Electronic product-sizing apparatus

Claim 2

In combination with a conveyor moving articles past at least one sizing station, apparatus for removing articles of a predetermined size and shape from the conveyor including means for sensing the presence of an article at the sizing station, pulse generating means connected to the sensing means for producing a signal pulse of a duration dependent upon the size, shape and speed of the article approaching and departing from the sizing station, means for terminating said signal pulse following departure of the article from the sizing station, ejector means rendered operative to displace the article from the conveyor during an ejection period of predetermined duration, and means responsive to termination of said signal pulse for rendering the ejector means operative.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a first set of spaced photoresponsive devices having sensing faces aligned in a common plane parallel to the direction of movement of the article, disabling means connecting said first set of photoresponsive devices to the pulse-generating means for normally preventing development of the signal pulse, a second set of spaced photoresponsive devices having sensing faces aligned in said common plane, and means connecting the second set of photoresponsive devices to the pulse-generating means for limiting the strength of the signal pulse.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein the sensing means further includes a source of radiation adapted to be blocked by the article and detected by the photoresponsive devices, and means for directing the radiation from said source onto the common plane intersecting the article while at the sizing station, whereby only articles at the sizing station having said predetermined size and shape prevent radiation from impinging on the first set of photoresponsive devices.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said second set of photoresponsive devices are adjustably positioned relative to the first set of photoresponsive devices.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 wherein said pulse generating means includes a source of control voltage, a current control device having power electrodes connected in series with the second set of photoresponsive devices to the source and a control electrode connected to the source, said first set of photoresponsive devices being interconnected in parallel by the disabling means to the control electrode.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 5 wherein said signal pulse terminating means includes relay means for disconnecting the source from the power electrodes when energized, and time delay means for energizing the relay means in delayed response to conduction of current through the current control device.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 6 including indicating means connected to the ejector means and rendered operative during the entire operational cycle.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 1 wherein said sensing means includes a first group of cells from which radiation is blocked, during an operational interval, by articles corresponding to shadows of predetermined size and shape and a second group of cells exposed to radiation during said operational interval.

Claim 10

In combination with a conveyor continuously moving articles along a path of travel past at least one sizing station, apparatus for gauging the size and shape of said articles at the sizing station including a source of radiation laterally spaced from the conveyor at the sizing station, a radiation receiving surface spaced from said path of travel onto which a shadow is projected by the source of radiation during movement of each of said articles at the sizing station, a plurality of accept cells having radiation-sensing faces in the plane of said receiving surface, a plurality of reject cells closely spaced from said accept cells, means responsive to covering of all of the accept cells by the shadows of said articles during operational intervals at the sizing station for generating signals, means responsive to covering of at least one of the reject cells by said shadows during said operational intervals for preventing operation of the signal-generating means, delay means for delaying operation of the signal generating means until each article passes the sizing station, and delay means for delaying operation of the signal generating means until a preceding one of the articles passes the sizing station.

Claim 11

In combination with a conveyor continuously moving articles along a path of travel past at least one sizing station, apparatus for gauging the size and shape of said articles at the sizing station including a source of radiation laterally spaced from the conveyor at the sizing station, a radiation receiving surface spaced from said path of travel onto which a shadow is projected by the source of radiation during movement of each of said articles at the sizing station, a plurality of accept cells having radiation-sensing faces in the plane of said receiving surface, a plurality of reject cells closely spaced from said accept cells, means responsive to covering of all of the accept cells by the shadows of said articles during operational intervals at the sizing station for generating signals, means responsive to covering of at least one of the reject cells by said shadows during said operational intervals for preventing operation of the signal-generating means, delay means for delaying operation of the signal generating means until each article passes the sizing station, and delay means for delaying operation of the signal generating means until a preceding one of the articles passes the sizing station.