Abstract: A Method and Apparatus for identifying and distinguishing fluids and for recognizing contamination of a fluid, which method and apparatus utilizes spectrographic analysis of control samples of known fluids and then spectrographic analysis of unknown fluids to generate optical signatures, finger prints and/or profiles of data and processed data relating to the relative intensities of light at selected wavelengths; and then, through comparison of the various signatures, fingerprints and/or profiles, provides determinative information as to contamination or non-contamination of the unknown fluids; after which appropriate operation control is effected and/or exercised.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying and distinguishing fluids and for recognizing contamination of a fluid, which method and apparatus utilizes spectrographic analysis of control samples of known fluids and then spectrographic analysis of unknown fluids to generate optical signatures, finger prints and/or profiles of data and processed data relating to the relative intensities of light at selected wavelengths; and then, through comparison of the various signatures, fingerprints and/or profiles, provides determinative information as to contamination or non-contamination of the unknown fluids; after which appropriate operation control is effected and/or exercised.

Abstract: A system for sorting lumber using a scanning camera that generates separate red, green and in some cases blue outputs to scan selected length increments along the surface of a piece of lumber and such data collected for each color is each separately histogrammed to produce a frequency distribution of color intensity. The data is analyzed to determine the mean values for each color in the selected lengths and the lengths characterized based on these mean values into specific colors. The lumber pieces may be automatically severed into pieces having significant differences in color and the pieces of significantly different colors may be automatically collected in different groupings. In an alternative arrangement the histogram for selected color is analyzed to determine the frequency distribution and degree of frequency variability to determine if it is to be classified as vertical or flat grained.

Abstract: A color sorting apparatus for granular objects comprises a plurality of sorting units arranged in parallel relation to each other. Detecting positions of the respective sorting units are spaced from each other in a horizontal plane. Each sorting unit includes a substantially vertically extending, elongated tubular guide member for guiding the granular objects so as to be moved along a predetermined path passing through the detecting position, three detectors disposed at the detecting position at angular intervals of substantially 120 degrees around the predetermined path, and a deflector operative in response to a signal from at least one of the detectors representative of undesirable granular objects for deflecting the same out of the predetermined path.

Abstract: An apparatus and process permit the material of construction and the color of transparent and partly transparent containers to be determined rapidly and accurately. To determine the material of construction, polarized light is passed through the container, portions of the transmitted beam are analyzed by parallel and cross polarizers, the intensities of the analyzed beams are measured, and the sum and difference of the analyzed beams are determined. Preferably, the determination is made with at least two wavelengths of polarized light, and the sums and differences of the intensities of the different wavelengths are determined. Glass containers do not alter the polarization of the transmitted light, while many types of plastic containers do alter the polarization, and this difference serves as the basis for the differentiation.

Abstract: A bichromatic product sorter is disclosed which uses both pattern checking and ratio checking of reflected light, indicating the color of the product, to determine the acceptability of the product. The ratio checking compares the two color components with each other against a dark background. The sorter can perform pattern checking, ratio checking, or a combination of both on the product. A number of individual channels are combined on the sorter to reduce the space and electronics required to provide a given throughput. The electronics are multiplexed to reduce the required number of components. The viewing chambers are shaped to allow improved space utilization in the classification area, reducing the total amount of space required for multiple channel operation.

Abstract: An outer appearance quality inspection system comprising a mechanism for aligning objects to be inspected, a mechanism for transporting the aligned objects, light projectors for illuminating a light within a predetermined wavelength range against the objects being transported, light receiving devices for receiving the light reflected from each of the objects so as to convert the light into an electrical signal, an electronic circuit for obtaining the data representative of the conditions of the surfaces of the object in response to the electrical signal derived from the light receiving devices, and a mechanism for sorting the objects being transported in response to the data derived from the electronic circuit. The system can inspect the size, visible surface damages and coloring of an object such as orange automatically and reliably.

Abstract: A master clock oscillator produces a series of control pulses to drive a multiple frequency L.E.D. illuminator and an optically coaxial synchronous detection system in an AC based organic/inorganic, ripe/unripe sorter. Data is collected by subjecting free-falling articles to a repetitious sampling cycle and detecting the reflected pulses. Counters running at differential rates, store binary data relating to the size and ripe/unripe condition of the article. At the end of the sampling period, an accept/reject determination is made, based upon the binary data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for grading articles, particularly lemons, according to their surface color. The apparatus measures each lemon's reflectance in infrared, red and green wavelength bands, and computes the ratio of the red and infrared measurements and the ratio of the red and green measurements. If the red/infrared ratio is less than a prescribed crossover threshold, the apparatus compares the red/infrared ratio to a first set of thresholds, to grade the lemon into either a very dark green, dark green or light green color grade. Conversely, if the red/infrared color ratio is greater than the crossover threshold, the apparatus compares the red/green ratio to a second set of thresholds, to grade the lemon into either a silver, tree-ripe or bronzy color grade.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting slender elongate items, some of which are defective, includes a viewing area with sensing means that sense defects in the items and produces a signal when a defect is sensed, and a removal area with removal means that operate in response to the signals from the sensing means to remove defective items. A conveyor having upstanding walls defining a series of longitudinal side by side channels receives a flow of randomly oriented items and places them in substantially singulated end to end alignment. An endless belt conveyor is arranged as a longitudinal continuation of the first conveyor and has a series of troughs aligned with the series of channels for receiving the substantially singulated and aligned items from the channels of the first conveyor and for carrying the received items through the viewing area and into the removal area in substantially singulated end to end alignment.

Abstract: An inspection device is disclosed which includes a color sensor which has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements each being responsive to respective different wave lengths of light from an object to be inspected and producing an electrical signal, a zero balance setter which processes the output signal from the color sensor and then takes a zero balance, a tolerance range setter which receives the output of the zero balance setter and produces an abnormal signal in conjunction to a tolerance range of the object to be inspected, a detector which produces an electrical signal to notify when the object arrives at a predetermined location; and a detection location timing section which passes the output of the tolerance range setter by the output signal from the detector.

Abstract: An infrared light generator directs a flashing band of light across a conveyor belt carrying randomly spaced materials having differing properties. The frequency of the flashing band sequentially alternates between two infrared frequencies chosen for their peculiar reflectivity characteristics. Infrared light sensitive cells detect energy reflected from the passing materials as they are exposed to the infrared light. Comparator circuitry examines the detected information, determining the size and material nature of the passing pieces. Powered paddles act at the direction of the comparator, physically separating variously sized inorganic from organic materials, or ripe from unripe comestibles, to cite examples.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for detecting water-based residues in translucent bottles, in which energy in two parts of the spectrum in and near the infra-red region, in one of which parts (0.8 to 0.9 microns) water is relatively transparent and the other of which parts (1.2 to 1.6 microns) water is more strongly absorbent is transmitted through a bottle, and the intensities of the emergent energies in the two parts are separately measured by a silicon detector and a germanium detector, associated with respective collimator tubes and filters, and are compared to produce a signal indicative of the presence of water in the bottle.

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.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus universally applicable to any article sorting task without the necessity of changing a background member for each article type is characterized by first and second optically imposed "backgrounds" against which light reflected from the same portion of each article passing within a predetermined viewed area as defined by an optical frame is detected. Photodetectors associated with each "background" are operative to generate first and second electrical signal representations of the reflected light detected against each background. An electrical signal representative of the portion of the viewed area occupied by the article and functionally related to the difference between first and second signal representations is used to scale one of the first or second signals to provide a signal representation of the full-frame percentage reflectivity of the article. Additionally, a nulling circuit is operative while the articles are passing through the viewer to provide drift compensation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grading and sorting articles, particularly fruit, according to size, surface blemish and surface color. Fruit is passed sequentially through a camera array which scans the surface of each fruit and measures the intensity of light reflected from successive discrete surface segments. Significant differences between such measured intensities are detected and a measurement of surface blemish is generated in accordance therewith. Size measurements are derived by counting the total number of segments in the surface of each fruit. Color measurements are derived by averaging the ratio of red light intensity to infrared light intensity reflected from each of a plurality of surface areas of each fruit. The fruit are separated and delivered to separate receivers by a mechanism responsive to the size, blemish and color measurements of the respective fruit.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting fruit according to its color comprising a conveyor including a plurality of individual conveyor lines, a first viewer associated with each conveyor line and positioned to observe one side of the fruit carried by the associated conveyor line, a second viewer associated with each conveyor line, said second viewer located downstream from the first viewer and positioned to observe the other side of the fruit carried by the associated conveyor line, and control means. Each viewer produces an electronic signal indicative of the color of the side of the fruit observed. The control means receives the electronic signals as they are produced, storing the signal from the first viewer until the signal from the second viewer is received for a given individual fruit, and evaluates both signals in order to classify the individual fruit according to color. The classifications are stored and available for processing by conventional sorting discharge means not a part of the present invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to the measurement of the shade of a particle. The particle is illuminated with light of variable intensity and viewed against a background level of illumination. A measurement is made of the ratio of time for which the intensity of light from the particle exceeds the intensity of the background to obtain a measurement of the shade of the particle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high speed asynchronous fruit sorter for sorting various types of fruits, such as blueberries, according to maturity. Forming a part of the fruit sorter is an open wire type conveyor having a generally M-shaped profile extending transversely across so as to define a series of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending conveying channels. An illumination source is disposed below the conveyor about an area referred to as a sorting zone. Disposed over the conveyor in the vicinity of the sorting zone is an optical maturity sensing device that continuously derives a differential optical density reading for the underlying passing fruit, and this differential optical density reading is directly related to the maturity of the fruit and is directed to a maturity discriminator circuit. The maturity discriminator circuit is in turn coupled to an air injection sorting apparatus by a series of AND gates.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting articles randomly disposed in an article stream includes a viewer for viewing a predetermined area through which the article stream is passed and for generating an electrical characteristic signal functionally related to the presence of a physical characteristic of the article passing within the viewed area. The electrical characteristic signal is compared to a range of signal values representative of a foreign object. The amount of time during which the characteristic signal falls within the range of signal values during a reference time interval is measured and compared with a time reference standard. An article reject signal is generated if the characteristic signal falls within the predetermined range of signal values for an amount of time exceeding the predetermined time reference standard.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grading and sorting articles, particularly fruit, according to size, surface blemish and surface color. Fruit is passed sequentially through a camera array which scans the surface of each fruit and measures the intensity of light reflected from successive discrete surface segments. Significant differences between such measured intensities are detected and a measurement of surface blemish is generated in accordance therewith. Size measurements are derived by counting the total number of segments in the surface of each fruit. Color measurements are derived by averaging the ratio of red light intensity to infrared light intensity reflected from each of a plurality of surface areas of each fruit. The fruit are separated and delivered to separate receivers by a mechanism responsive to the size, blemish and color measurements of the respective fruit.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus wherein a plurality of first and second electrical color signals from a predetermined number of viewer elements is utilized to generate classification signals functionally related to the ratio of the color signals from each viewer and an ejector associated with each viewer is actuated if a comparison of each ratio classification signal with predetermined references indicates an unacceptably colored product or foreign object is characterized by a foreign object ejector arrangement being operable if the ratio classification signal falls within a predetermined defined range of signal values. A threshold network actuates the foreign object ejector arrangement only if an article is detected within the field of view of the viewer elements. Circuitry to present a substitute classification signal within the predetermined range of signal values if the electrical color signals are of equal value is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting articles is characterized by a nulling arrangement which corrects for amplifier offset and drift as the sort occurs. The nulling arrangement samples the amplifier output during a predetermined sample time period to detect the lowest signal output from the amplifier during the sample period. An electrical signal representative of the difference between the lowest detected signal and a predetermined reference signal representative of the light reflected from the background is generated for application as a correction signal to the amplifier. A memory stores the largest correction signal detected during the previous sample period for application to the amplifier during the present sample period. The memory also stores the largest correction signal detected during the present sample period.

Abstract: Nahcolite-containing ore particles are separated from oil shale particles in a mixture of particles of nahcolite-bearing oil shale ore by irradiating the mixture of ore particles with electromagnetic energy in the infrared region of the spectrum and sorting the particles according to energy reflected at one or more selected wavelengths within that region to separate the nahcolite-containing ore particles from the oil shale particles.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for performing an article sort based upon the intensity of light energy reflected from the article at predetermined first and second color wavelengths is characterized by an addressable memory element having a plurality of memory storage locations therein, each memory location being addressable by a different combination of the reflected light intensities at the first and second color wavelengths. Each memory location has stored therein a classification signal representative of the acceptability of an article exhibiting the reflected light intensities at the first and second color wavelengths corresponding to the address of the storage location.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting articles is characterized by a circuit arrangement responsive to first and second electrical signals representative of the light reflected from the same portion of the article to be sorted as detected against a first and a second background, the first background having a reflectivity characteristic greater than the reflectivity characteristic of the second background, to generate an electrical signal representation of the portion of the viewing zone occupied by the article. This signal is used to scale both the first and second signals to provide an electrical signal representation of the reflectivity of the article at the first and second color wavelengths.

Abstract: An automated color sorter for fruit and the like produces signals in the red and green spectrum from light reflected by each piece of produce passing an inspection station and operates upon these signals to generate color level signals employed to physically direct individual items according to predetermined color grades thereof. Computer operation upon the color level signals allows variation of sort levels or points and continuous inventorying of produce in predetermined grades.

Abstract: A produce grading system that detects the light reflectance from an object in four color bands. Two bands are in the visible range and two are in the invisible range. By comparing various color combinations the system looks for the presence of a desired color, an undesired color, and determines if the object is vegetable or nonvegetable matter.

Abstract: A control apparatus for processing the electrical signals generated by an optical ratiometric color sorting scanner, said apparatus generating signals to cause the rejection of articles which differ in color and/or size from predetermined limits. In the scanner, two electrical signals are generated which are responsive to two different spectral regions or pass bands of the radiant energy reflected by the product being sorted. These signals are superimposed on a slowly varying signal responsive to the standing background light. The control circuitry processes the signals to delete the standing light signal and spurious noise signals and determines if the ratio between the signals is greater than or less than a predetermined value, or alternatively, determines when the ratio between the signals is not within a predetermined acceptable range and generates a delayed reject signal thereafter. Other circuits provide signals to a meter for displaying the present reject rate and particle feed rate.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting articles randomly disposed across a wide path is characterized by a plurality of side-by-side viewer elements each assigned a corresponding side-by-side sector of an illuminated viewed area through which the articles to be sorted pass. Electrical signals indicative of the instantaneous average value of light reflected from articles at two predetermined wavelengths as those articles pass through a sector of the viewed area are multiplexed and a classification signal functionally related to the ratio of the two signals is determined. The classification signal is compared to a reference signal indicative of an article having a predetermined physical characteristic, and a reject signal is generated if the compared signals differ by a predetermined amount. The reject signal is stored in an assigned memory location corresponding to the sector of the viewed area through which the article passed.

Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for sorting objects, e.g. tomatoes, according to both size and color. A preferred embodiment can sort the objects into fourteen size/color categories and yet requires only two photodetectors. The objects travel on a conveyor belt past a sensing station having a light source to illuminate an object and a pair of phototransistors for receiving light reflected from the object in two different color bands, e.g. red and green. The phototransistors produce a pair of output electrical signals. An analog divider forms a ratio of the electrical signals and the peak value is stored and compared with preset limits to produce a color category signal. A size category signal is derived on the basis of the time duration of the signal produced by the summation of the phototransistors' signals.

Abstract: A tomato sorter is described for removing culls, e.g. green tomatoes from the good, red tomatoes. An image of each tomato passing the station is formed on a light diffusing plate. Diffused light from the plate is divided into first and second light beams from which all but the red and the green light components, respectively, are removed with filters. The remaining light is sensed by separate photo-multipliers, the output of which is used to form red and green light intensity signals. When the differential between the red and green signals exceeds a predetermined value, a reject signal is generated which actuates a mechanism for removing the affected tomato from the tomato flow.