Center shot sorting system and method

A method of detecting an item having a defect characterized by a defect color as the item travels on or through a medium characterized by one or more background colors, comprising the steps of:

• scanning the item and the medium to produce a defect image signal that indicates the presence of the defect color and an item image signal that indicates the absence of a background color, the absence of background color representing the presence of the item;
• storing in image memory locations the relative position coordinates of the item image signals representative of an image of the item scanned;
• storing in image memory locations the relative position coordinates of the defect image signals representative of an image of defects on the item scanned;
• generating in a sorting processor a defective item signal for each item having item signals and defect signals that share at least one coincident position coordinate;
• and
• directing a single air elector air blast at a centroid of the defective item in response to the defective item signal.

An apparatus for detecting an item having a defect characterized by a defect color as the item travels on or through a medium characterized by one or more background colors, comprising:

• a scanning camera scanning the item and the medium to produce a defect image signal that indicates the presence of the defect color and an item image signal that indicates the absence of a background color, the absence of a background color representing the presence of the item;
• an image memory storing at a set of coordinate locations the item image signals representative of an image of the item scanned and defect image signals representative of an image of defects on the item scanned;
• a signal processor generating a centroid coordinate signal for the item having at least one item image signal and defect image signal that share a coincident coordinate location;
• and
• an air ejector in data communication with the signal processor directing an air blast at a centroid of the item containing the defect.

A method for detecting an item having a defect characterized by a defect color as the item travels on or through a medium characterized by one or more background colors, comprising:

• scanning the item and the medium to produce a defect image signal that indicates the presence of the defect color and an item image signal that indicates the absence of a background color, the absence of a background color representing the presence of the item;
• storing in an image memory at a set of coordinate locations the item image signals representative of an image of the item scanned and defect image signals representative of an image of defects on the item scanned;
• generating in a signal processor a centroid coordinate signal for the item having at least one item image signal and defect image signal that share a coincident coordinate location;
• and
• directing an air blast at a centroid of the item containing the defect.

An apparatus for detecting an item having a defect characterized by a defect radiation amplitude as the item travels on or through a medium characterized by one or more background radiation amplitudes, comprising:

• a scanning camera scanning the item and the medium to produce a defect image signal that indicates the presence of the defect radiation amplitude and a set of item image signals that indicate the absence of a background radiation amplitude, the absence of a background radiation amplitude representing the presence of the item;
• an image memory storing at a set of coordinate locations the item image signals representative of an image of the item scanned and the defect image signal representative of an image of the defect on the item scanned;
• a processor generating an item centroid signal if the item has at least one item image signal coordinate location that corresponds with a defect image signal coordinate location;
• and
• an air ejector in data communication with the processor directing an air blast at a centroid of the item having at least one item image signal coordinate location that corresponds with a defect image signal coordinate location.

A method for detecting an item having a defect characterized by a defect radiation amplitude as the item travels on or through a medium characterized by one or more background radiation amplitudes, comprising:

• scanning the item and the medium to produce a defect image signal that indicates the presence of the defect radiation amplitude and a set of item image signals that indicate at least one of the presence of an item radiation amplitude and the absence of a background radiation amplitude;
• storing in an image memory at coordinate locations the item image signals representative of an image of the item scanned and the defect image signal representative of an image of defect on the item scanned;
• generating in a processor a defective item signal if the item has at least one item image signal coordinate location that corresponds with a defect image signal coordinate location;
• and
• directing an air blast at a centroid of the item having the defect.