Apparatus for the detection and removal of selected foreign matter from a material

Claim 2

The apparatus of claim 2, further characterized by said means to balance the inputs to said light-sensitive means including a pair of polarizing discs rotatable in relation to each other located in the path of at least one said separate beams of light.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized by said diverting means including a signal-activated means activated by an output signal from said means to detect differing signal strength, and a movable chute positioned by said signal-activated means in accordance with said output signal.

Claim 4

Apparatus for detecting and removing yolk contaminated albumen from a mass of albumen uncontaminated by yolk comprising conveying means through which said albumen flows having a dark area over which the albumen passes; detection means focused on said dark area including a lens focusing light reflected only from the dark area onto one focal plane having an aperture to pass light therethrough from said dark area, a beam splitter diverting a portion of said reflected light onto a second focal plane having an aperture to pass light therethrough received from said dark area, photosensitive means at each of said apertures, one of said photosensitive means being responsive to yellow light, the other of said photosensitive means being substantially nonresponsive to yellow light, and balance-detecting means connected to said photosensitive means to detect an unbalancing of signals received from both said phoTosensitive means; and a diverting means located downstream of the flow of albumen from said dark area operable by signal from said balance-detecting means when said balance-detecting means detects a state of unbalance between said photosensitive means.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by said photosensitive means being substantially nonresponsive to yellow light including a blue filter in the path of said reflected light.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 6, further characterized by said photosensitive means being responsive to yellow light including a green filter in the path of said reflected light.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by a pair of polarizing discs rotatable in relation to each other located in the path of said reflected light to said photosensitive means which is responsive to yellow light.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by a source of light directed toward said dark area, a first polarizing disc in the path of light from said light source, and a second polarizing disc in the path of light reflected from said dark area.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by said diverting means including solenoid means connected to said balance-detecting means and activated when said balance-detecting means detects an unbalancing of signals received from said photosensitive means, and a movable conveying means to divert contaminated albumen from the path travelled by uncontaminated albumen having means connecting it to said solenoid means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 10, further characterized by said means connecting said movable conveying means to said solenoid means including a fluid-operated piston means operated by said solenoid means, and lever means connecting said movable conveying means to said solenoid means to move said movable conveying means between alternate positions.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by said diverting means including pump-operating means connected to said balance-detecting means and activated when said balance-detecting means detects an unbalancing of signals received from both said photosensitive means, pumping means operatively connected to said pump-operating means and activated thereby, and conduit means connected to said pumping means and connected to receive contaminated albumen from said conveying means upon operation of said pumping means.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 12, further characterized by said pumping means being a positive displacement pump connected to suck the contaminated albumen into said conduit means.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by said photosensitive means and said balance detecting means respectively including multiplier phototubes connected to a balanced amplifier.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 14, further characterized by potentiometer means connected between said multiplier phototubes to balance the outputs from said photosensitive means to said balance-detecting means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by at least one of said apertures being variable in size.