Fluidic sorting device for two or more materials suspended in a fluid

• US 5,101,978 A
• Filed: 11/27/1989
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army
• Inventors: Marcus, Ira A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Application Number:
  US07/441,781
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 209/3.1, 209/539, 209/543, 209/551, 209/576, 209/906, 209/579, 209/3.2, 209/552, 209/939, 356/39, 356/23
• US Class Current: 209/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/342 according to optical properties, e.g. colour according to radiation transmittivity B07C5/3416
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/344 according to electric or electromagnetic properties sorting according to size measured electrically or electronically B07C5/08; material testing by magnetic means G01N24/00, G01N27/00, by electrical means G01N27/00; electrical measuring devices in general G01R; coin testing G07D5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/362 Separating or distributor mechanisms switches for postal sorting B07C3/065; particular discharging devices for B65G47/74
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/149 specially adapted for sorting particles, e.g. by their size or optical properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/906 Pneumatic or liquid stream feeding item
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/939 Video scanning

Abstract

A fluidic sorting device for the separation of two or more visually diffet materials or materials which react differently to an externally applied force. These materials are suspended in a fluid. The device comprises a fluidic logic element to which a machine vision apparatus is connected. The machine vision apparatus may be programmed to identify specific particulate materials. The machine vision apparatus captures an image of a particle or material, interprets the image, then makes subsequent value judgements, and decides as to whether the particle is to be separated out. The decision of the machine vision apparatus controls a fluidic logic element which facilitates the separation of the particles or materials. The machine vision apparatus may, optionally, comprise a counter. The novelty of the invention lies with the combination of fluidics with a machine vision apparatus.

Claims

1. A sorting device for the separation of two or more visually distinguishable materials which are suspended in a fluid, said sorting device comprising:

a fluidic logic element consisting essentially of a supply stream input port connected to a fluid suspension supply means, a first control port, a second control port, a first output port and a second output port; and

a machine vision apparatus comprising an image capture device, an image interpretation device and a fluidic controller device;

said machine vision apparatus is connected to said fluidic logic element at said first and said second control ports and sends signals to and operates said control ports.

2. The sorting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said machine vision apparatus further comprises a counter means.

3. The sorting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said fluid suspension supply means contains a fluid having at least two visually distinguishable materials suspended therein.

4. The sorting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the visually distinguishable suspended materials to be separated are visually distinguishable based on the color of said suspended materials.

5. The sorting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the visually distinguishable suspended materials to be separated are visually distinguishable based on the size of said suspended materials.

6. The sorting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the visually distinguishable suspended materials to be separated are visually distinguishable based on the shape of said suspended materials.

7. The sorting device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the visually distinguishable suspended materials to be separated are visually distinguishable based on their visible reaction to an externally applied force.