Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically inspecting and sorting transparent containers such as glass containers having defects in the container sidewalls, and for distinguishing unacceptable major refractive defects and opaque defects from each other and from commercially acceptable minor refractive defects. First and second sources of diffused illumination having differing source widths are sequentially directed onto a container while the container is rotated about its central axis for at least one revolution during each illumination. A camera which includes a plurality of light sensitive elements disposed in a linear array parallel to the axis of container rotation is positioned to receive light energy transmitted through the container sidewall.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting cracked rice grains. The apparatus has conveyor means by which the rice grains to be examined are moved in at least one row extending in the direction of movement, a light-transmitting window formed in the conveyor means and adapted to pass a coherent light beam of a width smaller than the diameter of the rice grain, a light source means adapted to apply the coherent light, light-receiving means including light-receiving elements adapted to detect the quantities of lights transmitted through the leading half part and trailing half part of the rice grain when the latter passes over the light-transmitting window, and a circuit means adapted to measure and compare the quantities of light received by the light-receiving means in comparison with predetermined reference threshold values.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the inspection and sorting of buttons and the like. The buttons to be inspected are fed from a feeder to a mechanical conveyance system which imparts a velocity to and a spacing between the buttons. The buttons are conveyed between a light source and detector, and the light from the source is masked to limit it to the central zone of the button. The light passing through the central zone is converted to an electrical signal by the detector. The signal value, which is a measure of button quality, is independent of velocity and time is compared to preset limits. In addition, a counter circuit determines the symmetry of the buttons. If the signal is within the limits an accept signal is generated, which cooperates in the control operation of the reject mechanism to automatically separate the acceptable and unacceptable buttons.

Abstract: A photomultiplier tube assembly for use in high speed light testing apparatus for making a series of light measurements in rapid succession. Electronic circuitry is described for removing noise from a light measurement signal generated by the photomultiplier tube. Other circuitry is described for sensing the presence or absence of a measured object in a testing apparatus and for switching the photomultiplier tube on and off in response thereto. Circuitry for generating a signal to reject defective articles subsequent to testing is described.

Abstract: A method for detecting a substantially transverse refractive defect in the sidewall of a transparent container is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of directing a filtered source of diffused light toward the sidewall of the container to provide an intensity gradient varying in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container and sensing the intensity of light at a plurality of positions in a field-of-view aligned along a path in the plane of the sidewall and generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the container.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting living eggs from a mixture of live eggs and dead eggs during the process of artificial incubation of salmon, trout, and the like, in which fish eggs fed with water onto a rotary disc are moved radially outwardly to form a row of eggs along a guide plate at the outer periphery of the rotary disc by centrifugal force. A photocell sensor projects light on the row of eggs to detect reflected light to differentiate between the dead eggs and the live eggs, and high speed injection of air moves the dead eggs detected by the sensor to a different radial position on the rotary disc for separating them from the live eggs. Subsequently, the live eggs flow from the end of the guide plate through a good egg acceptance port into a good egg hopper and the dead eggs separated by high speed air flow through a bad egg acceptance port into a different hopper.

Abstract: A variable speed machine for continuous testing of articles by use of processing air including: a shaft member rotatably supported on a frame and driven by a variable speed motor, a transfer wheel with a plurality of article holding pockets affixed to the shaft member, sealing apparatus mounted on the shaft member and associated with each article holding pocket and an extendable and retractable apparatus for sealingly engaging a portion of an article carried by an associated pocket during a testing period, pressurizing apparatus associated with the sealing apparatus for providing pressurized air to the seal and the test article, control valve apparatus for regulating the air pressure to the seal and the test article, shaft rotational speed monitoring apparatus providing a speed based signal and processing means for controlling operation of the control valve apparatus based on the speed based signal to provide an optimum air pressure to the sealing apparatus and associated test article.

Abstract: A rotary light tester for continuously inspecting empty cans discriminates between good cans and defective ones by judging the amount of transit light entering the interior of the empty cans. The light seal circular plate and the freely-reciprocative slide pusher which rotates with the continuous rotating star wheel face each other sandwiching each can receiving seat therebetween. The nozzle opening of the tip of the slide pusher vacuously holds the bottom end of an uncoated or unprinted bright can received in the can receiving seat one by one when the can enters into the empty can supply station just after the trimming. Then, in the light detection station, the opening end of the can is inserted into a groove of the light seal circular plate having a black non-luster surface to further the reflection attenuation of outer entry light, a trap is disposed in the deepest portion thereof, and a conical introduction arrangement makes it easy to insert the opening end therein by advance pushing of the slide pusher.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for compensating for signal drift in container inspection apparatus using radiant energy emitters and detectors for scanning the containers in combination with a processing circuit associated with the emitters and detectors for synchronizing the scanning signals and processing the signals in subcircuits such that the signals generated during intervals when no container is being scanned are constantly being examined for drift and signals compensated for drift, if any, are used for comparison with container inspection scan signals to determine if a container needs to be rejected.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting black band separator documents placed as markers between batches of documents. The apparatus is responsive to four measurements which enable it to determine when a black band document has passed. These measurements relate to changes in the intensity of light transmitted through the document, the length of a black band, length of the document, and the position of the black band on the document.

Abstract: An improved method of sorting biological cells in a conventional cell sorter apparatus includes generating a fluid jet containing cells to be sorted, measuring the distance between the centers of adjacent droplets in a zone thereof defined at the point where the fluid jet separates into descrete droplets, setting the distance between the center of a droplet in said separation zone and the position along said fluid jet at which the cell is optically sensed for specific characteristics to be an integral multiple of said center-to-center distance, and disabling a charger from electrically charging a specific droplet if a cell is detected by the optical sensor in a position wherein it will be in the neck area between droplets during droplet formation rather than within a predetermined distance from the droplet center.

Abstract: A testing device for testing the ends of cigarettes, particularly to detect any tobacco ends which are inadequately filled with tobacco, comprises a light source arranged to direct a beam of light onto the ends of successive cigarettes, and a light detector which responds to a light signal which results from the beam of light and is dependent upon the quantity of tobacco in the ends of successive cigarettes (in the case of tobacco ends) or on the presence of a filter in the case of a test on the filter ends of filter-tipped cigarettes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing open ended containers wherein the open ends of the containers are clamped against regularly spaced apertures in a carrier wheel and are rotated along a locus leading across two spaced inspection stations. Lighting is provided principally along the container sidewall leading with respect to the direction of its locus of movement within the first inspection station environment and is provided principally along a sidewall considered lagging as the container passes the second inspection station. Defect responsive photosensing signals from the two stations are submitted to OR logic sequential memory to syncronize the operation of a discharge carrier. No vacuum retention of the containers within the transfer disc region is required.

Abstract: A dual wavelength spectrophotometer for ampoule content inspection, in particular for ampoule leak detection wherein leaks are initially "flagged" via the dye bath immersion technique. Light transmitted through the ampoule is received by a bifurcated fiber optic cable providing via a random mix arrangement substantially identical ampoule optical signature signals. Each is directed through preselected interference filters, chosen on the one hand on the basis of the dye being used and the glass ampoule and its contents on the other hand. Associated with the filters are respective photodetectors, the output signals of which are connected to a difference amplifier stage. The output (if any) of the latter is compared to a preestablished (dye) threshold signal, which represents the minimum level (of dye) from which to effect a reject status. The ampoule contents or a particular component thereof may also be investigated in this manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high speed asynchronous fruit sorter for sorting various types of fruits, such as blueberries, according to maturity. Forming a part of the fruit sorter is an open wire type conveyor having a generally M-shaped profile extending transversely across so as to define a series of laterally spaced and longitudinally extending conveying channels. An illumination source is disposed below the conveyor about an area referred to as a sorting zone. Disposed over the conveyor in the vicinity of the sorting zone is an optical maturity sensing device that continuously derives a differential optical density reading for the underlying passing fruit, and this differential optical density reading is directly related to the maturity of the fruit and is directed to a maturity discriminator circuit. The maturity discriminator circuit is in turn coupled to an air injection sorting apparatus by a series of AND gates.

Abstract: A process of separating wood chips according to their bark content by orienting them between a light source and light detector, measuring the amount of light transmitted through each chip, and separating the bark-laden chips from the bark-free chips on the basis of their light transmittance. An apparatus for separating wood chips according to their bark content, comprising a light source, a light detector, means for properly orienting the wood chips between the light source and detector, and means for differentiating between bark-laden chips and bark-free chips on the basis of their light transmittance.

Abstract: A conveyor transports fish along a path past a fish sex detector. A rotating fish-engaging member is mounted downstream of the detector above the path. According to the sex of a fish as detected by the detector, the rotating fish-engaging member is either shifted downward to kick the fish off the conveyor or held away from the conveyor out of engagement with the fish so that it continues to be transported downstream by the conveyor.

Abstract: Nahcolite-containing ore particles are separated from oil shale particles in a mixture of particles of nahcolite-bearing oil shale ore by irradiating the mixture of ore particles with electromagnetic energy in the infrared region of the spectrum and sorting the particles according to energy reflected at one or more selected wavelengths within that region to separate the nahcolite-containing ore particles from the oil shale particles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting and sorting buttons and the like. The buttons to be inspected are fed to a velocity control system which imparts a uniform velocity to each button and propels it between a light source and detector. The light from the source is controlled by a mask to limit the light to the central zone of the button. The amount of light which passes through the central zone of the button is then converted to an electrical signal by the detector electronics. The electrical signal is then compared to pre-set upper and lower limits. If the signal falls within the pre-set limits, an accept signal is generated which is used to control a reject mechanism for automatic separation of buttons for collection and use.

Abstract: Self-rotating and travelling tendency of a circular tablet in its erect posture along an inclined transferring path and an impeding effect upon the tendency which occurs when the tablet is defective one having a breakage or a speckle, are advantageously utilized by the present invention for detecting flaws in tablets and for discriminating the defective tablets from normal ones.Transferring path bridging equipment in a tablet processing line, is usually composed of a parallel but spaced pair of rails having shoulders on right opposed faces thereof and upper side plates above said shoulders. The shoulders are capable of carrying the tablets thereon or therein between and having an inclination sufficient for giving the normal tablet a self-rotating and travelling tendency along the path in a given direction. The upper side plates are capable of permitting unobstructed passage of the tablet in its erect posture but make it stagnate on the path in a reclined posture.

Abstract: A device for checking supposedly emptied envelopes for documents, as the envelopes are fed in spaced end-to-end relationship past an inspection station, consists of three sensors at the inspection station arranged along a line perpendicular to the envelope path to sense the opacity of each envelope along three zones located respectively near the top, near the bottom and near the center of the envelope. The output of the center sensor serves as a reference for the top and bottom sensors and a signal processing circuit connected with the sensors produces a suspect signal, indicating the suspected presence of a document in an envelope, when the output of either the top or bottom sensor compares unfavorably with that of the center sensor for an amount of time sufficient to make the device insensitive to short duration opacity differences caused by overlapping envelope seams.

Abstract: Inspection is effected by clamping cans between a holder and a photosensitive device which holders and devices are disposed in opposed relationship in a plurality of sets, illuminating exterior of the cans to project light through any opening in the can to the photosensitive device, sensing such light and sending electrical signals to an electronic memory to sort good cans from leakers; the photosensitive device includes an array of directional photodarlingtons one group of which detects openings in can flanges and another group detects openings in can bodies.