Apparatus for sorting raw coffee beans based on defect detection

A bean defect sorter comprising:

• a storing container configured to store beans;
• a bean dispenser configured to receive the beans from the storing container and to guide each of the beans in series, the bean dispenser being configured to discharge the beans one by one;
• a bean rotary compartment configured to rotate in a predetermined direction and to receive each of the beans discharged from the bean dispenser;
• an imaging device configured to photograph one or more of the beans on the bean rotary compartment and to provide bean images of the one or more of the beans;
• a processor comprising a learning algorithm that is configured to (i) determine, from the bean images, whether each bean has a defect and (ii) classify each bean as one of a normal bean, a defective bean, and an indeterminable bean;
• a main bean sorter configured to discharge each bean from the bean rotary compartment by using air pressure according to a classification result decided by the processor;
• and
• a sorted bean storage configured to store each of the normal bean, the defective bean, and the indeterminable bean, wherein the bean rotary compartment comprises:
• a disk lower plate that defines a plurality of through-holes,
• a disk upper plate that is coupled to the disk lower plate, the disk upper plate comprising a plurality of partition walls that define a plurality of seating spaces in fluid communication with the plurality of through-holes, respectively, each of the plurality of seating spaces being configured to receive one of the beans, and
• a support plate that is made of a transparent material, that is mounted to the disk lower plate, and that blocks at least a portion of the plurality of through-holes to thereby define bottom surfaces of the plurality of seating spaces configured to seat the beans thereon.