Geosource, Inc.

Thomas O Mehrkam

James F Lockett

Richard R Braham

Jerry F Janecka

A transducer for optical data transmission is disclosed in which an optical signal is encoded with information representative of a parameter being measured and transmitted to a remote measurement and control apparatus site for decoding. An input optical signal is received by the transducer and separated into first and second portions. The first portion of the optical input signal is converted to electrical energy and is used to power the transducer. The second portion of the input optical signal is modulated in response to the measured parameter and the modulated signal transmitted back to the remote site.

Transducer for optical data transmission

A sorting apparatus for sorting a stream of articles and for ejecting unacceptably classified articles therefrom is characterized by an ejector dwell controller operative to control the duration of operation of an ejector element in accordance with the length of the article being ejected. The ejector is initiated when a predetermined lead-point on an article classified as unacceptable enters into an ejection zone proximal to the ejector and continues until a predetermined cut-off point thereon enters the ejection zone. An ejecting force is thus directed toward the same predetermined portion of each article being ejected without regard to the location of the defect causing the unacceptable classification.

Ejector dwell controller for a sorting apparatus

Apparatus for sorting articles is characterized by a circuit arrangement responsive to first and second electrical signals representative of the light reflected from the same portion of the article to be sorted as detected against a first and a second background, the first background having a reflectivity characteristic greater than the reflectivity characteristic of the second background, to generate an electrical signal representation of the portion of the viewing zone occupied by the article. This signal is used to scale both the first and second signals to provide an electrical signal representation of the reflectivity of the article at the first and second color wavelengths. The apparatus is further characterized by an article classifier which classifies the article on the basis of the intensity of light reflected at the first and second color wavelengths, the classifier including a memory element having a plurality of storage locations therein which are utilized to define a profile of acceptable articles and to generate an article-reject signal if the reflected intensities of the first and second colors define a point outside of the profile. An ejector is responsive to an ejector dwell control arrangement which initiates operation thereof to apply an ejecting force toward the same predetermined portion of each article being ejected without regard to the presence of the predetermined physical characteristics on the portion of the article toward which the ejecting force is directed.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Thomas O Mehrkam