EP0396290A2 - Méthode et appareil pour trier des matériaux discrets et des produits fabriqués - Google Patents

Méthode et appareil pour trier des matériaux discrets et des produits fabriqués Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0396290A2
EP0396290A2 EP90304304A EP90304304A EP0396290A2 EP 0396290 A2 EP0396290 A2 EP 0396290A2 EP 90304304 A EP90304304 A EP 90304304A EP 90304304 A EP90304304 A EP 90304304A EP 0396290 A2 EP0396290 A2 EP 0396290A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
streams
cameras
objects
linescan
chute
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Withdrawn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
EP90304304A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0396290A3 (fr
Inventor
Milan Fuchs
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.)
Radix Systems Ltd
Original Assignee
Radix Systems 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 Radix Systems Ltd filed Critical Radix Systems Ltd
Publication of EP0396290A2 publication Critical patent/EP0396290A2/fr
Publication of EP0396290A3 publication Critical patent/EP0396290A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • B07C5/3422—Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour using video scanning devices, e.g. TV-cameras
    • 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
    • B07C5/36—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C5/363—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution by means of air
    • B07C5/365—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution by means of air using a single separation means
    • B07C5/366—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution by means of air using a single separation means during free fall of the articles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method and apparatus employed to detect and eject a particular object or objects from a plurality of similar or dissimilar objects. More particularly, the objects to be separated are detected on the basis of size, e.g. length, width, area or perimeter; reflected radiation, e.g. light; or transmitted radiation through the objects.
  • This invention is particularly suitable for sorting or grading, and rejecting, a variety of materials, e.g. broken or chipped pharmaceutical tablets, under or oversized capsules, broken almonds, peanuts with glass or shell, dehydrated vegetable with discolouration blemishes, incorrectly manufactured metal washers and many others.
  • materials e.g. broken or chipped pharmaceutical tablets, under or oversized capsules, broken almonds, peanuts with glass or shell, dehydrated vegetable with discolouration blemishes, incorrectly manufactured metal washers and many others.
  • An object of this invention is to provide a reliable method of presenting a stream of objects being sorted. Another object is to provide an arrangement of sensing elements (cameras) to enable detection of a single or several features (e.g. area and discolouration and the position of discolouration) simultaneously. A further object is to provide accurate means of ejection of rejected objects.
  • linescan CCD cameras can be used for sorting articles, e.g. on a belt, using either reflected or transmitted light.
  • the use of linescan cameras for measurement of a single dimension only is also well documented.
  • matrix cameras are normally employed. This technique presents difficulties in speed of image frame capture, normally twenty five frames per second, and the complex processing required to extract the object data from the image frame. Both of these limit significantly the number of inspections which can be performed in a given time.
  • Linescan cameras offer higher speed and higher resolution but scanning takes place only in one dimension, typically width.
  • the product or flow of objects to be sorted is first accelerated to produce separation and then caused to fall under gravity, preferably in a plurality of separate side by side streams, and data for determining whether individual particles or objects should be accepted or rejected, according to preset criteria, is obtained by at least one linescan camera the direction of scan of which is across the falling stream or streams.
  • an inclined chute may be employed that optionally has a multiplicity of side by side channels amongst which the flow is distributed.
  • two linescan cameras may be employed in cascade, i.e. viewing the objects falling in the streams at two successive levels as they fall, and/or there may be viewing cameras, singly or in pairs, back and front of the streams.
  • data is obtained from objects in a falling stream by scanning with at least one, and preferably at least two, linescan cameras employing transmitted or reflected radiation, the data is processed by processing means pre-programmed with selected parameter limits which the objects should obey, and reject signals are issued by the processing means to ejection means downstream of the site of the scanning operation for ejecting from the falling stream any objects that do not obey the selected limits.
  • FIG. 1A-C objects are fed in a controlled manner by a feeder 11 on to an inclined chute 12.
  • This chute typically, but not essentially, provides a multiplicity of side by side channels 13 into which the objects are directed.
  • a separate stream of objects is allowed to slide within each channel under gravity.
  • all the streams corresponding to the number of channels are viewed by one or more cameras of the linescan CCD type and each stream will be monitored by a respective sector of the or each linescan CCD camera.
  • the processing of the linescan information is generally in accordance with patent application GB 8822183.3 and will depend on the camera arrangement and on features required to be recognised.
  • two cameras can be employed in front and back viewing modes ( Figures 4A-C) with two corresponding light sources.
  • Figures 4A-C For maximum vision all round, up to four cameras may be employed in a configuration illustrated in Figures 5A and 5B, in which the cameras are shown disposed in pairs back and front approximately at the four corners of a notional rectangle lying in the horizontal plane with two of its sides parallel to the plane of the streams of objects being scanned.
  • Each of the systems described includes apparatus for ejecting from the flow of product those objects that are rejects according to the criteria applied in the scanning operation.
  • the arrangement of the apparatus is illustrated more specifically in Figure 6. Taking the particular case of sorting almonds, the almonds are fed along the vibratory conveyor 11 where an even spread of product is achieved. The rate of feed is controllable. The almonds are guided into the individual channels on the chute 12 where the product is constrained from moving from one channel to another and is aligned longitudinally. The chute 12 allows the almonds to accelerate under gravity thus separating individual nuts from each other. On leaving the lower end of the chute 12, a particular almond first comes into view of the opposed cameras 14.
  • the viewing area is illuminated by lights 15, preferably producing uniform strips of light.
  • lights 15, preferably producing uniform strips of light At some distance underneath the lower end of the chute 12 there is an apical separating barrier 16 and the product streaming from the channels of the chute will pass down on the right side of this barrier, as viewed in Figure 6, if allowed to fall undisturbed, on to an accepted product conveyor 20.
  • a horizontal bank of pneumatic reject nozzles 17, one to each of the individual product streams from the channels of the chute there is a horizontal bank of pneumatic reject nozzles 17, one to each of the individual product streams from the channels of the chute.
  • the signals produced by both cameras are compared, by an electronic processor 18, against a preset threshold (software program 19) and if the object or part of an object in view is darker than the threshold a signal to energise a pneumatic valve to activate the reject nozzle for the particular channel will be given by the processor.
  • the reject nozzle then blows that object out of the stream of normal product, to fall on the left hand side of the barrier 16 into a reject product receptacle 21.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
EP19900304304 1989-04-21 1990-04-20 Méthode et appareil pour trier des matériaux discrets et des produits fabriqués Withdrawn EP0396290A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8909164 1989-04-21
GB898909164A GB8909164D0 (en) 1989-04-21 1989-04-21 Method and apparatus for sorting discrete materials and manufactured products

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0396290A2 true EP0396290A2 (fr) 1990-11-07
EP0396290A3 EP0396290A3 (fr) 1992-04-08

Family

ID=10655511

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19900304304 Withdrawn EP0396290A3 (fr) 1989-04-21 1990-04-20 Méthode et appareil pour trier des matériaux discrets et des produits fabriqués

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0396290A3 (fr)
GB (1) GB8909164D0 (fr)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0620050A1 (fr) * 1991-08-22 1994-10-19 Weimar-Werk Maschinenbau GmbH Dispositif et procédé de tri de produits et d'articles selon leur qualité et leur taille
EP0672468A1 (fr) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-20 Key Technology, Inc. Dispositif pour le triage et l'analyse integrés d'aliments
WO1996014168A1 (fr) * 1994-11-02 1996-05-17 Sortex Limited Appareil de tri
EP0734789A2 (fr) * 1995-03-31 1996-10-02 CommoDas GmbH Dispositif et procédé de tri de matière en vrac
US5873470A (en) * 1994-11-02 1999-02-23 Sortex Limited Sorting apparatus
WO2004082855A1 (fr) * 2003-03-18 2004-09-30 Pulsarr Industrial Research B.V. Procede et dispositif de controle de produits
EP1743713A1 (fr) * 2005-07-13 2007-01-17 Radix Systems Limited Dispostitif de tri par soufflage
DE102004021689B4 (de) * 2004-04-30 2013-03-21 Optosort Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Sortierung von lichtbrechenden Partikeln
CN104384116A (zh) * 2014-10-31 2015-03-04 中国农业大学 一种颗粒物料旋转下滑溜管
US9492849B2 (en) 2005-05-17 2016-11-15 Visys Nv Method for sorting products moving in a continuous stream on a chute

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3802558A (en) * 1973-04-02 1974-04-09 Sortex North America Refuse sorting and transparency sorting
DE3443476A1 (de) * 1984-11-29 1986-05-28 Helmut A. 6720 Speyer Kappner Verfahren und vorrichtung zum pruefen und sortieren von granulatfoermigem material
WO1988000501A1 (fr) * 1985-01-16 1988-01-28 Bsn Dispositif de tri optique du groisil, c'est-a-dire d'une masse d'elements de verrre de recuperation ayant subi un broyage et comportant des elements infusibles ou refractaires, et installation comprenant de tels dispositifs
DE3701335A1 (de) * 1987-01-19 1988-07-28 Buehler Miag Gmbh Verfahren und vorrichtung zum optischen auslesen

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3802558A (en) * 1973-04-02 1974-04-09 Sortex North America Refuse sorting and transparency sorting
DE3443476A1 (de) * 1984-11-29 1986-05-28 Helmut A. 6720 Speyer Kappner Verfahren und vorrichtung zum pruefen und sortieren von granulatfoermigem material
WO1988000501A1 (fr) * 1985-01-16 1988-01-28 Bsn Dispositif de tri optique du groisil, c'est-a-dire d'une masse d'elements de verrre de recuperation ayant subi un broyage et comportant des elements infusibles ou refractaires, et installation comprenant de tels dispositifs
DE3701335A1 (de) * 1987-01-19 1988-07-28 Buehler Miag Gmbh Verfahren und vorrichtung zum optischen auslesen

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0620050A1 (fr) * 1991-08-22 1994-10-19 Weimar-Werk Maschinenbau GmbH Dispositif et procédé de tri de produits et d'articles selon leur qualité et leur taille
EP0672468A1 (fr) * 1994-03-15 1995-09-20 Key Technology, Inc. Dispositif pour le triage et l'analyse integrés d'aliments
US5873470A (en) * 1994-11-02 1999-02-23 Sortex Limited Sorting apparatus
WO1996014168A1 (fr) * 1994-11-02 1996-05-17 Sortex Limited Appareil de tri
US5692621A (en) * 1994-11-02 1997-12-02 Sortex Limited Sorting apparatus
US6078018A (en) * 1994-11-02 2000-06-20 Sortex Limited Sorting apparatus
EP0734789A2 (fr) * 1995-03-31 1996-10-02 CommoDas GmbH Dispositif et procédé de tri de matière en vrac
EP0734789A3 (fr) * 1995-03-31 1998-05-27 CommoDas GmbH Dispositif et procédé de tri de matière en vrac
WO2004082855A1 (fr) * 2003-03-18 2004-09-30 Pulsarr Industrial Research B.V. Procede et dispositif de controle de produits
BE1015418A3 (fr) * 2003-03-18 2005-03-01 Pulsarr Ind Res B V
DE102004021689B4 (de) * 2004-04-30 2013-03-21 Optosort Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Sortierung von lichtbrechenden Partikeln
US9492849B2 (en) 2005-05-17 2016-11-15 Visys Nv Method for sorting products moving in a continuous stream on a chute
EP1743713A1 (fr) * 2005-07-13 2007-01-17 Radix Systems Limited Dispostitif de tri par soufflage
CN104384116A (zh) * 2014-10-31 2015-03-04 中国农业大学 一种颗粒物料旋转下滑溜管

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8909164D0 (en) 1989-06-07
EP0396290A3 (fr) 1992-04-08

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