Automatic sorting machine for sorting or classification of small products of the pharmaceutical and of the confectionery industry as claimed in the form and color

摘要

The sorter performs electronic pattern recognition. The products are separated by a vibrating conveyor and fed through the beam path of a colour line camera which detects each product optically and produces electronic signals which are subjected to electronic pattern recognition. If irregular product colour and shape are detected then a rejection signal is generated to reject defective and unrecognised products. The beam path (10) of the camera (9) is movable to follow the product (20) over a defined conveyor path, whereby the product is rotated (21) through 360 degrees or more by rollers (35) about an axis (37) parallel to the sensing line during its passage through the tracking beam path (10,10',10''). The camera or a deflection mirror (12) is controlled synchronously with the product motion. Several conveyor tracks can be thus monitored by using a linear camera array. IMAGE