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:
Feb. 20, 2001
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1996
Applicant:
Inventors:
David Roy Winterbottom, Colchester, GB;
Laurence John Robinson, Litlington, GB;
Assignee:
Sortex Limited, London, GB;
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J 3/51 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J 3/51 ;
Abstract
An optical system is disclosed for use in sorting apparatus to monitor light at a viewing station thereof to generate signals indicative of the optical properties of selected items in the product stream being sorted. In the system light received from a single line at the viewing station is split into discrete beams, which are filtered into different wavelength ranges to determine the category of the respective product items. The beams are directed onto a slit through which the light beams must pass on their way to respective lines of light sensors.