Tomra Sorting Gmbh

Tomra Sorting N.v.

Tomra Sorting As

Tomra Sotring As

Dirk Balthasar

John Mcgloughlin

Michael Mayer

John McGloughlin

Ole Onsrud

Hartmut Harbeck

Volker Rehrmann

Stefan Jürgensen

Tobias Hartmann

Douglas Alexander Reid

Patrick Sturm

Tobias Tückmantel

Slah Gharbi

Frank Schmitt

Thomas Erdmann

Daniel Bender

Nils Noack

Michael Waldorf

Nils Brinkmann

Stefan Jurgensen

A method of training a neural network stored on a computer-readable storage medium to classify objects in a bulk flow, the method including: providing input image data depicting objects to be classified, which input image data is captured by means of an input imaging sensor of a first sensor technology design; providing auxiliary image data, which auxiliary image data is captured by means of an auxiliary imaging sensor of a second sensor technology design, and which auxiliary image data depicts said or similar objects which are classified in accordance with a predetermined classifying scheme; by means of a processing unit, train the neural network stored on the computer-readable storage medium to classify the depicted objects in the input image data based on classifications of depicted objects in the auxiliary image data, wherein the depicted objects in the input image data correspond to objects in a bulk flow.

Method and system for training a neural network-implemented sensor system to classify objects in a bulk flow

An apparatus for detecting matter including: a light source arrangement adapted to emit a first and a second set of light beams towards a first detection zone through which the matter is provided. A spectroscopy system adapted to receive and analyse light which is reflected and/or scattered by matter in the first detection zone. A laser triangulation system including, a laser arrangement adapted to emit a line of laser light towards a second detection zone. A camera-based sensor arrangement configured to receive and analyse light which is reflected and/or scattered by matter in the second detection zone. The received light of the spectroscopy system completely or partially intersects the received light of the camera-based sensor arrangement and/or the line of laser light.

Apparatus for detecting matter

A bulk sorting system for sorting objects in bulk is provided. The bulk sorting system includes: at least one radiation source arranged to radiate the objects, at least one optical sensor arranged to capture reflected radiation of the objects and acquire the reflected radiation as multi- or hyperspectral data; a processing circuit configured to analyze the reflected radiation of the objects by inputting the multi- or hyperspectral data into a convolutional neural network (CNN) with at least two convolutional layers in order to either detect and classify the objects in the multi- or hyperspectral data and/or semantically segment the multi- or hyperspectral data; and a mechanical sorter configured to sort the objects according to their classification and/or segmentation using the analysis of the processing circuit such that different overlapping and/or stacked objects are separated or treated as a single group of objects.

Neural network for bulk sorting

An apparatus for detecting matter comprises bulk feeding means configured for feeding a plurality of objects into a detecting region; at least one light source having a focusing element and being configured for illuminating at least one object moving in an object plane in the detecting region; and a first light-analyzing apparatus arranged to sense light that has been transmitted through the object. In the associated method, the object is caused to move in the plane and the object is illuminated with incident light. Light that has been transmitted through the object and is falling in a measuring plane is detected, and an object-specific parameter based on the detected transmitted light is determined.

Method and apparatus for detecting matter

A method for object classification, including: guiding a continuous stream of objects from a transport mechanism directly into an unsupported path, along which the object stream is fed through a detection region; illuminating the detection region with a radiation band in a first direction; optically 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 directions have a cross-section in the detection region and form an angle relative each other of 10&#xb0;-80&#xb0;; analyzing the information; and classifying objects 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 includes analyzing the objects based on the intensity, spread and texture of the detected radiation from the optical scanning.

Classification method and apparatus

A method for analyzing objects depending on their electromagnetic properties. The method including the steps of conveying the objects to be analyzed on a conveyer belt; scanning the electromagnetic properties of the objects and the conveyer belt by an electromagnetic sensor, wherein the electromagnetic properties of the conveyer belt are dependent on metallic contaminants which are stuck in the conveyer belt; generating belt properties data representing the electromagnetic properties of the conveyer belt, and analyzing the objects according to the scanned electromagnetic properties and the belt properties data. This has the benefits that the electromagnetic properties of the conveyer belt are considered when distinguishing between metallic and non-metallic objects which have to be sorted. This way, the objects which got stuck in the conveyer belt over time, may influence a sorting less, which may improve sorting results. Further, an apparatus for executing such a method.

Method and apparatus for analyzing metal objects considering changing belt properties

An apparatus for inspecting a stream of matter including: a first and a second light source for emitting a first and a second light beam; a first and a second detector; a first scanning element adapted to redirect the detection area of the second detector from side to side across said stream, and a beam splitting element arranged to receive said first and second light beams, after they have been reflected against said matter, wherein said beam splitting element is adapted to guide said reflected first light beam towards said first detector and to guide said reflected second light beam towards said second detector.

Inspection apparatus

An apparatus for detecting matter, the apparatus including: a first light source adapted to emit a first light beam; a second light source adapted to emit a second light beam, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that the first and second light beams converge towards a scanning element; the scanning element adapted to redirect the converging first and second light beams towards the matter to be detected; and a detector adapted to receive light reflected by the matter via the scanning element. Also, a system and method of detecting matter.

Apparatus, system and method for detecting matter

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Boppard, Germany

Dirk Balthasar