DE2207297A1 - Device for sorting objects - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the sorting of fruits, vegetables, nuts, eggs and other natural products or of. technical products using similar processes can be sorted.

Although the invention is described with regard to its application in the sorting of opinions with regard to their quality, however, the handling and test procedures can also be used in other cases, since they differ with regard to the size, the i'orm, the surface structure, the i'arbe or the degree of maturity can be adjusted.

There are already different constructions of z. B. tables equipped with Eöra bands were proposed, those who do hand sorting based on appearance or automatic sorting based on weight enable; such devices are e.g. B. in particular described in eier UK credit 1,176,396; These non-devices are associated with Eörueroini'icxituü ^ en equipped for individual items that are so auijgebiluet are, daii:; ie the items to be sorted at Lourach-

in urohurj »; vex-seizen.

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The invention is based on the object of providing improvements to devices for checking the surface of the items to be sorted in such a way that automatic sorting on the basis of differences with respect to several
Features is made possible.

The invention and advantageous details of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings of exemplary embodiments. It shows

! '' ig. 1 shows a known arrangement for sorting

Products;

i'ig. 2 and $ alternatively usable optical viewer-y management facilities;

iig. 4- a version, in the form of a semi-automatic Device for viewing the items to be sorted with devices for registering the condition of the items to be sorted;

! '' ig. 5 an automatic scanning and sorting device

i'ig. 6, 7 ^{Uil (} i Ö in a side view or a
Stirrian view or in plan a hehriaeharioramin;:, for generating signals when sorting several objects at the same time; and

9 and lü in a side view or in perspective an optical device.

At the bit; Now _t ^ci ; ebrüuchlicheri From ^ iciitungon the fruits to be sorted are rotated with the help of a set of noiles while they are running _; ; s the axis of the ii'ördeieifii'icliturii weraen moved. According to l'ig. 1 stand or the sorters sit on one side; der! ''ördereinx'iclituiij;, they each check uine iie range of sici: on them

BATH

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to move fruits, remove them with the iianä damaged oaer unsatisfactory fruits, and they place the rejected fruits on a separate conveyor belt or another part of the conveyor belt. La if the sorters are on one side of the conveyor belt, one side of each fruit is facing away from the sorters, so that it is difficult or even impossible to find damage or defects on this opposite side to recognize.

According to the invention it is now proposed to ensure that each sorter at the same time an image or can view multiple images of each fruit, these images being projected optically onto a screen v / earth located immediately in front of the sorter. Fig. 2 shows a simple assembly of mirrors which it enable each fruit to be viewed from above and to ensure a complete examination of each fruit, each fruit is made to make at least one complete revolution while its image is on a screen 4 is projected; to make this possible, the mirror 2 must have a sufficient length as shown in FIG.

According to Fig. 4, the viewing screen can be divided into a grid or grid 5, so that the sorter can more easily measure the size of damaged parts found on the various fruits.

If necessary, the optical device can be designed in such a way that it enlarges the projected one Image causes.

While the projected biIu of each cargo is longitudinal of the screen 4 according to FIG. 2 moves, a corresponding one moves i: section of a storage or itej 'istrierbanae ^ ü mi L a synchronous speed unt,., i · an Aurrxri ca-

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SAD ORfGINAL

tion head 7 through, so that information about the quality the tested fruit can be recorded; this information is given to the establishment by the sorter entered by pressing keys of a control device IO. The information stored on the belt 6 then automatically causes each fruit to be fed to a channel which corresponds to the determined quality of the fruit. The endless belt 6 also effects this control With the aid of a section of tape that moves with respect to a reading head 8, while on the following section of the Tape information about the next tested fruit with Recorded by means of the recording head 7; the Section of the tape already used to carry out a control process then passes through an erase head 9 · Up this enables continuous operation. Several sorters forming a row can be installed on the device check assigned rows of fruits that are on the conveyor belt. If you consider the times in which the various sorters record the test results, staggered in a suitable manner, it is possible to use a single common recording tape. the Control device can be provided with a single set of buttons that allow information about each Record object as soon as the object has a certain Position ranks; alternatively, there may be multiple sets of branches arranged to contain information can be recorded about the corresponding objects during a period of time during which a certain Object is in the field of view of the sorter.

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates the remote optical inspection of an item 1 with the aid of mirrors 2 and 3 · The sorter checks the item 1 by looking at one Screen 4, which can be provided with grid lines, so the exact position of each defect or its size '"

209837/0761 BAO ORIGINAL

can be estimated. According to Fig. 4 is an i-asterisk grid 5 on a translucent screen 4- above of the mirror 3 arranged.

If one provides a more complicated arrangement of mirrors, it is possible, e.g. E. the entire surface of a To make apples visible on a flat mirror for the purpose of testing. With both arrangements, the eyes of the Sorter be replaced by arranged according to a coordinate system photoelectric cells on certain Address characteristics of the light falling on them.

The signals generated by the photocells can be fed to a computer which is designed so that the objects are sorted according to predetermined criteria, and that he controls a sorting device, which the goods to be sorted are supplied.

In a similar way it is possible to provide keyboards for the sorters, by means of various xtechner for control a sorting device can be operated.

Fig. 3 shows schematically in cross section a sorting table with an endless conveyor belt or the like, as it is is described in British Patent 1,176,396; this conveyor belt comprises "carts or the like that move along an upper track to enable sorting, and returned along a deep path will. Lie in Fi ^. 3 carry cars not shown separately secxis borrowed from items to be tested, and on each Wagons are the six objects, each of which is not assigned to any one, staggered in such a way that they form two none.

With this arrangement, test mirrors are arranged at different heights above the different branches of fruits.

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net that they reflect images of the fruit transmit, which are arranged at appropriate heights, so that the images of the fruit appear side by side and can be viewed by a single sorter.

According to FIG. 4, three test stations are provided, and Each of these test stations comprises a test desk arranged above a conveyor belt. There are two through in each test desk a lateral spaced-apart mirror 2 is provided, each above an associated row of objects are arranged so that it can be viewed with the help of six viewing devices it is possible to monitor all six rows of objects.

Alternatively, according to FIG. 3, two viewing mirrors 2 and 2 ^{1 can be arranged} in the same optical beam path; in this case the central mirror 2 'is semi-transparent so that it transmits the image reflected back by the mirror 2 and at the same time reflects images of the objects moving below this mirror.

The mirrors in the Direction of movement of the conveyor belt a considerable length.

The viewing screen 4- with the grid line grid 5 is built into a revolving endless belt.

The length of the endless belt and its speed in comparison to the running speed of the material to be sorted accompanying conveyor belt are chosen so that the viewing table screen 4- Each sorting desk has its associated fixed Mirror 3 happened twice while three carriages of the conveyor belt move past a fixed point.

They are lined up with three items on each wagon form two rows, and the sorting desks are in them

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Spaced apart that said relationships between the dimensions and the speeds of movement lead to a work cycle in which all three sorting desks A, B and C in six by regular intervals separate times, d. that is, can be viewed at each sorting desk at zv / ei times, with the Observation times at each sorting desk also follow one another at equally large intervals, and accordingly in the order A-B-G-A-B-G.

It is important that the conveyor belt and the endless belts move at the same linear speed move so that the screen 4 moves in synchronism with the object to be inspected.

Each sorting desk is assigned a keyboard or a set of push buttons that are connected to a computer. The information signals that are generated with the aid of the relevant keys or pushbuttons or the like depend on the type of goods to be sorted and the sorting features to be used. Each sorter presses a push button that is selected according to predetermined features, either for each item tested, or only for items that have certain features. The point in time at which a signal is generated indicates the position of the object on the conveyor belt, so that the itechner registers each signal in xiezieiif-: for the relevant point on the conveyor belt.

According ate recorded Inχ ο rm ation ^ n controls the computer a Cutom & oiscije sorting UUD Ab would be - .. in the direction by which that j'öraei'ijaijd with äem be sorted beyond the call ε ^ OFJ tion hiudux'chläuf t.

uii ι «. 'jt he line filter ^l j kauü through corresponding eiuem J .-' to π cysteine disordered j / holozelü en ex'aetzL et in, the

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arranged above the items to be sorted or in the conveyor belt and each connected to connecting shoes which together circulate with the conveyor belt and are in contact with fixed connection plates, which are connected by wire lines are connected to the computer.

Depending on the surface structure or the color, more specific Parts of the surface of an object that are reflected in the direction of the photocells become Signals of different strengths fed to the computer, which is designed so that it receives the combination received by it evaluates signals in order to control a sorting and / or packaging process accordingly.

The methods described above can be replaced by other automatic or semi-automatic test methods or added. For example, FIG. 5 schematically shows a sequence of operations for dividing a series of Fruits or other products in several quality classes depending on one or more characteristics. According to In the left part of Fig. 5, the items not yet sorted become an automatic color scanning and selection device transported. The scanner can be provided with red, orange and green filters, respectively associated with a photocell, the output signals of which are analyzed in a known manner in order to detect the objects e.g. B. to be sorted according to three quality classes.

At the next station, the objects are checked optically with the aid of a projection screen so that a further selection can be made according to the quality level with the aid of a remote control.

Fig. 5 also illustrates a sorting according to the weight or size that can be performed after any of the above-described Früf-

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and sorting processes or several of these processes in combination have been carried out; here each stream of objects in itself according to the weight and / or the Size divided into the desired number of groups.

Since the electrical circuit elements used}, integrated circuits and kechers to commercially available Products, a more detailed explanation should be superfluous.

As mentioned, sorting fruits requires an examination of the entire surface of their appearance, and to make this possible the fruits are rotated while they are run through the test zone, as it is z. B. in the aforementioned British Patent is described. In this test, several accounts within the same row are checked at the same time tested within a section of the conveyor belt, the length of this test section is selected so that within the test section at the selected test speed each fruit can turn around its axis once.

In these circumstances, it is preferable to ensure that a flaw is registered as soon as it is becomes visible ^ for this purpose it must be possible to a Record a sorting signal for a fruit at each point in time as the fruit moves along the test section; this means that it must be possible for the sorter to receive signals for several fruits each in any one Time to generate.

In this case, a separate one must be used for each fruit that moves along the test section of the conveyor belt iiegistrieinrichtung be provided so that the sorter can record a signal at any point in time at which it recognizes a recordable characteristic

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- ίο -

In a device of the type described there is one on the endless conveyor belt at any point in time large number of fruits, and fruits are constantly being added to or removed from the conveyor, and in view of this, the records are made taking into account the Position of the fruit on the conveyor belt is established during a complete revolution of the conveyor belt.

In the preferred conveyor belt construction of the aforesaid British patent, the conveyor belt comprises individual carts for the fruit so that the position of the fruit can be identified.

According to Fig. 4 and 6 is a keyboard tape KC, whose * Length corresponds to the length of the early section of the conveyor belt, arranged next to the main conveyor belt HC so that its ends are at the ends of the test section IT, and each keyboard band carries individual keys KS, which are separated by such longitudinal distances that they are individually assigned to the places occupied by the successive fruits. The keyboard tape moves synchronously with the main conveyor belt, so that χ keys KS, which are distributed on the key belt at regular longitudinal intervals are, along the test section IT in association with successive ones Groups of χ fruits move on the main conveyor belt, the number of individual carriages of the Main conveyor belt is a whole multiple of χ.

The keys KS control signal channels which lead to a memory which is designed so that it is successive Groups of χ sorting signals generated with the help of the keys for individual fruits registered "and the bortiersignale according to the different grades transmitted to packaging stations, synchronously with the arrival of the relevant fruit at the packaging station or possibly another station.

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According to FIG. 7, each key KS comprises a rotatably mounted one Component which is prestressed by spring force so that it remains in one of two angular positions; this component carries a permanent magnet to operate small reed switches or to respond more responsive to magnetic effects Solid state devices, e.g. B. of devices that work using the Hall effect, kan could also provide manually operated switches of different design, and several such containers could be present at each station be.

Each magnetic-responsive switch or the like is through a signal channel to the memory tied together. In connection with this, any type of signal generating device can be used.

The memory can be connected to a computer to which, for example, information from a weighing device to be fed out; the computer then effects a sorting while taking into account the Information about each fruit is supplied to him from all possible sources, and he can do the sorting operations either step by step or with the help of a single work step.

The screen 4 shown in Fig. 2 can be in the by dashed lines may also be replaced by an arrangement with inclined mirrors; such an arrangement, as also shown in FIG Looking at objects.

So that successive parts of a rotating object can be loaded in the same position on the mirror, it is possible to set the mirror 2 (! is «, shown in Fig. 9 and IO. The mirror 92 _{V of} the above that to be tested

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Object is arranged, which is on the carriage 90 that described in British Patent 1,176,596 is, is supported by a vertical axis 91, which is associated with an arm 95, which is in a Bracket 9 ^ at the upper end of a vertically arranged two-armed Lever 95 engages; the lower end of the lever 95 can be operated by horizontal rods 96 which on the conveyor belt are arranged, each carriage 90 one such rod is assigned. Each rod 96 rotates the lever 95 a sufficient angular amount about the mirror 92 to pivot so that the object in question can be viewed to the extent necessary. After the lever 95 has initially assumed a vertical position, it slides off the relevant rod 96 and then becomes reset by a spring 98. Alternatively, the lower Part of the lever 95 can be pushed in and out, and by a cam in a housing arranged on its axis of rotation 97 are actuated to pivot the mirror 92.

Expectations:

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Claims (13)

Αίι SPfiU GE E lJ device for monitoring or determining properties of objects by a conveyor device for moving objects arranged on it along a monitoring station and through a device that can be actuated to monitor the results of the properties of each record items carried by the conveyor belt in relation to the individual items being monitored or to register Ό- 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that g e k e η η ζ Calibrates that the conveyor belt is designed to rotate the objects as they move along the Move the monitoring station. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by means of a device for carrying out a bteuerν or gear as a function of the determined Properties of the objects. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 »ge indicated by a at the monitoring station arranged optical device which successively images each object at a viewing station a foil of objects carried along by the conveyor belt generated, as well as a hand-operated control device (10) which can be operated by the viewer, about the i ^ rgebnicae of the examination of the successive objects to register. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3 »B" © characterized by an automatic, properties monitoring or determining device that 209837/0761 is arranged to monitor a sequence of objects moving along the monitoring station, and that it registers the results of the monitoring in relation to the individual monitored objects. 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by associated with the conveyor belt Switch, by means of which objects are directed in different directions, these switches being controlled by the device to register the properties of the objects can be controlled from. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by individual along the conveyor belt spaced support for individual items. 8 · Device according to claim 7 »marked devices produced by a rotary movement, which rotate the objects as they move along the monitoring station. 9. Device according to claim 7 »characterized in that the supports are rotatable components for rotating the items on the supports, and that in the conveyor belt at the monitoring station Devices are installed which serve to move the rotatable components along the monitoring station rotating supports. 10. Device according to claim 4, characterized through an arrangement of mirrors, which open it up enable viewers located on a side of the Föxderbanaes, To look at objects in a mirror at a viewing stabion. 209837/0761 11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the arrangement of mirrors is formed is that the viewer will see a rotating object during at least the greater part of a complete Can consider rotation. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the mirror (92), which is on it is immediately adjacent to moving objects, is pivotable, so that successive parts of a rotating object can be viewed on a viewing mirror at the same point. 13. Device according to claim 4 · or 5 »characterized by a dynamic information storage device, whose speed of movement is related to the running speed of the conveyor belt, that the information entered her at the monitoring station automatically identifiable in relation to the object to which the information applies. 14 ·. Device according to Claim 4, characterized by means of an optical device that allows several objects to be viewed at one viewing station at the same time consider. 2 0 9 8 3 7/0761 Blank page