US3756404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slurry defect sorter
Assignee: General Kinetics Inc
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Filing: 1971-07-29
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Granted: 1973-09-04
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Expires: 1991-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting and removing from a moving fluid, such as a slurry of applesauce or the like, defects having a different optical transmittance from other portions of the fluid whereby a region across the width of a thin sheet of the moving fluid is illuminated and a plurality of groups of photoresponsive elements are disposed for receiving the light passing through the fluid. Each element responds to the detection of a defect by producing a signal which is delayed and applied to an air solenoid which is associated with the group including that element and which produces a short blast of air for deflecting a small portion of the fluid, including the defect. The trajectory of the fluid sheet as it passes the solenoids and falls is such that undeflected portions pass to one side of a barrier and are received in and conveyed away by one screw conveyor and deflected portions pass to the other side of the barrier and are received in and conveyed away by another screw conveyor. Each element is preferably connected to a monostable or one shot multivibrator by a trigger gate which is connected to a variable voltage source for adjusting for all of the gates together the amplitude of the signal required to trigger each of the gates.
Inventors
- 👤 C King
- 👤 H Young
- 👤 J Walton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:24
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/3416
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
Apparatus for detection and removing from a moving fluid defects having a different optical transmittance from other portions of said fluid comprising: means for illuminating a fixed area through which said fluid with said defects move, means for detecting the light from at least a single subarea of said area passing through said moving fluid including a plurality of groups of photoresponsive elements each group receiving light incident upon a subarea of said area and transmitted through said moving fluid, means connected to said detecting means for producing a signal when the light detected by said detecting means indicates at least a single defect is in a given portion of said fluid in said fixed area including a plurality of circuit means each connected to one of said groups for each producing said signal when any of the photoresponsive elements in that group detects a defect, means connected to said producing means for receiving said signal aNd producing and directing an air stream, in response to receipt of said signal, onto each given portion including a defect for a short time so that the paths of travel of said given portions including defects are deflected from the path of travel of fluid not defelected by said air stream including a plurality of means each connected to one of said circuit means for each receiving said signal from the circuit means connected to it and producing and directing an air stream, in response to receipt of said signal, onto said given portion including a defect for a short time so that paths of travel of said given portions including defects are deflected from the path of travel of fluid not deflected by said air stream, means for receiving fluid not deflected by said air stream, and means for receiving fluid deflected by said air stream, including said defects.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
307 words
Apparatus for detection and removing from a moving fluid defects having a different optical transmittance from other portions of said fluid comprising: means for illuminating a fixed area through which said fluid with said defects move, means for detecting the light from at least a single subarea of said area passing through said moving fluid including a plurality of groups of photoresponsive elements each group receiving light incident upon a subarea of said area and transmitted through said moving fluid, means connected to said detecting means for producing a signal when the light detected by said detecting means indicates at least a single defect is in a given portion of said fluid in said fixed area including a plurality of circuit means each connected to one of said groups for each producing said signal when any of the photoresponsive elements in that group detects a defect, means connected to said producing means for receiving said signal aNd producing and directing an air stream, in response to receipt of said signal, onto each given portion including a defect for a short time so that the paths of travel of said given portions including defects are deflected from the path of travel of fluid not defelected by said air stream including a plurality of means each connected to one of said circuit means for each receiving said signal from the circuit means connected to it and producing and directing an air stream, in response to receipt of said signal, onto said given portion including a defect for a short time so that paths of travel of said given portions including defects are deflected from the path of travel of fluid not deflected by said air stream, means for receiving fluid not deflected by said air stream, and means for receiving fluid deflected by said air stream, including said defects.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said circuit means includes plurality of further circuit means each having first and second inputs with one of said photo-responsive elements connected to each of said second inputs for each producing said signal when the voltage applied to said second input changes by a voltage level greater than the voltage applied to said first input and not producing said signal when the voltage applied to said first input changes by a voltage level greater than the voltage applied to said second input and variable voltage source means connected to each of said first inputs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as in claim 2 further including means connected to each of said further circuit means for producing a square wave pulse when one of said signals is produced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as in claim 3 further including means for delaying said square wave pulse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A circuit as in claim 4 wherein said square wave producing means is a monostable multivibrator and said delaying means includes means connected to said multivibrator for producing a pulse upon receipt of the trailing edge of said square wave pulse and a further monostable multivibrator connected to said means for producing a pulse on receipt of the trailing edge for producing a further square wave pulse when said means for producing a pulse on receipt of the trailing edge produces that pulse.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A circuit as in claim 5 wherein said multivibrators each have means for varying the width of the square wave pulse produced by the multivibrator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving means are screw conveyors and including a barrier between said conveyors so that fluid not deflected clears said barrier and fluid deflected does not clear said barrier.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said illuminating means includes a light source, a light filter, and a plurality of fiber optic tubes for gathering the light from said source and illuminating a fixed area across said moving fluid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for configuring said fluid into a thin flat sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said receiving and producing and directing means includes at least a single air solenoid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said elements are each photodiodes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-03 | 1977-03-05 | 1977-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-03 | 1981-03-05 | 1981-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-03 | 1985-03-05 | 1985-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |