Patent ID: 7842896
Filing Date: 2010-11-30
Classification: B07C

Abstract:
1. A sorting apparatus for selectively removing undesirable articles from a product stream, comprising: a conveyor positioned in transporting relation to the product stream; a removal station positioned proximate to the product stream; a background element positioned proximate to the product stream; an optical scanner configured to project electromagnetic radiation having a preponderance of energy at a first wavelength onto the product stream and the background element; a first sensor configured to convert or electromagnetic radiation returned from articles in the product stream having a wavelength that is longer than the first wavelength into a first signal; a second sensor configured to convert electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength that is reflected by articles in the product stream and from the background element into a second signal; a third sensor configured to convert electromagnetic radiation having the first wavelength that is scattered by articles in the product stream and from the background element into a third signal; a sorting processor connected to the removal assembly and operable to receive the first, second, and third signals; and wherein the sorting processor is configured to convert each of the first, second, and third signals into a first, second, and third data stream and wherein the sorting processor is operable to provide a virtual background data stream by performing a logical comparison of an internally stored nominal background data stream and the second data stream; and a user interface connected in data communication to the sorting processor.