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AssigneeBuhler Sortex Ltd.
InventorsDavid GHERARDI, Benedict DEEFHOLTS, Robert James Neil MCLEAN, Ben WARD, Howard MYER, Bill SAUNDERS, Saliya GUNARATNE, Timothy KELF, David MCCAMBRIDGE
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A sorting or classifying apparatus comprising an illumination device for providing illumination or foreground illumination, the illumination device comprising a reflector (61) which has a reflecting surface (63) providing a reflection envelope, a first light source (70) which is disposed in spaced relation in front of the reflecting surface (63) and provides light of a first spectral output to the reflecting surface (63) for reflection thereby and which first light source (70) comprises a plurality of light elements or incandescent lamps (72), wherein the light elements or lamps (72) are disposed on or near a focal axis (X) of the reflector (61), and a second light source (71) which is disposed in spaced relation in front of the reflecting surface (63) and provides light of a second spectral output, different to the first spectral output to the reflecting surface (63) for reflection thereby and which second light source (71) comprises a plurality of light elements or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (75) arranged along at least one row (77a, b) which extends along the length of the reflecting surface (63) and is arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the focal axis (X) of the reflector (61), optionally the first light source (70) is a source of near infra-red (NIR) light and the second light source (71) is a source of visible-spectrum light.
A sorting or classifying apparatus comprising an illumination device for providing illumination or foreground illumination, the illumination device comprising a reflector which has a reflecting surface providing a reflection envelope, a first light source which is disposed in spaced relation in front of the reflecting surface and provides light of a first spectral output to the reflecting surface for reflection thereby and which first light source comprises a plurality of light elements or incandescent lamps, wherein the light elements or lamps are disposed on or near a focal axis of the reflector, and a second light source which is disposed in spaced relation in front of the reflecting surface and provides light of a second spectral output, different to the first spectral output to the reflecting surface for reflection thereby and which second light source comprises a plurality of light elements or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged along at least one row which extends along the length of the reflecting surface and is arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the focal axis of the reflector, optionally the first light source is a source of near infra-red (NIR) light and the second light source is a source of visible-spectrum light.
A sorting or classifying apparatus comprising a foreground illumination device for providing foreground illumination and an illumination box for providing background or reference illumination, the illumination box comprising a housing which includes an elongate illumination chamber having an illumination aperture, the illumination chamber comprising a first, rear surface and second and third, lower and upper surfaces which are disposed in spaced relation and extend forwardly from the rear surface to the illumination aperture and are disposed in substantially parallel relation, a light diffuser which is disposed at the illumination aperture and a light source which extends along a length of the illumination chamber, wherein at least one of the lower and upper surfaces, optionally both the lower and upper surfaces, has a first region and at least one second region which has different optical properties to optical properties of the first region such that the illumination box accommodates for variance in light generated by the light source and also for variance in light generated by the illumination device.
A sorting or classifying apparatus comprising an illumination device for providing background or reference illumination, the illumination device comprising a diffuser and an elongate light source which comprises a two-dimensional array of separated LEDs of a plurality of different wavelengths or colors, wherein the LEDs are arranged in substantially symmetrical relation to opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the light source and the LEDs of each wavelength or color are connected to a common channel, such that the LEDs of one wavelength or color are switchable independently of the LEDs of other wavelengths or colors, such that a symmetrical illumination profile is provided.
A sorting or classifying apparatus comprising an illumination box for providing background or reference illumination, the illumination box comprising a housing which includes an elongate illumination chamber having an illumination aperture, the illumination chamber comprising a first, rear surface and second and third, lower and upper surfaces which are disposed in spaced relation and extend forwardly from the rear surface to the illumination aperture and are disposed in substantially parallel relation, and a light source which extends along a length of the illumination chamber, the light source being an infra-red (IR) light-emitting diode (LED) light source, optionally having an emission spectrum within the near infra-red (NIR) and/or short-wave infra-red (SWIR) regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.