EP2907592A1 - Sortiervorrichtung und Verfahren - Google Patents

Sortiervorrichtung und Verfahren Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2907592A1
EP2907592A1 EP14155092.1A EP14155092A EP2907592A1 EP 2907592 A1 EP2907592 A1 EP 2907592A1 EP 14155092 A EP14155092 A EP 14155092A EP 2907592 A1 EP2907592 A1 EP 2907592A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
product
product particles
individual
particles
detection
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Withdrawn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
EP14155092.1A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Stewart Mills
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.)
Buehler UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Buhler Sortex 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 Buhler Sortex Ltd filed Critical Buhler Sortex Ltd
Priority to EP14155092.1A priority Critical patent/EP2907592A1/de
Publication of EP2907592A1 publication Critical patent/EP2907592A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • 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
    • B07C5/367—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution by means of air using a plurality of separation means
    • 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
    • B07C2501/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material to be sorted
    • B07C2501/0018—Sorting the articles during free fall

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a sorting apparatus for and method of sorting particulate product, especially to high-throughput sorting of a product stream where individual particulate products within the product stream can exhibit a significant velocity distribution.
  • a product stream which contains acceptable and defective particles, is viewed at a given viewing point in the vertical axis, following acceleration due to gravity, typically down a feed chute which provides a mono layer of product particles, and product particles which are identified as being defective are removed from the product stream at an ejection point by an ejection system, typically by the application of a jet of air, at a location vertically lower than the viewing point.
  • the ejection system is operated based on a determination of mean velocity of the product particles.
  • the present inventors have also recognized that the present invention has application to products of a type which have a high drag coefficient relative to mass, for example, potato crisps, leaves and petals, such that the terminal velocity is less than or near to the typical throughput velocity, causing an inherent variation in velocity distribution at the viewing point. Furthermore, at the relatively low velocities in the vertical axis observed in these product types, the velocity in the horizontal axis has been observed to have a greater absolute effect on the location of the product when reaching the ejection point and measurement of the horizontal velocity allows for improved assignation of the ejector or ejectors for any given particle.
  • the present invention provides a sorting apparatus for sorting particulate product within a product stream, the apparatus comprising: a delivery device for delivering a product stream of product particles to fall in a vertical axis; a detection system for detecting individual product particles across the product stream at a plurality of detection locations in the vertical axis and determining individual velocities, optionally either vertical or vertical and horizontal, of the individual product particles based on detection of the individual product particles at the plurality of detection locations; and an ejector system for ejecting product particles identified as being unacceptable from the product stream at an ejection location below the detection locations, wherein the ejector system is actuated in response to the determined individual velocities of the individual product particles.
  • the delivery device is configured to impart a force to the product particles which is additional to gravitational force, whereby the product stream is delivered at a higher velocity than can be achieved by gravitational flow alone.
  • the delivery device comprises (1) a conveyor which conveys the particles and is inclined to the horizontal to impart a force, in addition to gravitational force, to the product particles in the vertical axis, or (2) a chute which is inclined to the horizontal and a force-imparting mechanism, optionally an air knife, which acts to impart a force, in addition to gravitational force, to the product particles in the vertical axis.
  • the detection system comprises a plurality of line-scan cameras, which image a width of the product stream at respective ones of the plurality of detection locations in the vertical axis, whereby product particles when passing each of the detection locations are detected by elements of the line-scan cameras.
  • the detection system comprises a multiple line-scan camera or an area-scan camera, which images a width of the product stream at respective ones of the plurality of detection locations in the vertical axis, whereby product particles when passing each of the detection locations are detected by elements of the line-scan cameras.
  • the detection system detects product particles at first and second detection locations in the vertical axis, and measures a time interval between each individual product particle passing the first and second detection locations, from which vertical velocities of the individual product particles are determined, and optionally the detection system measures horizontal displacement of each individual product particle from changes in horizontal positions in passing between the first and second detection locations, and from these displacements, horizontal velocities of the individual product particles are determined.
  • the ejector system comprises a horizontally-extending array of ejector nozzles which are actuatable to provide air pulses to eject unacceptable product particles from the product stream, and the timing of the air pulses to the ejector nozzles is responsive to the determined vertical velocities of the individual product particles, optionally ones of the ejector nozzles in the horizontal array are selectively operated in dependence upon the determined horizontal velocities of the individual product particles.
  • the present invention provides a method of sorting particulate product within a product stream, the method comprising the steps of: delivering a product stream of product particles to fall in a vertical axis; detecting individual product particles across the product stream at a plurality of detection locations in the vertical axis; determining velocities, optionally vertical or both vertical and horizontal, of the individual product particles based on detection of the individual product particles at the plurality of detection locations; and ejecting product particles identified as being unacceptable from the product stream at an ejection location below the detection locations using an ejector system, wherein the ejector system is actuated in response to the determined individual velocities of individual product particles.
  • the method further comprises the step of: imparting a force to the product particles which is additional to gravitational force, whereby the product stream is delivered at a higher velocity than can be achieved by gravitational flow alone.
  • the force-imparting step comprises (1) conveying the product particles on a conveyor which is inclined to the horizontal to impart a force, in addition to gravitational force, to the product particles in the vertical axis, or (2) delivering the product particles on a chute and operating a force-imparting mechanism, optionally an air knife, which acts to impart a force, in addition to gravitational force, to the product particles in the vertical axis.
  • the detecting step utilizes a plurality of line-scan cameras, which image a width of the product stream at respective ones of the plurality of detection locations in the vertical axis, whereby product particles when passing each of the detection locations are detected by elements of the line-scan cameras.
  • the detecting step utilizes a multiple line-scan camera or an area-scan camera, which images a width of the product stream at respective ones of the plurality of detection locations in the vertical axis, whereby product particles when passing each of the detection locations are detected by elements of the line-scan cameras.
  • product particles are detected at first and second detection locations in the vertical axis, a time interval is measured between each individual product particle passing the first and second detection locations, and vertical velocities of the individual product particles are determined, and optionally horizontal displacement of each individual product particle is measured from changes in horizontal positions in passing between the first and second detection locations, and from these displacements, horizontal velocities of the individual product particles are determined.
  • the ejector system comprises a horizontally-extending array of ejector nozzles which are actuatable to provide air pulses to eject unacceptable product particles from the product stream
  • the ejecting step comprises operating the ejector nozzles to provide air pulses with a timing responsive to the determined individual vertical velocities of the individual product particles
  • the ejecting step comprises operating ones of the ejector nozzles in the horizontal array in dependence upon the determined horizontal velocities of the individual product particles.
  • the particulate product comprises foodstuffs or other particulate commodities, including grains, potato chips, leaves and petals.
  • the sorting apparatus comprises a delivery device 3 for delivering a product stream S of product particles P, here a particulate material, such as foodstuffs or other particulate commodities.
  • the product particles P are grains, here unhulled grains, such as of paddy or rough rice.
  • product particles P could be of a type which have a high drag coefficient relative to mass, for example, potato crisps, leaves and petals.
  • the delivery device 3 comprises a conveyor 5, here fed from a hopper 7, which is inclined from the horizontal such as to impart a force, in addition to gravitational force, to the product particles P and thereby provide a higher-throughput product stream S than achieved by a gravitational flow alone.
  • the delivery device 3 could comprise a chute 8 which is inclined from the horizontal and a force-imparting mechanism 9, such as an air knife, acts to impart an additional force to the product particles P as being delivered from the chute 8.
  • a force-imparting mechanism 9 such as an air knife
  • the sorting apparatus further comprises a detection system 11 for detecting individual product particles P across the product stream S at a plurality of locations in a vertical axis, here at first and second vertical locations V1, V2.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a time-lapse path of a single product particle P in the product stream S, both in side and front elevation.
  • the product particle P has both a horizontal velocity and a vertical velocity, with the product particle P moving laterally while falling.
  • the detection system 11 measures the time interval between each individual product particle P passing the first and second vertical locations V1, V2. From these time intervals, the vertical velocities of the individual product particles P are determined.
  • the detection system 11 further measures the horizontal displacement of each individual product particle P from the change in the horizontal positions H1, H2 in passing between the first and second vertical locations V1, V2. From these displacements, the horizontal velocities of the individual product particles P are determined.
  • the apparatus allows for operation of an ejection system 31 in response to the individual measured velocities, both vertical and horizontal, as will described in more detail hereinbelow.
  • the detection system 11 could determine only the vertical velocities of the product particles, and provide for operation of the ejection system 31 in response only to the individual measured vertical velocities.
  • a product particle P is detected by identifying an edge of the product particle P, here a leading or trailing edge for determination of vertical velocity and a lateral edge for determination of horizontal velocity.
  • the locations of the product particles P could be identified by any means of feature recognition, such as shape or pattern recognition.
  • the detection system 11 comprises an illumination unit 14, in this embodiment comprising first and second illumination sources 15a, b, here providing elongate illumination beams, which illuminate narrow, elongate lines across a width of the product stream 5 at respective ones of the first and second vertical locations V1, V2.
  • the illumination unit 14 could comprise a single illumination source 15, which illuminates both the first and second vertical locations V1, V2.
  • the illumination sources 15a, b provide visible light, but could provide any of X-rays, including near X-rays, UV, or infrared, including near infrared, microwave or terahertz radiation.
  • the illumination sources 15a, b each comprise a laser, which provides a laser beam, and illumination optics which provide a fixed elongate line of illumination.
  • the detection system 11 further comprises a detection unit 21, in this embodiment comprising first and second line-scan cameras 22a, b, which image respective ones of the first and second vertical locations V1, V2 across the width of the product stream S, whereby product particles P when passing each of the first and second vertical locations V1, V2 are detected by elements of the line-scan cameras 22a, b.
  • the line-scan cameras 22a, b comprise CCD or CMOS sensors.
  • the line-scan cameras 22a, b each comprise one-dimensional or linear arrays, for example, 1024x1 pixels.
  • the detection unit 21 could comprise a single multiple line-scan camera or area-scan camera 22 which detects both the first and second vertical locations V1, V2, with separate lines of the camera 22 being used to detect the separate vertical locations V1, V2.
  • An area-scan camera 22 provides an advantage, in allowing for greater spatial resolution, in that the detection lines are not adjacent, but can have a significant spacing.
  • the area-scan camera 22 could comprise a two-dimensional array, for example, 1024x1024 pixels.
  • more than two vertical locations V1, V2, ..., Vn could be imaged, which allows for averaging in the determination of the vertical velocity of each product particle P.
  • the detection system 11 could also measure the horizontal position of each product particle P at the more than two vertical locations V1, V2, ..., Vn, which allows for averaging in the determination of the horizontal velocity of each product particle P.
  • the sorting apparatus further comprises an ejector system 31, in this embodiment comprising a horizontally-extending array of ejector nozzles 33, with ones of the ejector nozzles 33 in the horizontal array being selectively operated in dependence upon the determined horizontal velocities of the individual product particles P and the timing of the air pulses to the ejector nozzles 33 being responsive to determined vertical velocities of the individual product particles P, such as to eject unacceptable product particles P from the product stream S into a separate product stream S', which is typically a waste flow.
  • an ejector system 31 in this embodiment comprising a horizontally-extending array of ejector nozzles 33, with ones of the ejector nozzles 33 in the horizontal array being selectively operated in dependence upon the determined horizontal velocities of the individual product particles P and the timing of the air pulses to the ejector nozzles 33 being responsive to determined vertical velocities of the individual product particles P, such as to eject unacceptable product particles P from the product stream S into

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  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
EP14155092.1A 2014-02-13 2014-02-13 Sortiervorrichtung und Verfahren Withdrawn EP2907592A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14155092.1A EP2907592A1 (de) 2014-02-13 2014-02-13 Sortiervorrichtung und Verfahren

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14155092.1A EP2907592A1 (de) 2014-02-13 2014-02-13 Sortiervorrichtung und Verfahren

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2907592A1 true EP2907592A1 (de) 2015-08-19

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP14155092.1A Withdrawn EP2907592A1 (de) 2014-02-13 2014-02-13 Sortiervorrichtung und Verfahren

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EP (1) EP2907592A1 (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU169026U1 (ru) * 2015-12-01 2017-03-01 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Смарт Рэй" (ООО "Смарт Рэй") Устройство для сепарации семян
CN109311060A (zh) * 2016-05-26 2019-02-05 斯考拉股份公司 用于检查松散物料的设备和方法
CN111587154A (zh) * 2018-01-10 2020-08-25 英索特有限公司 用于从产品流中剔除劣质产品的装置
WO2022166134A1 (zh) * 2021-02-08 2022-08-11 赣州好朋友科技有限公司 一种分选设备
US20220297162A1 (en) * 2019-08-27 2022-09-22 Satake Corporation Optical granular matter sorter
WO2023065396A1 (zh) * 2021-10-22 2023-04-27 江苏大学 面扫线扫光电特征相结合的小颗粒农产品色选方法

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4365719A (en) * 1981-07-06 1982-12-28 Leonard Kelly Radiometric ore sorting method and apparatus
EP2241380A1 (de) * 2009-03-04 2010-10-20 Panasonic Corporation Trennverfahren und trennvorrichtung
GB2492359A (en) * 2011-06-28 2013-01-02 Buhler Sortex Ltd Inspection apparatus with alternate side illumination

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4365719A (en) * 1981-07-06 1982-12-28 Leonard Kelly Radiometric ore sorting method and apparatus
EP2241380A1 (de) * 2009-03-04 2010-10-20 Panasonic Corporation Trennverfahren und trennvorrichtung
GB2492359A (en) * 2011-06-28 2013-01-02 Buhler Sortex Ltd Inspection apparatus with alternate side illumination

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU169026U1 (ru) * 2015-12-01 2017-03-01 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Смарт Рэй" (ООО "Смарт Рэй") Устройство для сепарации семян
CN109311060A (zh) * 2016-05-26 2019-02-05 斯考拉股份公司 用于检查松散物料的设备和方法
CN111587154A (zh) * 2018-01-10 2020-08-25 英索特有限公司 用于从产品流中剔除劣质产品的装置
CN111587154B (zh) * 2018-01-10 2022-01-11 英索特有限公司 用于从产品流中剔除劣质产品的装置
US20220297162A1 (en) * 2019-08-27 2022-09-22 Satake Corporation Optical granular matter sorter
US11858007B2 (en) * 2019-08-27 2024-01-02 Satake Corporation Optical granular matter sorter
WO2022166134A1 (zh) * 2021-02-08 2022-08-11 赣州好朋友科技有限公司 一种分选设备
WO2023065396A1 (zh) * 2021-10-22 2023-04-27 江苏大学 面扫线扫光电特征相结合的小颗粒农产品色选方法

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