US3612274A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoelectric food sorting method and apparatus
Assignee: Green Giant Co
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Filing: 1969-04-21
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Granted: 1971-10-12
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Expires: 1989-04-21
Abstract
Abstract Food sorting of foods which display only minimal color variation between the grades which are to be distinguished from each other are sorted by simultaneously sensing more than one of the characteristics of the food. The food is illuminated with light and a reflected light beam is formed having an intensity which varies as a function of the size, color and texture of the food. The food is sorted directly in response to the variation of the intensity of the reflected light beam which is within a predetermined wavelength range, the food being accepted or rejected when the intensity within the given range is above or below a predetermined magnitude.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward D Schmidt
- 👤 Morgan P Camery
- 👤 John G Martland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:30
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/34; B07C5/342; B07B; B07B13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A method of sorting foods which display only minimal color variation between the grades which are to be distinguished from each other by simultaneously sensing more than one of the food''s characteristics, said sorting method comprising: illuminating the food with light and reflecting a portion of said light from the surface of a successive plurality of articles of the food, the intensity of the reflected light varying between the individual articles of food as a function of the simultaneous effect on the intensity by at least two of the food''s characteristics including the size, the color and the texture of the food, whereby a reflected light beam of variable intensity is produced, sensing the intensity variation produced by at least two of said characteristics within a predetermined wavelength range of said variable intensity light beam which is reflected substantially only from the articles of said food, generating a first signal in response to said last-mentioned intensity when said last-mentioned intensity varies to a magnitude which exceeds a predetermined magnitude and a second signal in response to said last-mentioned intensity when said last-mentioned intensity is less than said predetermined magnitude, and sorting the individual articles of the food from each other in response to said first and second signals, whereby the individual articles of food are sorted by simultaneously sensing more then one of the characteristics of the food.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
228 words
A method of sorting foods which display only minimal color variation between the grades which are to be distinguished from each other by simultaneously sensing more than one of the food''s characteristics, said sorting method comprising: illuminating the food with light and reflecting a portion of said light from the surface of a successive plurality of articles of the food, the intensity of the reflected light varying between the individual articles of food as a function of the simultaneous effect on the intensity by at least two of the food''s characteristics including the size, the color and the texture of the food, whereby a reflected light beam of variable intensity is produced, sensing the intensity variation produced by at least two of said characteristics within a predetermined wavelength range of said variable intensity light beam which is reflected substantially only from the articles of said food, generating a first signal in response to said last-mentioned intensity when said last-mentioned intensity varies to a magnitude which exceeds a predetermined magnitude and a second signal in response to said last-mentioned intensity when said last-mentioned intensity is less than said predetermined magnitude, and sorting the individual articles of the food from each other in response to said first and second signals, whereby the individual articles of food are sorted by simultaneously sensing more then one of the characteristics of the food.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined wavelength range is defined by filtering the light beam reflected from the food.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said predetermined wavelength range is also defined by illuminating the food with light of a given wavelength range.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the food is corn and the light illuminates individual successive cobs of said corn, and said intensity of the reflected light beam within said predetermined wavelength range is simultaneously varied as a function of the cob diameter, kernel size, kernel color and texture of the surface of the corn.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the food is corn and said predetermined wavelength range of the reflected light waves is between approximately 500 and 600 millimicrons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
287 words
Apparatus for sorting foods which display only minimal color variation between the grades which are to be distinguished from each other in response to the simultaneous effect by more than one of the characteristics of the food on the intensity of light which is reflected from the surface of the food, and which includes a light source arranged to illuminate the food and photoelectric means for receiving the light from said light source which is reflected from the food, said apparatus comprising in combination therewith: means positioning the photoelectric means so as to receive substantially only the light from the light source which is reflected from the food, filter means between the food and the photoelectric means for blocking the passage of substantially all of said reflected light to said photoelectric means except said reflected light which is substantially within a given predetermined wavelength range, said photoelectric means generating a single variable output which varies as a function of the simultaneous effect on the intensity of the reflected light within said given predetermined wavelength range by at least two of the characteristics of the food including the size, the color and the texture of the food, trigger-sensing means responsive to the single variable output of said photoelectric means to generate a first signal when the intensity of said reflected light within said predetermined wavelength range is increased by the simultaneous effect of said food characteristics to exceed a predetermined magnitude and a second signal when the intensity of said reflected light within said predetermined wavelength range is less than said predetermined magnitude, and means responsive to said signals for sorting the food, whereby the food is sorted by simultaneously sensing more than one of the food''s characteristics.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
287 words
Apparatus for sorting foods which display only minimal color variation between the grades which are to be distinguished from each other in response to the simultaneous effect by more than one of the characteristics of the food on the intensity of light which is reflected from the surface of the food, and which includes a light source arranged to illuminate the food and photoelectric means for receiving the light from said light source which is reflected from the food, said apparatus comprising in combination therewith: means positioning the photoelectric means so as to receive substantially only the light from the light source which is reflected from the food, filter means between the food and the photoelectric means for blocking the passage of substantially all of said reflected light to said photoelectric means except said reflected light which is substantially within a given predetermined wavelength range, said photoelectric means generating a single variable output which varies as a function of the simultaneous effect on the intensity of the reflected light within said given predetermined wavelength range by at least two of the characteristics of the food including the size, the color and the texture of the food, trigger-sensing means responsive to the single variable output of said photoelectric means to generate a first signal when the intensity of said reflected light within said predetermined wavelength range is increased by the simultaneous effect of said food characteristics to exceed a predetermined magnitude and a second signal when the intensity of said reflected light within said predetermined wavelength range is less than said predetermined magnitude, and means responsive to said signals for sorting the food, whereby the food is sorted by simultaneously sensing more than one of the food''s characteristics.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said light source emits light of a predominant given wavelength range.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said light source includes a lamp and a filter between the lamp and the food for determining the wavelength range of the light which illuminates the food.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the predetermined wavelength range is between approximately 500 and 600 millimicrons.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said trigger-sensing means includes means for selectively varying the magnitude at which said first and second signals are generated.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-11 | 1975-04-12 | 1975-10-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-11 | 1979-04-12 | 1979-10-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-11 | 1983-04-12 | 1983-10-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |