Sorting apparatus.

摘要

A sorting apparatus for separating a first granular material having a desired color and a second granular material having a color distinct from the desired color one from the other includes a feeder for feeding a mixture of the first and second granular materials to an upstream end (11) of each of a plurality of chutes (10). The mixture flows downwardly by its own weight along each chute while being accelerated by gravity and is discharged from the downstream end (13) of the chute (10) so as to describe a predetermined path of travel (29). A photoelectric detector (59) detects the second granular material flowing along the predetermined path of travel to generate a detecting signal. A separator (69) is operative in response to the detecting signal to deflect the second granular material from the predetermined path of travel. A vibrator unit (99) vibrates each chute (10) to cause individual granules of the mixture to flow downwardly along the chute at substantially the same changing rate of speed.