Illumination source for sorting machine

An illumination source for a machine vision sorting machine, comprising:

• a first shroud and a second shroud;
• said first shroud comprising a first shroud wall, said first shroud wall comprising an arc of an elongated, hollow cylinder;
• said first shroud having a first shroud axis;
• said second shroud comprising a second shroud wall, said second shroud wall comprising an arc of an elongated, hollow cylinder;
• said second shroud having a second shroud axis;
• each said first shroud wall and said second shroud wall having an interior reflective surface;
• said first shroud and said second shroud arranged to define a generally cylindrical shroud structure having a first opening and a second opening between said first shroud and said second shroud;
• said first shroud opening comprising an article inlet opening;
• said second shroud opening comprising an article outlet opening;
• at least one viewing opening in one of said first shroud wall or said second shroud wall;
• at least one light source located intermediate said first shroud and said first shroud axis;
• and
• at least one light source located intermediate said second shroud and said second shroud axis.

A machine vision sorting machine, comprising:

• a hopper;
• a conveyor;
• a vision system;
• a selector;
• said vision system comprising a shroud and a receptor;
• said shroud comprising an elongated, generally cylindrical shroud wall;
• said shroud having a central shroud axis;
• said shroud oriented horizontally;
• said shroud wall having an interior reflective surface;
• an article inlet slot in said shroud wall;
• an article outlet slot in said shroud wall;
• at least one viewing opening in said shroud wall;
• and
• at least one light source located intermediate said shroud wall and said shroud axis.

A method of sorting particulate material comprising:

• establishing a flow of articles to be inspected;
• flowing said articles near a central axis of an elongated, horizontally-positioned cylindrical shroud;
• providing a reflective surface on the interior of said shroud;
• providing a diffuse, high intensity light field interior of said cylindrical shroud at said shroud axis;
• scanning articles passing through said cylindrical shroud as said articles pass near said shroud axis;
• determining articles to be separated from the article flow;
• and
• diverting said determined articles.