Patent · US Expired

Roll sorting apparatus

US4308959A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
5References
86Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 30, 1979
Grant dateJan 5, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 30, 1999

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S209/939
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

An apparatus for sorting articles based upon the presence of defects on the surface thereof is characterized by a roller conveyor carrying a random array of articles in transverse channels defined between adjacent rollers. As the conveyor is advanced through a viewed area the articles are simultaneously rotated such that electrical images are formed of the portions of the surface of each article within a viewing zone defined in each channel during a given time frame. The viewing zones advance a predetermined distance through the viewed are in synchronization with the scanning of the electrical images. A characteristic signal for the portion of the electrical image corresponding to each article is developed and output to a processor. The processor generates a classification signal representative of the acceptability of each article based upon the percentage of total surface of area or number of defects on the surface each article.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.