Reflection classifier

Claim 2

Apparatus for classifying articles according to their surface reflectivities comprising: a light source; support means for supporting an article in a position where the article is illuminated by said source; plural light-sensing devices positioned to receive light from said source reflected by an article supported on said support means, each of said devices producing a response within a range of responses with the particular response produced being related to the amount of reflected light received; plural electrical circuit means each operatively connected to and associated with a different one of said light-sensing devices, and each circuit means being sensitive to a different subrange in said range of responses producible by its associated light-sensing device and producing an output signal on sensing a response in its respective subrange of said range; and interlock means operatively connected to said plural circuit means permitting only one of said circuit means to produce an output signal at a given time.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each circuit means Comprises an output signal producer and electronic switching means operatively interconnecting said signal producer and the sensing device associated with the circuit means, said switching means being operable to effect energizing of said signal producer with the sensing device for the circuit means receiving less than a certain amount of light.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each sensing device comprises a light-dependent resistor whose resistance value depends upon the amount of light shining on the resistor.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the switching means in each circuit means comprises a transistor whose base voltage depends upon the resistance value of the light-dependent resistor for the circuit means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said interlock means comprises plural switches through which power is supplied to energize said output signal producers, each of said switches being operatively connected to and actuated by a different output signal producer.

Claim 7

Apparatus for classifying articles according to their surface reflectivities comprising: a housing; a conveyor for transporting an article through said housing; a light source in said housing adapted to illuminate an article transported therethrough on said conveyor; plural light-sensing devices positioned in said housing to receive light from said source reflected by an article on said conveyor, each of said sensing devices producing a response within a range of responses with the particular response produced being related to the amount of reflected light received; plural electrical circuit means each operatively connected to and associated with a different one of said light-sensing devices, and each circuit means being sensitive to a different subrange in said range of responses producible by its associated light-sensing device and producing an output signal on sensing a response in its respective subrange of said range; and interlock means operatively connected to said plural circuit means permitting only one of said circuit means to produce an output signal at a given time.

Claim 8

Apparatus for classifying articles according to their surface reflectivities comprising: a housing; a conveyor for transporting an article through said housing; a light source in said housing adapted to illuminate an article transported therethrough on said conveyor; plural light-sensing devices positioned in said housing to receive light from said source reflected by an article on said conveyor, each of said sensing devices producing a response within a range of responses with the particular response produced being related to the amount of reflected light received; plural electrical circuit means each operatively connected to and associated with a different one of said light-sensing devices, and each circuit means being sensitive to a different subrange in said range of responses producible by its associated light-sensing device and producing an output signal on sensing a response in its respective subrange of said range; and interlock means operatively connected to said plural circuit means permitting only one of said circuit means to produce an output signal at a given time.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5, which further comprises delay means operatively connected to said plural circuit means operable to prevent the production of an output signal from any one of said circuit means until an article on said conveyor has traveled a given distance into said housing.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said light source and sensing devices are disposed on one side of the path of travel for articles on said conveyor and said delay means comprises a pair of delay-producing sensing devices, spaced along the length of said path and disposed on the other side thereof, said delay-producing sensing devices each facing said light source, and being positioned whereby an article traveling through said housing prevents light from said source from shining on the devices.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said delay means further comprises a switch through which power is supplied to said plural circuit means, said switch being closed upon light from said source being prevented from illuminating both of said delay-producing sensing devices simultaneously.

Claim 12

Apparatus for classifying articles according to their surface reflectivities comprising: a slight source; plural light-sensing devices for sensing light reflected from the source by an article; a circuit for each sensing device including a relay having a signal and a nonsignal producing state, and an electronic switching means which is made conductive or nonconductive dependent upon the quantum of light sensed by the light-sensing device associated with the circuit; each circuit on its switching means being conductive, being constructed to place its relay in one of its said states with such state being common to all the circuits; and the quantum of light needed to be sensed by a light-sensing device to produce conduction in the electronic switching means of the circuit associated with The device being different for the various circuits.

Claim 13

Apparatus for classifying articles according to their surface reflectivities comprising: a slight source; plural light-sensing devices for sensing light reflected from the source by an article; a circuit for each sensing device including a relay having a signal and a nonsignal producing state, and an electronic switching means which is made conductive or nonconductive dependent upon the quantum of light sensed by the light-sensing device associated with the circuit; each circuit on its switching means being conductive, being constructed to place its relay in one of its said states with such state being common to all the circuits; and the quantum of light needed to be sensed by a light-sensing device to produce conduction in the electronic switching means of the circuit associated with The device being different for the various circuits.