US4350442A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light and color detecting scanner for a sorting apparatus
Assignee: ACCUSORT CORP
•
Filing: 1976-05-19
•
Granted: 1982-09-21
•
Expires: 1996-05-19
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanner for light detection and color ratiometric measuring for use in apparatus to sort small particles such as seed and beans which are projected or propelled through the scanner at relatively high speeds to be scanned on all sides by a narrow light plane and viewed by a plurality of photoelectric devices. Several lamps are used in conjunction with cylindrical lenses to produce a substantially uniform collimated light plane perpendicular to the path of the particles. The lamps and lenses are interspersed with the photoelectric devices such that light reflected from the portion of the particle being scanned is detected by the photoelectric devices which are responsive to selected wavelengths and which responses are separately fed to an external electronic circuit for processing according to spectral responses such that said responses can be measured individually or compared with each other to determine certain color characteristics of the particle being scanned.
Inventors
- 👤 Tor Arild
- 👤 Russell R. Ames
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:06
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/342; B07C5/3425; B07C2501/00; B07C2501/009; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/908
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of: means defining a passage through which said articles may pass, illuminating means substantially surrounding said passage for forming a multidirectional sheet of light of substantially uniform thickness in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to and through said passage, and light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light, said light detecting means including means for detecting light in the visible spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto and means for detecting light in the infrared spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of: means defining a passage through which said articles may pass, illuminating means substantially surrounding said passage for forming a multidirectional sheet of light of substantially uniform thickness in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to and through said passage, and light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light, said light detecting means including means for detecting light in the visible spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto and means for detecting light in the infrared spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said illuminating means forms a multidirectional thin sheet of light having a width along said passage less than the smallest cross-sectional dimension of a typical one of said articles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 1 further comprising means for shielding said light detecting means from receiving direct light from said illuminating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said visible spectrum light detecting means and said infrared spectrum light detecting means each include a plurality of light detecting devices, said devices being mounted to provide overlapping fields of view for pairs of visible spectrum and infrared spectrum light detecting devices.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said visible and infrared spectrum light detecting means each comprise modified planar diffused silicon photodiodes having a peak spectral response at about that of the human eye.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein said visible spectrum light detecting means further comprises visible spectrum filter means altering the response of said photodiodes to retain said peak response at about that of the human eye and to provide substantially no response in the infrared region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The combination of claim 6 wherein said infrared spectrum light detecting means further comprises infrared spectrum filter means altering the response of said photodiodes to provide a peak response in the infrared region and substantially no response in the visible region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein said visible spectrum filter means alters said photodiode response to provide substantially no response above 800 nanometers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein said infrared spectrum filter means alters said photodiode response to provide substantially no response below 800 nanometers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said illuminating means includes lamp means having a spectral peak at about 750 nanometers and provides usable output from about 400 nanometers to 1100 nanometers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein said illuminating means includes line filament lamp means having a spectral output in the visible and infrared spectra and cylindrical lens means receiving light from said lamp means for generating a homogeneous, uniform narrow band of light normal to said passage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said means defining a passage comprises a transparent hollow sleeve.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 12 further comprising a dust proof enclosure for said optical scanner having first and second openings for the ends of said hollow sleeve and sealing means for providing a dust proof seal between said enclosure and said sleeve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein said line filament lamp means includes a plurality of line filament lamps and spring means for maintaining the filaments of said line filament lamps in tension to maintain the filaments in alignment with said cylindrical lens means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein said light detecting means receives unfocused reflected light.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein said light detecting means receives unfocused reflected light.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
75 words
In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of means defining a passage through which said articles may pass, illuminating means substantially surrounding said passage for forming a multidirectional sheet of light of substantially uniform thickness in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to and through said passage, and unfocused light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
75 words
In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of means defining a passage through which said articles may pass, illuminating means substantially surrounding said passage for forming a multidirectional sheet of light of substantially uniform thickness in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to and through said passage, and unfocused light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 17 wherein said light detecting means comprises means for detecting light in first and second spectra pass bands.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
71 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said means for detecting light in first and second pass bands of energy spectra includes a plurality of means for detecting light in said first pass band and a plurality of means for detecting light in said second pass band, each of said plurality of means being mounted to provide overlappinng fields of view for pairs of first pass band and second pass band means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
144 words
In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of: means defining a passage through which said articles may pass, illuminating means adjacent said passage for forming a sheet of light in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to said passage, and light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light, said light detecting means including means for detecting light in the visible spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto and means for detecting light in the infrared spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto, said visible spectrum light detecting means and said infrared spectrum light detecting means each including a plurality of light detecting devices, said devices being mounted to provide overlapping fields of view for pairs of visible spectrum and infrared spectrum light detecting devices.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
144 words
In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of: means defining a passage through which said articles may pass, illuminating means adjacent said passage for forming a sheet of light in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to said passage, and light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light, said light detecting means including means for detecting light in the visible spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto and means for detecting light in the infrared spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto, said visible spectrum light detecting means and said infrared spectrum light detecting means each including a plurality of light detecting devices, said devices being mounted to provide overlapping fields of view for pairs of visible spectrum and infrared spectrum light detecting devices.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein said illuminating means forms a multidirectional thin sheet of light having a width along said passage less than the smallest cross-sectional dimension of a typical one of said articles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination of claim 20 further comprising means for shielding said light detecting means from receiving direct light from said illuminating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein said illuminating means includes line filament lamp means having a spectral output in the visible and infrared spectra and cylindrical lens means receiving light from said lamp means for generating a homogeneous, uniform narrow band of light normal to said passage.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination of claim 20 wherein said means defining a passage comprises a transparent hollow sleeve.
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) | 1985-09-20 | 1986-03-22 | 1986-09-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-09-20 | 1990-03-22 | 1990-09-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-09-20 | 1994-03-22 | 1994-09-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |