Method and apparatus for the recognition and counting of discrete objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for counting a plurality of differently shaped objects comprising:
- a) an object supply receptacle;
b) an object feeding device coupled to the object supply receptacle and adapted to receive one or more batches of objects at a time, each batch of objects including objects shaped differently to objects in other batches, and to dispense each of the one or more batches of objects therefrom, the objects being dispensed in a random orientation relative to each other;
c) an electronic sensing device arranged adjacent to said object feeding device including a linear array of electronic detectors to detect the presence of differently shaped objects being dispensed from the object feeding device and passing thereby in a random orientation in each of a series of evenly timed signal reception periods, each one of the electronic detectors being in a blocked state when an object or objects are detected by the electronic detector in any one timed signal reception period and generating a signal representative of the blocked state; and
d) an electronic counting device including a programmed microprocessor system, the electronic counting device coupled to said electronic sensing device to receive, during each of the series of evenly timed signal reception periods, the signals generated by said electronic sensing device, and to utilize the received signals from the multiple of signal reception periods to develop an image representative of the detected objects as they pass in a random orientation, said programmed microprocessor including a processing hierarchy comprising a main control program and a set of image processing modules to analyze the relative number and position of blocked detectors in each of a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods to determine the presence of more than one object, the image processing modules being called by the main control program upon the reception of a signal from at least one blocked detector in a preselected hierarchal order and each image processing module being adapted to detect a preselected geometric condition in the number and positions of detectors blocked by the randomly oriented objects in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, the set of image processing modules including;
a first image processing module adapted to detect a gap geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signals reception periods,a second image processing module adapted to detect a shift geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods,a third image processing module adapted to detect a dimple geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, anda fourth image processing module adapted to detect a corner geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods;
wherein said electronic counting device is further coupled to said object feeding device to control the operation thereof in response to indications of the image processing.
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Abstract
An apparatus for counting discrete objects of various sizes and shapes as they travel through the apparatus in a disorderly flow. The apparatus includes a sensor array which comprises a plurality of photodetectors arranged in a linear fashion. The discrete objects are passed over the sensor array. By utilizing the sensor array as a means for obtaining information about the discrete objects, the apparatus samples the sensor array at predetermined time intervals, examines the various contours of the images produced through the sampling and based upon predetermined criteria determines whether an image represents one or more objects.
100 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for counting a plurality of differently shaped objects comprising:
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a) an object supply receptacle; b) an object feeding device coupled to the object supply receptacle and adapted to receive one or more batches of objects at a time, each batch of objects including objects shaped differently to objects in other batches, and to dispense each of the one or more batches of objects therefrom, the objects being dispensed in a random orientation relative to each other; c) an electronic sensing device arranged adjacent to said object feeding device including a linear array of electronic detectors to detect the presence of differently shaped objects being dispensed from the object feeding device and passing thereby in a random orientation in each of a series of evenly timed signal reception periods, each one of the electronic detectors being in a blocked state when an object or objects are detected by the electronic detector in any one timed signal reception period and generating a signal representative of the blocked state; and d) an electronic counting device including a programmed microprocessor system, the electronic counting device coupled to said electronic sensing device to receive, during each of the series of evenly timed signal reception periods, the signals generated by said electronic sensing device, and to utilize the received signals from the multiple of signal reception periods to develop an image representative of the detected objects as they pass in a random orientation, said programmed microprocessor including a processing hierarchy comprising a main control program and a set of image processing modules to analyze the relative number and position of blocked detectors in each of a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods to determine the presence of more than one object, the image processing modules being called by the main control program upon the reception of a signal from at least one blocked detector in a preselected hierarchal order and each image processing module being adapted to detect a preselected geometric condition in the number and positions of detectors blocked by the randomly oriented objects in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, the set of image processing modules including; a first image processing module adapted to detect a gap geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signals reception periods, a second image processing module adapted to detect a shift geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, a third image processing module adapted to detect a dimple geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, and a fourth image processing module adapted to detect a corner geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods; wherein said electronic counting device is further coupled to said object feeding device to control the operation thereof in response to indications of the image processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for counting objects comprising:
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a) an object supply receptacle; b) an object feeding device coupled to the object supply receptacle and adapted to receive and transport objects therefrom; c) an electronic sensing device arranged adjacent to said object feeding device including a linear array of electronic detectors to detect the presence of an object or objects passing thereby in each of a series of evenly timed signal reception periods, each one of the electronic detectors being in a blocked state when an object or objects are detected by the electronic detector in any one timed signal reception period and generating a signal representative of the blocked state; and d) an electronic counting device including a programmed microprocessor system coupled to said electronic sensing device and said object feeding device, the electronic counting device including a processing hierarchy comprising a main control program and a set of image processing modules to analyze the relative number and position of the blocked detectors in each of a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods to develop an image representative of the detected objects, to perform image processing on the developed image to determine contour information of the image based upon signals received during the multiple of signal reception periods, to analyze the contour information for an indication of the presence of more than one object in the developed image and to control the operation of the object feeding device in response to indications of the image processing, the image processing modules being called by the main control program upon the reception of a signal from at least one blocked detector in a preselected hierarchal order, the set of image processing modules including; a first image processing module adapted to detect a gap geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, a second image processing module adapted to detect a shift geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, and a third image processing module adapted to detect a dimple geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for counting a plurality of differently shaped objects comprising:
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a) an object feeding device adapted to receive and dispense a plurality of differently shaped objects; b) an electronic sensing device arranged adjacent to said object feeding device including a linear array of electronic detectors to detect the presence of an object or objects being dispensed from the object feeding device in each of a series of timed signal reception periods, each one of the electronic detectors being in a blocked state when an object or objects are detected by the electronic detector in any one timed signal reception period and generating a signal representative of the blocked state; and c) an electronic counting device including a programmed microprocessor system having a processing hierarchy comprising a main control program and a set of image processing modules to analyze the relative number and position of blocked detectors in each of a multiple of successive timed signals reception periods to determine the presence of more than one object, the electronic counting device coupled to said electronic sensing device to receive, during one of the evenly timed signals reception periods, the signals generated by said electronic sensing device, and to utilize the received signals from the multiple of signal reception periods to develop an image representative of the detected objects, the image processing modules being called by the main control program upon the reception of a signal from at least one blocked detector in a preselected hierarchal order and each image processing module being adapted to detect a preselected geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, the set of image processing modules including; a first image processing module adapted to detect a gap geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signals reception periods, a second image processing module adapted to detect a shift geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, a third image processing module adapted to detect a dimple geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, and a fourth image processing module adapted to detect a corner geometric condition in the number and positions of blocked detectors in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods; wherein said electronic counting device is further coupled to said object feeding device to control the operation thereof in response to indications of the image processing. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for counting objects comprising:
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a) an object feeding device to dispense objects in a random orientation therefrom; b) an electronic sensing device arranged adjacent to said object feed device, the electronic sensing device including a linear array of electronic detectors to detect in each of a series of timed signal reception periods the presence of objects dispensed from said object feeding device and passing in a random orientation by said electronic sensing device, each one of the electronic detectors being in a blocked state when an object or objects are detected by the electronic detector in any one timed signal reception period and generating a signal representative of the blocked state; and c) an electronic counting device including a programmed microprocessor, the programmed microprocessor including a processing hierarchy comprising a main control program and a set of image processing modules to analyze the relative number and position of blocked detectors in each of the successive timed signal reception periods to determine the presence of more than one object, the electronic counting device coupled to said electronic sensing device to receive, during each of the timed signal reception periods, the signals generated by said electronic sensing device, to utilize the received signals from the multiple of signal reception periods to develop an image representative of the detected objects as they pass in a random orientation, the image processing modules being called by the main control program upon the reception of a signal from at least one blocked detector in a preselected hierarchal order, each image processing module being adapted to detect a preselected geometric condition in the number and positions of detectors blocked by the randomly orientated objects in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, the set of image processing modules including; a first image processing module adapted to detect a gap geometric condition in the number and positions of detectors blocked by the randomly orientated objects in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, a second image processing module adapted to detect a shift geometric condition in the number and positions of detectors blocked by the randomly orientated objects in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, a third image processing module adapted to detect a dimple geometric condition in the number and positions of detectors blocked by the randomly orientated objects in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods, and a fourth image processing module adapted to detect a corner geometric condition in the number and positions of detectors blocked by the randomly orientated objects in a multiple of successive timed signal reception periods. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification