Method and apparatus for the manipulation of products

• US 4,805,778 A
• Filed: 09/29/1987
• Issued: 02/21/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nambu Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nambu Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Nambu, Yukio
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WACYRA, EDWARD MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US07/104,596
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 209/3.3, 209/510, 209/511, 209/546, 209/549, 209/643, 209/701, 209/702, 209/705, 209/936, 209/938, 209/939, 209/942
• US Class Current: 209/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 43/00 Testing, sorting or cleaning eggs investigating or analysing eggs, e.g. by candling G01N33/08; Conveying devices for batteries A01K31/165; Pick-up devices
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/00 Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches sorting by hand only B07C7/00; separating solids from solids by sieving, screening, or sifting or by using gas currents or other separating by dry methods applicable to bulk material B07B
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/361 Processing or control devices therefor, e.g. escort memory
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4182 manipulators and conveyor only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/938 Illuminating means facilitating visual inspection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/942 Operator selects destination of item

Abstract

An apparatus for the manipulation of products, comprising a conveyor for conveying a plurality of products in a prescribed path, a locator for emitting light at the position of a specific product out of the plurality of products being conveyed in a detection zone on the path of the conveyor a video sensor and a microcomputer for receiving the light and, based on the received light, issuing a position coodinate signal indicating the position of the specific product in the detection zone, a conveyor speed detector for detecting the speed of the conveyor and issuing a travel speed signal corresponding to the speed, a microcomputer for issuing a current position coordinate signal indicating the position of the specific product in a separation zone of the conveyor situated downstream relative to the detection zone based on the position coordinate signal issued by the video sensor and microcomputer and the travel speed signal issued by the conveyor speed detector, and a removing device for giving necessary treatment to the specific product in the separation zone based on the current position coordinate signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manipulation of products, comprising:

conveying means for conveying a plurality of products along a path which includes a first zone, and a second zone downstream of said first zone;

a light emitting assembly comprising a manual gripping portion which is freely movable to any position, a rod connected at one end to one end of said manual gripping portion and light emitting means, attached to the other end of said rod, for emitting light at a position of a specific product among said plurality of products in said first zone of said path, said other end of said rod also being freely movable to any position, said manual gripping portion being provided with (a) a switch to be manually operated to command light to be emitted from said light emitting means and (b) detection indicating means for providing a perceivable indication of a recognition of said position of said specific product indicated by means of said light issued from said light emitting means, based on a response signal supplied thereto;

first signal generating means, comprising a video sensor, for imaging said first zone to receive the light from said first zone and for issuing a first signal indicating a first position of said specific product in said first zone based on said received light;

second signal generating means for detecting a speed of said conveying means and issuing a second signal indicative of said speed;

third signal generating means for recognizing said first position of said specific product in said first zone based on said first signal from said first signal generating means, and for producing a third signal indicating a second position of said specific product in said second zone of said conveying means based on said recognized position of said specific product in said first zone and said second signal issued by said second signal generating means, and for producing said response signal and supplying said response signal to said detection indicating means to thereby indicate on said detection indicating means that said first position of said specific product in said first zone has been recognized; and

manipulating means for treating said specific product in said second zone based on said third signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises illuminating means disposed below said conveying means in said first zone for upwardly illuminating said products conveyed into the first zone with a light of a specific wavelength, to enable finding the specific product, said specific wavelength being a different wavelength from that of said light issued from the light emitting means, said video sensor being provided with a filter at an inlet thereof which passes a light with the same wavelength as that of the light issued from the light emitting means and does not pass a light with said specific wavelength.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manipulating means comprises means for removing said specific product from said path.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices for removing said specific product from said path.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manipulating means comprises means for placing a mark on said specific product.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices, each for placing a mark on said specific product.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light from said light emitting means is infrared.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprises a conveyor for advancing said plurality of products while rotating said products.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices for removing said specific product from said path.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of devices for removing said specific product from said path each comprises a suction unit and a vacuum pump.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices for placing a mark on said specific product.

12. An apparatus for manipulation of products, comprising:

conveying means for conveying a plurality of products along a path which includes a first zone and a second zone downstream of said first zone;

illuminating means disposed below said conveying means in said first zone, for upwardly illuminating said products conveyed into the first zone with a light of a specific wavelength to enable finding a specific product;

a light emitting assembly comprising light emitting means for emitting light having a different wavelength from said specific wavelength, at a first position of a specific product among said plurality of products in said first zone of said path, and detection indicating means for providing a perceivable indication of recognition of said position of said specific product as indicated by said light issued from said light emitting means based on a response signal supplied thereto;

first signal generating means comprising a video sensor for imaging said first zone, and a filter disposed at an inlet of said video sensor for passing light having said different wavelength, and not passing light having said specific wavelength, said video sensor receiving light passed through said filter to issue a first signal indicating said first position of said specific product in said first zone based on said received light;

second signal generating means for detecting a speed of said conveying means and issuing a second signal indicative of said speed;

third signal generating means for recognizing said first position of said specific product in said first zone based on said first signal issued by said first signal generating means, and for producing a third signal indicating a second position of said specific product in said second zone of said conveying means based on said recognized position of said specific product in said first zone and said second signal issued by said second signal generating means, and for producing said response signal and supplying said response signal to said detection indicating means to thereby indicate a recognition of the position of said specific product in said first zone on said detection indicating means; and

manipulating means for treating said specific product in said second zone based on said third signal.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said manipulating means comprises means for removing said specific product from said path.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices for removing said specific product from said path.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said manipulating means comprises means for placing a mark on said specific product.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices for placing a mark on said specific product.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said light from said light emitting means is an infrared ray.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said conveying means comprises a conveyor capable of advancing said plurality of products while rotating said products.

19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices for removing said specific product from said path.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said plurality of devices for removing said specific product from said path each comprises a suction unit and a vacuum pump.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said manipulating means comprises a plurality of devices for placing a mark on said specific product.

22. An apparatus for recognizing a position of a product, comprising:

conveying means for conveying a plurality of products along a path which includes a first zone and a second zone downstream of said first zone;

a light emitting assembly comprising a manual gripping portion which is freely movable to any position, a rod connected at one end to one end of said manual gripping portion, and light emitting means, attached to the other end of said rod, for emitting light at a position of a specific product among said plurality of products in said first zone of said path, the other end of said rod also being freely movable to any position, said gripping portion being provided with a switch which is manually operated for commanding said light emitting means to emit light and with detection indicating means for providing a perceivable indication of recognition of said position of said specific product indicated by the light emitting means based on a response signal supplied thereto;

first signal generating means, comprising a video sensor, for imaging said first zone to receive the light from said first zone and for issuing a first signal indicating the position of said specific product in said first zone based on said received light;

second signal generating means for detecting a speed of said conveying means and issuing a second signal indicative of said speed; and

third signal generating means for recognizing said position of said specific product in said first zone based on said first signal issued by said first signal generating means, and for producing a third signal indicating a second position of said specific product in said second zone of said conveying means based on said recognized position of said specific product in said first zone and said second signal issued by said second signal generating means, and for producing said response signal and supplying said response signal to said detection indicating means to thereby indicate the recognition of the position of said specific product in said first zone on said detection indicating means.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the apparatus further comprises:

illuminating means disposed below said conveying means in said first zone for upwardly illuminating said product conveyed into the first zone with a light of a specific wavelength to enable to finding said specific product, said specific wavelength being different from a wavelength of said light from the light emitting means;

filter means, at an inlet of said video sensor, for passing a light of said wavelength of light issued from the light emitting means, and not passing light with said specific wavelength.

24. An apparatus for identifying a position of a specific product comprising:

conveying means for conveying a plurality of products along a path which includes a first zone and a second zone downstream of said first zone;

illuminating means disposed below said conveying means in said first zone for upwardly illuminating said products conveyed into the first zone with light of a specific wavelength to enable finding a specific product;

a light emitting assembly comprising light emitting means for emitting light, having a different wavelength than said specific wavelength, at a position of said specific product among said plurality of products in said first zone of said path, and detection indication means for providing a perceivable indication of recognition of said position of said specific product indicated by light from the light emitting means, based on a response signal supplied thereto;

first signal generating means, comprising a video sensor for imaging said first zone and a filter at an inlet of said video sensor, to pass light having said different wavelength and not pass light having said specific wavelength, said video sensor receiving light which passes through the filter to issue a first signal indicating the position of said specific product in said first zone based on said received light;

second signal generating means for detecting a speed of said conveying means and issuing a second signal indicative of said speed; and

third signal generating means for recognizing said position of said specific product in said first zone based on said first signal issued by said first signal generating means, and for producing a third signal indicating a second position of said specific product in said second zone of said conveying means based on said recognized position of said specific product in said first zone and said second signal issued by said second signal generating means, and for producing said response signal and supplying said response signal to said detection indication means to thereby indicate the recognition of the position of said specific product in said first zone on said detection indication means.