Abstract: There is provided an apparatus which can simplify, expedite and enhance the segregation of undesirable particles from desirable particles in a multiple-layer flow wherein the desirable and undesirable particles are randomly intermixed with each other. This is accomplished by a stepwise reduction of the thickness of the flow to thus locate all or nearly all undesirable particles at or close to the exposed sides of the resulting relatively thin flow so that the undesirable particles can be readily detected and segregated from the thin flow.

Abstract: A hopper is connected with a machine for manufacture of tobacco industry products including a tangential separator sequentially feeding an entry stock of the hopper. The distribution between portions of tobacco streams including a large proportion of short tobacco fibers and portions including a large proportion of long tobacco fibers of the tobacco stream set apart in advance in the entry stock is essentially longitudinal when the stream arrives on a transfer belt of the hopper. By imposing a change of direction on the tobacco stream as well as a reduction of speed of displacement of this stream, this longitudinal distribution is transformed into a transverse distribution. A spiked or barbed roller, placed at a right angle to this latter stream, homogenizes the distribution, making it possible for the distribution to be regular between short fibers and long fibers in the tobacco stream arriving through the chimney for the manufacture of the tobacco rod.

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 device for the optoelectronic classification of semiconductor materials, which has an identifying device 6 that forwards the morphology of the product 1 to be classified to an evaluating device 7 which evaluates the data.

Abstract: A separation device which has at least one blower device and at least one deflector device can be used to separate large fragments of semiconductor material from small fragments of semiconductor material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sorting apparatuses and sorting methods. According to one aspect of the present invention, a sorting apparatus includes an intake section configured to receive plural articles to be sorted; an exhaust section located downstream of the intake section; and an air manifold adjacent the intake section and positioned to emit an air stream in a generally downstream direction and wherein the articles move in a given direction of movement, and the emitted air stream sorts at least some articles from remaining articles and directs the at least some articles in the downstream direction from the intake section to the exhaust section.

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: An apparatus for separating mixed particles divides the material to be sorted into constituent fractions comprising non-ferromagnetic particles of different electrical conductance. The particles are fed onto a conveyor, e.g. a conveyor belt which linearly moves the particles in a given direction. A rotating magnetic system is arranged below and/or above the conveyor belt. The rotary direction of the magnetic system is chosen so that the direction of movement of the surface of the magnetic system and the direction of movement of the surface of the conveyor belt are different. The fractions of non-ferromagnetic particles which are electrically charged to varying degrees, are thereby divided between a plurality of collecting containers.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for removing clear avian eggs from a moving egg flat without contacting the removed eggs and without contaminating the eggs remaining within the egg flat. Clear eggs are identified by passing an egg flat between respective pairs of light sources and light detectors and detecting the amount of light that passes through each egg. Clear eggs are then ejected from the moving egg flat into a stationary receptacle located above the moving egg flat by applying a first stream of air to the lower end of the clear egg. A second stream of air may also be applied to the egg after the egg has been lifted from the egg flat by the first stream of air. This second stream of air is applied to the egg along a direction substantially transverse to the first stream of air. A third stream of air may be utilized to dislodge an egg from a stuck condition prior to being ejected from the egg flat.

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 stream of mixed particulates of two or more materials having different induction heating characteristics (i.e., distinct thermal, dielectric strength and/or loss tangent characteristics), such as recycled glass cullet including fragments of glass mixed with fragments of glass-like contaminants such as ceramics, pyroceramics, tempered glass or the like, is sorted using the differing characteristics of the glass and contaminants to cause detectable differences in temperature. A thick heating layer many particles deep is formed on a conveyor path for heating the stream in a compact mass for uniform heating. An electromagnetic induction heater applies microwave energy between 0.915 and 2.45 GHz for heating the mass, which is then spread into a thin detecting layer, for example one particle deep, on a further conveyor. The detecting layer is digitally imaged using a thermal camera.

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 system for automatically inspecting matter for varying composition comprises one or more detection stations through which one or more streams of matter are advanced and particular materials therein are detected through their diffusely reflected IR spectra, if any, and/or through their variation of an electromagnetic field by their metallic portions, if any. A row of light sources distributed across the overall width of one or more belt conveyors may cause desired portions of the stream to reflect light diffusely onto a part-toroidal mirror extending over that overall width, whence the light is reflected, by a rotating, polygonal mirror through optical filters dedicated to differing IR wavelengths, onto detectors the data output of which is utilized in controlling solenoid valves operating air jet nozzles which separate-out the desired portions.

Abstract: The present invention sorts unselected product from selected product using a chute having a grain separating section, a cross section to orientate the product, and a grain stabilizing section; a laser with a laser line transmitted through the product; a photo detector and processor to receive and analyze the light transmitted through the product to determine which product are unselected; and a separator to separate the selected and unselected product.

Abstract: Sorting apparatus has a delivery system for creating a stream of product pieces to be sorted in free flight at a sorting station where selected pieces are rejected from the stream. The system comprise a delivery conveyor inclined to the horizontal for receiving product and directing it towards the sorting station. The length of the delivery conveyor, its inclination and speed are selected to effectively create a low friction chute and establish a uniform, stable and constant velocity product stream for delivery to the sorting station.

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 stabilizing system stabilizes light-weight articles carried on conveyors for automated bulk processing equipment. In a preferred embodiment, the light-weight articles, such as, for example, tobacco leaf products or wood chips, are moved and stabilized along a conveyor from a first infeed end to a second discharge end where they are projected in-air along a trajectory through an illumination station and sorting station. An enclosed off-belt housing is provided within which the light-weight articles are projected along a controlled trajectory to be processed by the optical inspection and sorting systems.

Abstract: The present invention sorts unselected product from selected product using a chute having a grain separating section, a cross section to orientate the product, and a grain stabilizing section; a laser with a laser line transmitted through the product; a photo detector and processor to receive and analyze the light transmitted through the product to determine which product are unselected; and a separator to separate the selected and unselected product.

Abstract: An air decelerator for an inspection and sorting system employing pneumatic ejectors, comprising an air plenum adapted to generally cause a stream of air to flow in a direction opposing acceptable articles moving in a trajectory, and thereby decelerate the velocity of the articles to reduce the impact of the articles when they come into contact with the receiving surface to minimize damage to the articles caused by the impact.

Abstract: An optical inspection system inspect products passed through an inspection region. Light is directed onto the products form optical control units including light emitting diodes. Light emitted from the diodes is directed by cylindrical lenses onto the products at a specified target region, and a sensor detects light reflected from the products. Focussing is achieved by an outer row of the diodes being displaced outwardly relative to axes of respectively cylindrical lenses, so that light originating from the outer rows of diodes converges towards that passing along a central axis extending from a central row of the diodes through a central lens to the target region, light from all rows of the diodes being therefore focussed substantially at the target region.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mixed granular material into granules of different specific gravities or ranges of specific gravity using a powered air flow is described. A divider plate is located below the air flow path within the apparatus to separate the two material flows from each other. The divider plate can be rotated about an axis and can also be translated or displaced within the apparatus in order to precisely define the separation point between the material flows. Hoppers are used to collect and discharge the separated granular materials, and a conveyor belt is provided within the apparatus to transport one of the separated granular materials to the corresponding hopper. The conveyor belt reduces clogging of the separated granular material and also allows a greater degree of separation to be maintained between the hoppers, thereby allowing standard conveyors to be placed beneath the hopper discharge openings.

Abstract: A method for determining the purity of processed waste glass, in which the sample quantity is taken from the processed waste glass stream and is deposited preferably in one layer and is allowed to flow over a free-falling track and the foreign matter according to non-ferrous metals and opaque foreign particles are blown out and weighed according to a separate detection of said groups of foreign matter and for the determination of the quality of the sample the ratios of non-ferrous metal additions to the entire sample quantity and the opaque foreign particles to the entire sample quantity are determined, with said groups of foreign matter being jointly weighed continuously and the weight increases, depending on the group of foreign matter--non-ferrous metals or opaque foreign particles--which was detected immediately prior to the weight increase, being added to this group of foreign matter.

Abstract: A continuous conveyor belt for transporting a stream of objects to an inspection station includes a plurality of links matingly joined together to form a surface for supporting the objects for movement along a given path of travel to the inspection station, and wherein the continuous conveyor belt is entrained between a drive roller and a nose bar which has a given diametral dimension, and wherein the continuous conveyor belt propels the objects into free flight and in a given pattern through a sorting station which is disposed downstream of, and in spaced relation relative to the nose bar, and wherein the individual links when passing about the nose bar effectively minimizes the size of the object pattern passing through the sorting station, while simultaneously maintaining product separation which permits imaging of substantially the entire surface area of each product.

Abstract: The present invention sorts imperfect grains from perfect grains using a chute having a grain separating section, a cross section to orientate the grains, and a grain stabilizing section; a laser with a laser line transmitted through the grains; a photo detect or and processor to receive and analyze the light transmitted through the grains to determine which grains are imperfect; and a separator to separate the perfect and imperfect grains.

Abstract: The sorting system provides a high degree of sorting accuracy even in high throughput sorting applications such as high speed wood chip sorting. In one embodiment, a sorting apparatus (10) includes a shaker (12) for distributing stock material, a spectrographic analyzer (14) for identifying unacceptable material in a product stream, an ejector (16) for diverting unacceptable material from the product stream, a three-zone sorting receptacle (18) and a recirculating system (20) for returning a selected portion of the sorter output for an additional pass by the analyzer (14) and ejector (16). The three-zone sorting receptacle (18) divides the product stream into an accept portion, a rejection portion, and an ambiguous portion including both acceptable product and unacceptable material. The ambiguous portion is re-sorted for improved accuracy at high throughput levels.

Abstract: In an apparatus for sorting material into desired and undesired pieces or portions according to their optical characteristics, comprising a background, and a viewing means for viewing the material against the background; a method for removing debris from the background is proposed which comprises providing a jet of air or water which is moved relative to and across the background, and directed towards the background so as to remove debris and thereby clean the background. The jet is positioned out of the field of view of the viewing means so that debris removal can take place without interruption of the sorting process. A magnetic type air-cylinder, in which exhaust gas is fed back as the debris-removing air-jet, is preferably used.

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: An apparatus for detecting foreign substances in a fiber tuft stream and for separating the foreign substances therefrom, includes a conduit guiding the fiber tuft stream therethrough in a conveying direction; a metal detector situated at a first location of the conduit for detecting a metal substance in flight and for emitting signals representing the metal substance; a first separating device situated at a second location of the conduit downstream of the first location as viewed in the conveying direction; a first control device connected to the metal detector and the first separating device for operating the first separating device in response to a signal emitted by the metal detector for removing the detected metal substance; an optical sensor situated at a third location of the conduit for detecting a non-metal substance in flight and for emitting signals representing the non-metal substance; a second separating device situated at a fourth location of the conduit; a second control device connected to the

Abstract: The color sorting apparatus includes a grain guide device, a grain feeder, an illumination device for illuminating the grain, an optical detector consisting of an optical detection section for receiving the light from the illuminated grain and a background, and ejector for rejecting the grain. The illumination device employs at least one light source having spectral energy distribution in both the visible light region and the near infrared region. At least one set of the optical detection device for monitoring a predetermined detection field is provided. The optical detection section of the optical detection device includes a first light receiving sensor having high sensitivity to the visible light region and a second light receiving sensor having high sensitivity to the near infrared region.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a mixed granular material into granules of different specific gravities or ranges of specific gravity using a powered air flow is described. A divider plate is located below the air flow path within the apparatus to separate the two material flows from each other. The divider plate can be rotated about an axis and can also be translated or displaced within the apparatus in order to precisely define the separation point between the material flows. Hoppers are used to collect and discharge the separated granular materials, and a conveyor belt is provided within the apparatus to transport one of the separated granular materials to the corresponding hopper. The conveyor belt reduces clogging of the separated granular material and also allows a greater degree of separation to be maintained between the hoppers, thereby allowing standard conveyors to be placed beneath the hopper discharge openings.

Abstract: A color sorting apparatus for beans includes a transferring device for transferring beans to be sorted to a detection position, an illuminating device for illuminating the bean at the detection position, a light receiving device for receiving a transmitted light transmitted through the bean and outputting a detection signal, a control device for operating the detection signal, comparing the detection signal operated with a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the bean is a good or defective one, and outputting an ejection signal when the bean is determined as a defective one, and a sorting device for removing the defective bean based on the ejection signal. The transferring device includes two endless belts defining therebetween a parallel gap on which the beans are held and a driving motor for driving the endless belts.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process which enables colored foreign bodies to be detected in continuous fibre transport and removed therefrom. A stream of fibres is examined for foreign bodies by color sensors (11). If the color differs, a control system (12) activates compressed air nozzles (13) and removes foreign bodies (17).

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for sorting material into desired and undesired pieces or portions includes a moving reflective surface such as a rotating cylindrical drum which is interposed between an illuminated background and a viewing system so that the background is indirectly viewed via the reflective surface. Any liquid or other debris from the product spills onto the reflective surface, rather than the background and is then moved away to be cleaned off. Thus, the viewed optical characteristics of the background remain constant and periodic cleaning of the background is not required.

Abstract: In a color sorting apparatus comprising: a grain guide device); a grain feed device; optical detecting devices including illuminating devices for illuminating the grain, light-receiving sensors for receiving the intensity of light from the illuminated grain and backgrounds; and an ejector device for removing the grain, the illuminating devices comprise first light sources having a spectral energy distribution in a visible light region and second light sources having a spectral energy distribution in a near-infrared region, and the light-receiving sensors comprise a first light-receiving sensor portion having a high sensitivity to light in the visible light region and a second light-receiving sensor portion having a high sensitivity to light in the near-infrared region, so as to detect and remove foreign matter having a different color from the good grain in visible light region as well as to separate and remove other foreign matter having the same color as the good grain or being transparent in near-infrared

Abstract: A mixture of tobacco leaf lamina and stem is separated in an apparatus having a first separation chamber in which the mixture is projected through an air stream by a first impeller and an intermediate mixture segment is projected back through the air stream from the bottom of a return impeller on the opposite side of the chamber. A stem segment is discharged directly from the lower part of the first separation chamber into a second separation chamber in which the mixture is projected across the chamber through a second air stream, and a second mixture segment is projected from beneath a return impeller back through the second air stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for sorting meat chunks of variable fat and lean meat content, in which some of the meat chunks are interconnected by stringy tissue, the method including providing a roller located above a separation panel separating a lean meat outfeed location and a fat meat outfeed location, the roller being rotatable about a central axis in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to actively displace interconnected meat chunks striking the roller into either the lean meat outfeed location or the fat meat outfeed location and prevent build-up of interconnected meat chunks on the separation panel.

Abstract: An integrated bulk food sorting and analysis apparatus comprises a wide-belt product conveyor which receives and conveys a laterally-distributed stream of bulk food articles past a product diverter. An upstream camera is positioned to view the stream of food articles upstream of the product diverter. Automated sorting logic is responsive to the upstream camera to individually determine optical characteristics of each food article. The product diverter is responsive to the automated sorting logic to divert a portion of the food articles from the stream depending upon their individual optical characteristics. The apparatus also includes a downstream camera positioned to view the stream of food articles downstream of the product diverter. A data processor is responsive to both the upstream camera and the downstream camera to periodically examine samples of food articles and to calculate upstream and downstream quality statistics regarding the stream of food articles.

Abstract: A scrap particle sorting system and attendant sorting process employs a conveyor for conveying the randomly shaped particles in a random orientation, a position sensor for determining the advancement of the scrap particles in the direction of conveyance by determining the position of the conveyor belt, an image detector for periodically recording the image of a predefined viewing area through which the scrap particles are conveyed, and an image processor for periodic acquisition and processing of the images. The image processor includes logic for defining each image of the viewing area into a matrix of cells, and for each acquired image, analyzing the digital data corresponding to the image to determine for each cell in the matrix whether the pixels in that cell satisfy a predetermined criteria, and establishing a discriminator signal for each cell in the matrix as a function of that analysis.

Abstract: A sorting system is disclosed for reclaiming lean meat from highfat meat trimmings. The sorting system includes a meat dicing machine which receives laterally extending whole meat trimmings and which dices such meat trimmings without grinding or extruding, and without disturbing the lateral distribution of the meat. This results in a lateral distribution of meat trimmings, without requiring vibratory distribution which is disfavored in meat processing plants. A wide-belt inspection conveyor is positioned at the downstream end of the meat dicing machine to receive the laterally distributed meat dices. The wide-belt inspection conveyor operates at a greater linear speed than does the meat dicing machine to longitudinally space the meat dices from each other. An optical inspection and sorting station is positioned at the downstream end of the wide-belt inspection conveyor to differentiate relatively lean meat dices from relatively fatty meat dices and to separate such meat dices from each other.

Abstract: A method is provided for separating lighter particles from heavier particles in a mixture thereof utilizing a separation chamber for continuous movement of particles therethrough. The chamber has a pair of opposite sides one of which is a projecting side and one of which is a receiving side, the projecting side of the chamber having an inlet opening for receiving the lighter and heavier particles of the mixture with the receiving side of the chamber having an outlet opening disposed generally across from the inlet opening.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting and aligning articles to be sorted in an automated bulk processing system is disclosed. The conveyor comprises one or more product-carrying lanes, each lane comprising two side belts separated by a central product-carrying belt. Each of the side belts is raised with respect to the product-carrying belt, thereby guiding articles on to the product-carrying belt. In a preferred embodiment, the product-carrying belt has two product-carrying surfaces and is provided with a 180.degree. lengthwise twist whereby the product-carrying surfaces are alternately presented on the upper surface of the conveyor system for each complete belt travel cycle. The 180.degree. lengthwise twist is maintained in position by a belt guide or comb located on the underside of the conveyor system.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for separating a preselected metal fraction from a stream of discrete particles containing a plurality of metals that are not strongly ferromagnetic. According to this method, a detection zone is established within the stream of particles, and a static magnetic field is established within the detection zone. The static magnetic field so established is of insufficient strength or flux density to induce in the particles of metal in the stream an opposing magnetic field of such strength as to cause the particles in the stream to move. The presence of a particle within the detection zone is detected, and changes in the magnetic flux density of the field are measured as the particle passes through the detection zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method sort items, such as pickles, having defective shapes, such as holes. A video camera scans moving items and acquires lines of image data including item-colored data and background-colored data. The lines of image data are sent to an image processor and compiled into a 64 line "frame" of image data that are further processed to identify the coordinates of individual items and to compute the size of each item. Because holes in an item are the same color as the background color, the invention provides means of differentiating holes from the background. A "hole-bounding box" is scaled to fit within the item position coordinates. The number of background-colored pixels inside the hole-bounding box is computed and compared to a user-defined threshold number. An item is classified as defective if the threshold number is exceeded.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating constituents of a mixture of dry organic material having different weights or densities, such as pine straw and lawn debris, includes a cylindrical housing that is positioned horizontally with respect to a working surface. The housing has a hopper on its top side, an inlet end and an outlet end, and a fan is mounted at the inlet end. The fan pulls air into the housing and generates a stream of air flow inside the housing from the inlet end to the outlet end thereof. An air baffle structure is located immediately downstream of the fan to produce substantial turbulence in the air flow stream. The mixture of material to be separated is introduced into the housing through the hopper and is then carried from the housing and separated into constituent parts by the stream of air flow. Higher density constituents are deposited at shorter distances from the housing outlet end while lower density constituents are deposited at a greater distance from the housing outlet.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting items (16) computes the geometric center ("centroid") (156) of any item containing a defect (26) or multiple defects, and directs an ejection air blast at the centroid of the defective item rather than at the location of the defect. Video data from a scanning camera (24) are transmitted to an "item processor" (32A') and a "defect processor" (32). The item processor builds in memory (108) an image of every acceptable or defective item while the defect processor builds a "defect list" (170) of defect coordinate locations detected only on defective items. The defect processor transmits the defect list to the item processor where the defect list is compared with the stored image of the item. For each item containing at least one defect, the item processor computes a defective item centroid that is added to a defective items list (174) for use by a defect removal process that actuates air blasts directed toward the centers of defective items.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating aluminum-based materials from non-aluminum materials is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor which leads into a chute. Mixed materials which may be pre-shredded travel along the conveyor and into the chute. An adjustable air header assembly is provided at the end of the conveyor within the chute which directs an air stream generally upwardly and at an angle towards the end of the conveyor and the pieces of material thereon. A predetermined air velocity and air flow is selected such that the lighter aluminum materials are lifted and blown, or propelled, a fixed distance as they emerge from the end of the conveyor and the heavier non-aluminum materials fall short of that distance. Suitable collection bins are provided at the appropriate location. The apparatus and associated method used are particularly suited to separating used food and beverage can stock before it enters a recycling station.

Abstract: A sorter for sorting transversely-spaced articles moving along a direction of travel employs an array of fluid nozzles aligned transversely to the direction of travel for separating some of the articles from others, according to differences in their physical characteristics, by selectively directing respective streams of fluid toward some of the articles to deflect them from the direction of travel. The nozzles are arranged in a substantially linear transverse alignment relative to the direction of travel, each nozzle being connected to a respective selectively operable fluid supply valve. The valves are arranged in a nonlinear array in a common plane extending generally in the direction of alignment of the nozzles, and are connected to the respective nozzles by flexible tubes of equal length which interface the nonlinear array of valves with the linear transverse array of nozzles. The tubes are embedded in a hardened polymeric material which also forms the nozzles.

Abstract: A passively vented rejected article chute (40) includes at least two vents (44, 45) extending downwardly into the chute to vent air in directions (50) safely away from sorting and conveying functions, thereby improving sorting effectiveness. Rejected articles (14) that include defects (24) are deflected by an air ejector module (30) into the vented chute and are directed downwardly past the vents to preventing the vents from being blocked. The vents, formed by panels (46, 48), are flared open at their outer ends (54, 56) to decrease the velocity of exhaust air as it passes upwardly through them. Reducing the exhaust air velocity allows small and/or light weight articles entrained in the exhaust air to fall back into the reject chute, thereby preventing spillage of the entrained articles.

Abstract: An automated interrupt driven system which employs a circular buffer is used to sort materials based on differing electromagnetic radiation absorption and penetration characteristics. The system has a conveyor and a source of electromagnetic radiation which radiates materials travelling along the conveyor. A controller samples detector outputs at various times to evaluate the absorption and penetration characteristics of the materials to be sorted, based on a plurality of samples. Portions of the materials are ignored to obtain accurate readings from the detectors. Based on the detected penetration and absorption characteristics, the controller activates ejection mechanisms causing materials of different compositions to be deposited into different bins. The controller executes interrupts to cause detection, ejection, testing, and system history maintenance at required times.

Abstract: An automated interrupt driven system which employs a circular buffer is used to sort materials based on differing electromagnetic radiation absorption and penetration characteristics. The system has a conveyor and a source of electromagnetic radiation which radiates materials travelling along the conveyor. A controller samples detector outputs at various times to evaluate the absorption and penetration characteristics of the materials to be sorted, based on a plurality of samples. Portions of the materials are ignored to obtain accurate readings from the detectors. Based on the detected penetration and absorption characteristics, the controller activates ejection mechanisms causing materials of different compositions to be deposited into different bins. The controller executes interrupts to cause detection, ejection, testing, and system history maintenance at required times.