METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR USE IN INSPECTING AND/OR REMOVING UNSUITABLE OBJECTS FROM A STREAM OF PRODUCTS AND A SORTING APPARATUS IMPLEMENTING THE SAME

摘要

The present invention relates to a method and system for inspecting and sorting unsuitable or irregular objects in a stream of products (2), the system (1 ) comprising means for scanning (10) the stream of products (2) along a scan line (S), said scan line (S) being formed by means of at least one light source (1 1 ) directing light (14) along said scan line (S), and means (20) for detecting light beams (5, 6) reemitted by the product stream (2) upon scanning wherein said scanning means (10) comprises a focusing means (26) for concentrating the light (12) in at least one dimension, said detecting means (20) comprising focusing means (21 ) for forming an image (3', 4') in an image plane (P2), said detecting means (20) being oriented towards said scan line (S) such that points on said scan line (S) forming a projected scan line (Sp) in said image plane (P2) and said image (3', 4') substantially located in the image plane (P2) being substantially focused in at least one dimension by said focusing means (21 ), said detecting means (20) further comprising spatial filtering means (22) filtering said image (3', 4') in substantially only the direction (yp) perpendicular to the direction of said projected scan line (Sp).