Abstract: Included are a chute arranged in an inclined manner to allow sorting targets to flow downward, optical detection means for detecting the sorting targets at a detection position, and ejector means for sorting and removing the sorting targets based on a result of detection of the optical detection means. The chute is provided with an optical detection slit in a direction orthogonal to a flow-down direction of the sorting targets, a slit width of the optical detection slit is adjustable, and the optical detection means images the sorting targets flowing downward on the chute with the imaging means at a position where the optical detection slit is provided as the detection position.

Abstract: An optical sorter includes a light source, a color sensor, a determination part configured to determine a foreign object and/or a defective product, a color shift amount calculation part configured to calculate, based on a color image acquired by the color sensor, an amount of a color shift that occurs due to the fact that at least two element groups out of an R element group, a G element group, and a B element group are spaced apart from each other in a transit direction of a sorting target, a speed calculation part configured to calculate a transit speed of the sorting target based on a separation distance between the at least two element groups in the transit direction, the color shift amount, and a scan time, which is a time required for the color sensor to scan the sorting target once, and a sorting device configured to perform a trajectory change operation for changing a trajectory of a specific sorting target determined based on a result of the determination by the determination part at a timing determ

Abstract: The present invention discloses a microstructured discrimination device for separating hydrophobic-hydrophilic fluidic composites comprising particulate and/or fluids in a fluid flow. The discrimination is the result of surface energy gradients obtained by physically varying a textured surface and/or by varying surface chemical properties, both of which are spatially graded. Such surfaces discriminate and spatially separate particulate and/or fluids without external energy input. The device of the present invention comprises a platform having bifurcating microchannels arranged radially. The lumenal surfaces of the microchannels may have a surface energy gradient created by varying the periodicity of hierarchically arranged microstructures along a dimension. The surface energy gradient is varied in two regions. In one pre-bifurcation region the surface energy gradient generates a fluid flow.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an optical sorter which enables to eliminate occurrence of welding distortion on a frame and simply attain high positional accuracy of component members attached to the frame.

Abstract: A system has a conveyor for carrying at least two categories of scrap particles positioned at random on a surface of the conveyor, with at least some of the particles comprising metal. The system has a sensor array with a series of analog inductive proximity sensors arranged transversely across the conveyor. An active sensing end face of each sensor lies in a sensing plane, and the sensing plane is generally parallel with the surface of the conveyor. A control system of is configured to sample and quantize analog signals from the series of sensors in the array, and locate and classify a scrap particle on the conveyor passing over the array into one of at least two categories of material based on the quantized signals. A method for sorting the particles is also provided.

Abstract: A machine for automatically inspecting a flow (F) of individual objects (2) on a conveying plane (3) includes at least one illumination station (4) and at least one detection station (4?) below which the flow (F) of objects to be inspected passes. The at least one illumination station (4) has means (6) for applying and focusing inspecting beams (R) defining a transverse focused illuminated region (ZEF) The at least one detection station (4?) has a means (9) defining a detection region (ZD) in the form of a transverse strip of size (L) as well as means (9,1) for capturing and transmitting the signal contained in a pixel (10) scanning the detection region (ZD). The focused illuminated region (ZEF) fits along the entire width (L) of the detection region (ZD) within this detection region.

Abstract: A method for video processing based on augmented reality comprises: acquiring an image; recognizing a target object in the image; obtaining a video file associated with the target object; recognizing a foreground portion and a background portion of a video frame in the video file; configuring alpha channel values for pixels corresponding to the foreground portion and pixels corresponding to the background portion of the video frame, to make the background portion of the video frame transparent; determining a position of the foreground portion of the video frame in the image; and synthesizing the video frame with the image based on the position of the foreground portion of the video frame in the image to obtain a synthesized video frame.

Abstract: A separation device has a conveying channel configuration and a transport belt configuration. A conveying material can be conveyed via the conveying channel configuration on the transport belt configuration, the conveying channel configuration has differently inclined regions, and a speed cascade of the conveyed material stream can be achieved by the differently inclined regions. The separation of the conveyed material stream is improved in that the conveying channel configuration has at least one wedge groove.

Abstract: An automated grains inspection apparatus for a production line comprises an inlet to receive the grains and an outlet from which the grains are discharged. A feeder configured to receive the grains from the inlet and release the grains aligned in a line formation is provided while at least one camera is positioned sideway beneath the feeder to capture images of the grains while they fall. At least one background surface positioned sideway beneath the feeder and opposite the camera is also provided in an inspection zone so that the grains are configured to be aligned between the camera and the background surface.

Abstract: A method for object classification, including: guiding a continuous stream of objects from a transport mechanism directly into an unsupported path, along which the object stream is fed through a detection region; illuminating the detection region with a radiation band in a first direction; optically scanning the detection region to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection region by viewing the detection region along a second direction, wherein the directions have a cross-section in the detection region and form an angle relative each other of 10°-80°; analyzing the information; and classifying objects in at least two different directions based on the analysis of the transparency information from the optical scanning; wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning includes analyzing the objects based on the intensity, spread and texture of the detected radiation from the optical scanning.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for analyzing atypical cells in urine including: mixing urine, a diluent containing a surfactant, and a nucleic acid staining reagent to prepare a measurement specimen; irradiating the measurement specimen with light to detect scattered light and fluorescence light emitted from cells whose nucleic acids are stained; and detecting atypical cells contained in the measurement specimen distinguishably from white blood cells depending on a first characteristic parameter based on the scattered light and a second characteristic parameter based on the fluorescence light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sample analyzer for analyzing a sample, including: a preparing unit that mixes a sample, a surfactant-containing diluent, and a nucleic acid staining reagent to prepare a measurement specimen in which nucleic acids of nucleated cells are stained and red blood cells are hemolyzed; a detecting unit that irradiates particles included in the measurement specimen with light to receive scattered light and fluorescence light emitted from the particles and output a detection signal; and a processing unit that counts white blood cells and fungi in the sample based on the detection signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cell analyzer that includes a flow cell through which a measurement specimen containing a body fluid flows, a light emission unit that applies light onto the measurement specimen flowing through the flow cell, a light detection unit that detects forward scattered light generated from cells in the measurement specimen to which the light is applied, an analysis unit that is programmed to analyze the cells in the body fluid based on a forward scattered light signal detected by the light detection unit, and an output unit. The analysis unit is programmed to control the output unit to output information about tumor cells in the body fluid, based on forward scattered light signal intensity and forward scattered light signal width.

Abstract: Conveying system for transporting a material flow (M) comprising a large number of individual objects (O1, O2, . . . ), characterized in that with the conveying system, by means of optical detection of individual objects (O1, O2, . . . ) in the material flow (M), for these objects (O1, O2, . . . ) respectively the location position (x(t),y(t)) thereof at several different times (t?4, t?3, . . . ) can be determined and by means of the location positions (x(t),y(t)) for these objects (O1, O2, . . . ) determined at the different times (t?4, t?3, . . . ), respectively the location (xb(tb),yb(tb)) thereof at at least one defined time (tb) after the respectively latest of the different times (t?4, t?3, . . . ) can be calculated.

Abstract: The separation of oats from a combination of grains is performed by obtaining optical data includes both reflectance data and visual data and then analyzing the data in multiple ways, including analyzing information obtained based on ratios of wavelengths and grain imagery. The reflectance data relies on near infrared spectroscopy at requisite ratios of wavelengths in the range of 1100 nm to 2200 nm, while the grain imagery encompasses images of both sides of each of the combination of grains and can also take into account grain size and shape differentiations. The results is an oats separation process wherein at least 99% of foreign grains are rejected with only about 3% of the oats being rejected, while enabling volume processing of grains and establishing a supply of oats with a gluten level well below 20 ppm.

Abstract: A mixture of glass pieces can be evaluated by taking an image of an object from the mixture. The object has the possibility of being either a single piece of glass from the mixture or at least two pieces of glass from the mixture. By knowing how many pieces of glass are in each object, the accuracy of the evaluation can be improved. Angles of an outline of the object are determined from the image, and then the angles are evaluated to determine whether the object is at least two pieces. When it is determined that the objection is at least two pieces, it is possible to assign a characteristic, such as color type or material type, for each piece as opposed to assigning the same characteristic to the entire object.

Abstract: An optical robotic sorting method and apparatus for identifying and sorting a product is provided. In the preferred embodiment, the method comprises the steps of illuminating the product with a light source, imaging the product using at least one imaging device, analyzing the image, and activating a robotic sorter to sort the product.

Abstract: An optical type granule sorting machine is provided which allows a sensitivity setting to be easily performed by effectively utilizing RGB three-dimensional color space information similar to information obtained via human eyes and which enables signal processing to be substantially simplified.

Abstract: A system is provided for identifying at least one physical characteristic of items in a stream of items moving along a path through an inspection zone, and for separating items from the stream of items based upon the at least one physical characteristic. The system includes a movable transversely scanning mirror arranged to reflect electromagnetic energy from the inspection zone onto an array of detectors. The detectors of the array are arranged to sequentially receive electromagnetic energy so that on each transverse scan of the mirror for any given sub-zone within the inspection zone the detectors of the array receive electromagnetic energy reflected from the mirror at different times. The controller is then operable to correlate input signals from the various detectors corresponding to detected levels of electromagnetic energy received at different times from each given sub-zone within the inspection zone.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for analyzing quantities of grain in-line and separating the grain into batches on the basis of one or more grain parameter values is disclosed. The grain is separated in-line on the basis of the grain parameter value thus allowing the grain to be separated into homogeneous batches.

Abstract: A system for sorting a mixed stream of colors and types of cullet into separate groups of cullet with similar color and type includes a source for transmitting 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 in part on the at least one value. The system further includes a radiation source for irradiating a cullet with selected spectral ranges of radiation, and a sensor for determining characteristics of one or more selected spectral ranges of fluorescent radiation emitted by the cullet, wherein the cullet moves along a designated path based in part on the characteristics of the one or more selected spectral ranges of fluorescent radiation.

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: An illumination device for use with a product inspection machine inspecting products according to at least one characteristic using pulsed illumination for inspection in two wavelengths. The invention includes a plurality of arrays of semiconductor light sources from which a wavelength may be selected, either specifically or by combination of specific semiconductor light sources, for impinging on passing product and at least one array of semiconductor light sources from which the same wavelength may be selected and which provides intensity equal to the plurality of arrays impinging on a background surface for detection and comparison.

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: An illumination device for use with a product inspection machine inspecting products according to at least one characteristic using pulsed illumination for inspection in two wavelengths. The invention includes a plurality of arrays of semiconductor light sources from which a wavelength may be selected, either specifically or by combination of specific semiconductor light sources, for impinging on passing product and at least one array of semiconductor light sources from which the same wavelength may be selected and which provides intensity equal to the plurality of arrays impinging on a background surface for detection and comparison.

Abstract: An illumination device for use with a product inspection machine inspecting products according to at least one characteristic. The invention also pertains to an illumination device for use in sorting machines that optically sort or separate nonstandard fungible objects from standard objects as they pass a viewing station by viewing such objects illuminated by at least one wavelength. The invention includes a plurality of arrays of semiconductor light sources impinging on passing product and at least one array of semiconductor light sources of wavelength and intensity equal to the plurality of arrays impinging on a background surface for detection and comparison.

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: An optical detection device for use in a color sorting apparatus for granular objects includes a CCD linear sensor. The CCD linear sensor comprises a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in one row each of which is capable of detecting red, green and blue wavelengths. The CCD linear sensor receives light from a granular object and a background which are irradiated by a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source. The red, green and blue light sources are switched over while the granular object is passing within an optical detection area. The CCD linear sensor receives light from the granular object in synchronization with the above switching operation of the light sources.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting particles moving through a closed channel system of capillary size comprises a bubble valve for selectively generating a pressure pulse to separate a particle having a predetermined characteristic from a stream of particles. The particle sorting system may further include a buffer for absorbing the pressure pulse. The particle sorting system may include a plurality of closely coupled sorting modules which are combined to further increase the sorting rate. The particle sorting system may comprise a multi-stage sorting device for serially sorting streams of particles, in order to decrease the error rate.

Abstract: A multi-spectral imager and the applications of same for the marking and coding of, for example, textiles, linens, garments, documents and packages for high-speed machine identification and sortation. Specific uses include garment and textile rental operations, laundry operations, and the postal and mail sortation of documents and packages. Methods and apparatus are provided to identify items via information encoded within an applied mark, as well as a novel mark reading/decoding scheme. A method is disclosed for printing fluorescent marks on an item, such as a heat-sealable label, to generate a unique identification number or indicia, as well as a reader system for reading applied marks.

Abstract: An optical detection device for use in a color sorting apparatus for granular objects includes a CCD linear sensor. The CCD linear sensor comprises a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in one row each of which is capable of detecting red, green and blue wavelengths. The CCD linear sensor receives light from a granular object and a background which are irradiated by a red light source, a green light source and a blue light source. The red, green and blue light sources are switched over while the granular object is passing within an optical detection area. The CCD linear sensor receives light from the granular object in synchronization with the above switching operation of the light sources.

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: Method and apparatus for sorting waste paper pieces of different grades and conditions. The method includes moving a plurality of waste paper pieces in a conveying direction on at least one sorting belt, each waste paper piece having a surface, irradiating at least one area of the surface with radiation, registering the radiation reflected from the surface, and sorting the waste paper on the basis of the reflected radiation, wherein waste paper pieces of at least one type are separated from waste paper pieces of at least one other type.

Abstract: A glass sorting machine optically sorts glass cullet according to different color characteristics by irradiating the cullet with red, green and blue light as the cullet are passed through a sensing region between a light source and light sensors responsive to the different light colors. The attenuation levels of the different light colors are measured by the sensors as the cullet passes through the sensing region. The machine analyzes the attenuation levels to determine the color characteristics of the cullet. A collimator is typically used to enhance shadow definition. In one embodiment, a pixel grid map is made of the sensing region and each cullet that passes through the sensing region. Mapped on to each grid is a red, green, and blue digital signal. Attenuated signals are compared against baseline values to determine the attenuation for given cullet. The pixel grid map may be used with a data erosion technique to compensate for refraction.

Abstract: A multi-spectral imager and the applications of same for the marking and coding of, for example, textiles, linens, garments, documents and packages for high-speed machine identification and sortation. Specific uses include garment and textile rental operations, laundry operations, and the postal and mail sortation of documents and packages. Methods and apparatus are provided to identify items via information encoded within an applied mark, as well as a novel mark reading/decoding scheme. A method is disclosed for printing fluorescent marks on an item, such as a heat-sealable label, to generate a unique identification number or indicia, as well as a reader system for reading applied marks.

Abstract: An optical paper sorter that uses diffuse reflectance to identify a sheet of paper as either white or non-white. An illuminating fiber optic bundle carries light from a tungsten halogen lamp onto a sheet of paper. A receiving trifurcated fiber optic bundle collects light that is diffusely reflected from the sheet of paper. The light in each branch of the receiving fiber bundle is incident upon a detector after passing through a color filter positioned between the end of the fiber bundle and the detector. At each detector a specific isolated color (blue, green or red) in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum is incident, causing a photo electric voltage to be produced that is proportional to the intensity of the isolated component. A processor uses the mean and standard deviation of relative reflectances that are obtained based on the three voltage signals to determine if the paper is predominantly white or non-white.

Abstract: A system and method of operation performing automated optical inspection to remove peel-bearing defective potato pieces from a random mixture of peel-bearing defective and acceptable potato pieces use near infrared light as a source of illumination. The system implements a method of illuminating the mixture with near infrared light, detecting light reflected by the potato pieces under inspection, identifying defective potato piece surface regions based on the detected reflections, and removing the defective items from the mixture. The system and method the system implements permit the inspection of peel-bearing potato pieces for the presence of peel covered and exposed defects.

Abstract: A sorter is provided for sorting unacceptable agricultural products or foreign objects from acceptable ones. Preferably, the sorter is a monochromatic one performed as the products pass in streams past an illuminated viewing station. The view station includes a plurality of aligned optical sensors. The optical sensors sense the reflected light from the stream of product passing the optical station and form electrical signals indicative of the sensed light. The electrical signals are then processed and the product is accepted or rejected based on its optical characteristics. The sorter may illuminate the product stream with a source capable of generating a visible light spectra or with a source capable of generating a near-infrared spectra. Each illumination source having specific mounting sockets in the sorter. Additionally, the sorter is capable of operating a near-IR source at a significantly reduced voltage whereby the working life of the source is greatly extended.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal quality measuring apparatus for measuring an internal quality of an object, and the apparatus has a conveying device, a detecting device, a light projecting device, a light receiving device, an analyzing device and a pseudo-object member interposing device, and the analyzing device compares light received with a pseudo-object member, with reference data preliminarily stored, and correct a result of the analysis, based thereon.

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.

Abstract: A glass sorting machine optically sorts glass cullet according to different color characteristics by irradiating the cullet with red, green and blue light as the cullet are passed through a sensing region between a light source and light sensors responsive to the different light colors. The attenuation levels of the different light colors are measured by the sensors as the cullet passes through the sensing region. The machine analyzes the attenuation levels to determine the color characteristics of the cullet. A collimator is typically used to enhance shadow definition. In one embodiment, a pixel grid map is made of the sensing region and each cullet that passes through the sensing region. Mapped on to each grid is a red, green, and blue digital signal. Attenuated signals are compared against baseline values to determine the attenuation for given cullet. The pixel grid map may be used with a data erosion technique to compensate for refraction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an internal quality measuring apparatus for measuring an internal quality of an object, and the apparatus has a conveying device, a detecting device, a light projecting device, a light receiving device, an analyzing device and a pseudo-object member interposing device, and the analyzing device compares light received with a pseudo-object member, with reference data preliminarily stored, and correct a result of the analysis, based thereon.

Abstract: A glass sorting machine optically sorts glass cullet according to different color characteristics by irradiating the cutlet with red, green and blue light as the cullet are passed through a sensing region between a light source and light sensors responsive to the different light colors. The attenuation levels of the different light colors are measured by the sensors as the cullet passes through the sensing region. The machine analyzes the attenuation levels to determine the color characteristics of the cullet. A collimator is typically used to enhance shadow definition. In one embodiment, a pixel grid map is made of the sensing region and each cullet that passes through the sensing region. Mapped on to each grid is a red, green, and blue digital signal. Attenuated signals are compared against baseline values to determine the attenuation for given cullet. The pixel grid map may be used with a data erosion technique to compensate for refraction.

Abstract: A granular material sorting apparatus comprises a transfer device for causing material grains to fall down, optical detector units mounted along the falling-down locus of the material grains, an injection nozzle device for injecting air to the material grains, and a control unit for controlling operation of the injection nozzle device in response to detection by the optical detector unit. The optical detector units and the control unit optically detect and discriminate colored grains different in color from good material grains and foreign matters in similar color to the good material grains or transparent, which are mixed in the material grains, and activate the injection nozzle device in a predetermined period of time after the detection to remove the detected bad grains. The control unit sets different injection times and different injection delay times depending whether the bad grains are colored grains or foreign matters.

Abstract: A color-sorting machine for granular materials optically detects raw material grains falling along a substantially fixed path and sorts out no-good grains by color. An optical detection unit to this end comprises a condenser lens, a plurality of optical filters and a plurality of light-receiving sensors corresponding to the filters and can detect a plurality of wavelengths. The light-receiving sensors lie side by side on the same plane, are formed in a unit body, require no positioning adjustment among the light-receiving sensors, and make it possible to reduce the size of the optical system. A prism is provided between the condenser lens and the light-receiving sensors. The prism has light path diffraction surfaces of the same number as the light-receiving sensors, so that the light-receiving sensors receive light of the same point of view and can perform color sorting.

Abstract: A system and method of operation performing automated optical inspection to remove peel-bearing defective potato pieces from a random mixture of peel-bearing defective and acceptable potato pieces use near infrared light as a source of illumination. The system implements a method of illuminating the mixture with near infrared light, detecting light reflected by the potato pieces under inspection, identifying defective potato piece surface regions based on the detected reflections, and removing the defective items from the mixture. The system and method the system implements permit the inspection of peel bearing potato pieces for the presence of peel covered defects.

Abstract: A multiple channel gravity-fed slide for a sorting machine is disclosed wherein the heights of the divider ribs between channels are at least high enough to define the channels and keep normally sized products flowing within the respective channels. At least some of the dividers or ribs have a tall height for supporting a product guide or keeper to provide some singulation and order to the products in the respective channels while allowing oversized and misshapen items to overlap into adjacent channels, thereby minimizing jamming of one or more channels.

Abstract: A method of classifying objects comprises the steps of sensing a multiple color image of at least a portion of the object and producing color signals indicative of a plurality of colors in response to sensing the multiple color image. The color signals are transformed to a hue signal and a saturation signal, and the object is classified in response to the hue signal and the saturation signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for regenerating a sheet-like recording medium comprising a means for feeding a printed sheet-like recording medium, a regenerating treatment means having a step for eliminating image formed on said recording medium, a means for discriminating and separating the recording medium whether the treated recording medium is reusable or not and a means for storing the separated reusable recording medium.