Tim Conway

US Patent:

43243355, Apr 13, 1982

Filed:

Feb 19, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/122449

Inventors:

Tim D. Conway - El Cerrito CA
Paul F. Paddock - Riverside CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209586

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for grading and sorting articles, particularly fruit, according to size, surface blemish and surface color. Fruit is passed sequentially through a camera array which scans the surface of each fruit and measures the intensity of light reflected from successive discrete surface segments. Significant differences between such measured intensities are detected and a measurement of surface blemish is generated in accordance therewith. Size measurements are derived by counting the total number of segments in the surface of each fruit. Color measurements are derived by averaging the ratio of red light intensity to infrared light intensity reflected from each of a plurality of surface areas of each fruit. The fruit are separated and delivered to separate receivers by a mechanism responsive to the size, blemish and color measurements of the respective fruit.

US Patent:

43300626, May 18, 1982

Filed:

Feb 19, 1980

Appl. No.:

6/122448

Inventors:

Tim D. Conway - El Cerrito CA
Paul F. Paddock - Riverside CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Ontario CA

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209582

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for grading and sorting articles, particularly fruit, according to size, surface blemish and surface color. Fruit is passed sequentially through a camera array which scans the surface of each fruit and measures the intensity of light reflected from successive discrete surface segments. Significant differences between such measured intensities are detected and a measurement of surface blemish is generated in accordance therewith. Size measurements are derived by counting the total number of segments in the surface of each fruit. Color measurements are derived by averaging the ratio of red light intensity to infrared light intensity reflected from each of a plurality of surface areas of each fruit. The fruit are separated and delivered to separate receivers by a mechanism responsive to the size, blemish and color measurements of the respective fruit.

US Patent:

42460980, Jan 20, 1981

Filed:

Jun 21, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/917724

Inventors:

Tim D. Conway - El Cerrito CA
Paul F. Paddock - Riverside CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

B07C 5342

US Classification:

209558

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for grading and sorting articles, particularly fruit, according to size, surface blemish and surface color. Fruit is passed sequentially through a camera array which scans the surface of each fruit and measures the intensity of light reflected from successive discrete surface segments. Significant differences between such measured intensities are detected and a measurement of surface blemish is generated in accordance therewith. Size measurements are derived by counting the total number of segments in the surface of each fruit. Color measurements are derived by averaging the ratio of red light intensity to infrared light intensity reflected from each of a plurality of surface areas of each fruit. The fruit are separated and delivered to separate receivers by a mechanism responsive to the size, blemish and color measurements of the respective fruit.

US Patent:

41397665, Feb 13, 1979

Filed:

Aug 15, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/824396

Inventors:

Tim D. Conway - Berkeley CA

Assignee:

Sunkist Growers, Inc. - Sherman Oaks CA

International Classification:

G06M 700

US Classification:

235 92PK

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for the counting of objects and in particular fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and the like, which are randomly continuously presented by a conveyor or other means to a counting area in which the objects are illuminated. An image of the counting area and illuminated objects is optically reproduced on a self-scanning photodiode array which generates a series of output analog video signals corresponding to the light intensity on each of the photodiodes. These analog signals are amplified and compared with a voltage that is approximately 60% of the peak voltage value from the array, to provide an output binary signal pulse having a digital logic value of "1", when the video signal is above the 60% value, and a value of "O" when below the 60% value. Logic circuits group certain of the output binary signal pulses into a predetermined group recognition pattern having a configuration such that it will occur only once for each object that it scanned, and which is decoded to provide an output counting pulse for each object presented to the counting area.