Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Traveling items shifted to form line – or into end or edge...
Patent
1987-01-21
1988-06-14
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Traveling items shifted to form line, or into end or edge...
209540, 209926, B07B 1305
Patent
active
047506210
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an apparatus for sorting cutlery comprising opto-electronic recognition and identification of the cutlery.
BACKGROUND ART
A large numver of different systems for automatic sorting of cutlery after machine washing in large kitchens have been suggested. With systems already known the cutlery has for example been sorted by weight as per U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,331,507, 3,483,877 and 3,581,750, through mechanical recognition in holes, slots etc., as per U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,301,397, 3,389,790, 3,389,791, 3,545,613 and 3,956,109, or through detection of the cutlery's magnetic properties in electro-magnetic fields as per U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,394,809 and 3,486,939. These weight-recognising, mechanically or electro-magnetically working recognition systems are, however, either complicated, slow, expensive and/or unreliable or have other disadvantages. As far as is known they have therefore not been of any practical significance.
Another known procedure is to detect objects dynamically through optical recognition, as for example through U.S. Pat. No. 3,529,169 and EP-A1-20 108. The systems described in these patent specifications, are, however, unsuitable for sorting of cutlery and suchlike objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention aims to offer an improved system for sorting of cutlery comprising opto-electronic, dynamic recognition of the cutlery. This and other objects of the invention can be achieved by means of this being characterised by what follows from the patent claims below. Further characteristics and aspects of the invention follow from the description below of a preferred, specific example of its embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
In the following description of a specific example, which at the same time constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference will be made to the enclosed drawings, in which
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the basic features of the invention in a view from above, partly in the form of block diagrams and symbolically illustrated components;
FIG. 1A shows separating units forming part of the equipment in a side view of A--A in FIG. 1;
FIG. 2 schematically shows a pulsator forming part of the equipment;
FIG. 3 shows the general construction of the optical unit in a perspective view;
FIG. 4 shows parts of the optical unit shown in FIG. 3 in a vertical section IV--IV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 shows an electronic unit for conversion of optically recognised information in the form of shadow pictures with vertical lighting of the cutlery in narrow optical sections into binary words, representing the contour of the cutlery;
FIG. 6 shows in a corresponding manner an electronic unit for conversion of optically recognised information about the height profile of the cutlery into digital data;
FIG. 7 constitutes a pulse diagram,
FIG. 8A illustrates the opto-electronic-digital scanning of the contours of the cutlery;
FIG. 8B shows the same cutlery in distorted form after shifting of the binary words originally obtained with the scan;
FIGS. 9A and 9B show a binary word before and after the said shifting
FIG. 10 constitutes a plan view which shows in greater detail the arrangement of flaps and switchpoints in a sorting unit forming part of the equipment; and
FIG. 11 schematically illustrates in a side view how knife blades and other thin parts can be prevented from being wedged tight between flap and conveyor belt.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE OF EMBODIMENT
General construction of the system
FIG. 1 shows schematically the general construction of an installation for sorting of cutlery--teaspoons, dessert spoons, knives and forks--after machine washign in a large kitchen. The equipment consist of five function units; a feed-in unit 1, a separating unit 2, a read-off unit 3, a sorting unit 4 and a return unit 5. These five units should, however, not be considered as independently working units. A characteristic feature is rather that they both constructionally and functionally work together and "integrate with each other". The equipment is co
REFERENCES:
patent: 4380294 (1983-04-01), Morris
patent: 4457434 (1984-07-01), Brown et al.
patent: 4511046 (1985-04-01), Walsh et al.
patent: 4585126 (1986-04-01), Paddock et al.
Akesson Lars
Loof Nils
Avila Stephen P.
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
Regionala Stiftenlsen i Varmland med firma ERRESS
LandOfFree
Apparatus for sorting cutlery does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for sorting cutlery, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for sorting cutlery will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-500353