NZ762809B2 - Classification method and apparatus - Google Patents
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- 230000003287 optical Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 83
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- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims description 33
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 20
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 2
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Abstract
There is provided a method for object classification, the method comprising the steps of: guiding (S1) a continuous stream of objects (4) from a transport mechanism (2) directly into an unsupported path (6), along which said object stream (6) is fed through a detection region (12); illuminating (S2) said detection region (12) with a radiation band in a first direction (10); optically scanning (S3) said detection region (12) to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection region (12) by viewing said detection region along a second direction (16), wherein the first direction (10) and the second direction (16) have a cross-section in the detection region (12) and forms an angle relative each other within the range of 10° - 80°; analyzing (S4) the information from the optical scanning; and classifying (S5) objects from the object stream in at least two different directions based on the analysis of the transparency information from the optical scanning; wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises analyzing the objects based on the intensity, spread and texture of the detected radiation from the optical scanning. said detection region (12) with a radiation band in a first direction (10); optically scanning (S3) said detection region (12) to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection region (12) by viewing said detection region along a second direction (16), wherein the first direction (10) and the second direction (16) have a cross-section in the detection region (12) and forms an angle relative each other within the range of 10° - 80°; analyzing (S4) the information from the optical scanning; and classifying (S5) objects from the object stream in at least two different directions based on the analysis of the transparency information from the optical scanning; wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises analyzing the objects based on the intensity, spread and texture of the detected radiation from the optical scanning.
Description
CLASSIFICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to the field of object classification. More precisely,
the invention relates to a method and an apparatus for off-belt object
classification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Machines for inspection and sorting of bulk objects supplied in a
continuous stream typically comprise a feed unit, an optical system and an
analysis unit. The feed unit supplies a stream of objects which are to be
inspected continuously through a detection region that is scanned by the
optical system, which is in operational communication with the analysis unit.
The analysis unit analyzes each separate object in the object stream for one
or more preselected properties, such as color, shape and/or texture or any
combination thereof. Based on this analysis, the analysis unit can examine
whether the inspected object satisfies specific criteria in terms of the
observed property, resulting in a classification.
A requirement for such inspection and sorting apparatuses based on
an optical sensor and an analysis device is that a correct distinction can be
2O made n optical information coming from the inspected objects and
optical ation coming from the background.
describes an apparatus for inspection of objects,
provided with a transport mechanism, for instance a conveyor belt or a chute,
configured to transport a continuous stream of objects so that, on g the
transport mechanism, the object stream follows a all path along which it
is fed in a single object layer through a detection region, a radiation source
configured to illuminate the detection region, a detection unit, ured to
optically scan the illuminated ion region, an analysis unit and possibly a
l unit and also a background t, which is situated behind the
falling object , seen from the position of the detection unit, positioned
so that electromagnetic radiation beams from the radiation source impinge on
an illumination zone of the background element when these beams do not
impinge on an object from the object stream, the detection unit can only
receive an image of a detection zone of the background t,
characterized in that the ound element is mounted so that the
illumination zone and the detection zone are separated from each other.
The apparatus provides a solution for detection of products in a
product stream without false detection of products from electromagnetic
radiation reflected by the background, however it does not provide sorting of
products based on optical characteristics and is not optimal for detecting dark
products in the product stream.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an ed solution for off-
belt object classification of transparent objects in a product stream.
According to a first aspect of the invention, this and other objects are
achieved by a method for object classification, the method sing the
steps of: g a continuous stream of objects from a transport mechanism
ly into an unsupported path, along which the object stream is fed
through a detection region; emitting electromagnetic radiation along a first
direction for illuminating said detection region, which emitted electromagnetic
radiation forms a radiation band extending in a direction orthogonal to said
first direction; lly scanning the detection region to detect
electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection
region by viewing the detection region along a second direction, wherein the
first direction and the second direction have a cross-section in the detection
region and forms an angle ve each other within the range of 3° - 80° or
° - 80°; analyzing the information from the l scanning; and classifying
objects from the object stream based on the analysis of the transparency
information or the reflection information from the l scanning; wherein the
step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises
analyzing the objects based on the intensity, spread and ally texture of
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the detected radiation from the optical scanning, and wherein the step of
analyzing the information from the optical ng comprises comparing the
information to ation in a lookup table and/or comparing the information
to one or more thresholds.
According to one embodiment, said step of classifying said objects
further comprises sorting the objects from the object stream in at least two
ent direction based on the analysis of the reflection information from the
optical scanning and/or based on classification data.
ing to one embodiment, said step of analyzing the information
from the optical scanning further comprises comparing electromagnetic
radiation from the nation that is directly reflected by the at least one
object in the object stream to information in a lookup table and/or to one or
more thresholds to determine transparency or reflection information of said at
least one object.
According to one embodiment, said step of analyzing the information
from the optical scanning further comprises comparing ity and spread of
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the
at least one object in the object stream to information in a lookup table and/or
to one or more thresholds to determine transparency or reflection information
of said at least one object.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a
method for object sorting, the method sing the steps of: guiding a
uous stream of objects from a transport mechanism directly into an
unsupported path, along which the object stream is fed through a detection
region; emitting electromagnetic radiation along a first direction for
illuminating said detection region, which d electromagnetic radiation
forms a radiation band ing in a direction orthogonal to said first
direction; optically ng the detection region to detect electromagnetic
radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection region by viewing
the detection region along a second direction, wherein the first direction and
the second direction have a cross-section in the detection region and forms
an angle relative each other within the range of 3° - 80° or 10° - 80°;
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analyzing the information from the optical scanning; and sorting objects from
the object stream in at least two ent directions based on the analysis of
the transparency information or reflection information from the optical
scanning; wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical
scanning comprises analyzing the objects based on the intensity, spread and
ally e of the detected radiation from the optical scanning.
The below information, features and embodiments relate to both the
first and second aspect of the invention.
In relation to the invention the radiation source is a line illumination, i.e.
the illumination forms a radiation band or a line when falling upon a flat
surface which radiation band may be captured and viewed at least via an
image senor. Further, the emitted electromagnetic radiation forms a radiation
band when falling upon a flat surface which radiation band may be captured
and viewed at least via an image senor. The illumination may be collimated or
focused.
According to one example the measuring system ses of a
radiation source and a or, ably d on the object plane. The
detector measurement plane and the line illumination are disjoint and have a
cross-section in the object plane. This means that if no object is present in the
, an extremely low radiation is detected by the detector, since the
illumination line and the detection line do not ect in the void space.
The step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning may
further comprise determining arency information by comparing
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the
at least one object in the object stream to a first threshold to determine that
there is material present in the detection , and thereafter comparing
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the
at least one object to a second threshold to determine if the present material
is transparent and/or reflective, wherein the second threshold lies above the
first threshold, and thereafter setting the transparency information.
By using threshold levels to evaluate whether objects are present in
the detection region and determining a probability of the object being
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transparent an efficient classification and/or sorting of s in for instance
glass detection applications and other applications for classification and/or
sorting of arent objects can be ed.
In relation to this invention, the term classification data refers to the
data obtained in, or resulting from, the step of classifying objects in the object
stream. One e of classification data is a specific class, like
acceptable/non-acceptable; or a classification value within a certain range
(e.g. class A is x1 to x2; class B is x2 to x3, where xi is a number), which
classification value may be formed based on one single or a combination of
measured parameter values. Another example of classification data is the
fication value (formed based on one single or a combination of
measured parameter values); the classification value may be a single value or
an array of values.
According to one embodiment, the classification data (i.e. the data
obtained in, or ing from, the step of classifying objects in the object
stream) is used for sorting individual objects of a product stream in at least
two different directions, additionally or alternatively the classification data can
be used in the same apparatus or transferred to another device in order to
perform various operations, such as sorting in later stages, as well as for
statistical analysis. In other words, individual classification data may be
assigned to dual objects and keep being linked to this object through
various steps in the material handling s, and is optionally used at one
or more stations in the material handling process. Additionally, or
alternatively, dual or bulks of classification data may be processed for
statistical purposes in the same machine where it was determined, or in
another device to which it has been provided e.g. by wire or wirelessly.
Additionally or alternatively, the step ing the information from the
optical scanning further includes fying to which degree said material is
transparent. Additionally or alternatively, the step analyzing the ation
from the optical scanning further includes classifying to which degree said
material is reflective. The step of analyzing the information from the optical
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scanning may further comprise comparing ly reflected to a third
threshold to determine a ility of the present material being transparent.
The step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning may
further comprise determining the height, and/or height profiles of objects in
the object stream.
The step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning may
comprise comparing the information to information in a lookup table (LUT)
and/or comparing the ation to thresholds. The lookup tables maybe a
one-dimensional lookup table or a mensional lookup table or a N-
dimensional lookup table. By dimension here it is meant that the lookup table
evaluates a sampled representation of a e.g. N variables. The one-
dimensional lookup table returns an output in response to only one input
parameter, the input parameter being e.g. the intensity or the spread of the
detected radiation; i.e. one output is returned for LUT (Intensity) and one
output is ed for LUT (Spread). The two-dimensional lookup table on the
other hand returns an output in response to two input parameters, e.g. the
intensity and the spread of the detected radiation, one output is returned for
LUT (Intensity, Spread).
Alternatively, step of analyzing the information from the optical
scanning may comprise the use of deep learning or support vector machines.
The method may further comprise a step of optically scanning a zone
on a background element where the line illumination hits the background
element, wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical
scanning comprises determining whether material is present in the detection
region based on the ation from the optical scanning of the zone on the
background.
Optically scanning the zone on the background element enables for
ion of a line illumination reflection on the background element, which
enables determination of whether there is an object t in the detection
region based on the tion from the background element, thus ng to
detect and sort even very dark objects in the object stream as well as to
distinguish optically dark objects from optically transparent objects.
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The steps of lly scanning the zone on the background element
and optically scanning the detection region may be performed simultaneously
with one camera.
Using one camera with a field of view that covers both the ion
region and the zone on the ound element where the laser line impinges
the background element is a cost-effective solution that also simplifies the
analysis of the information from the scanning.
The step of illuminating the detection region may be done with a
plurality of line illuminations for a plurality of detection s and the step of
optically scanning the detection region is done in a plurality of measurement
lines for the detection regions. The step of analyzing the information from the
l scanning may then comprise determining the motion of the objects in
the object stream.
By ining the trajectory of the objects in the object stream more
e ejection of the object may be performed, and a better overall
classification and/or sorting can be achieved.
The plurality of line illuminations may have different wavelengths,
wherein the step of ing the information from the optical ng
comprises determining optical properties and physical properties of the
objects in the object stream.
Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of line illuminations may have
different zations. This may be beneficial for removing background
radiation.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus for object classification and/or sorting, the apparatus comprising: a
transport mechanism ed to transport an object stream so that the
object stream, after leaving the transport mechanism, follows an unsupported
path, along which it is fed through a detection region; a radiation source being
ured to emit a radiation band in a first direction for illuminating the
detection region; a detection unit arranged to view the detection region along
a second direction and to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at
least one object in the detection region; wherein the first direction and the
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second direction have a cross-section in the detection region and forms an
angle relative each other within the range of 10° - 80°; an is unit in
operational connection with the detection unit and ed to determine
transparency information by comparing electromagnetic radiation from the
illumination that is directly reflected by the at least one object in the object
stream to a lookup table or to one or more thresholds to determine that there
is material t in the detection region, and thereafter comparing
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is ly reflected by the
at least one object to a second threshold to determine if the present material
is arent, wherein the second threshold
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an
apparatus for object classification and/or sorting, the tus sing: a
transport mechanism arranged to transport an object stream so that the
object stream, after leaving the transport mechanism, follows an unsupported
path, along which it is fed through a detection region; a radiation source being
configured to emit a radiation band in a first direction for illuminating the
ion region; a detection unit arranged to view the detection region along
a second direction and to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at
least one object in the detection region; wherein the first direction and the
second direction have a cross-section in the detection region and forms an
angle relative each other within the range of 3° - 80° or 10° - 80°; an analysis
unit in operational connection with the detection unit and arranged to
determine transparency and/or tion information by comparing
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the
at least one object in the object stream to at least one threshold or look-up
table to determine if the material present in the detection region is transparent
and thereafter setting the arency or reflection information.
The detection unit may be further ured to sense electromagnetic
radiation ted by a point on a background element where the
electromagnetic radiation from the radiation source impinges the background
element.
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The apparatus may comprise a plurality of radiation sources configured
to illuminate objects in the object stream in a plurality of positions along the
unsupported path.
The apparatus may further comprise a l unit configured to
remove s from the object stream, wherein the removal of objects is
based on the analysis in the analysis unit.
According to at least one embodiment the analysis unit is r
arranged to determine transparency information by comparing
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the
at least one object in the object stream to a first old or look-up table to
determine that there is material present in the detection region, and thereafter
comparing electromagnetic radiation from the nation that is directly
reflected by said at least one object to a second threshold or a second look-
up table to determine if the present al is transparent, wherein the
second threshold optionally lies above the first threshold, and thereafter
setting the transparency information.
It is noted that the invention s to all possible combinations of
features in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be described in more detail with nce to
the appended gs, showing currently preferred embodiments of the
invention.
Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to an
embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to another
embodiment of the invention, comprising three line illuminations.
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus according to
another embodiment of the invention, comprising line illumination detection.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart of the method according to an embodiment of the
invention.
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Fig. 5 is a plot of the electromagnetic radiation detected by a detector
in an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 6 is a tic view of determination of the trajectory of an object
in the object stream, which can be used with the apparatus of Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a cross-section of the electromagnetic
radiation detected by a or in an apparatus according to Fig. 3.
As illustrated in the figures, the sizes of layers and regions may be
rated for rative purposes and, thus, may be provided to illustrate
the general structures of embodiments of the present invention. Like
nce numerals refer to like elements hout.
ED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Fig. 1 shows an apparatus for inspection of objects in an object stream
according to an embodiment of the invention. A conveyor belt 2 guides an
object stream 4 into an unsupported path, here a free-fall path 6. Although a
conveyor belt 2 is here used for guiding the object stream 4 to the free-fall
path 6, any type of transport mechanism, such as chutes or similar, can be
used according to the invention. A radiation source, here a line laser 8,
illuminates a laser line 10 in a first direction 10 through a detection region 12.
Although a laser line is here used, any type of radiation source which uses
focused electromagnetic ion can be used according to the invention.
The detection region 12 is a region through which the objects travel after
having left the or belt 2, when being in a free-fall path 6. The laser line
may be of substantially equal width as the conveyor belt 2 from which the
object stream 4 is guided into the free-fall path 6, to ensure that all s in
the object stream 4 travel through the detection region 12. A detector, here a
camera 14, detects radiation in a measurement plane 16 that intersects the
laser line in the detection region 12. The measurement plane 16 may be of
substantially equal width as the laser line 10.
The first direction 10 and the second direction 16 are disjoint and have
a cross-section in the detection region 12. The detection region 12 is off-belt
and at a position where the object stream 4 discharged from the conveyor belt
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2 is in a free-fall path 6. If there is no object present in the detection region 12
the laser line will impinge a part of a background element that is not detected
by the part of the measurement plane that travel through the detection region.
Hence, there will be no reflected omagnetic radiation detected if no
object is present, which enables for distinct recognition whether there is an
object present in the detection .
The angle n the first direction 10 and the second ion 16 is
preferable within the range of 3° - 80°, more preferably within the range of 5° -
60°, more preferably within the range of 8° - 40°, more preferably within the
range of 10° - 35°, more preferably within the range of 15° - 30°, most
preferably within the range of 20° - 25°.
The wavelength of the emitted electromagnetic radiation is preferably
within the range of 300 nm — 2000 nm, more preferably within the range of
400 nm - 700 nm.
Determination of material properties of the objects in the object stream
is done based on the ly reflected electromagnetic ion at the
surface of the objects, the diffusely reflected electromagnetic radiation from
the objects and/or the height of the objects. Thresholds can be used to
determine optical properties of the objects. Referring to Fig. 5, the directly
reflected electromagnetic radiation can be seen as the intensity at the
maximum in y-direction, the diffusely reflected omagnetic radiation can
be seen as the line width around the maximum in y-direction and the height
can be seen as the maximum in y-direction. Determination of the height is
beneficial when it comes to calculation of the trajectory of the objects in the
object stream.
The analysis of information from the optical scanning may also
comprise identifying and analyzing several surfaces of transparent objects in
the object stream, based on double surfaces as seen in Fig. 5.
According to one embodiment of the invention, determination of the
transparency of the objects in the object stream is achieved by ing the
directly reflected electromagnetic radiation to threshold values. A first
threshold value is then used to determine if an object is t if the directly
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reflected electromagnetic radiation exceeds the first threshold value. A
second threshold value, higher than the first threshold value, is then used to
ine that the object is transparent if the directly reflected
electromagnetic radiation does not exceed the second threshold value.
Several such thresholds can be applied to determine probabilities of the
object being transparent. Combinations of thresholds for the ent
parameters, that is the directly reflected electromagnetic radiation at the
surface of the objects, the diffusely reflected electromagnetic radiation from
the objects and/or the height of the objects, to determine various optical
properties of the objects can be applied.
Alternatively, or additionally to the threshold ination, lookup
tables, deep learning and/or support vector machines can be used to
determine ties of the objects.
In order to remove ambient electromagnetic radiation in the analysis of
the detected electromagnetic radiation, a frame with the laser on and a frame
with the laser of may be recorded. A ound subtraction is then
performed in the is to get rid of the ambient electromagnetic radiation.
Pulsing of the laser using a beam splitter may also be used for this purpose.
The tus may further comprise a removal unit, such as an air
blower, configured to remove objects that are rejected in the analysis and
thus sort objects based on the is.
The apparatus may additionally include a bandpass filter on the
or, polarized electromagnetic radiation or polarization filter in front of
the detector.
The apparatus may also be using a d 3D detection with polygon
mirror or can be used in combinations with other detectors.
Fig. 2 shows an apparatus similar to that in Fig. 1 but comprising a
plurality of parallel line illuminations 8, set up to create a plurality of parallel
laser lines. This s for one, as in this case, or several cameras 14 to
detect reflected electromagnetic radiation from the plurality of parallel line
laser lines in a plurality of detection regions 12 at different ons in the
free-fall path 6 of the object stream 4. In this way, the positions of the objects
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in the different detection regions 12 can be determined, to determine a
motion, or tory, of the objects in the object stream 4.
ln sorting systems, the object speed and moving direction is normally
assumed to be constant in-between detection and ejection and if objects
move with non-constant speed, there is a risk for unprecise removal of
rejected objects. In some situations, the on window is increased in order
to compensate the variation in movement. This leads to a stable ejection, but
also an increase of unwanted removal of objects from the object stream 4.
An alternative to all of the detection zones being in the free-fall path of
the object stream is that one or more of them being in the object stream on
the conveyor belt, prior to being in a free-fall path.
The m distance between detection and ejection is determined
by pixel size and y. For systems with big pixel sizes the minimum
distance between detection and on can be quite large. If two detectors
are combined, the movement of objects reduces the performance of
convergence algorithms and thus also the ejection performance. By
determining the trajectory of the objects in the object stream more e
ejection of the object may be performed, and a better overall sorting can be
achieved.
Alternatively, or complementary to using the classification data for
sorting as bed above, the data from the classification step can be used
in the same apparatus or transferred to another device in order to do various
operations, such as sorting, in later stages, as well as for statistical analysis.
Fig. 6 shows a motion estimation of an object performed by an
tus according to Fig. 2. Two high resolution detectors A, C are
responsible for movement estimation of the object while a low resolution
detector B is sible for al classification of the object. The detected
objects of the first high resolution detector A are ed and mapped to
correspondent objects in the second high resolution detector C. Based on the
correspondent positions of the object in the first and the second high
resolution detector A, C the position of the object is interpolated for the low
resolution detector B and for a blow bar D. The sensor data of the low
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resolution detector B is combined into the interpolated image on. The
blow bar D uses an interpolated position for ejection. The position of the first
and second high resolution detectors A, C is disjoint, while the low resolution
detector B can be mounted here. The interpolated position reduces
error for ejection and convergence for rolling objects.
The tus may also comprise several lasers of different
wavelength, which s for determination of further optical properties such
as the color of the objects and analysis of other parameters based on
spectroscopy. Lasers at different ons, such as in Fig. 2, can be used for
this purpose, but also multiple pulsed lasers at the same optical plane is a
possibility.
The apparatus may also combine different laser polarizations to filter
portions of the reflected electromagnetic radiation and more easily distinguish
properties of the objects in the object stream. The apparatus may for instance
comprise several lasers with different polarizations or a polarization camera.
Fig. 3 shows an apparatus for object inspection similar to that in Fig. 1.
However, the tus has in this embodiment a camera 14 that detects
radiation in an area that covers both the detection region 12 and a zone 22
where the line illumination impinges a background element 24. This enables
for the camera 14 to detect a line illumination reflection on the background
element 24, which enables determination of whether there is an object
present in the detection region 12 based on the reflection from the
background element 24. This is l when it comes to detecting objects
that exhibit very low reflection . A single camera 14 here covers both the
detection region 12 and the zone 22 on the background element 24, however
two different detectors can also be used for these es according to the
ion.
Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of the electromagnetic radiation
detected by the detector in the apparatus of Fig. 3. The object signal will be
present when there is an object in the detection region that reflects the
electromagnetic radiation emitted by the laser line, while the background
signal can r be used to determine if there is a very dark, that is
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essentially non-reflective, object in the detection region. The background
signal, being the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the laser line and
reflected by the background element, can also be used as a way of calibrating
the laser line against the dark zone for background reference.
The laser line reflected by the background element can also be used to
ine if an object in the object stream is transparent, since a transparent
object will give rise to transmission of part of the emitted electromagnetic
radiation while an opaque object will not enable any transmission of the
emitted electromagnetic radiation.
Fig. 4 is a flow chart of a method of a method for inspection of objects,
comprising the steps of: guiding 81 a uous stream of objects 4 into a
free-fall path 6, along which the object stream 4 is fed in a single object layer
through a detection region 12; illuminating 82 the detection region 12 in an
first direction 10; optically scanning 83 the detection region 12 in a second
direction 16; and analyzing 84 the information from the optical scanning;
n the measurement plane 12 and the first direction 10 are disjoint and
have a cross-section in the ion region 12.
Possible applications for the method and apparatus range over, but are
not limited to, classification and/or g of glass, foil, napkins, printed circuit
, cartridges, mining material, as well as quality analysis of food with
regards to size and ion of cracks or foreign material. It can also be used
to identify polymers in a waste stream.
The person skilled in the art realizes that the t invention by no
means is limited to the embodiments bed above. On the contrary, many
modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended
claims. For e, the radiation source and detector can be arranged in
any direction that still allows for the method to be carried out according to the
invention.
Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be
understood and affected by the skilled person in cing the claimed
invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended
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claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other ts
or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.
ITEMIZED LIST OF EXEMPLIFYING EMBODIMENTS
IEE1. A method for object classification, the method comprising the
steps of:
- guiding a continuous stream of objects from a transport mechanism
directly into an unsupported path, along which said object stream is fed
through a detection region;
- emitting electromagnetic radiation along a first direction for
illuminating said ion region, which emitted electromagnetic radiation
forms a radiation band extending in a direction orthogonal to said first
direction;
- optically scanning said detection region to detect electromagnetic
radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection region by viewing
said detection region along a second direction,
wherein the first direction and the second direction have a cross-
section in the detection region and forms an angle relative each other within
the range of 3° - 80°;
- analyzing the information from the l scanning; and
- classifying objects from the object stream based on the analysis of
the reflection ation from the optical scanning;
n the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning
comprises ing the s based on the intensity and spread of the
detected radiation from the optical scanning.
IEE2. The method according to IEE1, wherein said step of classifying
said object r comprising sorting the objects from the object stream in at
least two different directions based on the analysis of the reflection
information from the optical scanning.
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IEE3. The method ing to any of the preceding lEEs, wherein the
step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises
determining tion information by comparing electromagnetic radiation
from the illumination that is directly reflected by the at least one object in the
object stream to a first threshold, and thereafter comparing electromagnetic
radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by said at least one
object to a second threshold to determine transparency of said at least one
object, wherein the second threshold lies above the first threshold, and
thereafter setting the reflection information.
IEE4. The method according to any of the preceding lEEs, wherein the
step of analyzing the ation from the l scanning further comprises
determining height profiles of objects in the object stream.
IEE5. The method according to any of the preceding lEEs, wherein the
step of analyzing the ation from the optical scanning comprises
comparing the information to information in a lookup table and/or comparing
the information to thresholds.
IEE6. The method according to any of the preceding lEEs, n the
step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises the use
of deep learning or support vector es.
IEE7. The method according to any of the preceding lEEs, further
comprising a step of lly scanning a zone on a background element
where the line illumination hits said background element, wherein the step of
analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises ining
whether material is present in the detection region based on the information
from the optical scanning of the zone on the background.
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|EE8. The method according to IEE 7, wherein the steps of optically
scanning the zone on the background element and optically scanning the
detection region are performed simultaneously with one camera.
|EE9. The method according to any of the preceding |EEs, where the
step of illuminating said detection region with electromagnetic radiation is
done with a plurality of line illuminations for a ity of detection regions
and the step of optically ng said detection region is done in a plurality
of measurement lines for said detection regions.
|EE10. The method ing to IEE 9, wherein the step of analyzing
the information from the optical scanning comprises determining the motion of
the objects in the object .
|EE11. The method according to |EEs 9 or 10, wherein the plurality of
line illuminations have different wavelengths, wherein the step of analyzing
the information from the optical scanning comprises determining optical
ties and physical ties of the objects in the object stream.
|EE12. The method according to any of |EEs 9-11, wherein the plurality
of line nations have different polarizations.
|EE13. An apparatus for object classification, the apparatus
comprising:
- a transport mechanism arranged to transport an object stream so that
said object stream, after leaving the transport mechanism, follows an
orted path, along which it is fed through a detection region;
- a radiation source being configured to emit electromagnetic ion
in a first direction for illuminating the detection region, which radiation source
is configured to generate a line illumination;
W0 43231
- a detection unit arranged to view said detection region along a
second direction and to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at
least one object in the detection region,
wherein the first direction and the second direction have a cross-
section in the detection region and forms an angle relative each other within
the range of 10° - 80°;
- an analysis unit in operational connection with the detection unit and
arranged to determine transparency information by comparing
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the
at least one object in the object stream to a first old to determine that
there is material present in the detection region, and thereafter ing
electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by said
at least one object to a second threshold to determine if the present material
is transparent, n the second threshold lies above the first threshold,
and thereafter setting the transparency information; and
- a l unit configured to remove objects from the object stream
(4), n said removal of objects is based on the analysis in the analysis
unit.
IEE14. The apparatus according to IEE 13, n the detection unit
is further configured to sense electromagnetic radiation reflected by a point on
a background element where the electromagnetic radiation from the radiation
source impinges said background element.
IEE15. The apparatus according to IEE 13, comprising a plurality of
radiation s configured to illuminate objects in the object stream in a
plurality of positions along the unsupported path.
C L A I M S
1. A method for object classification, the method comprising the steps of:
- guiding (S1) a continuous stream of objects (4) from a transport
mechanism (2) directly into an unsupported path (6), along which said object
stream (6) is fed through a detection region (12);
- emitting electromagnetic radiation along a first direction (10) for
illuminating (S2) said detection region (12), which emitted electromagnetic
radiation forms a radiation band extending in a direction orthogonal to said first
direction;
- lly ng (S3) said detection region (12) to detect
electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection
region (12) by viewing said detection region along a second direction (16),
wherein the first direction (10) and the second direction (16) have a crosssection
in the detection region (12) and forms an angle relative each other within
the range of 3° - 80°;
- analyzing (S4) the information from the optical scanning; and
- fying (S5) objects from the object stream based on the analysis of
the reflection information from the optical scanning;
wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning
comprises analyzing the objects based on the intensity and spread of the
detected radiation from the optical scanning and wherein the step of ing
the information from the optical scanning comprises comparing the information to
information in a lookup table and/or comparing the information to thresholds.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of fying said
object further comprising sorting the objects from the object stream in at least two
ent directions based on the analysis of the reflection information from the
optical scanning.
3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, n the step
of analyzing the information from the optical scanning further comprises
comparing the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly
reflected by the at least one object in the object stream to ation in a lookup
table and/or to one or more thresholds to determine transparency or reflection
information of said at least one object.
4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step
of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises determining
reflection information by comparing electromagnetic radiation from the
illumination that is directly reflected by the at least one object in the object stream
to a first threshold, and thereafter comparing electromagnetic radiation from the
illumination that is ly reflected by said at least one object to a second
threshold to determine transparency of said at least one object, wherein the
second threshold lies above the first threshold, and thereafter setting the
tion information.
. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step
of analyzing the information from the optical scanning further ses
determining height profiles of objects in the object stream.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the
lookup table is a one-, two- or N-dimensional lookup table.
7. The method according to any of the ing claims, wherein the step
of analyzing the information from the optical scanning ses the use of deep
learning or support vector es.
8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further
comprising a step of optically ng a zone on a ound element where a
line illumination hits said background element, wherein the step of analyzing the
ation from the optical scanning comprises determining whether material is
present in the detection region based on the information from the optical
scanning of the zone on the background.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the steps of optically
scanning the zone on the background element and optically scanning the
detection region are performed simultaneously with one camera.
. The method according to any of the preceding claims, where the step
of illuminating said detection region with electromagnetic ion is done with a
plurality of line illuminations for a plurality of detection regions and the step of
optically scanning said detection region is done in a plurality of measurement
lines for said detection regions.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of analyzing the
information from the optical ng comprises determining the motion of the
objects in the object stream.
12. The method according to claim 10, n the plurality of line
illuminations have different wavelengths, wherein the step of analyzing the
information from the optical scanning ses determining optical properties
and physical ties of the objects in the object stream.
13. The method according to claim 10 or 12, wherein the plurality of line
illuminations have different polarizations.
14. An apparatus for object classification, the apparatus being ured
to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 – 13.
WO 43231
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WO 43231
Fig. 5
WO 43231
. Background signal
Object signal
Dark zone for black
reference
Fig. 7
Claims (14)
1. A method for object classification, the method comprising the steps of: - guiding (S1) a continuous stream of objects (4) from a transport mechanism (2) directly into an unsupported path (6), along which said object stream (6) is fed through a detection region (12); - emitting electromagnetic radiation along a first direction (10) for illuminating (S2) said detection region (12), which emitted electromagnetic radiation forms a radiation band extending in a direction orthogonal to said first direction; - lly ng (S3) said detection region (12) to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection region (12) by viewing said detection region along a second direction (16), wherein the first direction (10) and the second direction (16) have a crosssection in the detection region (12) and forms an angle relative each other within the range of 3° - 80°; - analyzing (S4) the information from the optical scanning; and - fying (S5) objects from the object stream based on the analysis of the reflection information from the optical scanning; wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises analyzing the objects based on the intensity and spread of the detected radiation from the optical scanning and wherein the step of ing the information from the optical scanning comprises comparing the information to information in a lookup table and/or comparing the information to thresholds.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of fying said object further comprising sorting the objects from the object stream in at least two ent directions based on the analysis of the reflection information from the optical scanning.
3. The method according to any of the preceding claims, n the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning further comprises comparing the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the at least one object in the object stream to ation in a lookup table and/or to one or more thresholds to determine transparency or reflection information of said at least one object.
4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning comprises determining reflection information by comparing electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is directly reflected by the at least one object in the object stream to a first threshold, and thereafter comparing electromagnetic radiation from the illumination that is ly reflected by said at least one object to a second threshold to determine transparency of said at least one object, wherein the second threshold lies above the first threshold, and thereafter setting the tion information.
5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning further ses determining height profiles of objects in the object stream.
6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lookup table is a one-, two- or N-dimensional lookup table.
7. The method according to any of the ing claims, wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning ses the use of deep learning or support vector es.
8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a step of optically ng a zone on a ound element where a line illumination hits said background element, wherein the step of analyzing the ation from the optical scanning comprises determining whether material is present in the detection region based on the information from the optical scanning of the zone on the background.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the steps of optically scanning the zone on the background element and optically scanning the detection region are performed simultaneously with one camera.
10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, where the step of illuminating said detection region with electromagnetic ion is done with a plurality of line illuminations for a plurality of detection regions and the step of optically scanning said detection region is done in a plurality of measurement lines for said detection regions.
11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical ng comprises determining the motion of the objects in the object stream.
12. The method according to claim 10, n the plurality of line illuminations have different wavelengths, wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning ses determining optical properties and physical ties of the objects in the object stream.
13. The method according to claim 10 or 12, wherein the plurality of line illuminations have different polarizations.
14. An apparatus for object classification, the apparatus being ured to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 – 13.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP17189017.1 | 2017-09-01 | ||
EP17189017.1A EP3450029A1 (en) | 2017-09-01 | 2017-09-01 | Classification method and apparatus |
PCT/EP2018/073639 WO2019043231A1 (en) | 2017-09-01 | 2018-09-03 | Classification method and apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ762809A NZ762809A (en) | 2021-09-24 |
NZ762809B2 true NZ762809B2 (en) | 2022-01-06 |
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