Method and apparatus for sorting objects by color
US5339963A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 23, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/939
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A color sorting apparatus has a singulator section, a color sorter and a conveyor which drops the sorted objects into appropriate collection bins. Objects for sorting are transported on an endless conveyor on wheels through the singulation and color sorting section. An independently adjustable speed belt rotates in the same direction as the wheels and operates to provide a view of each of four sides of the object to an imaging device. The imaging device, such as a camera, supplies red, green and blue signals to an image processor which performs a color transformation and obtains a single composite hue value for each object or piece of fruit to be sorted. Based on a comparison of the hue value to user programmed grading criteria, signals are provided to the conveyor so that the objects are ultimately deposited in appropriate sorting bins.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.