Apparatus and method for counting fruits and other objects
US4139766A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 15, 1977 |
| Grant date | Feb 13, 1979 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 15, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06M11/00
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and method for the counting of objects and in particular fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and the like, which are randomly continuously presented by a conveyor or other means to a counting area in which the objects are illuminated. An image of the counting area and illuminated objects is optically reproduced on a self-scanning photodiode array which generates a series of output analog video signals corresponding to the light intensity on each of the photodiodes. These analog signals are amplified and compared with a voltage that is approximately 60% of the peak voltage value from the array, to provide an output binary signal pulse having a digital logic value of "1", when the video signal is above the 60% value, and a value of "O" when below the 60% value. Logic circuits group certain of the output binary signal pulses into a predetermined group recognition pattern having a configuration such that it will occur only once for each object that it scanned, and which is decoded to provide an output counting pulse for each object presented to the counting area.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.