Apparatus for sorting seeds according to color
OwnerSheldon Affleck, Lavern Affleckinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Seeds are sorted according to color by placing the seeds in uniform rows of indentations in a rotating drum and passing the seeds beneath a digital/imaging camera and strobe lights which create images of the seeds. The images are fed to a computer, which also receives information from a drum speed sensor. The computer generates a signal which causes a blast of air to blow through an opening in the bottom of any identation containing a discolored seed to reject such seed. Rejected seeds are fed into a reject hopper, and the selected or good seeds remaining in the drum indentations fall from the drum into another hopper.
Claims11
An apparatus for sorting seeds according to color, comprising:
- (a) drum means including a peripheral wall having an external peripheral surface;
- (b) said peripheral surface having a width;
- (c) said peripheral wall having a thickness;
- (d) a plurality of seed receiving means disposed in rows extending across the width of said peripheral surface and each receiving an individual seed therein;
- (e) each of said seed receiving means including indentation means;
- (f) said indentation means comprising generally cup-shaped recesses extending substantially through the thickness of the peripheral wall of said drum means and for holding therein an individual seed by the force of gravity;
- (g) means associated with each of said seed receiving means for dislodging individual seeds therefrom;
- (h) digital imaging means for creating an image of a portion of the peripheral surface of said drum means including at least one row of seeds;
- (i) means for analyzing said image for determination of differences in seed color in said at least one row of seeds and comparing color differences of seeds against a predetermined standard;
- (j) means for selectively operating said dislodging means for ejecting seeds which do not conform to said predetermined standard from respective seed receiving means;
- (k) first hopper means disposed on one side of and for feeding seeds to said drum means by the force of gravity;
- (l) second hopper means disposed opposite to said first hopper means for receiving seeds that do not conform to said predetermined standard;
- (m) two-roller brush means disposed external to said drum means and positioned between said first hopper means and said digital imaging means for uniformly distributing the seeds over the peripheral surface of said drum means;
- and
- (n) single drive means for rotating both said drum means and said two-roller brush means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.