Abstract: The computer process controls operation of a system which sorts objects by surface characteristics. The system includes a multi-rail conveyor, an imaging unit for each rail of the conveyor and a computer including a user interface. Each imaging unit includes at least one camera, and at least one block of LEDs of multiple predetermined colors. The process initializes system hardware and software, calibrates the imaging units, sets, tests and reports various parameters for imaging, automatically or under user control, and synchronizes the operation of the imaging units with conveyor action to produce optimal imaging, as well as controlling sorting based upon imaging output.

Abstract: Application of wax to fruit in a conveyor system is controlled to optimize the protective and cosmetic effects of the wax application and to efficiently utilize the wax notwithstanding variations in size, texture, nature or number of the fruit, the type(s) of wax or the processing environment by providing an intelligent wax controller. The wax controller has a camera which detects fruit passing through a field of view defined by an optical housing in which the camera is fixed. Two-dimensional pixel maps of the fruit passing through the viewing area are assembled and an image is processed to provide distinct pixel images even when the fruit are touching. The diameter of the fruit for each of the separated images is then determined from which the total surface area of the fruit passing under the viewing area is computed.

Abstract: Fruit or other objects placed on the conveyor and spun by the conveyor are properly oriented on the conveyor by the method and apparatus of the invention by ejecting one or more adjacent touching objects or ejecting objects which form stacked triplets. An optical sensor determines when there is or is not a gap between objects and relates that gap detection to the position of the objects on the conveyor. Detection of a continuous signal through a controller circuit causes a downstream solenoid to be energized according to predetermined timing. The solenoid in turn, when energized, rotates a finger which is coupled to, carried with the conveyor system and situated underneath the pocket between adjacent spools. The finger rotates upwardly and ejects the objects sitting in the pocket, thereby removing the misplaced or touching objects on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Fruit or other objects placed on the conveyor and spun by the conveyor are properly oriented on the conveyor by the method and apparatus of the invention by ejecting one or more adjacent touching objects or ejecting objects which form stacked triplets. An optical sensor determines wherein there is or is not a gap between objects and relates that gap detection to the position of the objects on the conveyor. Detection of a continuous signal through a controller circuit causes a downstream solenoid to be energized according to predetermined timing. The solenoid in turn, when energized, rotates a finger which is coupled to, carried with the conveyor system and situated underneath the pocket between adjacent spools. The finger rotates upwardly and ejects the objects sitting in the pocket, thereby removing the misplaced or touching objects on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Fruit or other objects placed on the conveyor and spun by the conveyor are properly oriented on the conveyor by the method and apparatus of the invention by ejecting one or more adjacent touching objects or ejecting objects which form stacked triplets. An optical sensor determines when there is or is not a gap between objects and relates that gap detection to the position of the objects on the conveyor. Detection of a continuous signal through a controller circuit causes a downstream solenoid to be energized according to predetermined timing. The solenoid in turn, when energized, rotates a finger which is coupled to, carried with the conveyor system and situated underneath the pocket between adjacent spools. The finger rotates upwardly and ejects the objects sitting in the pocket, thereby removing the misplaced or touching objects on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: Application of wax to fruit, or groups of fruit in a conveyor system, can be controlled to optimize the protective and cosmetic effects of the wax application and to efficiently utilize the wax notwithstanding variations in size, texture, nature or number of the fruit, the type(s) of wax or the processing environment, by providing an intelligent wax controller. The wax controller has a camera which detects fruit passing through a field of view defined by an optical housing in which the camera is fixed. Particularly if the camera is a line-scan camera, two-dimensional pixel maps of the fruit passing through the viewing area are assembled and image processed to provide distinct pixel images even when the fruit are touching. The entire width of the conveyor belt is detected furing each detection time. The diameter of the fruit for each of the separated images is then determined, from which the total surface area of the fruit passing under the viewing area is computed.

Abstract: Fruit or other objects placed on the conveyor and spun by the conveyor are properly oriented on the conveyor by the method and apparatus of the invention by ejecting one or more adjacent touching objects or ejecting objects which form stacked triplets. An optical sensor determines when there is or is not a gap between objects and relates that gap detection to the position of the objects on the conveyor. Detection of a continuous signal through a controller circuit causes a downstream solenoid to be energized according to predetermined timing. The solenoid in turn, when energized, rotates a finger which is coupled to, carried with the conveyor system and situated underneath the pocket between adjacent spools. The finger rotates upwardly and ejects the objects sitting in the pocket, thereby removing the misplaced or touching objects on the conveyor belt.

Abstract: The conveyor system is made of a plurality of spools connected by chains at each end of the spool. The space between an adjacent pair of spools defines a pocket. An ejector is carried by the chain within each pocket to eject fruit from the pocket. The ejectors are selectively activated by solenoids lying underneath the chain and mounted on a conveyor channel across which the chain and spools are pulled. An over-the-end detector detects whether fruit passes over the end of the detector and has not been otherwise ejected from the conveyor system. Depending upon the periodicity and the timing in which fruit passes over the end of the conveyor, it can be determined whether one or more ejectors are damaged, or whether ejectors or solenoids are inoperable, and in each case which one.

Abstract: The conveyor system is made of a plurality of spools connected by chains at each end of the spool. The space between an adjacent pair of spools defines a pocket. An ejector is carried by the chain within each pocket to eject fruit from the pocket. The ejectors are selectively activated by solenoids lying underneath the chain and mounted on a conveyor channel across which the chain and spools are pulled. During operation, chain stretch is measured between two sensors at each end of the conveyor system. When the stretch has exceeded a predetermined limit, a warning signal is generated and the conveyor system can be stopped to allow appropriate repositioning of the solenoid assemblies for activating the ejectors or the timing of the firing of the ejectors automatically readjusted by software control.

Abstract: The conveyor system is comprised of a plurality of spools connected by chains at each end of the spool. The space between an adjacent pair of spools defines a pocket. An ejector is carried by the chain within each pocket to eject fruit from the pocket. The ejectors are selectively activated by solenoids lying underneath the chain and mounted on a conveyor channel across which the chain and spools are pulled. A photooptical detector is provided for detecting when an ejector is missing due to damage or other loss. A system control circuit detects the missing ejector and stops the conveyor at a predetermined position so that the missing ejector stops at a predetermined repair location on the conveyor system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for grading the surface of generally apherical fruit according to surface characteristics such as color and blemish. The fruit are moved in single file past a scanning camera while being rotated about a transverse horizontal axis. Reflectivity data in three separate wavelength bands is collected for a series of scans of each article of fruit, and this data is processed to eliminate all duplicative data arising from the fruit's rotation. Color ratio signals based on the remaining reflectivity data are then utilized to grade the fruit according to their surface color and degree of blemish.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically measuring the volume of a succession of individual, generally spherical fruit, each located in a separate receptacle of a conveyor. A pair of linear, coplanar arrays of phototransducers are arranged to view a narrow examining region from orthogonal directions as the conveyor moves the fruit through it, and each array is read at regular intervals of time to produce a plurality of pairs of orthogonal width measurements for each fruit, each pair of measurements corresponding to a separate narrow cross section of the fruit. A microprocessor multiplies together each measurement pair and sums together the successive products to produce a measure of the fruit's volume. In addition, the microprocessor compares the maximum width measurement for each fruit with a count of the number of cross sections for the fruit, to ensure that the volume measurement is based on just a single item of fruit.

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: 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 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 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: Apparatus and method for the counting of objects and in particular fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and the like, which are randomly continuously presented by a conveyor or other means to a counting area in which the objects are illuminated. An image of the counting area and illuminated objects is optically reproduced on a self-scanning photodiode array which generates a series of output analog video signals corresponding to the light intensity on each of the photodiodes. These analog signals are amplified and compared with a voltage that is approximately 60% of the peak voltage value from the array, to provide an output binary signal pulse having a digital logic value of "1", when the video signal is above the 60% value, and a value of "O" when below the 60% value.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for automatically evaluating articles particularly citrus fruits, on the basis of the uniformity and non-uniformity of their transparency to light rays and selectively separating them into different grades according to such evaluations, the fruit being oriented and carried by a conveyor in a path between a light ray source and light ray detectors positioned to straddle the fruit core portion, the signals from the detectors being carried to an internal quality computer controlled by timing sensors responsive to fruit movement through the light rays, wherein the percentage of internal damage is computed for each fruit, after which the fruits are successively separated into different predetermined grades according to their respective damage evaluations.