Sorting apparatus
AssigneeSortex Limited
InventorRobert John Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In an apparatus for sorting material into desired and undesired pieces or portions according to their optical characteristics, comprising a background, and a viewing means for viewing the material against the background; a method for removing debris from the background is proposed which comprises providing a jet of air or water which is moved relative to and across the background, and directed towards the background so as to remove debris and thereby clean the background. The jet is positioned out of the field of view of the viewing means so that debris removal can take place without interruption of the sorting process. A magnetic type air-cylinder, in which exhaust gas is fed back as the debris-removing air-jet, is preferably used.
Claims21
Apparatus for sorting material into desired and undesired pieces or portions according to their optical characteristics, comprising:
- a background;
- a viewing means for viewing the material against the background;
- means for discriminating optical characteristics of the material relative to the background and for sorting the material accordingly;
- and
- means for removing debris from the background, wherein said debris-removing means comprises means for providing a jet of fluid movable relative to the background, and directed towards the background, so as to clean the background, and
- wherein the debris-removing means is located to remain out of the optical path between the viewing means and the background, such that the sorting can continue substantially uninterrupted whilst debris is removed.
In an apparatus for sorting material into desired and undesired pieces or portions according to their optical characteristics, comprising a background, a viewing means for viewing for the material against the background, sorting means, and a movable nozzle;
- a method for removing debris from the background comprising the steps of:
- providing a jet of fluid from the movable nozzle which remains out of an optical path between the viewing means and the background, such that debris removal occurs whilst sorting is taking place;
- moving the jet of fluid relative to and across the background;
- and
- directing the jet of fluid towards the background, so as to remove debris and thereby clean the background.
Sorting apparatus comprising:
- a background;
- a viewing means for viewing the material against the background;
- means for sorting material into desired and undesired pieces or portions according to their optical characteristics;
- and
- means for removing debris from the background, wherein said debris-removing means comprises means for providing a jet of fluid movable relative to the background, and directed towards the background, so as to clean the background, and
- wherein the debris-removing means is located to remain out of the optical path between the viewing means and the background, such that the sorting can continue substantially uninterrupted whilst debris is removed.
Sorting apparatus comprising:
- a background;
- a viewing means for viewing the material against the background;
- means for optically discriminating the material relative to the background to facilitate the sorting of the material according to its optical characteristics;
- and
- means for removing debris from the background, wherein said debris-removing means comprises means for providing a jet of fluid movable relative to the background, and directed towards the background, so as to clean the background, and
- wherein the debris-removing means is located to remain out of the optical path between the viewing means and the background, such that the sorting can continue substantially uninterrupted whilst debris is removed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.