Light and color detecting scanner for a sorting apparatus

In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of

• means defining a passage through which said articles may pass,
• illuminating means substantially surrounding said passage for forming a multidirectional sheet of light of substantially uniform thickness in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to and through said passage, and
• unfocused light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light.

In apparatus for sorting articles, an optical scanner comprising the combination of:

• means defining a passage through which said articles may pass,
• illuminating means adjacent said passage for forming a sheet of light in the visible and infrared spectra extending normal to said passage, and
• light detecting means adjacent said passage for generating signals responsive to light reflected from articles passing through said sheet of light, said light detecting means including means for detecting light in the visible spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto and means for detecting light in the infrared spectrum and for generating signals in response thereto, said visible spectrum light detecting means and said infrared spectrum light detecting means each including a plurality of light detecting devices, said devices being mounted to provide overlapping fields of view for pairs of visible spectrum and infrared spectrum light detecting devices.