An inspection apparatus for inspecting a flow of particulate material, comprising: a background reflector (105) adjacent which in use falls a flow of particulate material (F); and a lighting unit (107) for illuminating an elongate viewing field (VF) across the background reflector (105), the viewing field (VF) having a first width (w1); wherein the lighting unit (107) comprises a fixed, non-scanning light source (115), and the light source (115) is formed of one or more light elements (120) which define a second width (w2 )which is shorter than the first width (w1) of the viewing field (VF).
An apparatus for and method of identifying differing types of unhulled grains (G) in a stream of unhulled grains, such as a stream of paddy rice, the apparatus comprising : a delivery device (3) which delivers the stream of unhulled grains (S) to an identification zone, wherein the unhulled grains (G) in the stream of unhulled grains (S) have no fixed or controlled orient and are of generally different orient from one another at the identification zone, and wherein the stream of unhulled grains (S) has a width (W) at the identification zone across which multiple unhulled grains (G) can be present; an illumination unit (14) which provides an elongate illumination line (19) across the width (W) of the stream of unhulled grains (S) from a first side of the stream of unhulled grains (S) at the identification zone, wherein an intensity or other characteristic of the illumination line (19) is sufficient to cause penetrative transmission of radiation through at least the hull of each unhulled grain (G); and a detector unit (21) which detects radiation transmitted and/or scattered by unhulled grains (G) in the stream of unhulled grains (S) at the identification zone at a second side of the stream of unhulled grains (S), wherein the second side is on the opposite side of the stream of unhulled grains (S) to the first side; whereby different types of unhulled grains (G) are distinguished from one another with reference to differences in light transmission, scatter and/or absorption characteristics of the unhulled grains (G).
A method for providing adaptive control of the flow of a plurality of ejector valves arranged in close proximity to each other in a sorting machine is described. The method comprises measuring a temporal response curve for each ejector valve, comparing the measured temporal response curve for each ejector valve to a library set of previously stored temporal response curves, determining from the comparison a predicted flow for each ejector valve, and adapting a drive signal for each ejector valve in dependence on the predicted flow. Temporal response curves may be measured and compared in a calibration (non-sorting) mode, and real-time feedback of the measured temporal responses in a sorting mode may be used to indicate health of a valve and to further adapt the drive signal to provide conformal performance. The number of neighbouring ejector valves may also be taken into account.
A detection system for detecting a flow of objects, the system comprising : at least one illumination unit for providing an elongate illumination beam across a width of a flow of objects; and a detector which comprises a plurality of line detector elements for detecting radiation received from the objects, wherein one detector element detects reflected radiation from an illuminated region of the objects, and at least one other detector element detects diffuse radiation from sub-surface diffusion at at least one region adjacent the illuminated region in the objects.
An illumination device and system, the system comprising : at least one imaging unit for acquiring images of a flow of product at a detection zone; at least one background illumination device for providing a background illumination at one or more wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths for the at least one imaging unit; and at least one foreground illumination device for providing foreground illumination at one or more wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths.
A sorting and inspection apparatus comprising a feed system for delivering a product stream sequentially through an imaging zone and a sorting zone, at least one tight source for illuminating a product at the imaging zone, at least one optical sensor and detector circuit for viewing at least a portion of the illuminated product at the imaging zone, for collecting viewed data, for determining a condition of that at least portion of the illuminated product from the viewed data and then for outputting a signal dependent upon the determined condition of that at least portion of the illuminated product, and at least one ejector for ejecting product at the sorting zone dependent upon the output signal. The imaging zone comprises at least two sensor zones, sequentially arranged one after another in a direction of the product stream. The data collected from the at least two sensor zones is temporally delayed between an earlier one of the sensor zones and a subsequent sensor zone, with the temporal delay being set at a time that would match a sensor output for the said earlier one of the sensor zones with a sensor output for the said subsequent sensor zone for a hypothetical product travelling through the viewing zone at a fixed, predetermined velocity. The apparatus additionally determines the velocity of each product that passes through the sensor zones. The determined velocity, or its difference from the predetermined velocity, used in a determination of a shortened but non-clipped sector of each sensor zone from which to use collected data for basing its defect determination.
Apparatus for inspecting product pieces in a product stream comprising a system for creating a stream of product pieces for delivery in free flight at a viewing station, first light means for illuminating the viewing station from one side with light for reflection from product therein, second light means for illuminating the viewing station from the other side with light for reflection from product therein, a scanning system for receiving light from the first and second illuminating means reflected from product pieces in the viewing station and transmitted across the viewing station, and means for activating the first and second light means alternately in first and second scanning phases to successively illuminate a product stream at the viewing station.
A processing system for and method of recovering a desired material from a source of particulate material containing contaminated material, the system comprising: a heat treatment unit (3) for heat treating a supply of particulate material, some of which is contaminated, in accordance with a heating regime, wherein the heating regime provides for an optically-detectable change in a physical characteristic of one or more materials other than the desired material; and a sorting unit (11) which receives the particulate material, while still in the heated condition, from the heat treatment unit, and separates contaminated particles from particles of the desired material by identification of the optically-detectable change in the physical characteristic of the one or more materials other than the desired material.
Inspection apparatus comprises a feed system for delivering a stream of articles to an imaging zone (6). A camera (10) generates image data from the stream at the imaging zone for processing by a computer (12). The computer (12) comprises a pattern recognition system for identifying defects, and for ranking identified defects. The computer (12) is coupled to a graphical user interface to display such areas as thumbnails on the interface. The thumbnails are displayed in a space defined by at least two related defect criteria. Each thumbnail is located on a locus defined by the severity of the respective defect, and its displayed position on the locus is determined by a rule. The locus will normally trace the points in the space at which the thumbnail is classified as a defect.
An orienting device for receiving a bulk flow of unshelled pistachio nuts and aligning and orienting them to provide single flows of nuts having a desired, common orient, the device comprises: an orienting section (27) comprising a plurality of tracks (25), which receive a flow of nuts from an infeed section, and align and orient the nuts, each track (25) comprising an orienting part (29), which comprises a base and first and second lateral orienting guides (39) makes the nuts rotate. The tray is a vibrating tray.
B65G 27/04 - Load-carriers other than helical or spiral channels or conduits
B65G 47/14 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
An imaging system for and method of imaging product in a product flow (F), the system comprising: an illumination unit for illuminating product in the product flow with illumination at first and second, different wavelengths or ranges of different wavelengths; a detector unit (15) for detecting reflected illumination from product in the product flow, wherein the detector unit comprises first and second line array detectors, the line array detectors (17a, 17b) each comprising a plurality of pixel elements and extending as lines across a width of the product flow, one line downstream of the other, whereby product passing a pixel element of the first line array detector passes a corresponding pixel element of the second line array detector; a control unit for triggering the first and second illumination sources to flash sequentially at a scan rate corresponding to the flow rate of the product flow; and an image processing unit for successively reading the pixel lines of the first and second line array detectors and constructing images of the product at each of the illumination wavelengths or ranges of illumination wavelengths.
A process for whitening rice, comprising the steps of: moistening brown rice with a moistening agent, preferably comprising water and an additive selected from at least one of a sugar or a derivative thereof, including a sugar alcohol, and sodium chloride; and whitening the moistened brown rice, preferably immediately after the moistening step.
Sorting apparatus comprises a feed system for delivering a stream of articles in free flight to a sorting zone. Ejectors at the sorting zone are selectively activated to eject articles from the stream. A camera is disposed at an imaging zone upstream of the sorting zone to generate image data to be processed by a computer to identify articles to be ejected at the sorting zone according to one or more sorting criteria. The computer instructs the ejectors on the basis of the processed data. The computer is also coupled to a graphical user interface to display an image of the product stream at the imaging zone, and show the areas of intersection with the product stream of activated ejectors. The ejectors are normally operable to discharge a fluid such as a gas or air, in pulses, and the areas of intersection with the product stream are those directly intersected by the ejector fluid. Provision can be made for adjusting ejection parameters to move the boundaries of these areas of intersection.
Inspection apparatus comprises a feed system for delivering a stream of articles to an imaging zone. A camera generates image data from the stream at the imaging zone for processing by a computer. The computer comprises a pattern recognition system for identifying defects in areas from the image data, and for ranking identified defects. The pattern recognition system is programmed to operate according to multiple defect criteria. The computer is also coupled to a graphical user interface to display the areas identified from the image data as thumbnails on the interface arranged according to rank of the identified defects in the areas, in each of at least two defect criteria. The areas from the generated image data will normally be defined around each identified defect with the defect central therein. These areas, or thumbnails, can overlap.
In apparatus for measuring the quality of a granular product in continuous flow, the product is allowed to move along a channel having a window set in the channel boundary contacted by the moving product. An optical system monitors product in the channel. A light source illuminates product in the channel through the window, and a sensor receives light reflected from the product through the window in at least two wavelength ranges. A processor receives signals from the sensor representative of the quantity of reflected light received in the respective wavelengths, and compares the respective signals to generate a measurement of the product quality. The window will normally be disposed in the underside of the channel, with the channel set at an angle of at least 45° to the horizontal to allow product to move there along under gravity, and against the window.
A method of and apparatus for sorting foreign matter from a flow, the method comprising the steps of: identifying objects within a flow; for each identified object, determining reflectance intensities at at least two different wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths; and for each identified object, comparing the reflectance intensities at the at least two different wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to a reference intensity profile, wherein the identified object is characterized as foreign matter when the reflectance intensities at the at least two different wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths fall within a predetermined region of the reference intensity profile.
A flow divider assembly for a sorting apparatus, comprising a flow divider (3), which is operative to separate first and second product streams or flows (Fl, F2), wherein the flow divider (3) comprises a flexible separator element (11), which has an upper edge (12) which presents a dividing edge to the product flows and the position of which is adjustable by flexing the separator element (3).
A chute for inspection and sorting apparatus has first and second flat (8,12) sections, with the lower end of the first section (8) being disposed over the second section (12) to form a step from which product falls onto the second section. Additional sections may be included.
A light guide (15) for delivering an illumination, in particular a reference or background illumination, the light guide comprising : a mirror box (21) which defines a mirror cavity (23), which receives a light source (19) therein, and includes an illumination aperture (25) from which an illumination is delivered; a transmissive diffuser (27) which is located at the illumination aperture to render the illumination diffuse; and a shutter member (41) which is movable into the cavity to obstruct the light source and provide for control of the radiance of the delivered illumination, whereby control of the radiance of the delivered illumination is determined by a position of the shutter member in the cavity.
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