US3382975A - Apparatus for sorting comestible and other objects - Google Patents

Apparatus for sorting comestible and other objects Download PDF

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Publication number
US3382975A
US3382975A US574664A US57466466A US3382975A US 3382975 A US3382975 A US 3382975A US 574664 A US574664 A US 574664A US 57466466 A US57466466 A US 57466466A US 3382975 A US3382975 A US 3382975A
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objects
pulse
viewing
potatoes
viewing zone
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Michael C Hoover
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Satake USA Inc
Mandrel Industries Inc
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Mandrel Industries Inc
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Priority to US574664A priority Critical patent/US3382975A/en
Priority to AT759467A priority patent/AT289652B/de
Priority to SE11790/67A priority patent/SE337121B/xx
Priority to FR1551918D priority patent/FR1551918A/fr
Priority to ES344366A priority patent/ES344366A1/es
Priority to GB39121/67A priority patent/GB1172751A/en
Priority to DE19671572553 priority patent/DE1572553B1/de
Priority to NO00169494A priority patent/NO128256B/no
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Publication of US3382975A publication Critical patent/US3382975A/en
Priority to NO287173A priority patent/NO129506B/no
Assigned to WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, A DE BANKING CORPORATION, WADE, WILLIAM J. AS TRUSTEES reassignment WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY, A DE BANKING CORPORATION SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: ESM INTERNATIONAL INC., A DE CORP.
Assigned to ESM INTERNATIONAL INC., A DE CORP. reassignment ESM INTERNATIONAL INC., A DE CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: GEOSOURCE INC.
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N21/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of optical means, i.e. using sub-millimetre waves, infrared, visible or ultraviolet light
    • G01N21/84—Systems specially adapted for particular applications
    • G01N21/88—Investigating the presence of flaws or contamination
    • 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
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P80/00—Climate change mitigation technologies for sector-wide applications
    • Y02P80/10—Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/906—Pneumatic or liquid stream feeding item
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/934—Moving items to sorting means in spaced relation lengthwise of feed path

Definitions

  • MICHAEL C HOOVER BY a ATTORNEY May 14, 1968 M. c. HOOVER APPARATUS FOR SORTING COMESTIBLE AND OTHER OBJECTS Filed Aug. 24, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 mun-wi l .I
  • This invention relates to processing apparatus for discrete objects such as, for example, fruits and vegetables, and particularly to apparatus for arranging and moving such objects serially past a detecting, inspecting or classifying means for counting, grading or sorting.
  • peeled potatoes are generally white and the imperfections thereof show up as dark spots
  • the sorting can be accomplished by passing the potatoes through a photo-electric device wherein the potatoes are illuminated and the presence of dark spots is observed and signalled to a rejection apparatus located further downstream on the path that is followed by the potatoes.
  • color sorting is desirable and can be accomplished with a modified form of the photoelectric device. Sorting by size, or even merely counting, can also be accomplished with appropriate modifications, and systems of this general class can be used for processing objects other than food, such as pearls or rocks.
  • An important requirement of all such systems employing photoelectric inspection devices is to maintain the output thereof in calibration with a precise reference value, so that the color or darkness of the objects is measured against an unvarying standard.
  • Various influences may cause the photoelectric device to drift with time. If the objects are conveyed in a transparent fluid, the fluid may become contaminated and thus reduce light transmission. The illuminating lamp bulbs tend to decrease in output with age. If the photoelectric device contains a photomultiplier, the output may be unstable and the photomultiplier may vary in gain.
  • the art therefore usually provides a normalizing device that automatically normalizes or re-calibrates the photoelectric device from time to time, and during periods when no object is being viewed.
  • the art contains object conveying means such as wheels with spaced suction ferrules for picking up the objects and moving them rapidly past the inspection station.
  • the ferrules are spaced as closely as possible, so that often the objects are touching one another and there is no gap between for normalizing, save for random gaps occurring when an occasional ferrule for some reason fails to pickup one of the objects.
  • the random occurrence of gaps should not be relied upon. It is therefore customary to manufacture such wheels with at least one blank ferrule, so that at least one normalizing period per revolution of the wheel will occur. Since the normalizing period is thus predetermined, very simple systems can be used to perform the normalizing function.
  • conveyors such as belts or fluid conveyors, that move the objects in random spacing. In such machines, more complex arrangements must be made to ensure that normalizing takes place each and every time such random spacing occurs between objects.
  • Another requirement of all such systems is that the objects be moved through the inspection and rejection apparatus in serial order, preferably with substantial spaces between objects. Otherwise, if two objects of different classes (e.g., one perfect and the other imperfect) move "ice abreast through the inspection apparatus, they may both be classified and sorted as if they were the same. The perfect object may mask the defect of the other, and both are accepted; or if the defect is discerned, both objects are rejected.
  • two objects of different classes e.g., one perfect and the other imperfect
  • potatoes can be easily graded and serialized (singulated) on the basis of their Widths or thicknesses, the variation in lengths as they pass the inspection device must still be taken into account.
  • the ejection device is a jet of pressurized air operated in predetermined time delay after the inspection operation, a short potato may be hit by the jet near its center of gravity, but a long potato may be hit elsewhere, causing it to cartw'neel and to be dam aged or improperly classified.
  • a long potato, having greater mass may require a jet or jets exerting greater force to deflect such a potato to the same degree as a small potato, so that all rejected potatoes are accurately deflected to the same target bin.
  • a normalizing device is provided for normalizing the inspection device each time an object departs therefrom.
  • FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a portion of an apparatus incorporating the invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG- URE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is an elevation section taken along the plane of lines 3-3 of FIGURES 2 and 4;
  • FIGURE 4 is an elevation section taken along the plane of lines M of FIGURE 3;
  • FIGURE 5 is an elevation section taken along the lines 55 of FIGURE 4.
  • FIGURE 6 is a circuit diagram
  • FIGURE 7 is a waveform diagram
  • FIGURE 8 is an operational diagram
  • FIGURE 9 is an enlarged broken-away elevation view of a portion of the apparatus taken along the plane of lines 9--9 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 10 is a sectional plan view taken along the lines 10'10 of FIGURE 9.
  • FIGURE 1 there is shown a processing apparatus ilor sorting, for example, peeled potatoes.
  • the potatoes '1 1 are inserted into a hopper 12, which tapers downward into a water tank 13 and is coupled to the inner opening of a tank outlet 14.
  • the hop-per 12 has at least one opening 16 smaller than any of the potatoes, these openings being located below the level of the water 17 in the tank, so that the potatoes and water are mixed inside the hopper for conveying the potatoes through the outlet 14.
  • a solids pump 18 is coupled to the outlet 14 for moving the conveying water containing the potatoes.
  • the pump illustrated is of standard commercial manufacture, and consists of a centrifugal pump having a central intake 19 and a peripheral outlet 21.
  • the outlet 14, intake 19 and outlet 21 are all of inside diameter sufficiently great to pass more than one potato abreast, so as not to cause jamming of the potatoes. It has been found in practice, however, that a pump of the type illustrated has the elfect of singulating the potatoes as they pass through, even if they enter abreast. Accordingly, at the outlet 21, a conduit 22 is provided, tapering to an inside diameter barely great enough to pass one otato at a time, so that the potatoes, once singulated, remain in serial order. It will be understood that other pumping or singulating means, either known or at present unknown in the art, may be used.
  • the conduit 22 is formed with a horizontal transparent segment 23 for visual inspection of the fluid and potatoes, and continues to an inspection device 24, which may be mounted on hangars 26 above the tank 13.
  • a box 27, containing various electronic circuits, is mounted on the side of the tank 13.
  • the inspection device 24 examines the potatoes for defects and makes a determination whether or not to deflect the potato from a predetermined path 28 as the potato emerges from the inspection device 24.
  • a pair of air jet means 31, 32 is provided for such deflection. As shown in FIGURE 2, the unblemished potatoes proceed in a straight vertical plane directly to a horizontal screen 33, which is mounted above the tank 13, so that the conveying water falls through and is returned to the tank, and only the potatoes are caught.
  • the potatoes, impelled by the pump 18, have an appreciable momentum as they leave the viewing device 24, and roll along the screen 33 to a ramp 34, and down the ramp to a conveying means, such as conveying belt 36.
  • the air jet means 31, 32 are mounted to deliver horizontal jets of air transverse to the path 28, so that the blemished potatoes, upon operation of the air jets, are deflected ten or fifteen degrees to another part of the screen 33.
  • a partition 37 is mounted along the length of the screen 33, the ramp 34, and the belt 36, to keep separate the deflected and non-deflected potatoes. Bin sides 38 and "a water splash guard 39 are also provided.
  • first air jet means 31 is positioned closest to the viewing device 24 and at a predetermined distance therefrom, and the second air jet means 32 is positioned more remote from the viewing device 24.
  • the operation of these jet means either singly or in tandem, provides an advantageous flexibility in dealing with potatoes of varying sizes, as will be later explained.
  • FIGURES 3-5 The structure of the viewing means 24 is shown in FIGURES 3-5.
  • the means is enclosed in a cylindrical housing 41, along the axis of which runs a transparent tube 42 communicating with the conduit 22, 23.
  • a transparent tube 42 communicating with the conduit 22, 23.
  • Also enclosing the viewing zone is a transparent fluid jacket 46 filled with water, so that a potato that encounters the wall of the tube 42 will have the same appearance, from outside the jacket 46, as it would if it did not encounter the wall of tube '42.
  • the two rings of lamps 47 are spaced upstream and downstream from the viewing zone so as to illuminate the ends of the potatoes as well as the midportions, and also so as not to shine directly into the ends of a plurality of viewing tubes 48 that are ar ranged in a plane normal to the axis of tube 42 at the midsection of the viewing zone.
  • the viewing tubes 48 are aligned with their axes on diameters of the tube 42 and are circumferentially equi-spaced.
  • a background element 49 consisting of a card or plate having predetermined color and reflectance characteristics so as to serve as an optical standard or reference against which the color and reflectance of each potato may be measured, and also to serve as a standard for the normalizing of the viewing apparatus. Except for the areas covered by the background elements 49, the interior wall of the housing 43 is painted fiat white.
  • each. viewing tube 48 must look along a diameter of tube 42 directly at one of the background elements 49, and not into the end of another viewing tube, it follows that there must be an odd number of viewing tubes and an odd number of background elements; in the illustrated case, nine each.
  • Each of the viewing tubes 48 contains an objective lens 51, an optical frame element 52, a detocusing lens system 53, an optical filter 54, and a photomultiplier tube 57, all standard in the art.
  • the interior surface of each viewing tube is roughened, corrugated, or screw-threaded, and is painted black to reduce reflection.
  • each tube 48 is bent at right angles between the lens 53 and filter 54, and a 45- degree mirror 58 is provided for transmitting the received light to the filter.
  • the elements 51-58 are arranged in a well-known manner to provide a signal from the photo-multiplier 57, of which signal the amplitude varies in proportion to the darkness (below that of element 49) of the reflected light from each potato.
  • a signal from the photo-multiplier 57 of which signal the amplitude varies in proportion to the darkness (below that of element 49) of the reflected light from each potato.
  • each object detector comprises a light source assembly 66 and a diametrically opposite photoelectric assembly 67, and the intermediate diameter on which each corresponding pair of elements 66, 67 is aligned is angularly spaced from all diameters occupied by the viewing tubes 48 and background elements 49.
  • Each light source assembly 66 includes first and second light sources 68, 69.
  • the first light source 68 emits a beam of light directed parallel to the corresponding
  • the significance of the object detectors, and their abovementioned signals from photodiodes 71, 72, lies in their use for controlling the novel normalizing arrangement of the present invention, and their use as well for supplementing the action of the blemish detecting viewing tubes 48, particularly in precisely delaying the deflection signal to the air jet means 31, 32, and in operating the air jet means in a flexible variety of modes that is suitable to the handling of potatoes of varying sizes.
  • the viewing tubes 48 which produce signals only for blemished potatoes and even then not usually in relation to the precise times of entry and exit of the potato in the viewing zone, cannot be relied upon to furnish this desired information, and means such as the object detectors are needed.
  • the signals from the photodiodes 71, 72 are a pair of first and second gating pulses 81, 82.
  • the pulse 81 from lead photodiode 71 begins when a potato enters the viewing zone, and the pulse 82 from lag photodiode 72 ends when the potato leaves the viewing zone.
  • These pulses are both received by a NOR gate 83, which emits a third gating pulse 84 beginning with the beginning of pulse 81 and ending with the end of pulse 82.
  • the pulse 84 is received by a normallyclosed normalizer switch 86 and storage capacitor 87, and the switch is opened for the duration of the pulse 84.
  • the ' switch is connected in a closed series feedback loop with a control element 88, the dynode of the photomultiplier 57, and an adjustable voltage detector 89 that will change its state when the photomultiplier output voltage exceeds a predetermined value.
  • the photomultipliers look through the tube 42 full of liquid at the colored standard 49.
  • the reflectance of this standard is chosen to be the same as the darkest good product. Anything that is darker than this standard can be considered defective and will be ejected.
  • the control element 88 is placed in series with the dynode supply. This control element is activated by the output of the photomultiplier. Thus, if the loop gain of the system is high enough, the control element will maintain photomultiplier output constant.
  • the normalizer switch 86 shown on the block diagram is a solid state switch with a storage capacitor 87.
  • the switch is normally closed, thus closing the feedback loop.
  • the control gating circuit 71-72 sees an article come into view, it opens the switch to open the feedback loop.
  • the storage capacitor holds the input to the control element 88 (called the Normalizer AGC Amplifier on the block diagram) constant while the switch is open.
  • the switch is again closed after the article is passed out of view. If no'drift accurs while the article is in view, the photomultiplier output -will represent the true reflectance of the article relative to the color standard.
  • the voltage detector or output classifier '89 is a silicon controlled switch with the cathode gate connected to the photomultiplier amplifier and the anode gate connected to the control gating system.
  • the cathode is connected to a variable voltage source and is set so that the photomultiplier amplifier output is just below the turn on voltage of the SCS when no article is in view. Thus an article that is slightly darker than the color standard will turn the SOS on. When the article goes out of view, the control gating circuit will turn the S68 oflf.
  • the normalizing circuit is operated whenever the viewing zone is completely clear of potatoes. Since the viewing zone is comparatively narrow, the potatoes must be very closely spaced in order to prevent the operation of the normalize-r between each and every potato.
  • the natural action of the pump 18 is to space the potatoes substantially equidistantly, and since the dimension of this spacing can be controlled by varying the pumping rate and the rate of potato input, it is possible to arrange the system in such a way that normalizing is almost never prevented.
  • the photomultiplier 48 When the normalizerswitch 86 is open, as when a potato is passing through the viewing zone, the photomultiplier 48 emits a signal 92 that has a reference level amplitude 93 corresponding to a vie-w of the background element 49 alone, and a varying amplitude 94 corresponding to a view of a photo. When the amplitude of this signal exceeds a predetermined threshold level 96, corresponding with the presence of a blemish, the SCS 89 begins emitting a continuing stored rejection pulse 97. All of the viewing assembly channels are coupled in parallel to an OR gate 98, so that any of the pulses 97 are sufiicient to provide an output from the OR gate 98.
  • Such output consists of a rejection initiating pulse 101 of predetermined time duration beginning at the end of pulse 97. Since it is desirable that the pulse 101 be emitted only just as the potato leaves the viewing zone, in order to establish the beginning of the time delay ending in operation of air jets uniformly for each potato, a first reset means 102 is coupled to receive pulse 82 from lag photodiode 72 and to provide a spike pulse 103 to the voltage detector 89, so as to end the pulse 97 coincident with the end of pulse 82, causing initiation of the pulse 101. Naturally, if there is no blemish on the potato, no pulse 101 is emitted.
  • pulse 101 is sent to a delay circuit comprising a delay line 104 consisting of a number of multivibrators emitting pulses 106, 107 and 108, an ejector dwell device 109 emitting a pulse 110 for establishing the time duration of the air jet, and a drive amplifier 1'11 emitting a first deflection actuating pulse 112 to the air jet means for operating same.
  • a delay line 104 consisting of a number of multivibrators emitting pulses 106, 107 and 108
  • an ejector dwell device 109 emitting a pulse 110 for establishing the time duration of the air jet
  • a drive amplifier 1'11 emitting a first deflection actuating pulse 112 to the air jet means for operating same.
  • an integrating and object size signalling means 116 is coupled to receive the lead photodiode pulse 81 and to emit a continuing pulse 117, the amplitude of which varies as the width of the first gating pulse 81. At the end of pulse 81, pulse 117 continues at its maximum attained amplitude, which of course is a function of the length of the potato.
  • the means 116 also includes means for receiving the pulse 117 and for emitting .a continuing large-object pulse 118 beginning when the pulse 117 exceeds a predetermined amplitude 119, and a continuing small-object pulse 121 whenever there is no pulse 118.
  • a second reset means 122 is therefore coupled to the lag photodiode 72 to receive the pulse 82 therefrom and to emit a pulse 123 of predetermined time duration beginning with the end of pulse 82; and the means 122 is coupled to an input of means 116 so as to perpetuate pulse 118 to the end of pulse 123.
  • Pulse 118 is sent to gate 114, and if at the end of the viewing function there is also a pulse 101 at the gate 114, the long potato delay line is actuated.
  • the amplifier 111 may be coupled to operate jet 31 alone just as the center of gravity of the potato arrives at the jet, the time delay 136 being established by setting the delay line 104 in conjunction with the known velocity of the potato and the known distance between the photodiode 72 and the jet 31. Care must be taken to ensure that the jet 31 is spaced from the end of tube 42 sufficiently far that the trailing end of the potato has cleared the tube end when the center of gravity of the potato is at the jet.
  • the delay line 116 may also be set to produce the same time delay 136, and the amplifier 118 coupled to operate the jet 32 alone, so that a long potato 137 will also be struck at its center of gravity by the single jet 32.
  • both jets may be operated simultaneously after time delay 136, by either or both delay circuits.
  • a mode is usually not preferable since a long potato 138 will thus usually be struck above its center of gravity, and in the case of a small potato 139, there may be another non-defective small potato 141 .in position to be deflected by jet 32.
  • a further preferable mode is to couple amplifier 111 to operate a jet 31 alone with time delay 136 for small potatoes, and amplifier 118 to operate both jets 31, 32 after a shorter time delay 145 for long potatoes 146.
  • the long potatoes are struck with greater force by both jets, equidistantly from the center of gravity of the potato.
  • the construction of the air jet means 31, 32 is shown in FIGURES 9 and 10.
  • the two means are identical, and only one is shown.
  • the means comprises a housing 148 having a curved surface 149 shaped to conform to the envelope of the path of the potatoes, and enclosing a number of tapered channels 151 opening onto the surface 149.
  • Each of the channels 151 has a perforated nozzle 152 inset in the end of the channel remote from the surface 149.
  • Each nozzle 152 is covered by a light magnetically permeable valve disk 153, which is normally held against the nozzle 152 by pressure of compressed air in a plenum chamber 154.
  • the chamber 154 is supplied from a conduit 156.
  • a number of electromagnetic coils 157 are energized so as to attract the disks 153 and uncover the perforations of the nozzles 152.
  • the disks 153 are substantially imprisoned between the nozzles and coils, and while the disks have a limited range of movement, they cannot escape.
  • detecting apparatus 71, 72, 83 may be operated independently of the classifying and deflection apparatus to provide a counting system merely for counting the number of potatoes that pass through the viewing zone, and many other arrangements are possible.
  • a device in which objects are placed in a conveying fluid so that substantially all forces applied to the objects are applied only through the fluid medium, and direct jostling and bumping are avoided.
  • Means are provided for moving the fluid containing the objects, and for arranging or singulating the objects in serial order; such means may take the form of a so-called solids pump, which pumps the fluid without bumping or crushing the objects, and at the same time singulates the objects.
  • the fluid containing the objects is then passed through an inspection device that (l) detects the presence or absence of defects, and (2) grades the objects according to size. Defect and size signals are then sent to an air-jet deflecting apparatus that can be operated in various modes depending on the size of the object.
  • a normalizing device is provided for normalizing the inspection device each time an object departs therefrom.
  • said normalizing means being coupled to said detecting means for causing said normalizing each time one of said objects departs from said viewing zone.
  • conduit means therefor having means for inserting said objects into said conduit and fluid
  • an odd number of object-detectors positioned at said viewing zone and sensitive to the passage of said objects for emitting a first electrical gating pulse beginning when one of said objects enters said viewing zone, and a second electrical gating pulse ending when said object leaves said viewing zone.
  • a transparent tube coupled to said conduit for receiving and passing said fluid and objects, said tube having a midsection segment defining said viewing zone, and at least said viewing zone portion of said transparent tube being provided with an exterior transparent fluid jacket filled with said fluid;
  • a plurality of light sources arranged circumferentially around said tube and spaced therefrom, both upstream and downstream from said viewing zone;
  • each of said object detectors includes:
  • a light source assembly aligned on an intermediate diameter of said tube that is angularly spaced from all diameters occupied by said viewing tubes and background elements, said light source assembly containing first and second light sources, said first light source emitting a beam of light directed parallel to said intermediate diameter at the upstream end of said viewing zone, and said second light source emitting a beam of light directed parallel to said intermediate diameter at the downstream end of said viewing zone;
  • a photoelectric assembly diametrically opposite said light source assembly and containing first and second photoelectric devices for receiving said respective light beams in the absence of said objects, and for emitting said first and second gating pulses when said light beams are interrupted;
  • viewing tube light-receiving and deflecting-signal-emitting means includes:
  • photoelectric means for emitting a signal of reference level amplitude when said background elements alone are viewed thereby, and a signal of amplitude varying from said reference level when any portion of one of said objects passing through said viewing zone has color and reflectance characteristics varying correspondingly from said characteristics of said background elements, and means coupled to said photoelectric means for emitting a continuing stored rejection pulse beginning when said varying-amplitude signal exceeds a predetermined amplitude;
  • first reset means coupled to said second photoelectric device and to said rejection-pulse-emitting means for ending said stored rejection pulse at the end of said second gating pulse
  • said normalizing means including feedback circuit I means for maintaining said reference level signal precisely and continuously at said reference level when no object is in said viewing zone, said circuit including a normally-closed normalizer switch and means coupled to said switch and said third gating pulse means for opening said switch while said third gating pulse is being emitted.
  • integrating and object size signaling means coupled to said first photoelectric device for receiving said first gating pulse and for emitting a continuing signal the amplitude of which varies as a function of first gating pulse width and the size of the stimulating object;
  • said integrating and object size signaling means also including means for receiving said size-varyingamplitude signal and for emitting a continuing largeobject pulse beginning when said size-varying-amplitude signal exceeds a predetermined amplitude, and a continuing small-object pulse whenever there is no large-object pulse;
  • second reset means coupled to said second photoelectric device and to said integrating and object size signaling means for ending said size-varyiug-ampli- 10 tude signal and said large-object pulse in predetermined time delay after the end of said second gating pulse.
  • large-object delay means coupled to said rejectioninitiating pulse means and to said integrating-andobject-size signalling means for receiving said rejection initiating pulse and said large object pulse and for producing a second deflection actuating pulse when said rejection initiating pulse and said largeobject pulse occur in temporal coincidence, said second actuating pulse being emitted in second predetermined time delay after the beginning of said last-named coincidence.
  • deflecting means includes:
  • both of said air jet means being oriented to direct parallel jets of air transverse to said path for deflecting said objects therefrom;
  • each of said jet means having valve means selectively operable to release and to shut off said jet thereof.
  • said small-object delay means are coupled to said small-object delay means for receiving said first deflection actuating pulse therefrom and for thereupon causing at least said first air jet means to release said jet thereof;
  • said moving and singulating means includes:
  • an apparatus for processing a plurality of objects comprising:
  • said moving means including a fluid for transporting said objects and conduit means therefor having means for inserting said objects into said conduit and fluid;
  • said moving means also including means coupled to said conduit for moving said fluid and the objects carried thereby, and for causing said objects to be singulated so as to move in spaced-apart serial order in said conduit;
  • means for detecting the presence of an object in said viewing zone including a light source assembly aligned on a diameter of said tube, said light source assembly containing first and second light sources, said first light source emitting a beam of light directed parallel to said diameter at the upstream end of said viewing zone, and said second light source emitting a beam of light directed parallel to said diameter at the downstream end of said viewing zone;
  • said detecting means also including a photoelectric assembly diametrically opposite said light source assembly and containing first and second photoelectric devices for receiving said respective light beams in the absence of said objects, and for emitting respective first and second gating pulses when said light beams are interrupted; and
  • said detecting means also including means for receiving said first and second gating pulses and for emit ting a third gating pulse beginning with the beginning of said first gating pulse and ending with the end of said second gating pulse.

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  • Investigating Materials By The Use Of Optical Means Adapted For Particular Applications (AREA)
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  • Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
US574664A 1966-08-24 1966-08-24 Apparatus for sorting comestible and other objects Expired - Lifetime US3382975A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US574664A US3382975A (en) 1966-08-24 1966-08-24 Apparatus for sorting comestible and other objects
AT759467A AT289652B (de) 1966-08-24 1967-08-18 Vorrichtung zum Ordnen, Klassifizieren od.dgl. von entlang einer Förderbahn bewegten Gegenständen, insbesondere von Obst oder Gemüse
FR1551918D FR1551918A (xx) 1966-08-24 1967-08-23
ES344366A ES344366A1 (es) 1966-08-24 1967-08-23 Un aparato para tratar una pluralidad de objetos.
SE11790/67A SE337121B (xx) 1966-08-24 1967-08-23
DE19671572553 DE1572553B1 (de) 1966-08-24 1967-08-24 Vorrichtung zum Nachweisen,Inspizieren und/oder Klassifizieren von bewegten Objekten
GB39121/67A GB1172751A (en) 1966-08-24 1967-08-24 Apparatus for Inspecting and Sorting Comestible and Other Objects.
NO00169494A NO128256B (xx) 1966-08-24 1967-08-24
NO287173A NO129506B (xx) 1966-08-24 1973-07-12

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US574664A US3382975A (en) 1966-08-24 1966-08-24 Apparatus for sorting comestible and other objects

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US3382975A true US3382975A (en) 1968-05-14

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US (1) US3382975A (xx)
AT (1) AT289652B (xx)
DE (1) DE1572553B1 (xx)
ES (1) ES344366A1 (xx)
FR (1) FR1551918A (xx)
GB (1) GB1172751A (xx)
NO (1) NO128256B (xx)
SE (1) SE337121B (xx)

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3776381A (en) * 1972-04-25 1973-12-04 R Wood Apparatus for sorting products
US3782544A (en) * 1972-08-03 1974-01-01 Amf Inc Automatic grader
US3950552A (en) * 1971-07-08 1976-04-13 Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc. Method for producing a pome fruit sauce with electronic inspection of diced fruit
US3990580A (en) * 1974-01-28 1976-11-09 Gunson's Sortex Limited Method and apparatus for sorting sultanas
US4057352A (en) * 1976-05-13 1977-11-08 Genevieve I. Hanscom Color grading apparatus utilizing infrared light source
US4074808A (en) * 1976-04-30 1978-02-21 Cypro Corporation Sorting apparatus
US4140220A (en) * 1975-10-06 1979-02-20 U.S. Billiards, Inc. Color recognition system
US4147619A (en) * 1976-12-09 1979-04-03 Ore-Ida Foods, Inc. Electronic sorting apparatus
US4154672A (en) * 1977-04-28 1979-05-15 Bedford Engineering Corp. Standardization of penetrating radiation testing system
US4170306A (en) * 1976-05-19 1979-10-09 Ultra-Sort Corp. Control apparatus for sorting products
US4239118A (en) * 1978-02-03 1980-12-16 Geosource Inc. Sorting apparatus having automatic nulling arrangement
US4246098A (en) * 1978-06-21 1981-01-20 Sunkist Growers, Inc. Method and apparatus for detecting blemishes on the surface of an article
US4249660A (en) * 1979-05-10 1981-02-10 Aquasonics, Inc. Potato sorting apparatus
US4251555A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-02-17 Dufrit Kartoffel Verarbeitung Kroenig Gmbh & Co. Kg Method and system for processing potatoes
US4262806A (en) * 1977-08-18 1981-04-21 Elbicon Electronics Pvba Automatic detection and rejection of foreign bodies from _vegetables transported on a conveyor
US4324336A (en) * 1976-03-11 1982-04-13 Andrex N.D.T. Products (U.K.) Limited Separating apparatus
US4344539A (en) * 1978-05-05 1982-08-17 Lockett James F Universal sorting apparatus
US4351232A (en) * 1979-02-21 1982-09-28 Kroenig Hans E K System for processing potatoes
US4454029A (en) * 1981-05-27 1984-06-12 Delta Technology Corporation Agricultural product sorting
EP0156367A2 (en) * 1984-03-27 1985-10-02 Esm International, Inc. Sorting method and apparatus
US4576071A (en) * 1983-08-04 1986-03-18 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food product defect sensor and trimmer apparatus
US4626677A (en) * 1984-09-27 1986-12-02 Esm International, Inc. Continuous normalizer for an electronic circuit that compensates for external and internal drifts factors
USRE33357E (en) * 1983-05-27 1990-09-25 Key Technology, Inc. Optical inspection apparatus for moving articles
US5179474A (en) * 1991-03-21 1993-01-12 Delta Technology Corporation Viewer for a sorting machine
FR2700485A1 (fr) * 1993-01-15 1994-07-22 Dev Indl Agro Alimenta Dispositif de tri de tranches de pommes de terre.
CN111701886A (zh) * 2020-07-22 2020-09-25 河北工业大学 一种用于套类零件表面缺陷分拣装置及分拣方法

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US2690258A (en) * 1949-10-11 1954-09-28 Electric Sorting Machine Compa High-speed high-sensitivity sorting machine with multiplier tube
US2803754A (en) * 1948-12-13 1957-08-20 Mandrel Industries Rugged normalizer for sorting circuit
US2803756A (en) * 1948-12-13 1957-08-20 Mandrel Industries Viewing chamber for gravity sorter
US2841718A (en) * 1954-11-01 1958-07-01 Mandrel Industries Compensation for two point regulated amplifier
US2966264A (en) * 1952-06-19 1960-12-27 Mandrel Industries Sorting apparatus
US3066797A (en) * 1958-10-20 1962-12-04 R W Gunson Seeds Ltd Colour sorting machines

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GB885283A (en) * 1958-10-20 1961-12-20 R W Gunson Seeds Ltd Improvements in or relating to colour sorting machines
GB885285A (en) * 1958-10-20 1961-12-20 R W Gunson Seeds Ltd Improvements in or relating to colour sorting machines
GB885286A (en) * 1958-10-20 1961-12-20 R W Gunson Seeds Ltd Improvements in or relating to colour sorting machines
DE1172445B (de) * 1958-10-20 1964-06-18 R W Gunson Seeds Ltd Sortiermaschine zum Sortieren von Gegenstaenden innerhalb eines bestimmten Sortier-Spektralbereichs
FR1242338A (fr) * 1959-08-18 1960-09-30 Saint Gobain Perfectionnement à la préparation des matières pulvérulentes impalpables telles que charges
US3305089A (en) * 1965-08-13 1967-02-21 Gunsons Sortex Ltd Apparatus for sorting fluorescent articles

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2803754A (en) * 1948-12-13 1957-08-20 Mandrel Industries Rugged normalizer for sorting circuit
US2803756A (en) * 1948-12-13 1957-08-20 Mandrel Industries Viewing chamber for gravity sorter
US2690258A (en) * 1949-10-11 1954-09-28 Electric Sorting Machine Compa High-speed high-sensitivity sorting machine with multiplier tube
US2966264A (en) * 1952-06-19 1960-12-27 Mandrel Industries Sorting apparatus
US2841718A (en) * 1954-11-01 1958-07-01 Mandrel Industries Compensation for two point regulated amplifier
US3066797A (en) * 1958-10-20 1962-12-04 R W Gunson Seeds Ltd Colour sorting machines

Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3950552A (en) * 1971-07-08 1976-04-13 Knouse Foods Cooperative, Inc. Method for producing a pome fruit sauce with electronic inspection of diced fruit
US3776381A (en) * 1972-04-25 1973-12-04 R Wood Apparatus for sorting products
US3782544A (en) * 1972-08-03 1974-01-01 Amf Inc Automatic grader
US3990580A (en) * 1974-01-28 1976-11-09 Gunson's Sortex Limited Method and apparatus for sorting sultanas
US4140220A (en) * 1975-10-06 1979-02-20 U.S. Billiards, Inc. Color recognition system
US4324336A (en) * 1976-03-11 1982-04-13 Andrex N.D.T. Products (U.K.) Limited Separating apparatus
US4074808A (en) * 1976-04-30 1978-02-21 Cypro Corporation Sorting apparatus
US4057352A (en) * 1976-05-13 1977-11-08 Genevieve I. Hanscom Color grading apparatus utilizing infrared light source
US4170306A (en) * 1976-05-19 1979-10-09 Ultra-Sort Corp. Control apparatus for sorting products
US4147619A (en) * 1976-12-09 1979-04-03 Ore-Ida Foods, Inc. Electronic sorting apparatus
US4154672A (en) * 1977-04-28 1979-05-15 Bedford Engineering Corp. Standardization of penetrating radiation testing system
US4262806A (en) * 1977-08-18 1981-04-21 Elbicon Electronics Pvba Automatic detection and rejection of foreign bodies from _vegetables transported on a conveyor
US4239118A (en) * 1978-02-03 1980-12-16 Geosource Inc. Sorting apparatus having automatic nulling arrangement
US4344539A (en) * 1978-05-05 1982-08-17 Lockett James F Universal sorting apparatus
US4246098A (en) * 1978-06-21 1981-01-20 Sunkist Growers, Inc. Method and apparatus for detecting blemishes on the surface of an article
US4251555A (en) * 1979-02-21 1981-02-17 Dufrit Kartoffel Verarbeitung Kroenig Gmbh & Co. Kg Method and system for processing potatoes
US4351232A (en) * 1979-02-21 1982-09-28 Kroenig Hans E K System for processing potatoes
US4249660A (en) * 1979-05-10 1981-02-10 Aquasonics, Inc. Potato sorting apparatus
US4454029A (en) * 1981-05-27 1984-06-12 Delta Technology Corporation Agricultural product sorting
USRE33357E (en) * 1983-05-27 1990-09-25 Key Technology, Inc. Optical inspection apparatus for moving articles
US4576071A (en) * 1983-08-04 1986-03-18 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food product defect sensor and trimmer apparatus
EP0156367A3 (en) * 1984-03-27 1986-12-30 Esm International, Inc. Sorting method and apparatus
EP0156367A2 (en) * 1984-03-27 1985-10-02 Esm International, Inc. Sorting method and apparatus
US4626677A (en) * 1984-09-27 1986-12-02 Esm International, Inc. Continuous normalizer for an electronic circuit that compensates for external and internal drifts factors
AU570342B2 (en) * 1984-09-27 1988-03-10 Esm International, Inc. Continuous normalizer for machine sorting apparatus
US5179474A (en) * 1991-03-21 1993-01-12 Delta Technology Corporation Viewer for a sorting machine
FR2700485A1 (fr) * 1993-01-15 1994-07-22 Dev Indl Agro Alimenta Dispositif de tri de tranches de pommes de terre.
CN111701886A (zh) * 2020-07-22 2020-09-25 河北工业大学 一种用于套类零件表面缺陷分拣装置及分拣方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR1551918A (xx) 1969-01-03
SE337121B (xx) 1971-07-26
ES344366A1 (es) 1968-10-01
NO128256B (xx) 1973-10-22
AT289652B (de) 1971-05-10
DE1572553B1 (de) 1970-11-12
GB1172751A (en) 1969-12-03

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