Color sorting apparatus
US4940850A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB07C5/366
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A color sorting apparatus for granular objects comprises a plurality of sorting units arranged in parallel relation to each other. Detecting positions of the respective sorting units are spaced from each other in a horizontal plane. Each sorting unit includes a substantially vertically extending, elongated tubular guide member for guiding the granular objects so as to be moved along a predetermined path passing through the detecting position, three detectors disposed at the detecting position at angular intervals of substantially 120 degrees around the predetermined path, and a deflector operative in response to a signal from at least one of the detectors representative of undesirable granular objects for deflecting the same out of the predetermined path. The arrangement of the three detectors of one of each or a pair of adjacent sorting units is such that the arrangement becomes identical with an arrangement of the three detectors of the other sorting unit, when the three detectors of the one sorting unit is turned substantially 180 degrees around the predetermined path of the one sorting unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.