Apparatus for determining end orientation of produce

Dec. 6, 1966

P. M. L. SIMMONS

3,289,808

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATION OF PRODUCE

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Dec. 6, 1966 p. m. l. simmons 3,289,808

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATION OF PRODUCE Filed June 1, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2

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Dec. 6, 1966 p. m. l. simmons 3,289,808

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATION OF PRODUCE

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ATTORNEYS

Dec. 6, 1966 p, m. l. simmons 3,289,808

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATION OF PRODUCE

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ATTORNEYS

United States Patent Office

3,289,898

Patented Dec. 6, 1366

3,289,808

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING END ORIENTATION OF PRODUCE

Patrick M. L. Simmons, San Jose, Calif., assignor of onehalf to Genevieve I. Magnuson, Saratoga, Calif., and one-half to Genevieve I. Magnuson, Robert Magnuson, Lois J. Fox, trustees of the estate of Roy M. Magnuson

Filed June 1, 1965, Ser. No. 460,230

Claims. (CL 198—33)

This invention relates to an electronic apparatus for determining the end orientation of products such as com, carrots, banana peppers and other produce having a longitudinal taper on one end and a blunt shape on the other.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved electronic apparatus for determining the end orientation of products having different configurations at their respective ends.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved electronic apparatus comprising a predetermined array of light-sensitive cells and light sources located at the output end of a shuffle feed or on a conveyor for determining the orientation of elongated objects which have different configurations at their respective ends so that only such objects which have the same orientation are fed into a processing apparatus.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following specification, claims and drawing.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a product end positioner which was developed to solve the problem of random end orientation of such products as corn, carrots, banana peppers and other produce whose physical appearance comprises a longitudinal taper on one end and a blunt shape on the other. It is desirable in the processing of these products to have them oriented so that they enter the processing apparatus all in the same orientation so that the efficiency of the processing apparatus may be maintained. For example, in the processing of corn where the kernels are to be removed from the cob, if the com is fed into the machine with the blunt end first when the machine is adjusted to receive the corn oriented with the tapered end first, the net result is that from 10% to 40% of the corn kernels will be left on the cob, depending on the specific shape of the cob. Likewise, in the processing of other similar produce too large a percentage thereof is wasted by machines used to process it if the article is not presented thereto with the proper end first. Other features and details of this invention will be set forth in the specification, claims and drawing, in which, briefly:

_ FIG. 1 is a view showing this invention applied to a single file conveyor showing the light-sensitive cell apertures such that only the tip of the tapered end of an ear of corn would obscure one of the apertures when this end of the ear is presented to the array of light-sensitive cells first;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the blunt end of an ear of corn (in broken outline) presented to the light-sensitive cell array, and this view shows all of the light-sensitive cells being obscured;

FIG. 3 is a view of the output end of one file of a shuffle feed showing this invention applied thereto;

FIG. 4 is an end view of one file of a shuffle feed showing an ear of corn (in broken outline) being reoriented as it leaves the shuffle feed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the electronic control employed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of one of the photoelectric amplifiers employed in the arrangement shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic wiring diagram of one of the pulse coincidence amplifiers shown in the schematic diagram of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of the power switch employed in the arrangement shown in FIG. 5; ₅ and

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the power supply employed in the arrangement shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawing in detail, reference numerals 10 and 11 designate belts forming a V conveyor between them such as disclosed in application, Serial No. 122,970 θ filed July 10, 1961, now Patent No. 3,212,621 and assigned to a common assignee, for conveying articles of produce to a processing apparatus (not shown). The photoelectric cell housing 12 is attached to the end of the ₇g conveyor by means of suitable brackets so that the top of this housing is substantially in alignment with the bottom of the V in the conveyor. The top of this photoelectric cell housing 12 is provided with apertures 13, 14 and 15 below which the photoelectric cells 16, 17 and 18, re2θ spectively, are positioned to receive light from the light sources 19, 20 and 21, respectively, shown in broken outline. These light sources are positioned in suitable housings supported on frame members of the conveyor system.

Suitable ramps 22 and 23 are positioned beyond the 2g housing 12. The ramp 22 is aligned with the conveyor to receive ears of corn when they are presented in orientation designated by the ear of corn 24. The corn in the undesired orientation shown by the broken outline 25 is shifted to the ramp 23 by the air jet supplied from nozzle ₃θ 26 which is controlled by a valve actuated by a simple solenoid 27. On the other hand, this valve structure and solenoid may be of the type shown in Patent No. 2,950,424.

The light-sensitive cells 16, 17 and 18 and the rotary 35 solenoid 27 are connected in accordance with the diagram of connections shown in FIG. 5 and described hereinafter.

This invention may also be used with a shuffle feed of the type disclosed in Patents Nos. 2,738,816 and 2,792,929, and in that case a different configuration for the apertures 40 13α, 14α and 15α of the light-sensitive cells is employed.

Thus, the light-sensitive cell housing 12α in this case is positioned under the end member of one file of the shuffle feed. Apertures 13α, 14α and 15α are provided in this member so that light from the light sources in the hous45 ings 29, 19α. 20α and 21α is projected to the lightsensitive cells in the housing 12α through these apertures when no corn or other produce is interposed. A bracket 31 is provided for supporting the light sources and this bracket is attached to the shuffle feed frame. A rotary 5θ solenoid 29 is also attached to the frame of the shuffle feed and this solenoid is provided with an arm 32 which is rotatable thereby so that it is adapted to be moved upward, as shown in FIG. 4, when the solenoid is energized whereby the orientation of the ear of corn may be 55 shifted 180° through the imposition of this arm 32 before the ear of corn is deposited on the conveyor 33. The conveyor 33 may be made up of two belts arranged in a V configuration. A part of this conveyor, shown in FIG. 4, is broken away to expose the solenoid 29.

Light-sensitive cells 16, 17 and 18 which are positioned under apertures 13, 14 and 15, respectively, are connected to the inputs of amplifiers 34 and 35, as shown in FIG. 5. Each of these amplifiers is connected as shown in FIG. 6, in which the detail wiring diagram thereof is illus55 trated. It will be noted that the light-sensitive cell 16 is connected across a capacitor 36 which may be variable and which is employed to delay the signal from this cell in order to give the corn or other produce being processed enough time to settle in position with respect to all of the 70 light-sensitive cells before a measurement is made. Lightsensitive cell 16 functions as the trigger cell supplying the trigger input to amplifier 35. Light-sensitive cells

3,289,808 and 18 are connected in parallel to the input of amplifier 34.

The schematic diagram, FIG. 5, shows this apparatus as comprising four amplifier units 34, 35, 34a and 35α, pulse coincidence amplifier 37, power switch 38, power supply 39 and solenoids 27 and 27α connected to the output. Thus, the apparatus shown is actually a dual arrangement designed to work with a left and a right sensor and actuator associated with the left hand and right hand files of the shuffle feed or with two V-beit conveyors. The light-sensitive cells 16, 17 and 18 are positioned to sense the file proceeding on the right hand side of the shuffle feed, whereas, the light-sensitive cells 16α, 17α and 18α are positioned to sense the file proceeding on the left hand side of the shuffle feed.

The amplifier shown in FIG. 6 illustrates one of the amplifiers 34, 35, 34α and 35α, shown in FIG. 5, and each of these amplifiers employs three transistors 40, 41 and 42. The base of transistor 40 is connected to the lightsensitive cells 17 and 18 although only one cell 18 is shown. In the case of amplifier 35, the base of transistor 40 is connected to light-sensitive cell 16 and capacitor 36. The base of transistor 4® is also connected to the 12-16 volt supply line 43 through resistor 44. The collector of this transistor is connected to line 43 through resistor 45 and to the base of transistor 41 through resistor 46. The emitters of transistors 40 and 41 are connected together to provide emitter-coupled feedback and they are both connected to the ground line 49 through resistor 47. The base of transistor 41 is connected to ground line 49 through resistor 48. Resistors 45, 46 and 48 are connected in series between the 12 volt supply line 43 and ground 49, and the base of transistor 41 is connected to the common connection between resistors 46 and 48. The collector of transistor 41 is connected to the supply line 43 through resistor 50. This collector is also connected to the cathode of diode 51, the anode of which is connected to the base of transistor 42. The anode of diode 51 and base of transistor 42 are also connected to the upper terminal of resistor 52, the lower terminal of which is connected to the ground line 49. A capacitor 51α is connected across diode 51. The collector of transistor 42 is connected to the output terminal 53 and to the lower terminal of resistor 54, the upper terminal of which is connected to the line 43 and terminal 55. The emitter of transistor 42 is connected to ground line 49.

One section of the pulse coincidence amplifier 37 is shown in FIG. 7. This section is provided with input terminals 56 and 57 which are connected to the bases of transistors 64 and 69, respectively. The other section of this amplifier is the same as that shown in FIG. 7 and it is provided with corresponding input terminals 56α and 57α which are connected to the outputs of amplifiers 34α and 35α, respectively. Terminal 6® is connected to the power supply line 61 which is connected to a terminal on the power supply 39. Terminal 6® is common to both sections of the pulse coincidence amplifier. The output terminal 69 of the pulse coincidence amplifier is connected to the terminal 63 of a power switch 38. The corresponding output terminal 59α of the other section of the amplifier is connected to a similar terminal 63α of power switch 38. The ground terminal 58 of this amplifier is connected to the ground line 62.

The pulse coincidence amplifier shown in FIG. 7 is provided with transistors 64 to 70 inclusive of which transistors 64 and 69 are provided with signals from photo amplifiers 34 and 35, respectively. The signals supplied to transistor 69 is referred to as the trigger input.

The collectors of transistors 64, 66, 67 and 69 are connected to the 12-16 volt positive supply line 71 through resistors 72, 73, 74 and 75, respectively. The collectors of transistors 65, 68 and 70 are connected directly to the positive supply line 71. The emitters of transistors 64, 65, 66, 69 and 70 are connected to the ground line 81 through resistors 76, 77, 78, 79 and 80, respectively. The emitter of transistor 67 is connected to the emitter of transistor 66 to provide emitter-coupled feedback and both of these emitters are connected to the ground line 81 through resistor 78. The emitter of transistor 68 is connected to the base of transistor 66 to provide a capacitive regenerative feedback which is variable by varying the strength of the signal applied to the base of transistor 68. The cathode of diode 82 is connected to the collector of transistor 64 and to the lower terminal of resistor 72. The anode of diode 82 is connected to the base of transistor 65, to the lower terminal of resistor 84, and to the anode of diode 83. The upper terminal of resistor 84 is connected to the positive line 71. The cathode of diode 83 is connected to the emitter of transistor 70. Diodes 82 and 83 form a coincidence and gate which allows transistor 65 to be conductive only when the signals at the cathodes of these diodes are simultaneously positive.

One side of the capacitor 85 is connected to the collector of transistor 69 and the other side of the capacitor is connected to the base of transistor 70 and to the anode of diode 86, the cathode of this diode being connected to the ground line 81. Capacitor 85 differentiates the square wave pulse generated by transistor 69 and the diode 86 is polarized so that it bypasses one of the differentiated signals around transistor 7®. Thus, only the differentiator signal from the rise of the square wave pulse is applied by transistor 72 to the cathode of diode 83.

A relatively short pulse on the order of 3 milliseconds is supplied from transistor 65 to the base of transistor 66 through diode 87, the anode of which is connected to the emitter of transistor 65 and the cathode of which is connected to the base of transistor 66. Transistors 66, 67 and 68 form a multivibrator which is basically of the Schmitt trigger type with a very long coupling time constant and regenerative feedback which alters the bistable Schmitt trigger circuit to monostable multivbrator. This multivibrator functions as a pulse stretcher circuit with a relatively high amplification factor and it is capable of being triggered by a pulse a millisecond long to provide an output pulse which may be adjusted by a variable RC circuit 90, 91 from approximately 100 milliseconds to several seconds.

The base of transistor 67 is connected to the common connection between resistors 88 and 89. Resistors 73, 88 and 89 are connected in series between the positive supply line 71 and the ground line 81. The left hand terminal of resistor 88 is connected to the collector of transistor 66 and also to the bottom terminal of resistor 73 and the lower terminal of resistor 88 is connected to the ground line 81. The collector of transistor 67 is connected to the upper terminal of capacitor 90 and the lower terminal of this capacitor is connected to the upper terminal of the potentiometer 91. The variable contact of potentiometer 91 is connected to the base of transistor 68 and the lower terminal of potentiometer 91 is connected to the upper terminal of resistor 91α. The lower terminal of resistor 91α is connected to the ground line 81. A diode 92 is connected across potentiometer 91 and 91α to discharge capacitor 9® after the output pulse duration to provide improved uniformity of output pulse duration. The variable contact 93 of the potentiometer provides means for adjusting the length of the output pulse, as previously mentioned, by controlling the bias applied to the base of transistor 68, which provides, the feedback to the base of transistor 66. For this purpose, the emitter of transistor 68 is connected to the base of transistor 66 while the collector of transistor 68 is connected to the positive supply line 71.

The output supplied to terminal 59 of the amplifier is derived from the collector of transistor 67. This output is supplied to terminal 63 of the power switch 38, the

3,389,808 wiring diagram of which is shown in FIG. 8. The power switch includes two similar units, each of which is to be supplied from a separate pulse coincidence amplifier, such as shown in FIG. 7. Corresponding parts of the second unit of the power switch are indicated by the same reference numeral as in the first unit except that the suffix “a” is added to each of the reference numerals of the second unit.

The first unit is provided with an input terminal 63 and a ground terminal 94 which is common to both units. Terminal 63 is connected to the cathode of diode 95, and the anode thereof is connected to the base of transistor 96. The emitter of transistor 96 is connected to the ground line 94 through resistor 101, and the collector of this transistor is connected to the 24 volt line 109 through resistors 103 and 104 which are connected in series. The common connection of resistors 103 and 164 is connected to the base of transistor 97. The collector of transistor 97 is connected to the ground line 94 through resistor 102, and the emitter of this transistor is connected to the positive 24 volt line 109 through resistor 105. The emitter of transistor 97 is also connected to the base of transistor 98. The collector of transistor 98 is connected to the cathode of diode 99, to the anode of diode 160, and to the output terminal 108. The anode of diode 99 is connected to the ground line 94. The cathode of diode ISO is connected to the emitters of transistors 98 and 98α and to the cathode of diode 106, the anode of which is connected to the positive 24 volt line 109 which is provided with a terminal 107 that is connected to the output terminal 110 of the power supply 39.

Output terminal 108 of power switch 38 is connected to one side of the solenoid 111 and the other side of this solenoid is connected to the ground line 62. Output terminal 108α of power switch 38 is connected to one side of the solenoid 112 and the other side of this solenoid is connected to the ground line 62.

The wiring diagram of the power supply 39 is shown in FIG. 9. This power supply includes a transformer 113 having a primary that is adapted to be connected to a conventional 115 volt, 60 cycle power supply and a secondary, the output of which is rectified by rectifiers 114, 115, 116 and 117. One side of the secondary is connected to the anode of diode 114 and to the cathode of diode 116. The other side is connected to the anode of diode 115 and the cathode of 117. The anodes of diodes 116 and 117 are connected together and to the ground line 118 and terminal 119. The cathodes of diodes 114 and 115 are connected together to the input of the filter circuit, including capacitors 120 and 121, and to output terminal 110. The terminal 110 is also connected to the cathodes of diodes 114 and 115 to supply the unfiltered 24 volt rectified A.C. for the solenoids 111 and 112 through power switch 38.

A resistor 112 is connected between the upper terminals of capacitors 120 and 121 and resistor 123 is connected between the upper terminal of capacitor 121 and the collector of transistor 124. Transistor 124 functions as a series voltage regulator and transistors 127 and 130 form an amplifier supplying bias to the base of transistor 124, the collector-emitter circuit of which is connected in the positive line leading to the output terminal 136. A resistor 125 is connected between capacitor 121 and a common connection between capacitor 129 and the lower terminal of resistor 126. The lower terminals of capacitors 120, 121, 128 and 129 are connected to the ground line 118. The upper terminal of capacitor 128 is connected to the collector of transistor 124, and the upper terminal of the resistor 126 is connected to the collector of transistor 127. The emitter of transistor 127 is connected to the base of transistor 128 and the base of transistor 127 is connected to the collector of transistor 130 and to the lower terminal of resistor 132. The emitter of transistor 130 is connected to the cathode of diode 131 and the anode of this diode is connected to the ground line 118. The emitter of transistor 130 is also connected to the lower terminal of resistor 133 and the upper terminal of this resistor is connected to the emitter of transistor 124 and to the anode of diode 134. The cathode of diode 134 is connected to the upper terminal of resistor 132 and to the right hand terminal of resistor 134. The left hand terminal of this latter resistor is connected to the common connection between resistors 122, 123 and 125. The emitter of transistor 124 is connected to the upper terminals of resistors 133 and 137, and to the upper terminal of capacitor 138 and also to the output terminal 136 which supplies the current to the photo amplifiers 34 and 35 and the pulse coincidence amplifier 37. Resistors 137, 139 and 140 are connected in series between the ground line and the output line leading to terminal 36 and resistor 139 is provided with a variable contact 139α which is connected to the base of transistor 130. Variable contact 139α provides a control whereby the output voltage supplied at terminal 136 may be varied between certain limits. The operation of this apparatus may be summarized as follows: When the produce, for example, the ear of corn 24, is positioned on the conveyor 10-11 with the tapered end thereof forward as shown in FIG. 1, the light-sensitive cell 16 under aperture 13 will be covered by the forward end of the ear of corn, whereas, the light-sensitive cells 17 and 18 positioned in the apertures 14 and 15, respectively, will be uncovered. Since this is the desired orientation of the ear of corn, the circuit does not respond to this condition and the ear of corn 24 is allowed to proceed forward onto the channel 22. However, if the ear is proceeding from the conveyor 10-11 with the blunt end first, as shown in FIG. 2, all three light-sensitive cells 16, 17 and 18 are covered. The trigger signal from cell 16 is delayed by virtue of the electrolytic capacitor 36 connected across the cell in order to give the ear of corn enough time to settle in the proper position before a measurement is made. This capacitor is not necessary when this apparatus is used with V-belt conveyor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is used only when the apparatus is employed with the shuffle feed shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

When the corn covers all three ceils 16, 17 and 18, a positive pulse occurs that the trigger input 57 of the pulse coincidence amplifier and a positive D.C. level of approximately 12 volts is established at the data input, that is, the terminal 56 of the amplifier. Capacitor 85, which is connected to transistor 269, differentiates the square wave pulse produced by this transistor. Thus, a pulse is supplied at the forward end of the square wave pulse and at the trailing end of this pulse. One of these pulses, that is, the negative or trailing pulse, is bypassed through the diode 86 to the ground line 81, and the other is transmitted to the base of transistor 70. Diodes 82 and 83 form a coincidence AND gate connected to the base of transistor 65, and this gate allows the transistor to conduct only when the signals at the cathodes of diodes 82 and 83 are simultaneously positive. Transistor 65 produces a three millisecond output pulse from the emitter thereof which is applied through diode 87 to the base of transistor 66. Transistors 67 and 68 constitute a monostable multivibrator circuit which produces a relatively long output pulse from a relatively short input pulse. The input pulse is the three millisecond output pulse from the emitter of transistor 65. The output voltage of the multivibrator rises to approximately 12 volts D.C., depending upon the external load applied to terminal 59. Transistor 68 conducts current back into the base of transistor 66, whereby maintaining this transistor in its conducting state even though the input pulse has expired. The length of the output pulse supplied to terminal 59 may be adjusted by adjusting the position of contact 93 of potentiometer 91 so that the output pulse may be adjusted from 100 milliseconds to several seconds. This time may, however, be further

3,389,808 adjusted depending upon the values of capacitor 90 and resistor 91.

In this apparatus a positive D.C. level exists at input terminal 56 when the light-sensitive cells 17 and 18 are uncovered and light is impinging thereon. A positive pulse occurs at terminal 57 when a product has covered light-sensitive cell 16 and has just finished passing over the cell and light is restored.

The power switch 38 functions to control energization of solenoids 111 and 112 which control air valves 127α and 127, respectively. Solenoid 27, shown in FIG. 2, corresponds with one of the solenoids 111 or 112, shown in FIG. 5, and the valve controlled thereby controls the supply of compressed air to nozzle 26. The width or length of the pulse supplied to the solenoid 111 through the power switch transistor amplifier, including transistors 96, 97 and 93, is adjusted as described above to permit the desired amount of air to be supplied to nozzle 26 so that the ear of corn proceeding with the blunt end first may be deflected from the end of the conveyor 10-11 to the channel 23 from which the corn may be passed to another conveyor, if desired.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar to the operation of the apparatus just described. In this case, when the apertures 13α, 14α and 15α are covered by the blunt end of an ear of corn, the circuit shown in FIG. 5 functions to energize the solenoid 29 which corresponds to one of the solenoids 111 or 112. Solenoid 29 rotates the arm 32 upward to deflect the ear of corn 28 and cause it to roll over so that the tapered end thereof is turned to the left and faces in the direction of motion, as indicated by the arrow of the conveyor.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is capable of variation and modification from the form shown so that its scope should be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.