A device for analyzing a grain sample including a light source, an image sensor, and a controller. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample. The image sensor is configured for capturing images of the grain sample. The controller is coupled to the image sensor and is configured for receiving the images of the grain sample therefrom and for analyzing the images to detect at least one material other than grain in the grain sample. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample with a local light spot having a size that is smaller than a width of an average wheat kernel. The image analysis and the detection of material other than grain may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.

An optical sorter includes a first light source disposed on a first side, a second light source disposed on a second side, an optical sensor configured to detect light during a plurality of scan periods including a first scan period and a second scan period, a determination part configured to determine a foreign object and/or a defective product, and a light source control part. The light source control part is configured to control the first light source and the second light source during the first scan period so as to turn on the first light source and/or the second light source in a first lighting pattern, which is a lighting pattern arbitrarily selected from a lighting pattern in which the first light source and the second light source are at least partially on, a lighting pattern in which only one of the first light source and the second light source is at least partially on, and a lighting pattern in which only the other of the first light source and the second light source is at least partially on, and is also configured to control the first light source and the second light source during the second scan period so as to turn on the first light source and/or the second light source in a second lighting pattern, which is a lighting pattern selected arbitrarily except for the first lighting pattern.

An inspection unit for performing an optical inspection on a grain to be transferred by transfer means includes a visible light source, a near-infrared light source, a visible light detection unit, and a near-infrared light detection unit. A determination unit plots wavelength components of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and a near-infrared light component in a three-dimensional space, to create a three-dimensional optical correlation diagram, for a plurality of good product samples and defective product samples, and sets a threshold value, in which: the wavelength components are detected by the visible light detection unit; and the near-infrared light component is detected by the near-infrared light detection unit.

Provided is a particle measurement device in which irradiation light emitted by a light source is expanded by an expander in a shape satisfying the requirements of a diffractive optical element, converted into parallel light, and made to enter the diffractive optical element. The diffractive optical element shapes the irradiation light entering therein into a flat top beam in which the cross section in the focal position thereof has an elongate rectangle shape. The intensity distribution of light can be made substantially uniform in a detection area formed by the shaped irradiation light.

A powder mixing system and method improves productivity of a final product by reducing time required for completion of mixing. The powder mixing system includes a mixing vessel provided with a rotating shaft for mixing multiple kinds of powder, a rotating machine for rotating the mixing vessel by means of the rotating shaft, an image photographing device for acquiring an image of the powder in a mixing process, and a computer. The mixing vessel includes a window through which the image of the powder is photographed. The computer has a function of detecting that the mixing vessel is located at a predetermined position. The image photographing device acquires the image of the powder through the window of the mixing vessel located at the predetermined position. The computer estimates a mixing state of the powder based on the acquired image of the powder.

A sensor apparatus for detecting constituents of a material, the apparatus comprising: a first sensor, which interacts with the material, configured to measure an optical spectrum of the material and is coupled to an evaluation device that is configured to output an output value relating to the level of the one or more constituents in the material with the aid of the measured spectrum and calibration data; a second sensor configured to analyse the material examined by the first sensor and to output a signal relating to the level of the one or more constituents in the material; and a calibration data generating device configured to generate the calibration data for the evaluation device with the aid of the signal of the second sensor.

Provided is an optical sorting device including a chute having an optical detection slit and a sorting and removal slit arranged on a downstream side of the optical detection slit, an object to be sorted flowing down on a front surface of the chute. A rear-side illuminating portion of an optical inspection unit and an ejector nozzle are attached to a rear-side housing. The rear-side housing is installed on a rear surface side of the chute such that the rear-side illuminating portion faces the optical detection slit, and a leading end of the ejector nozzle faces the sorting and removal slit.

A system is presented for evaluating grain in a grain handling system. The system includes a sensor system and a sample conveyor system. In one or more arrangements, the sensor system is operatively connected to the grain handling system and includes an optical sensor. The sample conveyor system is configured to collect samples of grain in the grain handling system, deliver the samples of grain to the sensor system, and remove the samples of grain from the sensor system. The sensor system is configured to measure characteristics of the samples of grain delivered to the sensor system by the sample conveyor system. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a cleaning system configured to clean the optical sensor, the lens; and/or other components of the sensor system. In one or more arrangements, the system includes a recalibration system configured to recalibrate the optical sensor.

A glue overflow detection system and method, includes a camera module and a processor. The camera module is configured to capture an image which includes a blue chromaticity image and a red chromaticity image. The processor obtains a chromatic-aberration difference image according to the blue chromaticity image and the red chromaticity image. The processor obtains a block feature image according to the chromatic-aberration difference image. The processor obtains a longitudinal inter-block difference image and a transverse inter-block difference image according to the block feature image. The longitudinal inter-block difference image includes a plurality of longitudinal block difference blocks each of which has a longitudinal difference value. The transverse inter-block difference image includes a plurality of transverse block difference blocks each of which has a transverse difference vale. The processor determines that a glue overflow image exists in the image according to the longitudinal difference values and the transverse difference values.

A method and a device for detecting plastic foreign objects with low chromaticity difference in shredded tobacco through online pulse spectral imaging are provided. The method includes three steps: negative pressure thin-layer loading of shredded tobacco, pulse line-scanning identification of shredded tobacco, and positive pressure online elimination of foreign objects. Loose shredded tobacco is formed into a fixed and continuous thin layer on a surface of a conveying cylinder under the effect of a negative pressure adsorption force. The surface of the conveying cylinder is coded by areas. An LED linear array light source containing characteristic wavelengths of plastics with low chromaticity difference emits optical pulses, and a line-scanning camera is used to obtain characteristic signals of the plastic foreign objects with low chromaticity difference efficiently in real time.