US2228559A - Lamp housing for sorting machines - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 14, 1941. c, cox 2,228,559

LAMP HOUSING FOR SOR'IING MACHINES Filed Aug, 6, 1938 f Li [5 J 4 40 4 43 33 J/ INVENTOR 54 Oar/'0 6. (0x

Jan Q agzs ssa'fl'. f

I e 893m David 0. 0oz, Lowell; rfih.,usimor m niature I Sorting Machine company, qrandfRapids,

en-- ap lication -Au it reeds- .1

This invention relates to improvements in lamp housings for sorting machines. The main objects of myinvention are: "*1

First, to provide a .new' and improvedla'mpi housing for use in an electric'sorting machine to illuminate articles'to besorted.

Second, to provide a housing of thetype' described having provision for mounting anilluminatinglamp and a. pair of photoelectric viewing devices. v f

Third, to provide a lamphousingof the type described having provision for uniformly and 'effectively illuminating articles at "a viewing and judging station and provided with reference background means of noveland improved construction.

" 1 Fourth, to provide a lamp housing whichis inf ternally in the form of an ellipsoid having a viewrefle'ctedfrom saidarticles-prior to impinge of the reflected light on light 'sen'sitiv, viewing thereof. v Y v Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryview partiallyxbroken ,away and in section, further illustrating details:

' ticular; this application relates 'toapparatus for illuminating a series of moving articles etc. view ing stationat one focus thereof and illuminating means at the other focus thereof, there being means for causing light" emanating-from said;

illuminating means to be uniformly 'spread over an article at the viewing station.

Fifth, to provide'a lamp-housing hav g a view-' ing stationand a reference bac 'qu diadiacent the viewing station, the -said-gbaekgr "adjustable for a purpose to b'e describe Sixth, to provide illumli 'iatlng' and 1, I device having improved provisi refocusing lighton an article to be Jud'getifarni p v .strumentalities for focusing and -fllte' means.

I Further: objects relating and jeconoj-t' miesof my invention will deilnitely appea rom *thedescription-to follow. The inventi'on is'vd' ianeum the claims. structure em d i st nation is iillustratedin ing,wherein: '2';

Fig. 1 is fragmentary -view'ofi' the improved housing and reference background ofrmy inven tion, the housing beihg partlally brokenaaway -and V illustrate details, of construction;-

in section to of construction'of my device.

Thepresentinventionisa continuationin part of my LettersPatent'Nm 2,190,935, issued February'20, IMO, for Sorting machines. --In paring point in. the most effectivemannerand for i point.,- -$uch shadows tend to affect the operation ,th i -same c iii' br h ne, .ttnesame lengthwise. 45

gph' ltoelect'rically' viewingthesaid articlesat that If r poinh Broadly considered, the invention consists m lamp' housingiwhich isjgenerally ellipsoidal 'fin'internalgoutline'i-having a light, source; at one focus thereoijand' having the-other focuslocated i'nithe line of movement of {said s'eries'of articles.

I- have found that by forming the internal wall;

of the housing 'ellipsoidallas described it is possible to illuminate the articles very eflectlvely. IL, have further found that when theshap'e' is thati .01 a perfect ellipsoid the rays of light emanating irom"the;lightcsourceand reflected from the housing-wall converge onto the article, impinging the-nearsuriace of the later in the form ofv convergingsmallpoints or dots of light, result- 15 ing in a very intense illumination o'fthe surface of the article on the side a'ijacent the light source.

A more satisfactorytype oi illumination is secured when thereilected rays are in the form of 'parallelZsided-beams impingingthe article to 20 I produce areasfof light,"overlapping one another on the surface of the article. -'Il iis causes the article to-be more uniformly illuminated and results in elimination ofi objectionable'shadows cast on .a reference background -when'the'light rays are 25 focused-sharply and impinge the, article at a hotoelectric. viewing means, causing the somefinstances to record as a dark or mperfictarticle'what is in fact a perfect one. so

'Moreover, a too intense illumination of the suraee'oi' the article is to be "avoided, since it tends overcome the effect produced on a photo-tube y a smalldark spot on. the article. j

The invention'also includes the provision of a 35 eierence background immediately adjacent and 'to'jtherear of theiairticles being sorted with ref-i rence' topthe*so,urce-of illumination, this referencebackground being in the form of opposed jxinclilnedgsurfaces'"dfg suitable color and being 0 pacecxrrom oneanother only sufllciently to providejroomior thepassageof article seats on a .heel.' Sai'd members are arcuate in have provision thereon for adjusting g1err ing to the drawing, the reference numeraifltin general indicates the lamp housing of my invention which is situated adjacent the periphery of a vacuum operated article carrying or conveyor wheel 2, the said wheel being cham go bered and provided with a plurality of elongated 'articlecarrying seats 3 which .arein the form of hollow tubes communicating with the interior of the wheel. This wheel is connected toa source of vacuum (not shown) for the purpose of picking up articles by suction from a suitable hopper (not shown) and transporting the same to and through housing I. Adjacent the periphery of wheel 2 I provide the reference backgrounds which are generally indicated by the reference numeral 4 and will be more particularly described hereinafter.

The housing is generally ellipsoidal in shape internally thereof having one focus of the ellipsoid located at an article viewing station 5 in the path of movement of the articles 6, in this case beans. The axis of the ellipsoid is normal to the periphery of wheel 2. At the other focus I locate a suitable lamp I in a fitting 8 which is disposed in an elongated tubular holder or socket member 9 integral with the housing. The leads ID supply current for illuminating the lamp.

The housing I consists of a pair of shells II, I2 preferably formed by a die casting operation, the annular meeting edges of which are stepped as indicated at I3 so as to form a. close lightsealing fit between the shells in operative assembled position. By reference to Figs. 1 and'2, it will be seen that the interior of housing I is not perfectly ellipsoidal in nature, but is only roughly so, inasmuch as throughout its inner surface housing I has a number of flat internal facets I4 in circumferentially and axially spaced arrangement, each of the facets having secured thereto, as by cementing, a reflecting member or mirror I5. These mirrors have the outer lens convex surface thereof preferably parabolic in form to cause light to be reflected back on the article 6 in the form of a parallel-sided beam. In Fig. 1 the broken lines IS'illustrate the manner in which the center elements of these beams are reflected from the mirrors onto'the article. However, it will be understood that in actuality the said beams overlap one another considerably and bathe the entire surface of the article, except that portion in contact with the seat 3, with a uniform illumination, thus eliminating both shadows on the reference background and unduly intense illumination on the near side of the bean, either of which might cause error in the photoelectric judging of the bean, as explained above; A suitable opaque mask I1 is disposed across the inner side of lamp 1 to shield the article from direct illumination by the lamp.

Housing I is provided on either side of the lamp receiving member 9 with an integral counterbored viewing holder IB wherein is disposed focusing and filtering means, generally indicated I9, for the light reflected from the articles to the photo-tube 20. This last named means consists of an elongated cylindrical tube 2| extending through bore 22 in holder I8 and having an annular flange 23 fitting in the counterbored portion 24 of the holder. Tube 2| is provided with an elongated lid 25 on the side thereof adjacent lamp 1 to prevent entry of direct light from the lamp into the tube. A suitable double convex lens 26 is disposed in the viewing tube. It will be understood that the said viewing tube and lens are in alinement with the articles 6 at the viewing station and the photo-sensitive device 20.

Within the counterbore 24 and spaced from flange 23 by a gasket 21, I mount a suitable color filter 28 and I secure the same in mounted position by means of an externally threaded thimble 29 threadedly engaging the interior of holder I8, the said thimble being apertured centrally. A second gasket 30 is interposed between the same and the filter.

As stated, there are two focusing and filtering means I9, one on either side of the lamp. The filters 28 thereof are preferably different in color from one another whereby the relative color reflectivity of the articles may beanalyzed on the basis of a plurality of color components if desired. In my copending application, Serial No. 222,787, filed August 3, 1938, I disclose a machine for performing a sorting operation on the basis of the relative intensity of a plurality of color constituents. If such operation is not desired, filters 28 may be of the same color, in which case the presence of a pair of viewing means directed at the article from opposite sides thereof assures that the whole surface of the article is scrutinized. The choice of the color of the filters of course depends upon which color constituents of the light reflected from the articles it is desired to intercept.

The shells I2 of housing I are secured together by screws 3| extending through ears 32 on shell I2 and into shell I I, and the said housing, at the holders I8 thereof, is in communication with the usual light-tight enclosure or box 33 for the photo-tube 20, agasket 34 being interposed.'

In the side of housing I adjacent conveyor wheel 2 I provide a pair of alined openings 35 constituting a passageway for the articles 6 on the wheel. These openings are located between the outspread bosses or feet 36 integral with shell I2 and curved in conformity with the convex outline of the reference background 4.

The reference background 4 consists of a pair jof arcuate members 31 which are triangular in section and are adapted to be positioned relative to housing I in the manner indicated in the drawing, i. e., withthe outer side and convex surfaces thereof disposed against the housing, which housing is cut away at 38 to receive members 31. The members are adjustably secured to the housing feet 36 by means, of set screws 39 extending through elongated countersunk slots 40 in the members and threadedly engaging the feet. The inner or convex side 4|, of the background members which is adjacent the inside of the housing is painted a suitable shade such as white or, gray, depending on the type of articles being sorted. These colored or reference background surfaces 4| are in angled relation as illustrated in Fig. 2, being inclined radially relative to wheel 2 and inwardly of the sides thereof. The theoretical meeting line of the surfaces constitutes a plane in which the illuminating means I is substantially disposed. By adjustably mounting members 31 in the manner described, it is possible to shift the same circumferentially a considerable distance, which is helpful in the event a certain portion thereof becomes. discolored or dirty and it is desired to remove the discolored portion from immediately adjacent the viewing station 5 or in the event it is desired to have selected reference backgrounds of different colors. To facilitate such repositioning of the members, I provide a plurality of spring urged ball detents generally indicated 42 in recesses 43 in housing I, the said detents cooperatingwith depressions 44 in the outer sides of the background members so that the latter may be shifted a predetermined distance if desired and then locked in adjusted position. In practice, I provide three such recesses or depressions 44. v

It will be appreciated that if it is desired to change from a reference background of one shade or color used in sorting one type of article to a background of another shade or color better suited for use in sorting a different type-of article, it is only necessary to loosen set screws 39 holding the arcuate members 31 in position and transport the articles in substantially spaced relation to the conveyor wheel, i. e., sufficiently above the surfaces ll of the reference background that the production of shadows is eliminated. This result is in turn furthered by the manner in which the beams of light from the reflecting surfaces ii are focused on the articles. It is desirable that the efiect viewed by the phototube should be one of a series of unsupported, uniformly illuminated articles traversing a predetermined path and not be affected by dark spots or shadows, suchas are sometimes occasioned by the article supporting means or by "shadows from the articles on the reference backthe seats may be painted the same coloras the reference background to still further insure against a factor likely to cause an erroneous judgment of the articles by the photo-tubes. What is more, the arcuate background members 31 are spaced from one another only sufficiently to permit passage of seats 3, thus extending the desired background behind the articles as much as posible and avoiding variables likely toaffect the operation of the photo-tube viewing means.

I desire to call attention to the fact that in my structure the housing I and reference background 4 are inoperative relation fixedly though adjustably mounted relative to one another. They constitute a viewing unit which is the entire judging instrumentality of my invention. By providing such a-unitaryconstruction, I obviate the difficulty of assembling a separate viewing housing with a separate, background means and the attendant difficulties of locating and maintaining the same in proper position relative to one another. Moreover, the parts are simple in nature and readily assembled and mounted on a sorting machine and do not require constant checking and adjusting of the optical accuracy thereof.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment which is very practical. I have not attempted toillustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my improvements as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An illuminating housing for a photoelectric article sorting machine comprising a housing having a passage adapted to permit articles to be transported therethrough, a pair of arcuate reference background membersadjustably connected to said housing adjacent said passage and extending into the housing on either side of the path of travel of articles therethrough, the ar cuate outline of said members conforming to the If desired,

periphery of an-articlecarryingwheel disposed adjacent the same to transport articles in an arcuate path through the housing passage, means for shifting said: members lengthwise whereby to alter 'the surface thereof exposed within the housing, said members having inclined background surfaces converging toward and terminating closely adjacent thepath of;travel of the articles on the side thereof, illuminating means in the housing, a plurality of'mirrors secured to the interior of the housing for reflecting light from said illuminatingmeans on the articles andi'saidinclined surfaces in the form of overlapping substantially parallel-sided beams, whereby to unimembers and ala'rge proportion of the surface of said articles, and means in' said housing for viewingjthe soilluminat'ed articles and'reference background members. x

2. An illuminating housing for a photoelectric article sorting machine comprising" a housing having a passage adapted to permit articles to be transported therethrough,a pairof arcuate reference background members connected to said housing adjacent said; passage and extending into the housing on either side of the path of travel of articles-therethrough, the arcuate outline of said members conforming to the periphery of an articlecarryz'ng wheel'disposed adjacent the sameto transportarticles in an arcuate path through the housing passagesaid members having inclined backgroundsurfaces converging toward and terminating closely adjacent the path of travel of the articles on the side thereof, illuminating means inJthe-housing; and means in the housingfor reflecting light from said illuminating means on the articles and said inclined surfaces in the form of overlapping subformly illuminate. saidreferenceabackground stantially parallel-sided beams, whereby to uniarticle sorting machine comprising a housing having a passage adapted to permit articles to be transported therethrough in'an arcuate path, an arcuate reference background member adjustably connected to said housing adjacent said passage and disposed adjacentone side of said path, the arcuate outline of said member conforming to the arcuate path of travel of the articles, means in said housing for illuminating articles transported therethrough. and said reference background member, means in the housing arranged to view said articles and said member, and meansfor shifting said member. lengthwise whereby to alter the surface thereof exposed within the housing, said member having an inclined background surface disposed at an angle to the line of View of said viewing-means. l

4. In a photoelectric sorting machine, a rotary riphery of said wheel and located closely adjacent the seats on opposite sides of the path of travel of the-articles through said passage, .meansfor connecting said background members to said housing for longitudinal adjustment thereof, and means in said housing for reflecting a plurality of converging, parallel-sided, overlapping beams of light from said illuminating means on said articles and background members, ,said elonthe periphery of said wheel and located closely adjacent the same in the housing andcloaely ad- Jacent and on opposite sides of the path of traver of the articles in the housing, illuminating and viewing means disposed in said housing for simultaneously illuminating and viewing the articles and background members, and means for connecting said background members to said housing for longitudinal adjustment thereof.

6. An article illuminating and viewing housing having the interior thereof substantially in the form of an ellipsoid, means for transport- Zing articles through one focus of said ellipsoid,

and illuminating means at the other focus thereof, said housing having a plurality of reflecting members having convex lenses secured thereto in circumferential and axially spaced arrangement whereby to reflect light from said illuminating means toward said articles in the'form of a plurality of substantially parallel-sided overlapping beams. 1 p

7. An illuminating and viewing device for a photoelectric sortingmachihe comprising a housing having a source of illumination therein and the interior surface thereof being provided with a plurality of reflecting members adapted to reflect light emanating from the source offillumination toward a viewing station in the housing in the form of parallel-sided beams, a pair of reference background members adjacent said station disposed on opposite sides of articles at said station and adapted to be illuminated with said articles by light from said source of illumination, means in said housing arranged to view articles at the station and said background members, and means for adjustably securing said background members to said housing for longitudinal ad-,* justment relative thereto, said members havingmutually inclined faces converii toward the stations whereby to furnish suitable backgrounds for viewing articles at the viewing station from a plurality of angles.

8. An illuminating and viewing device for a photoelectric sorting machine comprising a lamp housing having a source of illumination, said housing being provided with an interior reflecting surface adapted to reflect light emanating from the source of illumination in the housing toward an article at a viewing station therein, a refer ence background member in the housingadjacent said station illuminated by light reflected from said reflecting surface, means for viewing said background member and an article adjacent the same, and means for adjustably securing said background member to said housing for longitudinal adjustment of a portion of its surface in the housing relative to the latter.

9. In combination, a lamp housing having article illuminating means and article viewing means therein for illuminating and viewing articles at an illuminating station in the housing,

and a pair of reference background members adjustably secured to and-extending into said housing for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said members being disposed adjacent said station and being illuminated and viewed with said articles by said means, each of said members having a surface provided with predetermined diflerently colored areas arranged longitudinally of the members whereby selective longitudinal adjusting movement of the members exposes said areas selectively to the interior of said housing, said surfaces being inclined and disposed in converging relation on opposite sides of the articles whereby to expose the surfaces to viewing by said. viewing means from different points at difl'erent angles.-

10. In combination, a lamp housing having article illuminating and viewing means therein for illuminating and viewing an article in a predetermined station in the housing, and reference background members adiustably secured to and extending into said housing for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said members being disposed on opposite sides of said station and having a background surface provided with predeterminedfdiflerently colored areas arranged longitudinally of the members whereby selective longitudinal adjusting movement of the members selectively exposes said areas to be illuminated and viewed with an article at the station by said illuminating and viewing means.

11. An article illuminating and viewing housing having the interior thereof provided with a reflecting surface substantially in the form of an ellipsoid, article illuminating means at one focus" of said ellipsoid, means for transporting articles to be viewed through the other focus of the ellipsoid, article viewing means disposed uniformly at either side of said illuminating means and arranged to view articles illuminated by said 11- luminating means, each of said viewing means comprising a photo-sensitive element. and a lens for focusing light reflected from said articles on saidelement, and diflerently colored filters for said photo-sensitive elements disposed between said lenses and said elements.

.12. An article illuminating and viewing housing having article illuminating means therein, means for transporting. articlesto be viewed through the housing, article viewing. means disposed in said and arranged] to view articles illuminated-1 by the-illuminating means,

th form of an ellipsoidjand provided with a plurality'of reflecting members having convex lens surfacesjadapted to reflect light impinging the samein tnjerorm of a plurality of parallel-sided -beam's,,article-lliuminating means at one focus of .tneiiousin, for transporting articles to be viewed through another focus of the ellipsoid, and view.- neans in the housing arranged to view illuminated at said other focus.

14. An illuminating and viewing housing having "interior thereof substantially in the form of an ellipsoid and provided with a resaid viewing means eamprising, apluraiity of,

. -iight reflected said, on said elements;

sm differently so having the 'interiortherepf substantiallyin fleeting surface, article illuminating means at one focus of said ellipsoid, means for supporting articles to be viewed at the other focus of the ellipsoid, article viewing means disposed in said housing and arranged to view articles illuminated at said other focus, said viewing means comprising a pair of light-sensitive elements, means for focusing light reflected from said articles on said elements; and differently colored filters for saidlight-sensitive elements.

15. An illuminating housing for a photoelectric sorting machine, comprising a housing having a passage permitting articles to be translated therethrough, illuminating and viewing means inthe housing, a rotary article transporting member mounted adjacent the housing and having means for holding articles on the peripheral surface thereof, and a reference background comprising a pair of members disposed in the housing on opposite sides of the path of travel of the article through the housing, said members having inclined background surfaces converging toward one another in the direction of said surface and from the sides of the transporting member, said surfaces terminating adjacent said path of travel and adapted to be illuminated by said illuminating means and viewed with said articles by said viewing means, said illuminating means being disposed substantially in the plane including the meeting line of said surfaces.

16. In combination, a lamp housing having article illuminating means and article viewing means therein for illuminating and viewing articles at a station in .the'housing, and a reference background member adjustably secured to and extending into said housing for longitudinal movement therein, said member having a surface provided with areas of different color arranged longitudinally of the member and, adapted to be selectively exposed interiorly of the housing'by longitudinal adjustment of the member, and article transporting means adapted to transport articles through the housing adjacent said member to be illuminated and viewed with the latter at said station .in the housing by said illuminating and viewing means.

DAVID C. COX.

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