Patent ID: 6078018
Filing Date: 2000-06-20
Classification: B07C,Y10S

Abstract:
Sorting apparatus comprising a viewing station and an ejection station, and means for moving a stream of product pieces along a predetermined path through the viewing and ejection stations; means for illuminating the viewing station from one side with light for reflection from product therein; a scanning system on said one side of the viewing station for analysing light emitted therefrom, the emitted light including visible light reflected from product pieces passing through the viewing station, which scanning system comprises an array of light sensors for receiving said emitted light, and a computer for analysing signals generated by the light sensors to establish the presence and acceptability of product pieces passing through the viewing station, for generating an inhibit signal in response to establishing the absence of a product piece and a reject signal in response to establishing the presence of a selected product piece in a viewing zone of the stream, the computer responding to an inhibit signal by precluding analysis of other signals generated by the sensors in response to light received from said zone, and being connected to ejecting means at the ejection station whereby a reject signal causes activation of the ejecting means to eject said selected product piece, and including means for transmitting from the other side of the viewing station a beam of light of higher intensity than that of any diffused light reflected from product pieces in the viewing station, the scanning system being adapted to received such transmitted light.