Geosource, Inc.

Michael C Hoover

Elias H Codding

James F Lockett

William C Long

Charles R Brazell

Louis L Andry

Shyam B Mehta

An apparatus for sorting articles based upon the presence of defects on the surface thereof is characterized by a roller conveyor carrying a random array of articles in transverse channels defined between adjacent rollers. As the conveyor is advanced through a viewed area the articles are simultaneously rotated such that electrical images are formed of the portions of the surface of each article within a viewing zone defined in each channel during a given time frame. The viewing zones advance a predetermined distance through the viewed are in synchronization with the scanning of the electrical images. A characteristic signal for the portion of the electrical image corresponding to each article is developed and output to a processor. The processor generates a classification signal representative of the acceptability of each article based upon the percentage of total surface of area or number of defects on the surface each article.

Roll sorting apparatus

An optics arrangement utilizing a trifurcating beam splitter is characterized by a first half-silvered element disposed at a 45.degree. angle with respect to the axis of an incident light beam. Second and third half-silvered elements are each disposed perpendicular to opposed surfaces of the first element and cooperate such that the light energy incident thereon is trifurcated into three ray paths each mutually perpendicular to the other, one of the ray paths having an axis coincident with the axis of the incident light beam. The invention is particularly useful in connection with a color video transmitting arrangement for a color sorting apparatus whereby incident light energy focused by a lens is trifurcated into mutually orthogonal ray paths having a visual image plane therewithin, the focal length between each visual image plane and the lens being substantially equal.

Trichromatic beam splitter

Apparatus for three-way sorting of particles in a singulated particle stream is characterized by a viewing assembly including a first and a second classifying section each respectively classifying each particle passing therethrough according to first and second predetermined physical characteristics, such as opaqueness and color, and generating an appropriate classification signal representative thereof. The classification signals so generated are transmitted through an appropriate signal delay circuit to actuator circuits which actuate ejector elements. Actuation of the appropriate ejector in response to a classification signal directs certain of the particles exhibiting the first and the second physical characteristics out of the singulated stream and into respective collection receptacles while others of the particles are permitted to pass unimpeded to a separate collection area. An electronic circuit associated with each ejector actuator permits actuation of only one of the ejectors in the event that a particular particle within the stream has been classified for ejection by both the classifying sections.

Apparatus for performing a three-way sort

Apparatus for sorting a random stream of articles moving along a wide path in a product flow according to their color. When an article having an unacceptable color is detected, a signal is generated to activate an ejector to remove the unacceptable article from the product flow. Apparatus according to the present invention is especially suitable for use in the field, in combination with harvesting apparatus, for sorting ripe produce such as tomatoes from unripe produce and other unwanted articles, all of which conveniently may be delivered to the apparatus randomly disposed on a conveyor belt. As the articles are discharged from the conveyor belt, they are viewed by a bichromatic color sensing system which generates one or more reject signals in response to each unacceptably colored article. The reject signals activate corresponding ejectors at the proper time to divert the unacceptable articles from the product flow.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Michael C Hoover