Blueberry sorter

Claim 3

generating logic levels output signals in response to the different magnitudes of the optical density difference signals; and

Claim 4

generating logic levels output signals in response to the different magnitudes of the optical density difference signals; and

Claim 5

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, and means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, said source of illumination and the blended end of the optical bundle being angularly positioned relative to each other at an angle other than 180*, means for conveying the objects from a feeding station past the source of radiation and said conveyor means having cups for singularly carrying the objects in successive fashion past the source of radiation, each of said cups having an aperture for the passage of illumination from said radiation source to said carried objects to be sorted, said source of radiation and said optical elements being disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor means and illumination from said radiation passes through each conveyor cup aperture to be defracted by said object and received by said optical elements.

Claim 6

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, and means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, said source of illumination and the blended end of the optical bundle being angularly positioned relative to each other at an angle other than 180*, means for conveying the objects from a feeding station past the source of radiation and said conveyor means having cups for singularly carrying the objects in successive fashion past the source of radiation, each of said cups having an aperture for the passage of illumination from said radiation source to said carried objects to be sorted, said source of radiation and said optical elements being disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor means and illumination from said radiation passes through each conveyor cup aperture to be defracted by said object and received by said optical elements.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 2 wherein said radiant energy device comprises separate filter means positioned at each furcation termination for selectively passing a single wavelength of light energy transmitted from said object, and separate photoelectric means disposed adjacent each said filter means for receiving light energy filtered by said filter means and generating electrical signals proportional to a physical property of said objects at each wavelength selected by said filter means.

Claim 8

selectively directing discharging air blasts at the products to deposit them at selected sorting stations in accordance with the logic levels output signals.

Claim 9

selectively directing discharging air blasts at the products to deposit them at selected sorting stations in accordance with the logic levels output signals.

Claim 10

The invention of claim 3 wherein said physical property is the transmittance of said objects.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 2 wherein said means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated object comprise electronic means coupled to said radiant energy sensing means for generating sorting signals based on a physical property of said objects, and pressure actuated sorting means responsive to said sorting signals for sorting said objects.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 2 wherein said conveyor means is a belt and said conveyor cups are disposed on said conveyor belt in a staggered array in a plurality of channels whereby only one such conveyor cup will be located at said radiation source at the same time.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 6 further comprising a source of radiation for each said channel and a bundle for each said channel.

Claim 14

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, said means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated object comprise electronic means coupled to said radiant energy sensing means for generating sorting signals based on a physical property of said objects, pressure actuated sorting means responsive to said sorting signals for sorting said objects, said physical property of said objects is transmittance and said electronic means comprise logarithmic amplifier means for generating optical density signals at at least two wave lengths, differential amplifier means for receiving said optical density signals and generating optical density difference signals, comparator means for comparing said optical density difference signals with reference level voltages and generating logic levels output signals in response to the magnitudes of said optical density difference signals, shift register means for receiving and passing said logic signals, a master clock source for driving said shift registers, delay circuit means for delaying and extending the duration of said signals passed by said shift registers, and AND gate means responsive to shift register output signals and to synchronized object position signals for activating said sorting means.

Claim 15

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, said means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated object comprise electronic means coupled to said radiant energy sensing means for generating sorting signals based on a physical property of said objects, pressure actuated sorting means responsive to said sorting signals for sorting said objects, said physical property of said objects is transmittance and said electronic means comprise logarithmic amplifier means for generating optical density signals at at least two wave lengths, differential amplifier means for receiving said optical density signals and generating optical density difference signals, comparator means for comparing said optical density difference signals with reference level voltages and generating logic levels output signals in response to the magnitudes of said optical density difference signals, shift register means for receiving and passing said logic signals, a master clock source for driving said shift registers, delay circuit means for delaying and extending the duration of said signals passed by said shift registers, and AND gate means responsive to shift register output signals and to synchronized object position signals for activating said sorting means.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 8 wherein said AND gate means comprises a plurality of AND gates, each said AND gate comprising a transitor pair turned on by said shift register output connected in series with a silicon controlled rectifier turned on by slave clock means responsive to the position of said objects to be sorted for generating sorting signals.

Claim 17

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, said means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated object comprise electronic means coupled to said radiant energy sensing means for generating sorting signals based on a physical property of said objects, and pressure actuated sorting means responsive to said sorting signals for sorting said objects, said pressure actuated sorting means includes ejector means comprising air nozzles for directing air blasts through said cup apertures to eject objects from the cups and air valves controlling the passage of air to and through the air nozzles, said air valves being selectively activated by the sorting signals.

Claim 18

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, said means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated object comprise electronic means coupled to said radiant energy sensing means for generating sorting signals based on a physical property of said objects, and pressure actuated sorting means responsive to said sorting signals for sorting said objects, said pressure actuated sorting means includes ejector means comprising air nozzles for directing air blasts through said cup apertures to eject objects from the cups and air valves controlling the passage of air to and through the air nozzles, said air valves being selectively activated by the sorting signals.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 10 further comprising ejection corridors disposed adjacent said ejector means for receiving and directing objects ejected from the conveyor means, said corridors having a plurality of curved parallel partitions to form a plurality of curved channels through which said ejected objects pass in a curved trajectory to dissipate kinetic energy possessed by said ejected objects.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 11 further comprising sorting conveyor means moving through said ejection corridors and having upper faces on which the objects fall in leaving the corridors.

Claim 21

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, conveyor means for conveying the objects from a feeding station past the source of radiation and said conveyor means having cups for singularly carrying the objects in successive fashion past the source of radiation, each of said cups having an aperture for the passage of illumination from said radiation source to said carried objects to be sorted, and synchronizing light means disposed on one side of said conveyor means, photo detector means disposed opposite said synchronizing light means on the other side of said conveyor means, and clock signal generating means coupled to said photo detector means for generating clock signals each time a said conveyor cup passes between said synchronizing light source and said photo detector.

Claim 22

Apparatus for sorting objects by measurement of radiant energy transmitted therefrom at at least two wavelengths comprising a source of radiation to illuminate the object to be sorted, a bundle of light transmitting optical elements having a blended end positioned to receive radiant energy from the object to be sorted, the other end of said bundle being furcated, a radiant energy sensing device at the terminal of each furcation, means responsive to said radiant energy sensing devices for sorting the illuminated objects, conveyor means for conveying the objects from a feeding station past the source of radiation and said conveyor means having cups for singularly carrying the objects in successive fashion past the source of radiation, each of said cups having an aperture for the passage of illumination from said radiation source to said carried objects to be sorted, and synchronizing light means disposed on one side of said conveyor means, photo detector means disposed opposite said synchronizing light means on the other side of said conveyor means, and clock signal generating means coupled to said photo detector means for generating clock signals each time a said conveyor cup passes between said synchronizing light source and said photo detector.

Claim 23

An automatic sorting apparatus for sorting agricultural products in accordance with a sensed physical property thereof comprising: a. conveyor means for conveying the products in singularized successive fashion from a feeding station to a reading station; b. a source of illumination disposed at the reading station for illuminating the products; c. fiber optic means disposed at the reading station for capturing the light rays diffused by the products; d. optical means coupled to the fiber optic means for generating electrical signals proportional to the transmittance of the products at at least two wavelengths; e. an electronic system activated by such transmittance related signals to generate sorting signals which indicate the physical condition of the products; f. means for ejecting the products from the conveyor means at selected sorting stations forward of the reading station; g. a logic network for interpreting the signals from the electronic system for selectively activating said ejecting means at various sorting stations, said conveyor means comprise a moving belt having an upper horizontal reach, said reach having an inclined end portion, a loading hopper overlying the inclined end portion and adapted to contain the products and defining the feeding station, a plurality of cups secured to the belt and arranged on the outer face thereof to upstand from said horizontal reach, said conveyor belt with the cups moving through the bottom portion of the hopper so that the cups scoop up in a singularizing fashion the products from the hopper, and said belt has opposing side edges and the cups are arranged in parallel rows that are slanted from one side edge to the other.

Claim 24

An automatic sorting apparatus for sorting agricultural products in accordance with a sensed physical property thereof comprising: a. conveyor means for conveying the products in singularized successive fashion from a feeding station to a reading station; b. a source of illumination disposed at the reading station for illuminating the products; c. fiber optic means disposed at the reading station for capturing the light rays diffused by the products; d. optical means coupled to the fiber optic means for generating electrical signals proportional to the transmittance of the products at at least two wavelengths; e. an electronic system activated by such transmittance related signals to generate sorting signals which indicate the physical condition of the products; f. means for ejecting the products from the conveyor means at selected sorting stations forward of the reading station; g. a logic network for interpreting the signals from the electronic system for selectively activating said ejecting means at various sorting stations, said conveyor means comprise a moving belt having an upper horizontal reach, said reach having an inclined end portion, a loading hopper overlying the inclined end portion and adapted to contain the products and defining the feeding station, a plurality of cups secured to the belt and arranged on the outer face thereof to upstand from said horizontal reach, said conveyor belt with the cups moving through the bottom portion of the hopper so that the cups scoop up in a singularizing fashion the products from the hopper, and said belt has opposing side edges and the cups are arranged in parallel rows that are slanted from one side edge to the other.

Claim 25

The invention of claim 14 wherein each cup has a bottom aperture, said source of illumination underlying the belt and the light rays therefrom passing through the apertures to enter the products and be diffused thereby and said fiber optic means includes a bundle of light transmitting elements having a blended end positioned above the belt to receive radiant energy from the products.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 15 wherein said blended end of the optical bundle and the source of illumination are angularly positioned relative to each other at an angle other than 180*.

Claim 27

The invention of claim 15 wherein said means for ejecting the products from the conveyor means includes air nozzles vertically underlying the conveyor belt at the sorting stations and connected to high pressure air lines and air valves in said lines controlling the passage of air to and through the nozzles, said nozzles being arranged to pass blasts of air when the associated air valve is activated by the electronic system through the apertures in the cups to eject the products from the cups.

Claim 28

The invention of claim 17 including ejection corridors disposed at the sorting stations and into which the ejected products are propelled by the air blasts, said corridors having a plurality of parallel curved partitions to form a plurality of curved vertical channels through which the propelled products pass in an approximate parabolic trajectory so as to dissipate kinetic energy possessed by said products and output conveyor means forming the bottom of each corridor and on which the products fall after passing through the channels.

Claim 29

An automatic sorting apparatus for sorting agricultrual products in accordance with a sensed physical property thereof comprising: a. conveyor means for conveying the products in singularized successive fashion from a feeding station to a reading station; b. a source of illumination disposed at the reading station for illuminating the products; c. fiber optic means disposed at the reading station for capturing tHe light rays diffused by the products; d. optical means coupled to the fiber optic means for generating electrical signals proportional to the transmittance of the products at at least two wavelengths; e. an electronic system activated by such transmittance related signals to generate sorting signals which indicate the physical condition of the products; f. means for ejecting the products from the conveyor means at selected sorting stations forward of the reading station; g. a logic network for interpreting the signals from the electronic system for selectively activating said ejecting means at various sorting stations, said conveyor means comprising a moving belt having an upper horizontal reach, said reach having an inclined end portion, a loading hopper overlying the inclined end portion and adapted to contain the products and defining the feeding station, a plurality of cups secured to the belt and arranged on the outer face thereof to upstand from said horizontal reach, said conveyor belt with the cups moving through the bottom portion of the hopper so that the cups scoop up in a singularizing fashion the products from the hopper, and a tunnel for each row of cups adjacent the back wall of said hopper with the length of each tunnel being not less than the spacing between successive cups of a row whereby at least one cup of each row of cups is always in a tunnel.

Claim 30

An automatic sorting apparatus for sorting agricultrual products in accordance with a sensed physical property thereof comprising: a. conveyor means for conveying the products in singularized successive fashion from a feeding station to a reading station; b. a source of illumination disposed at the reading station for illuminating the products; c. fiber optic means disposed at the reading station for capturing tHe light rays diffused by the products; d. optical means coupled to the fiber optic means for generating electrical signals proportional to the transmittance of the products at at least two wavelengths; e. an electronic system activated by such transmittance related signals to generate sorting signals which indicate the physical condition of the products; f. means for ejecting the products from the conveyor means at selected sorting stations forward of the reading station; g. a logic network for interpreting the signals from the electronic system for selectively activating said ejecting means at various sorting stations, said conveyor means comprising a moving belt having an upper horizontal reach, said reach having an inclined end portion, a loading hopper overlying the inclined end portion and adapted to contain the products and defining the feeding station, a plurality of cups secured to the belt and arranged on the outer face thereof to upstand from said horizontal reach, said conveyor belt with the cups moving through the bottom portion of the hopper so that the cups scoop up in a singularizing fashion the products from the hopper, and a tunnel for each row of cups adjacent the back wall of said hopper with the length of each tunnel being not less than the spacing between successive cups of a row whereby at least one cup of each row of cups is always in a tunnel.