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EP-4737021-A1 - SELECTOR MACHINE AND METHOD FOR QUALITY CONTROL EXECUTED BY MEANS OF SAID SELECTOR MACHINE

EP4737021A1EP 4737021 A1EP4737021 A1EP 4737021A1EP-4737021-A1

Abstract

Selector machine comprising first and second conveyance means (2, 8), an optical detection system (3), a control unit (6) and expulsion means (7). The first conveyance means (2) define a first path (A) for advancing a loose product comprising multiple solid elements up to making it fall into a first analysis section (A1). The optical detection system (3) comprises a first optical sensor (5) arranged for generating first measurement signals relative to the loose product in the first analysis section (A1). The control unit (6) is arranged for sending, as a function of the first measurement signals, command signals to the expulsion means (7) for the purpose of actuating them to eliminate determined solid elements of the loose product, dividing the latter into a selected product, formed by the non-eliminated solid elements, and into a discarded product, formed by the eliminated solid elements. The second conveyance means (2) define a second path (B) for advancing a product to be analyzed, which is formed by one between the selected product and the discarded product, up to making it fall in a second analysis section (B1). The optical detection system (3) also comprises a second optical sensor (11) arranged for generating second measurement signals relative to the product to be analyzed in the second analysis section (B1). Additionally, the control unit (6) is configured for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed into selection elements and into discard elements based on a visual parameter of the solid elements obtained from the second measurement signals and for calculating a quantitative parameter indicative of the quantity, in the product to be analyzed, of the selection elements and/or of the quantity, in the product to be analyzed, of the discard elements.

Inventors

  • UZZO, ANDREA

Assignees

  • 3U Vision Srl

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20251003

Claims (10)

  1. Selector machine (1), which comprises: - first conveyance means (2), which define a first advancement path (A), along which at least one loose product, comprising multiple solid elements, is susceptible of advancing, and are arranged for making said loose product advance, via falling, at least into a first analysis section (A1) of said first advancement path (A); - an optical detection system (3) comprising: - first emitter means (4) arranged for emitting, towards the first analysis section (A1) of said first advancement path (A), electromagnetic radiations adapted to hit said loose product; - at least one first optical sensor (5) directed towards said first analysis section (A1) and arranged for capturing electromagnetic radiations coming from said loose product irradiated by said first emitter means (4), and for transducing said electromagnetic radiations into corresponding first measurement signals; - an electronic control unit (6) operatively connected to said first optical sensor (5) to receive said first measurement signals, and arranged for emitting command signals as a function of said first measurement signals; - expulsion means (7) operatively connected to said electronic control unit (6) to receive said command signals and arranged for eliminating, from said first advancement path (A), determined solid elements of said loose product as a function of said command signals, dividing said loose product at least into a selected product, which comprises the solid elements of said loose product that were not eliminated from said first advancement path (A) by means of said expulsion means (7), and into a discarded product, which comprises the solid elements of said loose product that were eliminated from said first advancement path (A) by means of said expulsion means (7); - second conveyance means (8), which are provided with at least one inlet section (9) arranged for receiving at least one product to be analyzed, which is formed by at least one part of one between said selected product and said discarded product; wherein said second conveyance means (8) define at least one second advancement path (B), along which said at least one product to be analyzed is susceptible of advancing, and are arranged for making said at least one product to be analyzed to advance, via falling, in a second analysis section (B1) of said second advancement path (B); said optical detection system (3) comprising: - second emitter means arranged for emitting towards the second analysis section (B1) of said second advancement path (B) electromagnetic radiations adapted to hit said product to be analyzed; - at least one second optical sensor (11) directed towards said second analysis section (B1) and arranged for capturing electromagnetic radiations coming from said product to be analyzed irradiated by said second emitter means, and for transducing said electromagnetic radiations into corresponding second measurement signals; said electronic control unit (6) being operatively connected to said second optical sensor (11) to receive said second measurement signals and configured for: - classifying the solid elements of said product to be analyzed at least into selection elements and into discard elements based on at least one visual parameter of said solid elements obtained from said second measurement signals; - calculating at least one quantitative parameter which is indicative of the quantity, in said product to be analyzed, of said selection elements and/or of the quantity, in said product to be analyzed, of said discard elements.
  2. Selector machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said electronic control unit (6) is configured for: - obtaining, from the first measurement signals generated by said first optical sensor (5), at least one comparison parameter for each of the solid elements which compose said loose product; - comparing said at least one comparison parameter of each solid element of said loose product with at least one first discrimination value; - classifying the solid elements of said loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected, as a function of the comparison of the at least one comparison parameter of each solid element of said loose product with said at least one first discrimination value; - emitting said command signals as a function of the classification of the solid elements of said loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected, and by means of said command signals said expulsion means (7) are actuated to eliminate, from said first advancement path (A), said elements to be discarded, dividing said loose product into said selected product and into said discarded product.
  3. Selector machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said electronic control unit (6) is configured for modifying said at least one first discrimination value as a function of said at least one quantitative parameter.
  4. Selector machine (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises an out-put device (12), which is susceptible of being actuated by said electronic control unit (6) to communicate to a user said at least one quantitative parameter, and an in-put device (13), which is arranged for allowing a user to modify said first discrimination value.
  5. Selector machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said electronic control unit (6) is configured for: - obtaining, from the second measurement signals generated by said second optical sensor (11), said at least one visual parameter for each of the solid elements that compose said product to be analyzed; - comparing the at least one visual parameter of each solid element of said product to be analyzed with a second discrimination value; - classifying the solid elements of said product to be analyzed into selection elements and into discard elements, as a function of the comparison of the at least one visual parameter of each solid element of said product to be analyzed with said at least one second discrimination value; - executing a count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in said product to be analyzed; - calculating said at least one quantitative parameter as a function of the count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in said product to be analyzed.
  6. Selector machine (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said electronic control unit (6) is configured for comparing a said quantitative parameter, associated with said product to be analyzed formed by at least part of said selected product and indicative of the percentage of said selection elements in said selected product, with an admissibility threshold and for emitting an alarm signal with said at least one quantitative parameter that is lower than said admissibility threshold.
  7. Selector machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises transport means (14) operatively connected to the inlet section (9) of said second conveyance means (8) and arranged for carrying, to said second conveyance means (8), said product to be analyzed.
  8. Selector machine (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a first collection compartment (15), which is placed at the end of the first analysis section (A1) of said first advancement path (A) to receive the solid elements of said selected product, and a second collection compartment (16), which is placed adjacent to the first collection compartment (15) to receive the solid elements of said discarded product; said transport means (14) comprising at least one transport device (17) extended from one between said first collection compartment (15) and said second collection compartment (16) to the inlet section (9) of said second conveyance means (8), to transport said at least one product to be analyzed to said second conveyance means (8).
  9. Selector machine (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said second conveyance means (8) comprise: - at least one first channel (18) extended starting from said inlet section (9), defining a said second advancement path (B), along which said product to be analyzed formed by at least part of said selected product is susceptible of advancing, and arranged for making said product to be analyzed to advance, via falling, in a second analysis section (B1) of the corresponding said second advancement path (B); - at least one second channel (19) extended starting from said inlet section (9), defining a further second advancement path (B), along which another product to be analyzed formed by at least part of said discarded product is susceptible of advancing, and arranged for making said product to be analyzed to advance, via falling, in a second analysis section (B1) of the corresponding said second advancement path (B); said transport means (14) being arranged for providing said product to be analyzed formed by at least part of said selected product to said first channel (18) and for providing said product to be analyzed formed by at least part of said discarded product to said second channel (19).
  10. Method for quality control executed by means of the selector machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which provides for: - a selection step, in which: - said loose product is advanced along said first conveyance means (2) to make it fall along the first analysis section (A1) of said first advancement path (A); - said first optical sensor (5) generates said first measurement signals; - said electronic control unit (6) emits said command signals as a function of said first measurement signals; - said expulsion means (7) eliminate determined solid elements of said loose product from said first advancement path (A) as a function of said first measurement signals, dividing said loose product into said selected product and into said discarded product; - an analysis step, in which: - a product to be analyzed formed by at least part of one between said selected product and said discarded product is advanced along said second conveyance means (8) to make it fall along the second analysis section (B1) of said second advancement path (B); - said second optical sensor (11) generates said second measurement signals; - said electronic control unit (6) classifies the solid elements of said product to be analyzed at least into selection elements and into discard elements based on at least one visual parameter of said solid elements obtained from said second measurement signals; - calculates at least one quantitative parameter which is indicative of the quantity, in said product to be analyzed, of said selection elements and/or of the quantity, in said product to be analyzed, of said discard elements.

Description

Field of application The present invention regards a selector machine, according to the preamble of the independent claims 1. The present selector machine is inserted in the field of production of machines for sorting products, which are advantageously employed for identifying, within a loose product, determined solid elements to be separated. Advantageously, the present selector machine is adapted to operate on small-size loose products, in particular smaller than about 15 mm. The present selector machine is, in particular, intended to be employed in the agricultural industry, e.g. for separating dried fruit from the corresponding shells before packaging, in the waste recovery and recycling industry, e.g. for separating waste attained with plastic materials that are different from each other, or in any other field where it is necessary to separate solid elements in a loose product from each other, in particular on the basis of their external appearance and/or of their chemical-physical properties. State of the art Selector machines of automated type are known on the market, which are employed for separating, within a product constituted by multiple objects, determined objects to be selected or to be discarded. As is known, the selector machines are generally provided with conveyance means on which a flow of a loose product is advanced, at its interior comprising multiple solid elements which must be distinct and separated. Such loose product can for example comprise dried fruit (such as hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, which must be separated from their shells before being packaged), or it can comprise waste made of different material (e.g. plastic), which must be separated from each other in order to allow a correct disposal or recycling thereof. For example, the conveyance means comprise at least one hopper through which the product is made to fall on a corresponding vibrating feeder, which is provided with at least one substantially horizontal plate susceptible of being vibrated by a respective vibration generator in order to advance the aforesaid loose product up to a system of slides arranged for making the loose product fall along an analysis section that terminates at a collection drawer. The selector machines also comprise an optical detection system arranged for acquiring and analyzing images of the flow of loose product falling from the slides system along the analysis section, so as to distinguish, in the loose product, the solid elements to be discarded. Such detection system is adapted to send command signals, on the basis of the information obtained from the acquired images, to expulsion means (such as solenoid valves) actuatable to remove (e.g. through the emission of jets of compressed air), from the loose product falling along the analysis section, determined solid elements identified as solid elements to be discarded, in a manner such that these do not fall within the collection drawers for a selected product. In particular, known from document US 2020/338600 A1 is a selector machine which comprises two slides placed in parallel and susceptible of sliding two corresponding product flows that are simultaneously analyzed by means of the optical detection system. The selector machines of known type briefly described hereinbelow have nevertheless proven in practice that they do not lack drawbacks. The main drawback lies in the fact that such selector machines could lose the capacity to effectively separate the solid elements to be selected with respect to the solid elements to be discarded, due to various reasons, such as for example a sensitivity to the solid elements to be discarded that is not correctly set in the electronic control unit or a malfunctioning of the expulsion means that does not allow correctly eliminating the solid elements to be discarded. Therefore, there could occur the case in which the selected product accidentally contains an overly high quantity of solid elements that should have been discarded (due to an overly low sensitivity that brings the electronic control unit to erroneously recognize several of the solid elements to be discarded as solid elements to be selected or due to a malfunctioning of the expulsion means) or the case in which the discarded product contains an overly high quantity of solid elements that should have been selected (due to an overly high sensitivity that brings the electronic control unit to recognize, as solid elements to be discarded, solid elements that instead should have been selected). Thus, for the purpose of verifying the correct operation of the selector machine and hence the quality of the product selected by the same, the operators of the sector are presently obligated to manually pick up small specimens of selected product (e.g. half kilogram) from the collection drawers of the selected product and to separate the solid elements, which have effectively been correctly selected, from the solid elements which must be discarded and whic