The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 14, 1976
Filed:
Jun. 19, 1975
Michael C Hoover, Houston, TX (US);
Elias H Codding, Houston, TX (US);
Geosource Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
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.