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US 2006/0231468 A1Published application
Method and system for separating and blending objects
OwnerAlan Gadberryinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for separating objects, such as stones, wherein each object is dropped through a predefined path, such as a drop tube. Then, for each object, the time when the object passes through a predefined point in the path is determined, as are selected characteristics, such as the color, of the object. The characteristics of the object are matched, if possible, to various criteria and, depending on the criteria to which the object is matched, a diverter gate is activated to divert the object from the predefined path to an appropriate collection bin.
Claims1
A method for separating objects, comprising, for each object, the steps of:
- dropping the object through a predefined path;
- determining when the object passes through a predefined point in the predefined path;
- determining selected characteristics of the object;
- determining whether the characteristics of the object match at least one of at least a first criteria and a second criteria;
- upon a determination that the characteristics of the object match at least the first criteria, activating a first diverter gate to divert the object from the predefined path to a first bin;
- upon a determination that the characteristics of the object match at least the second criteria, activating a second diverter gate to divert the object from the predefined path to a second bin;
- and
- upon a determination that the characteristics of the object do not match at least one of at least a first criteria and a second criteria, permitting the object to follow the predefined path to a third bin.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.