EP0602176B1 - Optics for a colour-sorting machine and a sorting method using these optics - Google Patents
Optics for a colour-sorting machine and a sorting method using these optics Download PDFInfo
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- EP0602176B1 EP0602176B1 EP92919858A EP92919858A EP0602176B1 EP 0602176 B1 EP0602176 B1 EP 0602176B1 EP 92919858 A EP92919858 A EP 92919858A EP 92919858 A EP92919858 A EP 92919858A EP 0602176 B1 EP0602176 B1 EP 0602176B1
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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
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
- Y10S209/938—Illuminating means facilitating visual inspection
Definitions
- the invention relates to a sorting optics according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of patent claim 6.
- a color sorting machine is already known from DE-PS 36 14 400, in which the product to be sorted is transported through a central channel.
- the channel in the area of an observation head is transparent.
- the observation head has several light transmitters distributed around the channel in the form of lamps which shine through the transparent channel.
- a photocell arrangement is arranged next to each lamp as a product signal receiver.
- a background plate lies diametrically opposite the photocell arrangement on the other side of the channel, which is selected according to the color of the product to be sorted.
- one transmitter always illuminates the front of the product and a second transmitter illuminates the background plate.
- the product signal and the background signal are recorded by the photocell arrangement and compared with one another. If the product signal corresponds to the background signal, the product has met the requirements. However, if the signals differ from one another, an ejector is actuated, which ejects the corresponding product from the product stream.
- a disadvantage of the known device and the method used is that the background plate always has to be physically adapted to the product color, so that a large number of background plates with different colors must be kept in stock for each product. Replacing the background plates not only requires time, but also experience in choosing the right color.
- Distinctions are only made when bad product crosses the beam path. It is therefore not possible to count good products if this should be desired for further process control. Furthermore, a good product cannot be sorted out, which can be desirable, for example, if, after one or more sorting runs in which good and bad product have been separated, an inverse sorting is to be carried out, in which only sorted product is sent through the sorting machine again to sort out the good residual product that is inevitably still contained in it.
- DE 32 03 773 A1 discloses the use of a matt screen as a diffuser in conjunction with a color recognition lens, specifically for recognizing the surface of a disk wheel. However, this has nothing to do with product sorting.
- the amount of light emitted by the transmitter is either completely scattered back from the front of a product to one or more product signal receivers and evaluated by them, or only part of the light is scattered back from the product, while the rest of the product passes the low light receiver falls. In no case however, light is reflected from the back of the product onto the low light receiver. If you now combine the signals from the product signal receiver and the residual light receiver, you get information about the width of the product and can normalize the backscattered signal in this way, ie make it as large as if the product had covered the entire light beam. As a result, a damaged area or stain is shown enlarged, so that a better distinction between faultless and faulty product is possible.
- the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing:
- the drawing shows a section through the channel 1 of the color sorting machine, specifically perpendicular to the direction of transport of objects or products which fall or are conveyed through the channel 1.
- At least one transmitter 2 is arranged on the channel 1 and emits visible, infrared or ultraviolet light through the channel 1.
- a residual light receiver 4 on the other side of the channel 1, to which a diffuser 14 is connected upstream.
- a product signal receiver 6 or 8 is arranged on each side, the output signals of which are led via optical fibers 16 to a signal processing circuit, not shown.
- the transmitter 2 is a light source for visible, infrared or ultraviolet light.
- the transmitter 2 is a cold light source, for example a halogen lamp. Its light is limited by a slit optic 10, which is also known per se, to form a flat band which, in one embodiment, has a width of 20 to 50 mm and a height of 1 to 2 mm, for example.
- the one on the opposite side of channel 1 and outside of it, arranged behind a translucent wall section, the diffuser 14 is at least as wide as the light band from the transmitter 2, so that the entire amount of light passing through the channel 1 falls from the transmitter 2 onto the diffuser 14 and can be guided by this to the residual light receiver 4.
- the assembly shown in the drawing consisting of transmitter 2, residual light receiver 4 and product signal receivers 6 and 8, can be arranged around channel 1 in an identical manner, for example at an angle of 90 ° or 120 ° transferred. If space permits, more than three transmitters with associated residual light receivers and product signal receivers can also be provided.
- the wavelength of the light emitted by the transmitter 2 is first adjusted selected to the color of the product and adjusted via a control unit, not shown.
- the sensitivity of the product signal receivers 6 and 8 is set to the desired wavelength range, which corresponds to the wavelength of the radiation scattered back by the product.
- the product can then be transported through channel 1 perpendicular to the drawing plane. If no product is present in the beam path 12, the entire light is sent from the transmitter 2 to the residual light receiver 4 and is collected by the latter.
- the first electrical signal derived therefrom then has the maximum amplitude and maximum width. On the other hand, if there is product in the beam path 12, part of the light is scattered back from the product to the product signal receivers 6 and 8.
- the residual light receiver 4 can always recognize whether product is present or not.
- its signal can be evaluated in such a way that, depending on the size of the product passing through the light barrier, the product signal is always brought to a standard value which corresponds to a condition as if the product were always of the same size.
- the sum of residual light + reflected light for a good product is always constant, regardless of how large the product appears when it passes through the measuring range. This allows deviations in the product color or stains to be defined much better than is the case with the prior art.
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- Spectrometry And Color Measurement (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Sortieroptik gemäß Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1 und ein verfahren gemäß Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 6.The invention relates to a sorting optics according to the preamble of
Eine derartige Vorrichtung und ein Verfahren zum Betreiben der Vorrichtung sind aus der GB-A-2 165 943 bekannt. Dabei wird das von der Vorrichtung erzeugte Produktsignal durch das Restlichtsignal normalisiert, so daß das Produktsignal unabhängig von der Produktgröße ein Maß für die Helligkeit des Produkts darstellt.Such a device and a method for operating the device are known from GB-A-2 165 943. The product signal generated by the device is normalized by the residual light signal, so that the product signal is a measure of the brightness of the product regardless of the product size.
Aus der DE-PS 36 14 400 ist bereits eine Farbsortiermaschine bekannt, bei der das zu sortierende Produkt durch einen zentralen Kanal transportiert wird. Dabei ist der Kanal im Bereich eines Beobachtungskopfs durchsichtig. Der Beobachtungskopf weist um den Kanal verteilt mehrere Lichtsender in Form von Lampen auf, die den durchsichtigen Kanal durchstrahlen. Neben jeder Lampe ist eine Fotozellenanordnung als Produktsignalempfänger angeordnet. Eine Hintergrundplatte liegt der Fotozellenanordnung diametral gegenüber an der anderen Seite des Kanals, die entsprechend der Farbe des zu sortierenden Produkts gewählt wird. Im Betrieb beleuchtet immer ein Sender die Vorderseite des Produkts und ein zweiter Sender die Hintergrundplatte. Das Produktsignal und das Hintergrundsignal werden von der Fotozellenanordnung aufgenommen und miteinander verglichen. Entspricht das Produktsignal dem Hintergrundsignal, so hat das Produkt die Anforderungen erfüllt. Weichen die Signale jedoch voneinander ab, so wird ein Auswerfer angesteuert, der das entsprechende Produkt aus dem Produktstrom ausstößt.A color sorting machine is already known from DE-PS 36 14 400, in which the product to be sorted is transported through a central channel. The channel in the area of an observation head is transparent. The observation head has several light transmitters distributed around the channel in the form of lamps which shine through the transparent channel. A photocell arrangement is arranged next to each lamp as a product signal receiver. A background plate lies diametrically opposite the photocell arrangement on the other side of the channel, which is selected according to the color of the product to be sorted. During operation, one transmitter always illuminates the front of the product and a second transmitter illuminates the background plate. The product signal and the background signal are recorded by the photocell arrangement and compared with one another. If the product signal corresponds to the background signal, the product has met the requirements. However, if the signals differ from one another, an ejector is actuated, which ejects the corresponding product from the product stream.
Ein Nachteil der bekannten Vorrichtung und des dabei verwendeten Verfahrens besteht darin, daß die Hintergrundplatte stets physisch der Produktfarbe angepaßt werden muß, so daß für jedes Produkt eine große Anzahl von Hintergrundplatten mit verschiedenen Farben vorrätig zu halten ist. Das Austauschen der Hintergrundplatten erfordert darüber hinaus nicht nur Zeitaufwand, sondern auch Erfahrung in der Auswahl der richtigen Farbe.A disadvantage of the known device and the method used is that the background plate always has to be physically adapted to the product color, so that a large number of background plates with different colors must be kept in stock for each product. Replacing the background plates not only requires time, but also experience in choosing the right color.
Aus der US 4,863,041 ist es zwar bekannt, die Hintergrundfarbe für eine vergleichbare Farbsortiermaschine dynamisch zu verändern, indem für den Hintergrund eine Lichtquelle gewählt wird, deren Wellenlänge durch eine elektronische Dimmer-Schaltung verändert werden kann. Dies enthebt den Benutzer zwar von der Notwendigkeit eines physischen Austausches von Hintergrundplatten, es besteht aber weiterhin die Schwierigkeit, Gegenstände auszusortieren, die den vom Sender ausgesendeten Lichtstrahl nicht vollständig abdecken. Dadurch ist die Signalausbeute nur sehr gering und kleine Farbabweichungen lassen sich nur schwer erkennen.From US 4,863,041 it is known to dynamically change the background color for a comparable color sorting machine by selecting a light source for the background, the wavelength of which can be changed by an electronic dimmer circuit. While this relieves the user of the need to physically exchange background plates, there is still a difficulty in sorting out objects that do not completely cover the light beam emitted by the transmitter. As a result, the signal yield is very low and small color deviations are difficult to detect.
Aus der DE 34 06 599 C2 ist es bekannt, Produkt an Lichtsendern und Lichtempfängern vorbeizuleiten, sodaß Licht sowohl von der Vorderseite, als auch von der Rückseite des Produkts zu den Lichtempfängern reflektiert wird. Dabei sieht der Lichtempfänger immer dann, wenn kein Produkt da ist, das Licht eines Hintergrundsenders. Die neben dem Lichtempfänger liegenden Sender strahlen zwar ebenfalls Licht aus, aber dieses Licht wird mangels einer Reflexionsfläche nicht von dem Lichtempfänger aufgenommen. Tritt nun gutes Produkt in den Strahlengang vom Hintergrundsender zum Lichtempfänger, dann wird die Hintergrundstrahlung zwar ganz oder teilweise unterbrochen, aber die Strahlung von den Sendern wird auf den Lichtempfänger reflektiert, und zwar mit einer Wellenlänge, die der Hintergrundstrahlung entspricht. Dies bedeutet bei gutem Produkt für den Lichtempfänger nichts anderes, als wäre überhaupt kein Produkt vorhanden. Es kann also nicht zwischen der Anwesenheit oder Abwesenheit von gutem Produkt unterschieden werden. Unterscheidungen werden erst dann getroffen, wenn schlechtes Produkt den Strahlengang kreuzt. Damit ist es nicht möglich, gutes Produkt zu zählen, falls dies für die weitere Prozeßsteuerung gewünscht werden sollte. Ferner kann kein gutes Produkt aussortiert werden, was beispielsweise dann wünschenswert sein kann, wenn nach einem oder mehreren Sortierläufen, in denen gutes von schlechtem Produkt getrennt wurde, eine inverse Sortierung vorgenommen werden soll, bei der man nur aussortiertes Produkt noch einmal durch die Sortiermaschine schickt, um das unweigerlich darin noch enthaltene gute Restprodukt auszusortieren.From DE 34 06 599 C2 it is known to direct product past light transmitters and light receivers, so that light is reflected both from the front side and from the rear side of the product to the light receivers. The light receiver sees the light of a background transmitter whenever there is no product. The transmitters located next to the light receiver also emit light, but this light is not received by the light receiver due to the lack of a reflective surface. If good product now enters the beam path from the background transmitter to the light receiver, the background radiation is interrupted in whole or in part, but the radiation from the transmitters is reflected onto the light receiver, with a wavelength that corresponds to the background radiation. With a good product, this means nothing else for the light receiver than if there was no product at all. So there cannot be between the presence or absence of good product. Distinctions are only made when bad product crosses the beam path. It is therefore not possible to count good products if this should be desired for further process control. Furthermore, a good product cannot be sorted out, which can be desirable, for example, if, after one or more sorting runs in which good and bad product have been separated, an inverse sorting is to be carried out, in which only sorted product is sent through the sorting machine again to sort out the good residual product that is inevitably still contained in it.
Aus der DE 32 03 773 A1 ist schließlich die Verwendung einer Mattscheibe als Diffusor in Verbindung mit einer Farberkennungsoptik bekannt, und zwar zur Erkennung der Oberfläche eines Scheibenrades. Dies hat jedoch mit dem Sortieren von Produkt nichts zu tun.Finally, DE 32 03 773 A1 discloses the use of a matt screen as a diffuser in conjunction with a color recognition lens, specifically for recognizing the surface of a disk wheel. However, this has nothing to do with product sorting.
Es ist Aufgabe der Erfindung, die Sortieroptik einer Farbsortiermaschine für beispielsweise Agrarprodukte wie Kaffeebohenen, Erdnüsse, Erbsen etc. dahingehend zu verbessern, daß auch dann Farbabweichungen zuverlässig erkannt werden, wenn das Produkt den Lichtstrahl vom Sender nur teilweise abdeckt, so daß nur ein Teil der ausgesendeten Lichtmenge zurückgestreut wird.It is an object of the invention to improve the sorting optics of a color sorting machine for, for example, agricultural products such as coffee beans, peanuts, peas, etc. in such a way that color deviations are reliably detected even if the product only partially covers the light beam from the transmitter, so that only a part of the emitted amount of light is scattered back.
Zur Lösung dieser Aufgabe dient die Sortieroptik der eingangs genannten Art mit den kennzeichnenden Merkmalen des Patentanspruchs 1. Die Aufgabe wird außerdem durch das Verfahren nach Anspruch 6 gelöst.The sorting optics of the type mentioned at the outset with the characterizing features of
Dadurch wird erreicht, daß die vom Sender ausgestrahlte Lichtmenge entweder vollständig von der Vorderseite eines Produkts zu einem oder mehreren Produktsignalempfängern zurückgestreut und von diesen ausgewertet wird, oder es wird nur ein Teil des Lichtes vom Produkt zurückgestreut, während der übrige Teil an dem Produkt vorbei auf den Restlichtempfänger fällt. In keinem Fall wird jedoch Licht von der Rückseite des Produkts auf den Restlichtempfänger reflektiert. Kombiniert man nun die Signale von dem Produktsignalempfänger und dem Restlichtempfänger, so erhält man eine Aussage über die Breite des Produkts und kann auf diese Weise das zurückgestreute Signal normieren, d.h. so groß machen, als hätte das Produkt den gesamten Lichtstrahl abgedeckt. Dadurch wird eine Schadstelle oder ein Fleck vergrößert dargestellt, so daß eine bessere Unterscheidung zwischen fehlerfreiem und fehlerhaftem Produkt möglich ist.It is thereby achieved that the amount of light emitted by the transmitter is either completely scattered back from the front of a product to one or more product signal receivers and evaluated by them, or only part of the light is scattered back from the product, while the rest of the product passes the low light receiver falls. In no case however, light is reflected from the back of the product onto the low light receiver. If you now combine the signals from the product signal receiver and the residual light receiver, you get information about the width of the product and can normalize the backscattered signal in this way, ie make it as large as if the product had covered the entire light beam. As a result, a damaged area or stain is shown enlarged, so that a better distinction between faultless and faulty product is possible.
Die Erfindung wird im folgenden anhand einer Zeichnung näher erläutert:
In der Zeichnung ist nur ein Teil des Beobachtungskopfs einer Farbsortiermaschine schematisch dargestellt, wie sie aus der DE-PS 36 14 400 bekannt ist und auf die hiermit ausdrücklich Bezug genommen wird. Die Zeichnung stellt einen Schnitt durch den Kanal 1 der Farbsortiermaschine dar, und zwar senkrecht zu der Transportrichtung von Gegenständen oder Produkt, die durch den Kanal 1 fallen oder gefördert werden. An dem Kanal 1 ist mindestens ein Sender 2 angeordnet, der sichtbares, infrarotes oder ultraviolettes Licht durch den Kanal 1 strahlt. Im Strahlengang 12 des vom Sender 2 ausgesandten Lichts liegt auf der anderen Seite des Kanals 1 ein Restlichtempfänger 4, dem ein Streukörper 14 vorgeschaltet ist. Neben dem Sender 2 ist an jeder Seite ein Produktsignalempfänger 6 bzw. 8 angeordnet, deren Ausgangssignale über Lichtleiter 16 zu einer nicht dargestellten Signalverarbeitsschaltung geführt werden.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing:
In the drawing, only part of the observation head of a color sorting machine is shown schematically, as is known from DE-PS 36 14 400 and to which reference is hereby expressly made. The drawing shows a section through the
Der Sender 2 ist eine Lichtquelle für sichtbares, infrarotes oder ultraviolettes Licht. In einer Ausführungsform ist der Sender 2 eine Kaltlichtquelle, beispielsweise eine Halogenlampe. Sein Licht wird von einer ebenfalls an sich bekannten Spaltoptik 10 zu einem flachen Band begrenzt, das in einer Ausführungsform beispielsweise eine Breite von 20 bis 50 mm und eine Höhe von 1 bis 2 mm hat. Der an der gegenüberliegenden Seite des Kanals 1 und außerhalb davon hinter einem lichtdurchlässigen Wandabschnitt angeordnete Streukörper 14 ist mindestens so breit wie das Lichtband vom Sender 2, so daß die gesamte, den Kanal 1 durchsetzende Lichtmenge vom Sender 2 auf den Streukörper 14 fällt und von diesem zum Restlichtempfänger 4 geleitet werden kann. Die Signale vom Restlichtempfänger 4 werden ebenfalls beispielsweise durch Lichtleiter zu einer Signalverarbeitungsschaltung übertragen, in der sie optoelektrisch umgewandelt werden. Auf diese Weise entstehen aus Lichtsignalen elektrische Signale, deren Amplituden proportional zu den empfangenen Lichtmengen ist.The
Es wird darauf hingewiesen, daß die in der Zeichnung dargestellte Baugruppe bestehend aus Sender 2, Restlichtempfänger 4 und den Produktsignalempfängern 6 bzw. 8 noch weitere Male um den Kanal 1 in identischer Bauweise angeordnet sein können, beispielsweise um einen Winkel von 90° oder 120° versetzt. Sofern es der Raum zuläßt, können auch mehr als drei Sender mit zugehörigen Restlichtempfängern und Produktsignalempfängern vorgesehen sein.It is pointed out that the assembly shown in the drawing, consisting of
Es ist zweckmäßig, bei Verwendung von mehr als einem Sender 2 die Ansteuerung der Sender 2 zeitlich versetzt zueinander vorzunehmen, damit der Restlichtempfänger 4 nicht Streulicht von einem anderen Sender 2 empfängt, das von der Rückseite des Produkts reflektiert wird. Diese Ansteuerung wird dadurch vorgenommen, daß man das durch den Kanal 1 gesendete Licht pulst, indem beispielsweise in der Spaltoptik 10 ein Verschluß vorgesehen wird, der nur zu bestimmten Zeiten öffnet. Auf diese Weise gelangt immer nur Licht von einem einzigen Sender zur Zeit zu dem gegenüberliegenden Restlichtempfänger.It is expedient, when using more than one
Für das Sortieren eines bestimmten Produkts wird zunächst die Wellenlänge des vom Sender 2 ausgestrahlten Lichts in Anpassung an die Farbe des Produkts ausgewählt und über ein nicht dargestelltes Steuergerät eingestellt. Außerdem wird die Empfindlichkeit der Produktsignalempfänger 6 und 8 auf den gewünschten Wellenlängenbereich eingestellt, der der Wellenlänge der vom Produkt zurückgestreuten Strahlung entspricht. Anschließend kann Produkt durch den Kanal 1 senkrecht zur Zeichenebene transportiert werden. Wenn kein Produkt im Strahlengang 12 vorhanden ist, wird das gesamte Licht vom Sender 2 zum Restlichtempfänger 4 gesendet und von diesem aufgefangen. Das daraus abgeleitete erste elektrische Signal hat dann die maximale Amplitude und maximale Breite. Befindet sich hingegen Produkt im Strahlengang 12, so wird ein Teil des Lichtes von dem Produkt zu den Produktsignalempfängern 6 und 8 zurückgestreut. Das zurückgestreute Licht wird als Lichtsignal über die Lichtleiter 16 zu einer nicht dargestellten Wandlerschaltung geleitet, in der es in zweite elektrische Signale umgewandelt wird. Die Breite der zurückgestreuten zweiten Signale ist ein Maß dafür, wieviel Licht vom Sender 2 zurückgestreut und wieviel durchgelassen wurde. Die Amplitude der zweiten elektrischen Signale läßt einen Rückschluß auf die Farbe des Produkts zu, wobei das Plateau oder Maximum der Signalamplitude der Hauptfarbe des Produkts entspricht, während Täler oder Minima das Vorhandensein von Flecken oder schadhaften Stellen anzeigen. Durch übliche Signalverarbeitung können die vom zurückgestreuten Licht stammenden zweiten elektrischen Signale normiert und damit auf einen Maximalwert gebracht werden, so daß Täler oder Minima, die auf Schadstellen hindeuten, auf größt mögliche Weise verstärkt werden. Diese Täler oder Minima können dann bei Überschreiten eines bestimmten Pegels herangezogen werden, um andere Komponenten anzusteuern. Dies geschieht beispielsweise durch eine an sich bekannte Diskriminatorschaltung, die immer dann, wenn ein Minimum tiefer als eine vorgegebene Schwellenwertspannung reicht, einen Impuls abgibt, der einen nicht dargestellten Ejektor steuert. Es ist dem Fachmann klar, daß auch die Signalmaxima zur Ansteuerung anderer Komponenten der Farbsortiermaschine herangezogen werden können. Der Ejektor, beispielsweise eine Luftdüse, kann dann das schadhafte Produkt ausstoßen, indem ein Druckluftventil von dem Steuerimpuls angesteuert wird.For sorting a certain product, the wavelength of the light emitted by the
Gemäß Erfindung kann der Restlichtempfänger 4 stets erkennen, ob Produkt vorhanden ist, oder nicht. Außerdem kann sein Signal so ausgewertet werden, daß das Produktsignal abhängig von der Größe des die Lichtschranke durchsetzenden Produkts stets auf einen Normwert gebracht wird, der einem Zustand entspricht, als ob das Produkt immer die gleiche Größe hätte. Auf diese Weise ist die Summe aus Restlicht + reflektiertem Licht bei gutem Produkt immer konstant, und zwar gleichgültig, wie groß das Produkt beim Durchgang durch den Meßbereich gerade erscheint. Damit lassen sich Abweichungen in der Produktfarbe oder Flecken wesentlich besser definieren, als dies beim Stand der Technik der Fall ist.According to the invention, the residual
Claims (8)
- Colour-sorting machine comprising a sorting optical system by means of which are sorted particulate objects, especially agricultural products such as coffee beans, peanuts, peas, etc., in that these products are transported through a chute or a channel (1) past a viewing head having at least one optical emitter (2) and at least one receiver of product signals (6, 8) which is situated next to the emitter (2) and serves to receive the light which is backscattered from an object, wherein the channel (1) is transparent in the region of the emitter (2) and the receiver of product signals (6, 8), while a receiver of remaining light (4) is situated on the side of the channel (1) opposite to the emitter (2) in the light path (12) of the emitter (2) and receives only light emitted by the emitter (2) but no light reflected from the product; and wherein the receiver or receivers of product signals (6, 8) and the receiver of remaining light (4) are connected by a light guide (16) to a signal-processing circuit; characterised in- that between the emitter (2) and the channel (1) is situated an optical slit system (10) which illuminates the channel (1) in the form of a strip perpendicularly to its axis (14);- that the signals of the receiver of product signals (6, 8) and of the receiver of remaining light (4) are in the signal-processing circuit combined together such that the signal of the receiver of product signals (6, 8) is so normalized as if the object blocked the whole light beam; and- that the signal maxima and signal minima resulting from the signal combination are usable for the setting of other components of the colour-sorting machine.
- Sorting optical system according to claim 1, characterised in that the receiver of remaining light (4) is an arrangement of photodiodes.
- Sorting optical system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a diffuser (14) is situated in the light path (12) from the emitter (2) to the receiver of remaining light (4) between the channel (1) and the receiver of remaining light (4).
- Sorting optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that on both sides of the emitter (2) is situated a receiver of product signals (6, 8).
- Sorting optical system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the emitters (4, 6, 8) are adjustable to different wavelengths.
- Method for detecting and distinguishing particulate objects, such as agricultural products, minerals, etc., in a colour-sorting machine in which visible or ultraviolet light emitted by two or more emitters (2) passes through a channel (1) through which are transported the objects, wherein the light backscattered from an object is received by at least one receiver of product signals (6, 8) and is fed to a product signal processing circuit in which it is converted to first electric signals, whose amplitudes are proportional to the backscattered quantity of light, wherein only the light which is not backscattered by the object is received by a receiver of remaining light (4), and to second electric signals whose amplitudes are also proportional to the received quantity of light; characterised in- that the first and second electric signals are combined together such that the first electric signal is normalized as if the object blocked the whole light beam; and- that the signal maxima and signal minima resulting from the signal combination are used for the setting of other components of the colour-sorting machine.
- Method according to claim 6, characterised in that every emitter (2) and the associated receiver or receivers of product signals (6, 8) are operated pulsed and in phase.
- Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the emitters (2) are activated scattered in time, so that at any time always only one emitter (2) emits visible or ultraviolet light through the channel (1) to the receiver of remaining light (4).
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE4132472A DE4132472C1 (en) | 1991-09-30 | 1991-09-30 | |
| DE4132472 | 1991-09-30 | ||
| PCT/EP1992/002219 WO1993006944A1 (en) | 1991-09-30 | 1992-09-28 | Optics for a colour-sorting machine and a sorting method using these optics |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0602176A1 EP0602176A1 (en) | 1994-06-22 |
| EP0602176B1 true EP0602176B1 (en) | 1996-05-08 |
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Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP92919858A Expired - Lifetime EP0602176B1 (en) | 1991-09-30 | 1992-09-28 | Optics for a colour-sorting machine and a sorting method using these optics |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5579921A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0602176B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH06106138A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR9206564A (en) |
| DE (2) | DE4132472C1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2089564T3 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993006944A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN105032789A (en) * | 2015-08-17 | 2015-11-11 | 江苏瑞新科技股份有限公司 | Color difference sorting device for silicon battery pieces and sorting method of color difference sorting device |
Families Citing this family (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2710564B1 (en) * | 1993-10-01 | 1995-11-24 | Iname Int | Fruit or vegetable recognition and / or sorting device, method and corresponding use. |
| US6069696A (en) * | 1995-06-08 | 2000-05-30 | Psc Scanning, Inc. | Object recognition system and method |
| US5679079A (en) * | 1995-10-23 | 1997-10-21 | Crosby; Kennith D. | Solid state bowling pin counter and method therefor |
| DE19708457C1 (en) * | 1997-02-17 | 1998-03-26 | Elexso Sortiertech Gmbh | Feeder for sorting machine for dry granular products |
| AU2006306927B2 (en) * | 2005-10-27 | 2010-01-28 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
| MX2008012726A (en) | 2006-04-04 | 2009-01-16 | 6511660 Canada Inc | System and method for identifying and sorting material. |
| US20110068051A1 (en) * | 2009-05-22 | 2011-03-24 | 6358357 Canada Inc. | Ballistic separator |
Family Cites Families (21)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3785735A (en) * | 1972-01-19 | 1974-01-15 | Bio Physics Systems Inc | Photoanalysis method |
| GB1449519A (en) * | 1973-12-13 | 1976-09-15 | Gunssons Sortex Ltd | Light-sensitive sorting machine |
| US4057146A (en) * | 1974-05-24 | 1977-11-08 | Xeltron, S.A. | Optical sorting apparatus |
| US4350442A (en) * | 1976-05-19 | 1982-09-21 | Accusort Corporation | Light and color detecting scanner for a sorting apparatus |
| US4235342A (en) * | 1978-05-05 | 1980-11-25 | Geosource Inc. | Sorting apparatus using programmable classifier |
| GB2040443B (en) * | 1978-12-07 | 1983-01-12 | English Electric Co Ltd | Optical particle size analyser |
| JPS5717842A (en) * | 1980-07-07 | 1982-01-29 | Satake Eng Co Ltd | Photoelectric sorting apparatus of color sorter |
| GB2091416B (en) * | 1981-01-19 | 1984-10-17 | Gunsons Sortex Ltd | Sorting objects |
| US4454029A (en) * | 1981-05-27 | 1984-06-12 | Delta Technology Corporation | Agricultural product sorting |
| DE3203773A1 (en) * | 1982-02-04 | 1983-08-11 | Volkswagenwerk Ag, 3180 Wolfsburg | Device for recognising the coloration of an object |
| IT1205622B (en) * | 1982-12-21 | 1989-03-23 | Illycaffe Spa | PROCEDURE TO MAKE A SELECTION IN A GRANULIFORM MATERIAL AND MACHINE TO IMPLEMENT THE PROCEDURE |
| JPS59177186A (en) * | 1983-03-26 | 1984-10-06 | 株式会社 サタケ | Automatic controller for color selector |
| GB2142426B (en) * | 1983-06-30 | 1986-09-17 | Gunsons Sortex Ltd | Sorting machine and method |
| GB2151018B (en) * | 1983-12-06 | 1987-07-22 | Gunsons Sortex Ltd | Sorting machine and method |
| GB8425273D0 (en) * | 1984-10-05 | 1984-11-14 | Spandrel Etab | Signal responsive to parameter of objects |
| JPS61204072A (en) * | 1985-03-07 | 1986-09-10 | 株式会社 東洋精米機製作所 | Beam transmitting-window cleaner for optical selector |
| US4697709A (en) * | 1985-09-03 | 1987-10-06 | Delta Technology Corporation | Sorter for agricultural products |
| US5158181A (en) * | 1985-10-29 | 1992-10-27 | Bailey Roger F | Optical sorter |
| ATE61947T1 (en) * | 1985-10-29 | 1991-04-15 | Roger Frederick Bailey | OPTICAL SORTING DEVICE. |
| DE3614400C1 (en) * | 1986-04-25 | 1987-08-06 | Justus Technik Gmbh | Method and device for controlling a color sorting machine |
| US4878582A (en) * | 1988-03-22 | 1989-11-07 | Delta Technology Corporation | Multi-channel bichromatic product sorter |
-
1991
- 1991-09-30 DE DE4132472A patent/DE4132472C1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1992
- 1992-09-28 ES ES92919858T patent/ES2089564T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-09-28 EP EP92919858A patent/EP0602176B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1992-09-28 WO PCT/EP1992/002219 patent/WO1993006944A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1992-09-28 BR BR9206564A patent/BR9206564A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1992-09-28 US US07/952,240 patent/US5579921A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-09-28 DE DE59206253T patent/DE59206253D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1992-09-30 JP JP4262495A patent/JPH06106138A/en active Pending
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN105032789A (en) * | 2015-08-17 | 2015-11-11 | 江苏瑞新科技股份有限公司 | Color difference sorting device for silicon battery pieces and sorting method of color difference sorting device |
| CN105032789B (en) * | 2015-08-17 | 2018-06-26 | 江苏瑞新科技股份有限公司 | The aberration sorting equipment and its method for sorting of a kind of silicon cell |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| ES2089564T3 (en) | 1996-10-01 |
| BR9206564A (en) | 1995-03-01 |
| EP0602176A1 (en) | 1994-06-22 |
| JPH06106138A (en) | 1994-04-19 |
| DE59206253D1 (en) | 1996-06-13 |
| US5579921A (en) | 1996-12-03 |
| DE4132472C1 (en) | 1993-03-11 |
| WO1993006944A1 (en) | 1993-04-15 |
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