Abstract: A sorting machine for separating substandard items from a continuous stream of products is disclosed wherein the ejector that removes the detected substandard items includes an ejector finger and an actuator. The ejector finger includes a flexible elongate base member fixedly attached with respect to the product stream and a contactor normally withdrawn from the product stream when standard products are in the stream and for entering the product stream to eject a detected substandard item. The actuator flexes the flexible elongate base member to move the ejector contactor so that it enters the product stream for ejecting each detected substandard item. The flexible elongate base member make the ejector more resistant to wear from environmental conditions. A flexible sorting machine ejector mounting mechanism is also disclosed which removes costly mounting mechanisms.

Abstract: A dynamic trip level setting apparatus is described for changing the comparison ratio with which products are optically sorted using first and second reflectance color values. The reflectance ratio for each image sorted is supplied to a RAM to update the RAM's memory. The dynamic values in the RAM are periodically employed to update a color sensitivity factor supplied to a battery-backed RAM. The battery-backed RAM value is employed in a logic device employing an algorithm and produces a variable output against which the ratio of "breaker" products (neither above a first color acceptance level nor below a second color reject level) is compared to produce a reject signal when the comparison results in an output indicating reject is appropriate.

Abstract: A sorting machine for separating substandard items from a continuous flow of fungible items is disclosed wherein the ejector means for removing the detected substandard items includes an air blast nozzle having a built-in end means for creating a pressure differential in the blast to keep particle dust from rising and quickly causing the optical window in front of the detector sensor or sensors to coat and become opaque. The pressure means is preferably a tab or other surface at a right angle to the nozzle or parallel to the product flow, its direction being on the opposite side of the nozzle from the window. By minimizing dust build-up on the window, down time of the sorting machine for window cleaning is minimized.

Abstract: An automatic tractor guidance system for controlling the steering of a tractor to follow a previously plowed furrow is disclosed. A furrow follower is provided with a sensor for sensing the direction of the path relative to the direction of travel of the tractor. The steering direction of the tractor is likewise sensed. The two sensor signals are combined and compared to a convergence frequency signal to produce a digital control signal. Each logic state of the control signal effects a turn in the steering of the tractor, right then left. If the duty cycle of the control signal is 50%, no net turn either right or left is effected. However, when the duty cycle deviates from 50%, a net rotation in one direction or the other will occur depending on which logic state of the digital signal occurs for a longer portion of each cycle of the control signal.