GB2136955A - Photoelectric Detection Device for Colour Sorting - Google Patents

Abstract

A photoelectric detection device for sorting unacceptable and acceptable grain according to colour comprises: a grain supply means 50, a sorting case 130 which houses a grain flow chute 132 and which has inspection openings 18 symmetrically provided its walls, and a pair of photoelectric means 60 each including a light source 61, a light receiving element 62 and a background 63 as a unitary member. The photoelectric means 60 are detachably mounted at each of the inspection openings 18. The sorting case member 130 is the sole structure carrying the grain supplying means 50, housing the grain flow chute 132 and carrying the pair of photoelectric means 60. Each light receiving element 62 views the background of the opposite photoelectric means 60, which is the same colour as an acceptable grain. Unacceptable grains reflect light of a different colour. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Photoelectric Detection Device for Colour Sorting The present invention relates to an improvement in a photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus.

In a conventional colour sorting apparatus such as one shown in Fig. 1 as prior art, it is so arranged that an outer housing 1 of a vertical box type carries at its top wall a vibrating means 2, a supply hopper 3 is mounted on the vibrating chute 4 thereby forming a grain supplying means 5 which is carried by the housing 1, an inside frame member 12 supported by the outer housing 1 carries a photoelectric sorting chamber 10, the wall of this chamber 10 carries a pair of photoelectric means 6, 6, an ejection means 8, a grain collecting cylinder 9 and an unacceptable grain discharging port 11 and each of the photoelectric means 6, 6 is provided with a transparent window plate for the purpose of shielding. The photoelectric sorting chamber 10 communicates with the vibrating chute 4 through a grain flow chute 13.A colour sorting apparatus of such conventional type must have the housing and also requires a complicated supporting structure for and at the sorting chamber, which unavoidably increases both the size and weight of the apparatus. A colour sorting apparatus, as prior art, having the above-mentioned structure is disclosed, for example, in the specification of the United States Patent No. 4,371,081, granted to the inventorToshihiko SATAKE.

In view of the above, the present Invention aims at providing a photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus, which makes it possible for the entire apparatus to be structually simpler and smaller thereby facilitating the manufacturing and assemblage of the apparatus.

Since the photoelectric detection device according to the present invention is exposed and is very easily accessible, this faciiitates easy inspection and repairs of any component parts when unserviceable. Thus, the present invention provides a photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus for sorting unacceptable and acceptable grains, in which photoelectric means and an ejection means disposed in a vicinity surrounding a falling locus of grains flowing down from a grain supplying means through a grain flow chute, characterized in that the photoelectric detection device comprises: a sorting case member connected at the upper end thereof to the grain supplying means, housing therein the grain flow chute, and having inspection openings symmetrically provided in walls of the sorting case member; and a pair of photoelectric means each including a light source, a light receiving element and a background as a unitary member, and being detachably mounted at each of the inspection openings of the sorting case member. The sorting case member is the sole structure, without the need of such a housing as in the prior art apparatus, for carrying the grain supplying means, housing the grain flow chute and carrying the pair of photoelectric means.

This invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevational view of a colour sorting apparatus of prior art; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a photoelectric detection device of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an essential part of the embodiment shown in Fig. 2.

The embodiment of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. In Fig. 2, the reference numeral 130 represents a sorting case member housing therein a grain flow chute 132. At a lower part of the case member 1 30 is provided a photoelectric sorting chamber 100 and at an upper end portion thereof is provided a grain supplying means 50. At an intermediate portion of the case member 130, there is attached from the underside thereof a control box 1 60 which houses a control means, a warming means, etc.

and this control box 1 60 is integrally mounted on a column 170.

The grain supplying means 50 is directly carried by the case member 1 30 and comprises a supply hopper 30 which is mounted at an upper portion of a box frame 1 5 and a vibrating chute 40 which has a vibrating means 20 provided at a lower portion of the box frame 15.

Fig. 3 illustrates an essential part of an embodiment of the photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus of the present invention. The case member 130 has in its wall a pair of inspection openings 18, 1 8 provided at opposite sides along a falling locus A of grains falling down from the chute 132. Detachably mounted at each of these inspection openings 1 8, 1 8 is a photoelectric detection means 60 in which a holding frame member 64 carries, in an interfunctioning relation, a light source 61, a light receiving element 62 and a background 63. The holding frame member 64 is covered by an outside cover 65.The numeral 66 represents a transparent cover plate which protects various optical means, such as the light source 61, the light receiving element 62, the background 63, from being contaminated by dust from grains moving in the sorting chamber 100. The transparent cover plate 66 may be placed on the holding frame member 64 in the photoelectric means 60 so as to keep all the optical means in a shielded state, or alternatively, it may be mounted at the inspection opening 1 8 of the case member 130. The provision of the transparent cover plate 66 ensures that all the optical means accurately function without being affected by dust or other fine particles and this in turn ensures accurate, regular and efficient colour sorting for grains.

Since it is desirable for the photoelectric detection means 60 to be completely removable from the sorting case member 130, the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is arranged such that the holding frame member 64 is separately and detachably mounted thereon through such means as a bolt and slot engaging means 72 and that the outside cover 65 is detachably mounted on the case member 130 by having one end of the outside cover 65 hooked onto a receiving slot 74 and the other end of the cover 65 fixed onto a receiving member 76 on the case member 130 by means of a screw 78. The numeral 67a and 67b represent connectors which electrically connect the photoelectric detection means and the control means in the control box 1 60 via a connecting cable 68.At opposite sides along the falling locus A within the photoelectric sorting chamber 100 is provided an ejection means 80, at a lower end portion of the case member 130 is provided a collecting cylinder 90 which is aligned with the falling locus A and also adjacent thereto is provided an unacceptable grain discharging port 110. The numeral 81 represents a wall plate for preventing ejected grains from being erratically disposed. This wall plate 81 has a hole 83 at the portion corresponding to the falling locus A so that the grains pass therethrough.

Now, the operation of the apparatus having the above construction is explained. Grains from the supplying hopper 30 to the vibrating chute 40 are introduced to the upper end of the grain flow chute 1 32 due to the vibration action of the vibrating means 20. The grains flowing and sliding in a line downward from the grain flow chute 132 continue to flow down a predetermined falling locus A within the photoelectric sorting chamber 1 00. Within the sorting chamber 100, the light receiving element 62 receives a reflected light from grains and sends a detection signal and this detection signal is sent to the control means in the control box 1 60 through the connectors 67a and 67b as well as the connecting cable 68.In an operating state, the brightness of the background 63 is so adjusted that the associated light receiving element 62 opposing thereto receives the light of the same amount as that provided by the acceptable grains. Therefore, there is no variation in the amount of light received by the light receiving element 62 so along as only the acceptable grains are flowing in the phbtoeiectric sorting chamber 100. However, when unacceptable grains are present there, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 62 changes. When the control means detects the detection signal responding from such unacceptable grains, the ejection means 80 is actuated thereby causing a timely jet of air.The jet of air removes the unacceptable grains away from the falling locus A and the removed grains are discharged through the unacceptable grain discharging port 110 while the acceptable grains falling down along the falling locus A are taken out of the apparatus through the collecting cylinder 90.

When the functioning of any optical means among the light source 61, the light receiving element 62 and the background 63 in the above photoelectric means 60 is unnecessary depending upon the sorting conditions, for example, the kind of grains to be sorted, or the sorting operation which may be performed based mainly on either the reflected light or the transmitted light from grains, such optical means may be made inoperative for a given purpose.

When the photoelectric sorting chamber 100 and the photoelectric means 60 are to be inspected and repaired, firstly the outside cover 65 of the photoelectric means 60 may be detached, and then the holding frame 64 carrying the optical means thereon may be removed from the inspection opening 1 8 provided on the case member 130 by disengaging the bolt and slot engaging means 72 as well as disconnecting the pair of connectors 67a and 67b.By doing so, since the photoelectric detection means 60 are completely separated from the case member 130, it is possible to inspect and clean easily the inside of the photoelectric sorting chamber 1 00 through the opening 1 8. Also since such optical means as the light source 61, the light receiving element 62 and the background 63 are provided within the frame 64, their inspection and repairs as well as their manufacturing and assemblage are made simpler and facilitated. And, as the photoelectric means are mounted on the sorting case member 1 30 in an exposed state, they are easily accessible and thus their maintenance can be very easily conducted. Further, even when any one of the photoelectric means becomes inoperable, it can be quickly replaced with a spare photoelectric means to cope with such a problem.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, a pair of the photoelectric means are provided on the upper and lower walls, symmetrically with respect to the failing locus A of grains, of the case member 130, but of course they may be provided on the right and left side walls of the case member 130.

Further, it is to be noted that a pair of the photoelectric means opposed to each other may be formed as a unitary photoelectric means on a cylindrically shaped member which may be mounted over the case member 1 30 at the symmetrical openings provided therein instead of each of the photoelectric means being mounted on each of the openings. The photoelectric means of such a type may be mounted on the case member after the removal certain parts which are detachable from the case member.

Also, while the explanation and illustration of the embodiment have generally been made on an arrangement wherein a single flow chute 132 is provided in the sorting case member 130, it may be arranged for the sorting case member 1 30 to contain a plurality of flow chutes which are disposed side by side. In such a case, the sorting case member 130 is provided with openings at the upper and lower walls and a plurality of the photoelectric means on the upper wall and a plurality of photoelectric means on the lower wall are formed as separate units and respectively detachably mounted at the respective upper and lower walls of the sorting case member 1 30.

Thus, with a simple construction it is possible to obtain a sorting apparatus having a plurality of flow chutes and it is also possible to manufacture such an apparatus economically.

As has been explained hereinabove, the photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus of the present invention offers an advantageous effect in that it makes it possible for the entire apparatus to be structually simpier and smaller, thereby facilitating the manufacturing and assemblage of the apparatus as well as their maintenance and repairs of any component parts when out of order.

While the invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be distinctiy understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously modified within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (6)

1. A photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus for sorting unacceptable and acceptable grains, in which photoelectric means (60, 60) and an ejection means (80) are disposed in a vicinity surrounding a falling locus (A) of grains flowing down from a grain supplying means (50) through a grain flow chute (132), characterized in that said photoelectric detection device comprises: a sorting case member (130 connected at the upper end thereof to said grain supplying means (50), housing therein said grain flow chute (132), and having inspection openings (18, 18) symmetrically provided in walls of said sorting case member (130); and a pair of photoelectric means (60, 60) each including a light source (61), a light receiving element (62) and a background (63) as a unitary member, and being detachably mounted at each of said inspection openings (18, 18) of said sorting case member (130), said sorting case member (130) being the sole structure for carrying said grain supplying means (50), housing said grain flow chute (132) and carrying said pair of photoelectric means (60, 60).

2. A photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus according to Claim 1, in which said inspection openings (1 8, 1 8) in said sorting case member (130) are provided at the upper and lower walls at opposite sides along said failing locus (A) of grains.

3. A photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus according to Claim 1, in which said inspection openings (18, 18) in said sorting case member (130) are provided at the right and left side walls at opposite sides along said falling locus (A) of grains.

4. A photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus according to Claim 1, in which each of said inspection openings (1 8, 18) is covered by a transparent cover plate (66) to protect said photoelectric means from being contaminated with dust.

5. A photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus according to Claim 2, in which more than one said grain flow chute (132) are housed side by side in said sorting case member (130) and more than one pair of said photoelectric means (60, 60) are mounted at said inspection openings of said sorting case chamber (130), said photoelectric means being such that a plurality of said photoelectric means (60, 60) on said upper wall and a plurality of said photoelectric means (60, 60) on said lower wall are formed as separate units and respectively detachably mounted at said respective walls of the sorting case member (130).

6. A photoelectric detection device for colour sorting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.