US3872306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Separating apparatus
Assignee: National Research Development Corp UK
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Filing: 1973-04-13
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1993-04-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for separating a mixture of materials into two categories such as potatoes and stones comprises a source of radiation such as X rays through which the mixture is passed, and detecting means responsive differently to the incidence of the radiation on the two categories of material. Directing means such as deflecting fingers, cause the material of the two different categories to be directed in different directions in response to the said different responses of the detecting means. The detecting means are responsive to the incidence of the radiation on material of both categories, and there are provided means for deriving from the detecting means a monitoring signal representative of responses by the detecting means arising from both categories of material. Visual indicator means may display the said monitoring signal, to give a measure representative of the projected area of the mixture, which passes through the radiation in given time. Alternatively or in addition there may be included control means for varying the supply of mixture to the separating means in dependence upon the monitoring signal.
Inventors
- 👤 John Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 12:40
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D33/00; A01D33/04; B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/346
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
236 words
Apparatus for separating a mixture of bodies of different materials into at least two categories of materials, comprising: means for supplying a mixture of bodies of different materials at a variable rate of supply; control means for controlling the rate of supply of the said mixture; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from said course; a conveyor belt for passing said mixture of bodies in a laterally spread formation between the radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-level analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing bodies of one category from bodies of another category in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the different materials of the bodies; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass bodies of different materials in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; and second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuation of radiation by all bodies in the mixture, the output of said second analyzer means being connected to said control means to control said rate of supply of the mixture in dependence upon said throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
236 words
Apparatus for separating a mixture of bodies of different materials into at least two categories of materials, comprising: means for supplying a mixture of bodies of different materials at a variable rate of supply; control means for controlling the rate of supply of the said mixture; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from said course; a conveyor belt for passing said mixture of bodies in a laterally spread formation between the radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-level analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing bodies of one category from bodies of another category in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the different materials of the bodies; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass bodies of different materials in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; and second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuation of radiation by all bodies in the mixture, the output of said second analyzer means being connected to said control means to control said rate of supply of the mixture in dependence upon said throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for separating a mixture of bodies of different materials into at least two categories of materials, comprising: means for supplying a mixture of bodies of different material at a variable rate of supply; control means for controlling the rate of supply of said mixture; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from said source; conveyor belt means for passing said mixture of bodies in a laterally spread formation between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-lever analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing bodies of one category from bodies of another category in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the different materials of the bodies; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass bodies of different materials in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; and second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuatioN of radiation by all bodies in the mixture; and indicator means connected to the output of said second signal-level analyzer means and adapted to indicate the value of said throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
230 words
Apparatus for separating a mixture of bodies of different materials into at least two categories of materials, comprising: means for supplying a mixture of bodies of different material at a variable rate of supply; control means for controlling the rate of supply of said mixture; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from said source; conveyor belt means for passing said mixture of bodies in a laterally spread formation between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-lever analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing bodies of one category from bodies of another category in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the different materials of the bodies; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass bodies of different materials in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; and second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuatioN of radiation by all bodies in the mixture; and indicator means connected to the output of said second signal-level analyzer means and adapted to indicate the value of said throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for separating an agricultural crop from stones, clods and other unwanted material, comprising: harvesting means for harvesting the crop at a variable rate of harvesting; control means for controlling the rate of harvesting of said harvesting means; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from the said source; conveyor belt means for passing said crop and unwanted material in a laterally spread formation between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-level analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing the crop from the unwanted material in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the crop and the unwanted material; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass the crop and the unwanted material in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuation of radiation by both crop and unwanted material; and indicator means connected to the output of said second signal-level analyzer means for indicating the value of said throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
221 words
Apparatus for separating an agricultural crop from stones, clods and other unwanted material, comprising: harvesting means for harvesting the crop at a variable rate of harvesting; control means for controlling the rate of harvesting of said harvesting means; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from the said source; conveyor belt means for passing said crop and unwanted material in a laterally spread formation between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-level analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing the crop from the unwanted material in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the crop and the unwanted material; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass the crop and the unwanted material in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuation of radiation by both crop and unwanted material; and indicator means connected to the output of said second signal-level analyzer means for indicating the value of said throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said conveyor belt means is arranged to convey said crop and unwanted material over an end roller of said conveyor belt means, and said conveyor belt means is so positioned that said crop and unwanted material passing over said end roller falls between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said source of ionizing radiation generates periodic pulses of radiation and said detecting devices provide output signals in the form of pulses corresponding to the pulses of radiation received, and said second signal-level analyzer means includes counter means arranged to sum all output pulses from said detecting devices which have diminished magnitudes due to radiation attenuation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for separating an agricultural crop from stones, clods and other unwanted material, comprising: harvesting means for harvesting the crop at a variable rate of harvesting; control means for controlling the rate of harvesting of said harvesting means; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from said source; conveyor belt means for passing said crop and unwanted material in a laterally spread formation between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-level analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing the crop from the unwanted material in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the crop and the unwanted material; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass the crop and the unwanted material in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; and second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuation of radiation by both crop and unwanted material, the output of said second analyzer means being connected to said control means of said harvesting means to control the rate of harvesting in dependence upon saId throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
229 words
Apparatus for separating an agricultural crop from stones, clods and other unwanted material, comprising: harvesting means for harvesting the crop at a variable rate of harvesting; control means for controlling the rate of harvesting of said harvesting means; a source of ionizing radiation arranged to produce a laterally spread beam or array of beams of radiation; an array of radiation detecting devices positioned to receive radiation from said source; conveyor belt means for passing said crop and unwanted material in a laterally spread formation between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices; first signal-level analyzer means adapted to analyze the output signal levels of said detecting devices for distinguishing the crop from the unwanted material in dependence upon the degree of attenuation of said ionizing radiation by the crop and the unwanted material; an array of deflecting devices adapted to pass the crop and the unwanted material in different directions under the control of said first analyzer means; and second signal-level analyzer means connected to the outputs of said detecting devices for producing a throughput monitoring signal by combining the signal responses of said detecting devices resulting from attenuation of radiation by both crop and unwanted material, the output of said second analyzer means being connected to said control means of said harvesting means to control the rate of harvesting in dependence upon saId throughput monitoring signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said conveyor belt means is arranged to convey said crop and unwanted material over an end roller of said conveyor belt means, and said conveyor belt means is so positioned that said crop and unwanted material passing over said end roller falls between said radiation source and said array of detecting devices.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said deflecting devices comprise a plurality of fingers upon which said crop and unwanted material fall after passing through said radiation, each finger being controlled by at least one corresponding detecting device aligned with said finger in relation to the path of fall of said crop and unwanted material, each detecting device being arranged to differentiate between the crop and unwanted material as the mixture passes that detecting device, and said corresponding finger being actuated to pass the crop or unwanted material in the appropriate direction under the control of said associated detecting device or devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said source of ionizing radiation generates periodic pulses of radiation and said detecting devices provide output signals in the form of pulses corresponding to the pulses of radiation received, and said second signal-level analyzer means includes counter means arranged to sum all output pulses from said detecting devices which have diminished magnitudes due to radiation attenuation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
81 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 in which said second signal-level analyzer means includes a reference generator means for generating a reference count corresponding to an optimum harvesting rate, and a reference comparator connected to compare said reference count with the output of said counter means, the output of said reference comparator being connected to feed a difference signal to said control means whereby the rate of harvesting is increased or decreased according to the sense and magnitude of the difference signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control means comprises means for varying the ground speed of said harvesting means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |