-09 1981-04-29 Ag Electron Inc Sorting device and method
GB2121535A (en) * 1982-06-02 1983-12-21 Anglo Amer Corp South Africa Detector for use in sorting system

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2217176A (en) * 1988-03-03 1989-10-25 Molins Plc Cigarette manufacture
GB2217176B (en) * 1988-03-03 1991-11-20 Molins Plc Cigarette manufacture
US4915827A (en) * 1988-05-19 1990-04-10 Trebor Industries, Inc. Method and apparatus for optical sorting of materials using near infrared absorbtion criteria
EP0460849A2 (en) * 1990-06-04 1991-12-11 Sortex Limited Method and apparatus for sorting materials
EP0460849A3 (en) * 1990-06-04 1992-10-07 Sortex Ltd Method and apparatus for sorting materials
EP0504398A1 (en) * 1990-10-15 1992-09-23 Automation Industrial Control, Inc. A computer-controlled system and method for sorting plastic items
EP0504398A4 (en) * 1990-10-15 1993-08-04 Automation Industrial Control, Inc. A computer-controlled system and method for sorting plastic items
WO1994011126A1 (en) * 1992-11-07 1994-05-26 Ford Motor Company Limited Separating plastics materials

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE3521509A1 (en) 1986-10-02
DE3521509C2 (en) 1988-05-05
IT1188240B (en) 1988-01-07
AU4373685A (en) 1986-09-25
AU569796B2 (en) 1988-02-18
JPS61216787A (en) 1986-09-26
FR2579115A1 (en) 1986-09-26
IT8619044A0 (en) 1986-01-09
GB8516368D0 (en) 1985-07-31

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)