| 摘要 |
<p>Apparatus for separating and sequencing individual articles, for example seeds, comprises a perforated drum (3) which in use is rotated in the direction of the arrow (4) by a motor (5). The surface of the drum passes in sequence over a first chamber (7) in which a vacuum is maintained and a second chamber (8) in which a super-atmospheric pressure is maintained. A bulk supply of articles to be sorted is maintained in a trough (12) and individual articles are removed from the bulk supply by being attracted against the perforations by the vacuum existing in the first chamber. The perforations come into register with the second chamber (8) one at a time so that a sequence of individual articles is formed in chute (15). Counting means are provided to count the individual articles. The counting means may include means of determining the size of individual articles and means for comparing the measured size with acceptable size standards so that articles falling outside of acceptable standards are not counted. Fluorescence and/or colour detectors may also be included to determine whether or not articles have acceptable characteristics. The invention is particularly useful for the counting and packaging of seeds.</p> |
