Apparatus for inspecting and sorting articles traveling on a conveyor
US8827082B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 9, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/938
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for grouping randomly oriented articles traveling on a conveyor, said conveyor having an in-feed end, an out-feed end and a predetermined width. The apparatus comprises an inspection head located in a fixed position above the conveyor, the inspection head for capturing images of the articles traveling on the conveyor, a grouping unit located in a fixed position relative to the conveyor and downstream of the inspection head and a control unit for receiving and processing the captured images from the inspection head. The grouping unit comprises a plurality of individually controllable pins, the individually controllable pins each moveable between a buffering position wherein the pin arrests movement of an article in alignment with the pin and a grouping position wherein the pin allows the article to move to a grouping location. The processing of the captured images for identifying the location of the articles traveling on the conveyor and for controlling the individual activation of the pins between buffering position and the grouping position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.