Abstract: A background for an electro-optical sorting machine viewing station where fungible products pass during the sorting operation and are distinguished by being standard or substandard in one or more spectral ranges comprises a translucent light diffuser or frosted light diffuser and one or more variable intensity lamps for changing the color or hue quality in the spectral ranges. A bichromatic machine is equipped with two lamps, one for each spectral range, preferably orthogonally aligned to each other for beam splitting operation in conjunction with an optical beamsplitter, that separates the longer spectral range wavelengths from the shorter spectral range wavelengths.

Abstract: A slide conveyor for an optical sorting machine is disclosed wherein the conveyor is gently twisted over its length by about 85 degrees. The conveyor is channel-like in that it has two sides converging at its U-shaped bottom at an acute angle. The angle has a radius much smaller than the radius of the convex flat side, but slightly larger than the radius of the smallest edge angle radius of the slightly convex, disc-like products being conveyed. At the upper end, the centerline of the bottom angle is vertical and at its lower end, positioned just above the viewing station of the optical sorter, the centerline is about 5 degrees above horizontal. The conveyor slopes at a grade of about 75 degrees. The conveyor both singulates and orients the products conveyed.

Abstract: Apparatus for three-way sorting of particles in a singulated particle stream is characterized by a viewing assembly including a first and a second classifying section each respectively classifying each particle passing therethrough according to first and second predetermined physical characteristics, such as opaqueness and color, and generating an appropriate classification signal representative thereof. The classification signals so generated are transmitted through an appropriate signal delay circuit to actuator circuits which actuate ejector elements. Actuation of the appropriate ejector in response to a classification signal directs certain of the particles exhibiting the first and the second physical characteristics out of the singulated stream and into respective collection receptacles while others of the particles are permitted to pass unimpeded to a separate collection area.