Abstract: Chip sorting devices include a rotatable disc having a plurality of wells for receiving chips therein, a plurality of channels for holding stacks of chips, at least one ejector for ejecting chips from the wells of the disc into the channels, and at least one removal lever associated with at least one of the channels. The removal lever has an arm configured to extend adjacent at least a portion of a stack of chips when the stack of chips is in a channel. Other chip sorting devices include a plurality of wells for receiving chips therein, a plurality of channels for holding stacks of chips, at least one ejector for ejecting chips from the wells of the disc into the channels, and at least one spring member configured to bias the ejector to a position.

Abstract: A system for sorting articles includes a detector system having a plurality of narrow bandwidth sources of electromagnetic energy sequentially illuminating articles passing through the detector system, the detector system further including a collector for collecting electromagnetic energy reflected from the articles; a deflector for deflecting selected articles toward an alternative destination; and a control system, operably connected to the collector and the deflector, for actuating the deflector in response to a sensed parameter of the electromagnetic energy collected in the collector.

Abstract: A system for accurately determining whether a work piece such as a plastic molded bottle cap is defective from quality norms and removing those defective pieces from a stream of work pieces includes a feed conveyor for serially delivering work pieces where adjacent work pieces are in contact with each other. The feed conveyor delivers these work pieces onto an inspection conveyor with a plurality of air holes. Air is forced through the air holes to impinge upon the work piece and thus rapidly accelerate them away from the adjacent work piece it was in contact with and move through an inspection station. An air blower provides pressurized air through the air holes to continue accelerating and separating the work pieces as they move. The inspection station includes a camera to image each work piece. The camera communicates these images to a processing unit such as a computer that can rapidly compare the image to a set of quality control standards each work piece should meet.

Abstract: An automated, continuous rotary-motion, positive-count, container-filling machine used for counting, color inspecting, geometric inspecting, and batching a predetermined quantity of multiple or discrete objects such as tablets, capsules, caplets, or packets of collated items (multiple objects to a pack). Apparatus comprises a plurality of rotary slats, each of which is independently driven, and able to pick up multiple objects at one location and deliver multiple objects simultaneously to a container through multiple counting and inspection devices.

Abstract: A pellet-shaped article inspection unit is structured for use with a conveyer mechanism having a plurality of carrier bars, each carrier bar being structured to convey a plurality of pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The article inspection unit includes a first camera unit positioned adjacent a first side of the conveyer mechanism. The first camera unit is configured to sense a first predetermined characteristic, e.g., laser holes, of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles. A removal mechanism, downstream from the first camera unit, is structured to remove or maintain at least a selected one of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles from at least a selected one of the plurality of carrier bars depending on whether the first predetermined characteristic is sensed by the first camera unit. A laser unit may be provided to create unique holes in the pellet-shaped articles, e.g., those by a larger exposed surface to improve time-release characteristics of the pellet-shaped articles.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for sorting contaminated glass from a stream of glass particles used light of a wavelength suited to inducing fluorescence in the contaminated glass pieces. Automatic cleaning mechanisms are included in some embodiments to facilitate removal of coatings which would prevent the contaminated particles from fluorescing. The identified particles are then automatically separated from the remaining particles.

Abstract: A handling system able to efficiently process information relating to a plurality of conveyed articles, the handling system provided with a conveyer for conveying workpieces, a visual sensor for detecting positions of workpieces by acquiring images of a plurality of tracking ranges obtained by dividing a belt into sections, an encoder for detecting an amount of movement of the belt, a tracking manager for monitoring amounts of movement of the plurality of tracking ranges based on the amount of movement detected by the encoder and specifying the tracking range passing through a workpiece detection area, a workpiece manager for selecting the article in the tracking range specified by the tracking manager, and a controller for controlling operations of robots so as to hold the workpiece selected by the workpiece manager.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of recycling exhaust tubes used to manufacture optical fiber includes the automated use of 1) a machine vision system that signals a conveyor system when to stop so that a cutting machine will cut contaminates and discoloration from an exhaust tube at the correct place and provides an indication on whether the exhaust tube is reusable, 2) a conveyor system to transport reusable exhaust tubes to different stations, and 3) a robotic arm to load exhaust tubes onto the conveyor system, and unload exhaust tubes from the conveyor system.

Abstract: The washing of items of linen is preceded by a plurality of treatments. The items of linen have to be singled out and sorted. In addition, processes for transferring the items of linen are required. In the past, items of linen have been singled out, sorted and transferred in an only partly automated manner. Manual activities are therefore still required. The invention provides for the items of linen to be singled out automatically, the singled-out items of linen to be transferred automatically from a conveyor to a transportation device, various sorting criteria to be determined automatically, in particular the color and the structure of the items of linen, and finally the items of linen to be sorted automatically in accordance with the detected sorting criteria in that they are blown downward at the intended point of a distributor conveyor. The measures according to the invention render manual activities superfluous.

Abstract: Drupaceous fruit pieces, including fruit flesh with and without pit matter adhering to the flesh as well as loose pits and pit pieces themselves, are passed through an integrated system of multiple sorting units utilizing different sorting methodologies. The sorting units include a laser-based sorting unit that sorts according to differences in light scattering, a diode-based sorting unit that sorts according to differences in light reflectance, and in certain embodiments a camera-based sorting unit that sorts according to differences in color. The system also includes an impact separator that dislodges pit material from fruit flesh from which the pit material has not been dislodged by any preceding units, most notably by pitting machinery through which the fruit has passed prior to entering the system of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a system for increased efficiency during grading and/or batching. Partial batches are formed based on their characteristics and the fact that the items (1) forming a partial batch have appropriate and desired characteristics. The items (1) are then transported jointly to its destination where they form an intermediate or final batch. The present invention therefore provides a method for grading and batching items with increased efficiency. The method of the present invention is applicable to the devices and processing lines of modern item processing such as food processing lines and grading systems such as cabin grading etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically processing random width wood-boards and selecting a matched set according to their surface colors and widths. The boards are manually placed on a conveyor, from a stacked supply, and subsequently measured for width and color. Thereafter, each board is electronically identified, incrementally tracked and stored in a linear array above the conveying surface. After filling the storage level to its full capacity, a microprocessor in combination with an incremental encoder, selects and matches a set of boards from the stored inventory, while continuously restoring its full capacity, and queuing the best blended order of contiguous boards. Moreover, the matching set of boards will have an overall dimension that falls within a prescribed value.

Abstract: An optical paper sorting system uses diffuse reflectance to identify a sheet of paper, conveyed on a conveyor, as either white or groundwood grade, or white, colour, or mixed grade. In sorting, paper that does not meet a specified minimum requirement, for example, having less than a maximum amount of lignin, is mechanically diverted from a stream of input paper waste to a rejection bin. Otherwise, the paper is directed to a collection bin. The optical paper sorting method may be used to sort paper into different grades that is then recombined to produce a predetermined grade of sorted waste paper.

Abstract: An inspection device for inspecting a granular product includes a feed tray having a receiving region for receiving the granular product and an imaging region and a vibration device configured to impart vibrations to the feed tray for moving granules of the granular product from the receiving region to the imaging region. The inspection device also includes an image capturing device configured to capture an image of a sample of the granular product in an image area of the imaging region. In addition, a method for inspecting a granular product includes disposing the granular product on a receiving region of a feed tray, vibrating the feed tray so as to induce a movement of the granular product from the receiving region of the feed tray to an imaging region of the feed tray, and capturing an image of a sample of the granular product in an image area of the imaging region.

Abstract: A grain images obtained by CCD line sensors are processed by binarization processing to obtain contour images of grains and images of colored portions in the grains. The images are displayed on a monitor screen of an operating panel 30. The contour images and the images of the colored portions are displayed in a superposed state. Box frames generated by a highlight display circuit in control means 12 are simultaneously displayed by being superposed on the contour images having defective portions, thus producing a highlight display of defective grains. The defective grains include a grain having a light colored portion and a grain having a dark colored portion.

Abstract: Apparatus for classifying objects in an input waste stream comprises a hyperspectral sensor, means for moving objects in the input waste stream relative to the sensor and through a sensing region thereof, and processing means for classifying objects in the input waste stream on the basis of signals output from the hyperspectral sensor to the processing means. The apparatus allows classification of objects composed of one of a wide range of materials and also provides for discrimination of objects comprising different grades of the same material.

Abstract: A system for sorting a mixed stream of different colored cullet into separate groups of same colored cullet comprises a light emitting source for transmitting light, such as white light, through a cullet, and a camera having a plurality of pixels for receiving light transmitted through the cullet or detecting the absence of light blocked by an opaque contaminant, the camera providing at least one value from the light received, wherein the cutlet moves along a designated path based on the at least one value. The camera collects the received light at a desired sampling interval and a circuit converts the values into digital representation values. The circuit calculates a non-linear function from the digital representation values. An electrostatic or fluid driving actuator directs the cullet along a deflected path based on a value of the non-linear function. A vibratory feeder provides the cullet onto a conveyer belt having an exit roller of a desired diameter.

Abstract: A method and system for sorting different colored objects, preferably glass cullets, into separate groups of same colored objects comprising a plurality of sorting devices for receiving an input feed of different colored objects and sorting the different colored objects based on their light transmission properties into a plurality of output feeds, wherein at least one output feed in the plurality of output feeds is a subsequent input feed to one or more sorting devices in the plurality. The one or more sorting devices sort the at least one subsequent input feed into a plurality of further sorted output feeds. At least one of the plurality of sorting devices is a final sorting device, wherein the final sorting device sorts one or more subsequent input feeds into a plurality of final output feeds. The output feeds preferably contain objects of a desired color, undesired objects and flint objects.

Abstract: A system for sorting a mixed stream of different colored cullet into separate groups of same colored cullet comprises a light emitting source for transmitting light, such as white light, through a cullet, and a camera having a plurality of pixels for receiving light transmitted through the cullet or detecting the absence of light blocked by an opaque contaminant, the camera providing at least one value from the light received, wherein the cullet moves along a designated path based on the at least one value. The camera collects the received light at a desired sampling interval and a circuit converts the values into digital representation values. The circuit calculates a non-linear function from the digital representation values. An electrostatic or fluid driving actuator directs the cullet along a deflected path based on a value of the non-linear function. A vibratory feeder provides the cullet onto a conveyer belt having an exit roller of a desired diameter.

Abstract: A system for sorting articles includes a detector system having a plurality of narrow bandwidth sources of electromagnetic energy sequentially illuminating articles passing through the detector system, the detector system further including a collector for collecting electromagnetic energy reflected from the articles; a deflector for deflecting selected articles toward an alternative destination; and a control system, operably connected to the collector and the deflector, for actuating the deflector in response to a sensed parameter of the electromagnetic energy collected in the collector.

Abstract: An optical cracked-grain selector that does not mistakenly identify normal grains of rice having no cracks as cracked grains due to the presence of the embryonic portion and/or surface scratches when optically identifying cracked grains of rice mixed in with material rice grains. An identification part in a cracked grain identification unit obtains a first rice grain image (having an embryonic portion and scratches) based on light passed through the rice grain that is received by a first CCD sensor built into a CCD camera of a photoreaction detection unit and a second rice grain image (having cracks, an embryo portion and scratches) based on light passed through the rice grain received by a second CCD sensor built into the CCD camera, acquires an image of the cracks by calculating a difference in the amount of light between the two rice grain images, and identifies a cracked grain.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting or inspecting for a lining of a container closure that is formed of a sheet metal and has a panel on an inside surface of the closure. The panel of the closure has a lining formed thereon. The system according to the present invention includes a conveyor for moving plural closures longitudinally and substantially through the system, a color sensor that inspects the panel of each one of the closures on the conveyor for a predetermined color, and a separator that is capable of removing closures that lack the predetermined color. The system may include an oven downstream from the sensor to bake the lining. Thus, the system automatically identifies and removes the closure having the deficient color from the conveyor. A corresponding method for identifying and removing a closure having a deficient color is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of sorting sorting objects within a bulk of objects from a heterogeneous population is provided. The bulk of objects to be sorted has an inherent variation, and at least one class, having less variation than the originally inherent variation of the bulk, is separated from the bulk. This lesser variation represents a quality of composition with reference to any organic material of the objects within the bulk.

Abstract: A pellet-shaped article inspection unit is structured for use with a conveyer mechanism having a plurality of carrier bars, each carrier bar being structured to convey a plurality of pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The article inspection unit includes a first camera unit positioned adjacent a first side of the conveyer mechanism. The first camera unit is configured to sense a first predetermined characteristic, e.g., laser holes, of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles. A removal mechanism, downstream from the first camera unit, is structured to remove or maintain at least a selected one of the plurality of pellet-shaped articles from at least a selected one of the plurality of carrier bars depending on whether the first predetermined characteristic is sensed by the first camera unit. A laser unit may be provided to create unique holes in the pellet-shaped articles, e.g., those by a larger exposed surface to improve time-release characteristics of the pellet-shaped articles.

Abstract: A system and related method for synthesizing natural color ground or landcover imagery for a predetermined project area, includes the steps of inputting a high-resolution natural color sample of a sample area contained within the project area. Next, a multispectral image of the sample area, where the multispectral image has a plurality of feature types, is also input. This generates a color palette for each of the plurality of feature types. The color palettes are applied to a multispectral image of the project area to generate a low-resolution natural color image which is then combined with a high resolution panchromatic image of the project area to generate a high-resolution natural color image of the project area.

Abstract: A quality evaluation method and apparatus for non-bran rice evaluate quality or taste of non-bran rice by identifying proportions of a hull layer, an aleurone layer, an endosperm layer, which adhere to a surface of the non-bran rice according to luminance levels of self-emitted fluorescence obtained by irradiating the non-bran rice with excitation light.

Abstract: A raw stream of freshly harvested processor tomatoes which includes desired crop, substandard crop and detritus is subjected to successive scannings and separations to produce an improved collection of tomatoes of increased value to the processor.

Abstract: An illumination source for a machine vision viewer for a sorter that provides a flow of articles along a scan line includes an elongated, cylindrical shroud with illumination sources mounted interior of the shroud. The illumination sources are arranged longitudinally within the shroud and are angularly spaced along the inner circumference of the shroud. Linear slots running parallel with the shroud axis are provided in the shroud for the subject articles to enter and exit the shroud. A linear slot running parallel with the shroud axis is provided for receptors to view the articles passing through the shroud. The cylinder interior is otherwise uniform and light reflecting. An alternative embodiment of the shroud comprises two shroud arc components with openings between the arcs to allow articles to pass between the shroud arc components.

Abstract: A method of analysing products arranges above a conveyer line three successive analysing stations having, in the first station, two cameras arranged in such a way that their optical axes form a V centred on the products and has a vertex angle in the range between 90° and 130°, and in the other two stations, a camera arranged plumb with the conveyer line. Moreover, the products are driven in rotation during their transport along the analysing stations, in such a way that the cameras each take a number of photographs of complementary faces of the surface of the products, and there are selected from among the photographs taken, by a comparison between the calculated theoretical diameter of a product and a predetermined average diameter, the photographs to be retained so as to obtain a complete analysis of the total surface of the product.

Abstract: A color-based sorting apparatus comprising, a material supplying device provided so as to discharge and supply the grains stored therein, a color detecting device detecting a color of each of the grains passing through a setting region, a sorting processing section operating to change a transference path for defective grains, a control device, which determines whether each of the grains to be sorted is defective or not based on a detection signal from the color detecting device, and when it is determined that one of the grains is defective, the control device activating the sorting processing section, and a feeding roll disposed between the material supplying device and the color detecting device and rotating around an axial line thereof to cause the grains to be sorted, which are supplied from said material supplying device aligned in an axial direction, to freely fall down toward the color detecting device.

Abstract: In a sorting and separating method for recycling plastics provided in a mixture of plastics as refuse, said mixture of plastics is sorted and separated according to colours. Fractions of plastics thus obtained, separated according to colours, are sorted and separated according to types of plastic.

Abstract: A magnetic metal removing device for color sorting apparatus includes a hollow feeding roll. Within a hollow portion of the feeding roll, a magnet is arranged such that it closely opposes to a part of an inner surface of the hollow feeding roll to form a magnetic force active surface on the corresponding outer surface of the feeding roll. Magnetic metal mixed in raw granular objects is attracted on the magnetic force active surface. The magnetic forced active surface changes to a magnetic force inactive surface as the feeding roll rotates. The magnetic metal caught on the feeding roll is released from the magnetic forced inactive surface and colleted by a collecting device.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting or inspecting for a lining of a container closure that is formed of a sheet metal and has a panel on an inside surface of the closure. The panel of the closure has a lining formed thereon. The system according to the present invention includes a conveyor for moving plural closures longitudinally and substantially through the system, a color sensor that inspects the panel of each one of the closures on the conveyor for a predetermined color, and a separator that is capable of removing closures that lack the predetermined color. The system may include an oven downstream from the sensor to bake the lining. Thus, the system automatically identifies and removes the closure having the deficient color from the conveyor. A corresponding method for identifying and removing a closure having a deficient color is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining the total amount bet by individual players participating in multiple spins of a roulette game at a gaming table that has a chipper machine and an intelligent table terminal. The method involves interfacing the chipper sorting machine with the table terminal, allocating a chip to a patron at the terminal, counting the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine per color, and associating the number of color chips sorted by the machine per color with the patron. The total amount bet by that patron is then determined by mathematically linking the chip value of the color chip of the patron with the number of chips of the individual color sorted by the chipper machine in the time period in which the color chip is associated with that patron.

Abstract: A method of making plastic materials, such as plastic lumber, wherein recyclable plastics are sorted into at least two categories and the recyclable plastics in each category are then shredded and chipped, extruded, and mixed with selected colour concentrates to produce the plastic materials of a selected colour. This invention allows for the control of the selected colour to enable replication of such colour of the plastic materials, regardless of any variation in colour of the recycled plastics in each category.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which addresses the drawbacks of the prior art and which incorporates two separate imaging devices, one near-infrared and one mid-infrared imaging device which simultaneously capture images of the passing objects. The background information is removed and images of the objects remain. A spherical optical transform and a defect preservation transform preserve any defect levels on objects and compensate for the non-lambertian gradient reflectants on spherical objects at their curvatures and dimensions.

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: Diagnostic strips of the kind which are exposed to biological fluids such as blood or urine to detect or monitor medical conditions are cut sequentially from elongated cards by a reciprocating shear blade. The cards may be ones which exhibit defective areas that should not be included in the finished strips. Blade motion seats each newly cut strip on a movable strip carrier which abuts the blade during the cutting operation. The carrier then travels a nondefective strip to a pickup location where it is precisely positioned and picked off of the carrier for emplacement in a housing. A strip with a defective area is carried further to a discharge location where it is released into a waste receptacle. This enables more economical manufacture of diagnostic strips by efficiently making use of nondefective areas of cards that have defective areas.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for blowing out metal fractions from a stream of bulk material that is conveyed by bulk material means. The device comprises blow-out nozzles which are located on a drop section, and which are arranged along a width-wise extension of the stream of bulk material, for blowing against individual particles of bulk material in order to modify the trajectory in such a way as to produce a second sub-stream that branches off. The blow-out nozzles can be controlled according to the sensor coil scanning results relating to the bulk material particles. A plurality of sensor coils is provided underneath an essentially horizontal section of the stream of bulk material in the form of an LC oscillating circuit. Said sensor coils are provided for detecting the eddy currents that are induced. Optoelectronic means are also provided for determining the blow-out position and for determining the location of each of the particles of bulk material.

Abstract: A marking system for use with a multi-spectral imager for use in high throughput sortation of articles having distorted or irregular surfaces is disclosed. Specific uses include, but are not limited to, document sorting, garment and textile rental operations, laundry operations, and mail and package sorting and identification. Methods and apparatus are provided to remotely identify items via information that is wavelength-encoded within an applied mark, as well as a mark reading/decoding scheme. In the preferred embodiment the marks are multi-dimensional. In one preferred embodiment the marks are used to realize multi-dimensional wavelength-enabled coding schemes. The marks can be overlayed one upon another and/or they can contain one or more key regions having at least one predetermined spectral characteristic for providing information related at least to reading and/or decoding the marks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting defects in the cover sheets used to manufacture diapers is disclosed. A linear sensor is used to detect defects in the cover sheet web before it is combined with the absorbent material to form a diaper. When a defect is detected, the manufactured diaper containing the defective cover sheet is ejected from the line after a delay which is dependent on the speed of the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for sorting any desired pieces of products in dependence on criteria, and a method for operating the same. It is the object of the invention to provide a solution which permits a very fast at least three-channel fractionating of a product flow with a simultaneous mild treatment of products, at low expenditures for energy, and at a high wear resistance. The object is realized in that the products pass a first approaching zone, arrive in a second zone in which a separating element set into rotations by operation of a stepper-motor, including on its circumference with equidistantly spaced fingers, and which, in dependence on a respective control, transfers the products to be sorted into at least three further zones. A real-time image tracking system is provided which is adapted to capture the entire path of the products through the zones.

Abstract: A quality evaluation method for granular objects includes the steps of: irradiating objects from a front side and a back side; taking a reflection light image and a transmission light image from both the front and back sides of the objects; obtaining optical information of the objects by image-processing the reflection and transmission light images; obtaining shape information of the objects based on the optical information; determining the quality of each of the objects based on the optical information and the shape information; and counting the numbers of objects per quality and obtaining ratios of the objects per quality against the total number of objects. The data from the front and the back sides of the granular object are analyzed to enhance the precision of the results of the quality analysis, and in particular, to enhance the precision in detecting cracks.

Abstract: Application of surface marking to metal stock, such as aluminum sheet, prior to or during scrap-generating manufacturing operations, to provide a detectable mark on pieces of manufacturing scrap derived from the marked sheet and commingled with scrap of other aluminum alloy sheet, so that the scrap can be sorted and the marked alloy scrap pieces separated from scrap of other alloy sheet to which the marking was not applied. Different markings, providing detectably different marks, may be respectively applied to sheet of different compositions if scrap pieces of more than two different compositions or compositional families are to be sorted and separated from each other.

Abstract: A sorting system (110) conveys articles, such as peaches (114) on a conveyor belt (112) past an inspection zone (126) that is lighted by an illumination source (90) radiating a number of emission peaks over visible and infrared portions of the spectrum. The illumination source generates the radiation from an Indium Iodide lamp (92) that is reflected off a parabolic reflector (94) and through a “soda straw” collimator (100) to illuminated the peaches. A detector system (118) employs line scanning visible and infrared cameras (142, 140) to sense visible and IR wavelength reflectance values for the peach meat (124) and peach pit or pit fragments (126). Various image processing and analysis methologies, such as subtraction, ratio, logarithmic, regression, combination, angle, distance, and shape may be employed to enhance the image contrast and classify the resulting data for sorting the peaches.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting or inspecting for a lining of a container closure that is formed of a sheet metal and has a panel on an inside surface of the closure. The panel of the closure has a lining formed thereon. The system according to the present invention includes a conveyor for moving plural closures longitudinally and substantially through the system, a color sensor that inspects the panel of each one of the closures on the conveyor for a predetermined color, and a separator that is capable of removing closures that lack the predetermined color. The system may include an oven downstream from the sensor to bake the lining. Thus, the system automatically identifies and removes the closure having the deficient color from the conveyor. A corresponding method for identifying and removing a closure having a deficient color is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting waste material, in particular plastic waste and hollow parts made of plastic. The waste material to be sorted is placed in an unsorted manner on a conveyor belt and moved below a sensor. The sensor examines the waste to determine the type of material and/or the color of the material, the waste being sorted depending on the type of material or its color. The conveyor is provided with a grate-like structure, and blow-out nozzles are arranged below the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a generally vertically oriented feed chute having an upper portion and a lower portion; a device for introducing fiber material into the upper chute portion; a clothed fiber opening roll supported for rotation in the lower chute portion; a withdrawing roll adjoining the opening roll and supported for rotation for drawing fiber material in the feed chute and for forwarding the fiber material to the opening roll; an optical sensor system supported above the opening roll laterally of the feed chute for detecting foreign material carried on the clothing of the opening roll along with the fiber material; an air stream generating device for directing an air blast to the clothing of the opening roll; and a control-and-regulating device for operating the air stream generating device upon detecting foreign material by the optical sensor system to remove and carry away the foreign material from the clothing of the opening roll by an air blast.

Abstract: A fiber processing machine includes a rotatably supported clothed opening roll; a withdrawing roll adjoining the opening roll and supported for rotation for forwarding the fiber material to the opening roll; an optical sensor system for detecting foreign material carried on the opening roll along with fiber material; an air stream generating device for directing an air blast to the clothing of the opening roll; a control-and-regulating device to which the optical sensor system and the air stream generating device are connected for operating the air stream generating device upon detecting foreign material by the optical sensor system to remove and carry away the foreign material from the clothing of the opening roll by an air stream; and a collecting chamber for receiving the air stream carrying the foreign material.

Abstract: Methods for classifying plants by remote sensing and image analysis technology are presented. These methods are useful for evaluating plants and for selecting plants for a plant breeding program which has as its goal to selectively alter phenotype. The methods combine the newer techniques of remote sensing technology to obtain indirect correlates of the traits of interest, with classical pedigree breeding strategies. Thermal and infrared reflectance measures of plant canopies are examples of energy values measured by remote sensing, used to indirectly predict the selected traits.