Selector machine and method for quality control executed by means of said selector machine

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.

Description

Field of application

[0001] The present invention regards a selector machine, according to the preamble of the independent claims 1.

[0002] 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.

[0003] Advantageously, the present selector machine is adapted to operate on small-size loose products, in particular smaller than about 15 mm.

[0004] 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

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] The selector machines of known type briefly described hereinbelow have nevertheless proven in practice that they do not lack drawbacks.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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).

[0014] 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 which have actually come to be part of the selected product, in a manner such to be sure that the selected product has the requested level of purity.

[0015] Nevertheless, such quality control carried out by the operator requires a lot of time for the execution thereof, it has low reliability since it requires a manual operation (which leads to errors) for separating, in the selected product, the solid elements that are actually correct from those that must be discarded, and it is unlikely to be representative of the actual quality of the finished product, since the quantity of loose product that the selector machine processes in a unit of time can reach up to fifty tons per hour, while the operator employs a half hour of time to control a small sample thereof.Presentation of the invention

[0016] In this situation, the object underlying the present invention is therefore that of eliminating the problems of the abovementioned prior art, by providing a selector machine, which is capable of autonomously executing a control of the quality of the selected product, without requiring an intervention of human operators.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which does not risk to provide a selected product containing an overly high quantity of impurities.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which does not risk to erroneously discard a part of the loose product which would have been selected.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which is capable of modifying the operation thereof based on the quality control that is autonomously executed.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which is entirely reliable in operation.

[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which is simple and inexpensive to attain.Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The technical characteristics of the present invention, according to the aforesaid objects, are clearly seen in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represents a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a selector machine according to the present invention, in which several components have been removed in order to better illustrate other ones; figure 2 shows a schematic and lateral view of the selector machine of figure 1; figure 3 shows a perspective schematic view of the selector machine of figure 1, in which several components have been removed in order to better illustrate other ones. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0023] With reference to the enclosed figures, reference number 1 indicates a selector machine according to the present invention.

[0024] Advantageously, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed, in different fields of application, in order to select determined elements in a product constituted by a set of solid elements, in particular with shape and / or color that are very similar.

[0025] More in detail, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed in the food industry, in particular so as to identify in a loose product (in particular granular), such as for example dried fruit (hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds), seeds, grain or the like, and elements that must be discarded before packaging the product, which for example can be shells of the dried fruit, discards of the food product processing or other inedible foreign bodies.

[0026] In addition, the present selector machine 1 can be employed in the waste recovery industry, in particular so as to identify elements of determined materials (e.g. different types of plastic) in order to be correctly disposed of or recycled.

[0027] The present selector machine 1 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.

[0028] In addition, such first conveyance means 2 are arranged for making the loose product advance, via falling, at least into a first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A itself.

[0029] Advantageously, the aforesaid first advancement path A comprises a first tilted section A2, which precedes the first analysis section A1 and on which said loose product is susceptible of sliding, subjected to the force of gravity.

[0030] Preferably, the first conveyance means 2 comprise a first slide 20, which defines the first tilted section A2 of the first advancement path A extended, along a corresponding first main extension direction that is substantially rectilinear and tilted with respect to a vertical direction, between a first upper end 21 thereof and an opposite first lower end 22, starting from which the first analysis section A1 is extended.

[0031] Still more preferably, the first slide 20 is extended, on a corresponding first lying plane containing the aforesaid first main extension direction, between the first upper end 21 and the first lower end 22, which are transverse to the first main extension direction, and between two opposite first lateral edges 23, which are parallel to the first main extension direction.

[0032] In this manner, during use, the loose product descends, subject to the force of gravity, along the first slide 20, with its solid elements that are distributed over the entire extension of the first slide 20 between the two first lateral edges 23 spaced from each other, thus ensuring that the loose product reaches the first analysis section A1 with the solid elements that compose it well-distributed and spaced.

[0033] The present machine 1 is also provided with an optical detection system 3, which comprises the first emitter means 4 and at least one first optical sensor 5.

[0034] The aforesaid first emitter means 4 are arranged for emitting, towards the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A, electromagnetic radiations adapted to hit the loose product.

[0035] In addition, the first optical sensor 5 is directed towards the first analysis section A1 and is arranged for capturing the electromagnetic radiations coming from the loose product irradiated by the first emitter means 4 and for transducing the aforesaid electromagnetic radiations into corresponding first measurement signals.

[0036] More in detail, the first optical sensor 5 is placed adjacent to the first advancement path A, in particular below the first slide 20, and is directed towards the first analysis section A1, so as to detect the loose product free falling from the first slide 20 along such first analysis section A1 with the solid elements spaced from each other.

[0037] Advantageously, the first emitter means 4 comprise one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type), which are arranged for emitting electromagnetic radiations in the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which the spectrum is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the loose product in order to identify therewithin the solid elements that must be discarded.

[0038] Analogously, also the first optical sensor 5 is preferably provided with an interval of sensitivity to electromagnetic radiations belonging to the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which such sensitivity field is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the loose product.

[0039] Preferably, the first optical sensor 5 is provided with a plurality of optical transducers adapted to capture the electromagnetic radiations, which still more preferably are distributed along one or more rows of optical transducers, in particular parallel to the first lying plane of the first slide 20 and transverse with respect to the first main extension direction of the same first slide 20 (in particular, in a manner such to be able to detect the loose product that falls from the first lower end 22 of the first slide 20 after being distributed along the entire extension of the same first slide 20 between the two first lateral edges 23 along a direction transverse to the first main extension direction).

[0040] The first optical sensor 5 is advantageously a video camera, e.g. color, multi-spectral, hyper-spectral and the like.

[0041] In particular, the first optical sensor 5 is arranged for generating the first measurement signals in the form of images formed by a plurality of pixels.

[0042] The selector machine 1 according to the invention also comprises an electronic control unit 6, which is operatively connected to the first optical sensor 5 in order to receive the first measurement signals and is arranged for emitting command signals.

[0043] More in detail, the electronic control unit 6 is arranged for analyzing the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5 in order to identify, in the loose product (in particular falling along the first analysis section A1), determined solid elements that must be discarded and for generating the aforesaid command signals as a function of the identified solid elements to be discarded.

[0044] Additionally, the present selector machine 1 comprises expulsion means 7 operatively connected to the electronic control unit 6 in order to receive the command signals and arranged for eliminating, from the first advancement path A, determined solid elements of the loose product as a function of the command signals, dividing the loose product at least into a selected product, which comprises the solid elements of the loose product that were not eliminated from the first advancement path A by means of the expulsion means 7, and into a discarded product, which comprises the solid elements of the loose product that were eliminated from the first advancement path A by means of the expulsion means 7. Advantageously, the expulsion means 7 comprise multiple nozzles 24 directed towards the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A and arranged for each emitting a jet of compressed air, so as to eliminate, from the first advancement path A, the solid elements identified as elements to be discarded by the electronic control unit 6 analyzing the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5 of the optical detection system 3.

[0045] Preferably, the nozzles 24 are placed below the first optical sensor 5 and each provided with a corresponding solenoid valve 25 placed in fluid connection with a device 26 for feeding compressed air, operatively connected to the electronic control unit 6 and switchable, as a function of the command signals generated by the same electronic control unit 6, between an open configuration, in which the flow of compressed air is allowed from the feed device 26 to the corresponding nozzle 24 so that the latter emits a jet of compressed air towards the loose product free falling along the first analysis section A1, and a closed configuration, in which the flow of compressed air from the feed device 26 to the corresponding nozzle 24 is prevented.

[0046] More in detail, the nozzles 24 are placed side-by-side each other along an alignment direction adjacent to the first analysis section A1, and such alignment direction is in particular substantially parallel to the first lying plane on which the first slide 20 of the conveyance means 2 is extended and transverse to the first main extension direction of the same first slide 20 (in particular, in a manner such to remove, from the first analysis section A1, the solid elements to be discarded of the loose product that falls from the first lower end 22 of the first slide 20, after being distributed along the entire extension of the same first slide 20 between the two first lateral edges 23 along a direction transverse to the first main extension direction).

[0047] In particular, each nozzle 24 is operatively associated with a determined point of the first analysis section A1 (according for example to a determined position grid), in a manner such that the actuation of each nozzle 24 generates a jet of compressed air that hits the solid elements to be discarded of the loose product that pass in such determined point of the first analysis section A1.

[0048] In this manner, the solid elements to be discarded (which must be separate from the rest of the loose product) are hit by the jet of compressed air emitted by one of the nozzles 24 of the expulsion means 7 and are effectively deflected from the first advancement path A while they are situated in the situation of free fall from the first slide 20 along the first analysis section A1.

[0049] Suitably, the first conveyance means 2 can define multiple first advancement paths A, along which multiple loose products, comprising multiple solid elements, are susceptible of advancing, and are arranged for making the loose products advance, via falling, in corresponding first analysis sections A1 of the first advancement path A, in a manner such that the selector machine 1 can at the same time process different types of loose product or can simultaneously process multiple loose products of the same type in order to increase productivity.

[0050] In particular, in such case, the first emitter means 4 and the first optical sensor 5 of the optical detection system 3 and the expulsion means 7 are extended transversely with respect to the plurality of first advancement paths A in order to be able to operate on the plurality of loose products which advance on all the aforesaid first advancement paths A.

[0051] According to the idea underlying the present invention, the present selector machine 1 also comprises 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 the selected product and the discarded product.

[0052] Such second conveyance means 8 define at least one second advancement path B, along which the product to be analyzed is susceptible of advancing.

[0053] In addition, the second conveyance means 8 are arranged for making the product to be analyzed advance, via falling, in a second analysis section B1 of the same second advancement path B. Advantageously, the aforesaid second advancement path B comprises a second tilted section B2, which precedes the second analysis section B1, on which the product to be analyzed is susceptible of sliding, subject to the force of gravity.

[0054] Preferably, the second conveyance means 8 comprise at least one second slide 27, which defines the second tilted section B2 of the second advancement path B extended, along a corresponding second main extension direction that is substantially rectilinear and tilted with respect to a vertical direction, between a second upper end 28 thereof and an opposite second lower end 29, starting from which the second analysis section B1 is extended.

[0055] Still more preferably, the second slide 27 is extended, on a corresponding second lying plane containing the aforesaid second main extension direction, between the second upper end 28 and the second lower end 29, which are transverse to the second main extension direction, and between two opposite second lateral edges 30, which are parallel to the second main extension direction.

[0056] In this manner, during use, the product to be analyzed descends, subject to the force of gravity, along the second slide 27, with its solid elements that are distributed over the entire extension of the second slide 27 between the two second lateral edges 30 spaced from each other, thus ensuring that the product to be analyzed reaches the second analysis section B1 with the solid elements that compose it well-distributed and spaced.

[0057] In addition, still according to the idea underlying the present invention, the optical detection system 8 comprises second emitter means (not illustrated in the enclosed figures), which are arranged for emitting, towards the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B, electromagnetic radiations adapted to hit the product to be analyzed, and at least one second optical sensor 11, which is directed towards the second analysis section B1 and is arranged for capturing electromagnetic radiations coming from the product to be analyzed irradiated by the second emitter means and for transducing the electromagnetic radiations in corresponding second measurement signals.

[0058] More in detail, the second optical sensor 11 is placed adjacent to the second advancement path B, in particular below the second slide 27, and is directed towards the second analysis section B1, so as to detect the product to be analyzed free falling from the second slide 27 along such second analysis section B1 with the solid elements spaced from each other.

[0059] Analogous to the first emitter means 4, also the second emitter means advantageously comprise one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type), which are arranged for emitting electromagnetic radiations in the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which the spectrum is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the product to be analyzed in order to identify, therewithin, the type of the solid elements that compose it.

[0060] In particular, the spectrum of the electromagnetic radiations emitted by the second emitter means substantially coincides with the spectrum of the electromagnetic radiations emitted by the first emitter means 4 (since the solid elements of the product to be analyzed - whether this is formed by a part of the selected product or by a part of the discarded product - previously were part of the loose product and hence can be analyzed by irradiating them with the same type of electromagnetic radiations).

[0061] Possibly, the first advancement path A defined by the first conveyance means 2 and the second advancement path B defined by the second conveyance means 8 are adjacent to each other and the first emitter means 4 and the second emitter means are integrated in a single emission device, which comprises both the one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type) of the first emitter means 4 and the one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type) of the second emitter means.

[0062] Analogous to the first optical sensor 5, also the second optical sensor 11 is preferably provided with an interval of sensitivity to the electromagnetic radiations belonging to the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which such sensitivity field is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the product to be analyzed.

[0063] In particular, the sensitivity interval of the second optical sensor 11 substantially coincides with the sensitivity interval of the first optical sensor 5 (since, as stated above, the solid elements of the product to be analyzed - whether this is formed by a part of the selected product or by a part of the discarded product - previously were part of the loose product).

[0064] Preferably, the second optical sensor 11 is provided with a plurality of optical transducers adapted to capture the electromagnetic radiations, which still more preferably are distributed along one or more rows of optical transducers, in particular parallel to the second lying plane of the second slide 27 and transverse with respect to the second main extension direction of the same second slide 27 (in particular, in a manner such to be able to detect the product to be analyzed that falls from the second lower end 29 of the second slide 27 after being distributed along the entire extension of the same second slide 27 between the two second lateral edges 30 along a direction transverse to the second main extension direction).

[0065] The second optical sensor 11 is advantageously a video camera, e.g. color, multi-spectral, hyper-spectral and the like.

[0066] In particular, the second optical sensor 11 is arranged for generating the second measurement signals in the form of images formed by a plurality of pixels.

[0067] Additionally, still according to the idea underlying the present invention, the electronic control unit 6 is operatively connected to the second optical sensor 11 in order to receive the second measurement signals and is configured for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed at least into selection elements and into discard elements based on at least one visual parameter of the solid elements obtained from the second measurement signals and for calculating at least one quantitative parameter which is 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.

[0068] In this manner, the arrangement of the second conveyance means 8, of the second emitter means and of the second optical sensor 11 allows the present selector machine 1 to execute an analysis of a sample (i.e. of at least one part) of the selected product or of the discarded product and hence calculate a quantitative parameter that indicates how many selection elements and / or how many discard elements are present in the aforesaid sample, thus allowing a human operator - who views the calculated quantitative parameter - to know if the selector machine 1 is correctly dividing the loose product into selected product and into discarded product. For example, in the event in which the quantitative parameter calculated with reference to a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product indicates that there is an excessive quantity of discard elements, the expulsion means 7 are not correctly eliminating, from the first advancement path A, all the solid elements that must be discarded and this could be caused by a malfunction of the expulsion means 7 or by an erred setting of the electronic control unit 6 which is unable to correctly recognize, based on the first measurement signals, the solid elements that must be discarded. Otherwise, in the event in which the quantitative parameter calculated with reference to a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product indicates that there is an excessive quantity of selection elements, the expulsion means 7 are erroneously eliminating, from the first advancement path A, also solid elements that should have been part of the selected product and this could be caused by an erred setting of the electronic control unit 6 which, based on the first measurement signals, erroneously recognizes, as solid elements to be discarded, the solid elements that should not have been eliminated from the first advancement path A.

[0069] Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 comprises one or more hardware devices, preferably one or more printed circuit boards, which, still more preferably, carry suitable processor modules installed thereon (for example, the one or more modules arranged for analyzing the first measurement signals coming from the first optical sensor 5 and / or the second measurement signals coming from the second optical sensor 11) and / or operating modules (for example, the one or more modules arranged for generating the command signals as a function of the analyzed first measurement signals and for sending such command signals to the expulsion means 7), in which such processor and / or operating modules are in particular in the form of integrated circuits (chips or micro-chips or nano-chips).

[0070] For example, such electronic control unit 6 can be provided with a hardware device for controlling the first emitter means 4, with a hardware device for controlling the first optical sensor 5, with a hardware device for controlling the expulsion means 7 (more in detail, for controlling the solenoid valves 25 of the nozzles 24), with a hardware device for controlling the second emitter means and with a hardware device for controlling the second optical sensor 11, and such hardware devices are preferably operatively connected to a same central control hardware device, in particular a PLC unit (in which, with the expression "PLC unit", it must be intended a unit of "programmable logic controller" type). Preferably, the electronic control unit 6 can comprise a hardware device integrated with the first optical sensor 5 and / or with the second optical sensor 11 in an intelligent video camera (also known in the technical jargon of the field with the expression "smart camera") and such hardware device - integrated in the intelligent video camera together with the first and / or with the second optical sensor 5, 11 - is operatively connected (directly or by means of further hardware devices not integrated in the same intelligent video camera) to the first emitter means 4, to the second emitter means and to the expulsion means 7 (and, in the event in which one of the two between the first and the second optical sensor 5, 11 is not integrated in the intelligent video camera, also to this).

[0071] Possibly, the hardware device integrated with the first optical sensor 5 and / or with the second optical sensor 11 in an intelligent video camera is the central control hardware device of the electronic control unit 6.

[0072] Otherwise, the central control hardware device (instead of being a PLC unit or integrated with the first and / or with the second optical sensor 5, 11 in an intelligent video camera) can be a PC station connected, in a wired or remote manner (e.g. by means of wi-fi), to the hardware device for controlling the first emitter means 4, to the hardware device for controlling the first optical sensor 5, to the hardware device for controlling the expulsion means 7, to the hardware device for controlling the second emitter means and to the hardware device for controlling the second optical sensor 11. Advantageously, the present selector machine 1 comprises a support frame 31, which carries, mounted thereon, the first conveyance means 2 and the second conveyance means 8 and internally defines an operative volume 32 at least partially traversed by the first advancement path A and by the second advancement path B.

[0073] Preferably, the first conveyance means 2 comprise at least one first hopper 33, which is placed upstream of the first advancement path A and is adapted to provide the loose product on the first advancement path A.

[0074] Possibly, the first advancement path A comprises at least one first introduction section A3, which is placed substantially horizontally, precedes the first tilted section A2 and us in particular defined by a first vibrating feeder 35, which is arranged for pushing the loose product from the first hopper 33 to the first tilted section A2 defined by the first slide 20.

[0075] Additionally, the second conveyance means 8 preferably comprise at least one second hopper 34, which defines a corresponding inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8, is placed upstream of the second advancement path B and is adapted to provide the product to be analyzed on the second advancement path B.

[0076] Analogous to the first advancement path A, also the second advancement path B can comprise at least one second introduction section B3, which is placed substantially horizontally, precedes the second tilted section B2 and is in particular defined by a second vibrating feeder 36, which is arranged for pushing the product to be analyzed from the second hopper 34 to the second tilted section B2 defined by the second slide 27.

[0077] In addition, the optical detection system 3 is preferably placed in the operative volume 32 defined inside the support frame 31, in a manner such that the same support frame 31 shields the optical detection system 3 from the light coming from the outside environment, which could otherwise interfere with the electromagnetic radiations emitted by the first emitter means 4 and by the second emitter means and with the electromagnetic radiations coming from the loose product and from the product to be analyzed, which must be respectively detected by the first and by the second optical sensors 5, 11.

[0078] Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5, at least one comparison parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid loose product.

[0079] Preferably, the comparison parameter of each of the solid elements which compose the loose product is a numerical value that indicates the color tone (such as for example red tone, green tone or blue tone, if the first optical sensor 5 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the first measurement signals in the form of images - which represent a respective solid element of the loose product, in which such color tone in particular corresponds with a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images.

[0080] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5, multiple comparison parameters for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid loose product, and such comparison parameters are numerical values that indicate the color tones (such as for example red tone, green tone or blue tone, if the first optical sensor 5 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the first measurement signals in the form of images - which represent a respective solid element of the loose product, in which such color tones in particular each correspond with a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images.

[0081] Possibly, in addition to at least one comparison parameter in the form of numerical value that indicates a color tone, the electronic control unit 6 can be configured for obtaining, from the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5, at least one other comparison parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid loose product, in which such other comparison parameter can be the number of the pixels that depict the respective solid element (so as to account for the dimensions of the solid elements) and / or can be the form of the aforesaid solid element.

[0082] In addition, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing the at least one comparison parameter of each solid element of the loose product with at least one first discrimination value.

[0083] Preferably, the at least one first discrimination value is a numerical value that represents a threshold color tone, in which such threshold color tone corresponds with one of the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images.

[0084] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing multiple comparison parameter (e.g. multiple numerical values that indicate the color tones corresponding with the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images) for each solid element of the loose product with multiple corresponding first discrimination values (e.g. multiple threshold color tones, at least one corresponding with each channel-color of the aforesaid color space).

[0085] The electronic control unit 6 is additionally advantageously configured for classifying the solid elements of the 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 the loose product with the at least one first discrimination value.

[0086] For example, the electronic control unit 6 has set, as first discrimination value, a numerical value which represents a threshold color tone and is configured for classifying each solid element of the loose product as an element to be discarded if the corresponding comparison parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is higher / lower than the first discrimination value and for classifying each solid element of the loose product as an element to be selected if the comparison parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is lower / higher than the first discrimination value.

[0087] The electronic control unit 6 is advantageously configured for emitting the command signals as a function of the classification of the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected, and by means of such command signals the expulsion means 7 are actuated to eliminate, from the first advancement path A, the elements to be discarded, dividing the aforesaid loose product into the selected product and into the discarded product.

[0088] In this manner, due to the comparison of the at least one comparison parameter of each solid element with at least one first discrimination value, the electronic control unit 6 is capable of distinguishing the elements to be discarded and the elements to be selected, in particular accounting for the color and / or size and / or shape of each solid element that composes the loose product.

[0089] In accordance with a first embodiment, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for modifying the at least one first discrimination value as a function of the at least one quantitative parameter.

[0090] In this manner, therefore, the electronic control unit 6 is capable of autonomously modifying the first discrimination value, by means of which the solid elements of the loose product are identified as elements to be discarded or as elements to be selected, based on how many selection elements and / or how many discard elements are present in the product to be analyzed.

[0091] For example, in operation, if the electronic control unit 6 detects, due to the calculation of the at least one quantitative parameter, that in the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product there is an overly high quantity of discard elements, the same electronic control unit 6 consequently modifies the at least one first discrimination value in a manner such to reduce the possibility that a solid element of the loose product be classified as an element to be selected. Hence, in operation, after having in this manner modified the at least one first discrimination value, the electronic control unit 6 will tend to recognize, analyzing the first measurement signals, a greater quantity of solid elements of the loose product as the elements to be discarded, such that the expulsion means 7 eliminate a greater quantity of solid elements from the first advancement path A, increasing the quality of the selected product.

[0092] Additionally, in operation, if the electronic control unit 6 detects, due to the calculation of the at least one quantitative parameter, that in the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product there is an overly high quantity of selection products, the same electronic control unit 6 consequently modifies the at least one first discrimination value in a manner such to increase the possibility that a solid element of the loose product be classified as an element to be selected. Hence, in operation, after having in this manner modified the at least one first discrimination value, the electronic control unit 6 will tend to recognize, analyzing the first measurement signals, a greater quantity of the solid elements of the loose product as elements to be selected, such that the expulsion means 7 eliminate a lower quantity of solid elements from the first advancement path A, decreasing the quantity of selection elements that are erroneously discarded, coming to be part of the discarded product.

[0093] In accordance with another embodiment, the selector machine 1 comprises an out-put device 12, which is susceptible of being actuated by the electronic control unit 6 in order to communicate to a user the at least one quantitative parameter, and an in-put device 13, which is arranged for allowing a user to modify the first discrimination value.

[0094] In this manner, the selector machine 1, instead of autonomously modifying the at least one first discrimination value due to its electronic control unit 6, allows the user to decide whether he / she wishes to modify the same at least one first discrimination value after the user himself / herself has been communicated the at least one quantitative parameter. Hence, in operation, due to the out-put device 12 and to the in-put device 13, the user views the quantitative parameter through the out-put device 12, and based on this he / she understands if, in the discarded product, there are too many selection elements erroneously discarded and / or if in the selected product there are too many discard elements, and he / she decides if and how to modify the at least one first discrimination value based on such information and, if it is deemed necessary to proceed with the modification, employs the in-put device 13 in order to modify the aforesaid first discrimination value.

[0095] The out-put device 12 for example comprises a monitor, on which the at least one quantitative parameter can be shown, and / or a remote communication device (such as for example a wi-fi module and / or a mobile network antenna), through which the quantitative parameter can be sent in the form of text message to a portable device (e.g. a smart-phone or a portable PC) of the user, and / or a speaker, through which the quantitative parameter can be communicated by means of emission of sounds signals.

[0096] In addition, the in-put device 13 for example comprises a keyboard and / or a remote communication device (such as for example the above-indicated wi-fi module and / or mobile network antenna) and / or a touch screen.

[0097] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the selector machine 1 comprises the out-put device 12 and the in-put device 13 and the electronic control unit 6 is settable in an autonomous operating mode, in which it is configured for modifying the at least one first discrimination value as a function of the at least one quantitative parameter, or in a semi-automatic operating mode, in which the electronic control unit 6 is configured for communicating to the user the quantitative parameter through the out-put device 12 and for waiting for the user to refuse to modify the first discrimination value or to select a new first discrimination value by means of the in-put device 13.

[0098] In this manner, with the first use of the selector machine 1, the user can select from between the autonomous operating mode and the semi-automatic operating mode based on his / her preferences. Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the second measurement signals generated by the second optical sensor 11, the at least one visual parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the product to be analyzed.

[0099] In a manner similar to the comparison parameter, the visual parameter of each of the solid elements which compose the product to be analyzed is preferably a numerical value that indicates the color tone (such as for example the red tone or the green tone or the blue tone, if the second optical sensor 11 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the second measurement signals in the form of images - that represent a respective solid element of the product to be analyzed, in which such color tone in particular corresponds with a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images.

[0100] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the second measurement signals generated by the second optical sensor 11, multiple visual parameters for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid product to be analyzed, and such visual parameters are numerical values that indicate the color tones (such as for example the red tone, the green tone and the blue tone, if the second optical sensor 11 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the second measurement signals in the form of images - that represent a respective solid element of the product to be analyzed, in which such color tones in particular each correspond to a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images.

[0101] Possibly, in addition to at least one visual parameter in the form of numerical value that indicates a color tone, the electronic control unit 6 can be configured for obtaining, from the second measurement signals generated by the second optical sensor 11, at least one other visual parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid product to be analyzed, in which such other visual parameter can be the number of the pixels that depict the respective solid element (so as to account for the dimensions of the solid elements) and / or can be the form of the aforesaid solid element.

[0102] In addition, the electronic control unit 6 is advantageously configured for comparing the at least one visual parameter of each solid element of the product to be analyzed with a second discrimination value.

[0103] In a manner similar to the first discrimination value, the at least one second discrimination value is preferably a numerical value which represents a threshold color tone, in which such threshold color tone corresponds to one of the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images.

[0104] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing multiple visual parameters (e.g. multiple numerical values that indicate the color tones corresponding to the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images) for each solid element of the product to be analyzed with multiple corresponding second discrimination values (e.g. multiple threshold color tones, at least one corresponding to each color-channel of the aforesaid color space).

[0105] The electronic control unit 6 is additionally advantageously configured for classifying the solid elements of the 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 the product to be analyzed with the at least one second discrimination value.

[0106] For example, the electronic control unit 6 has set, as second discrimination value, a numerical value which represents a threshold color tone and is configured for classifying each solid element of the product to be analyzed as an discard element if the corresponding visual parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is higher / lower than the second discrimination value and for classifying each solid element of the product to be analyzed as a selection element if the visual parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is lower / higher than the second discrimination value.

[0107] In addition, the electronic control unit 6 is advantageously configured for executing a count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed and for calculating the at least one quantitative parameter as a function of the count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed.

[0108] In this manner, by counting the discard elements and the selection elements (in particular represented in the second measurement signals in the form of images), the electronic control unit 6 is capable of generating the quantitative parameter indicative of the quantity of selection elements and / or of discard elements in the product to be analyzed, e.g. in the form of percentage over total.

[0109] The electronic control unit 6 can employ the same software for classifying the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected and for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed into discard elements and into selection elements, or it can employ a software, configured for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed into discard elements and into selection elements, more precise than the software that it employs for classifying the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected.

[0110] In particular, the electronic control unit 6 employs a more precise software for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed, since it has more time available for being able to classify the solid elements of the product to be analyzed that descend along the second advancement path B with respect to the time that it has available for being able to classify the solid elements of the loose product that descend along the first advancement path A, since the electronic control unit 6 must be able to emit the command signals with which it actuates the expulsion means 7 about every 30 milliseconds, otherwise it would not be able to effectively eliminate the solid elements that must be discarded from the first advancement path A by means of the aforesaid expulsion means 7.

[0111] The electronic control unit 6 can in fact calculate a quantitative parameter at each time interval comprised between several minutes and several hours, since the quantitative parameter is not employed for eliminating determined solid elements of the product to be analyzed but for executing in substance a quality control on a sample of the selected product or of the discarded product. Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing a quantitative parameter, associated with the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product and indicative of the percentage of selection elements in the selected product, with an admissibility threshold and for emitting an alarm signal (e.g. through a speaker and / or a remote data communication module belonging to the present selector machine 1) with the aforesaid quantitative parameter that is lower than the admissibility threshold.

[0112] In operation, therefore, the admissibility threshold indicates the lower limit of the quantity of selection elements which compose the selected product and the electronic control unit 6 emits the alarm signal when the quantity of selection elements (expressed for example in percentage) falls below the admissibility threshold. In this manner, the user is warned by the selector machine 1 when the selected product no longer has the technical specifications (i.e. it contains too many discard elements) to be able to be packaged and sent to the final client.

[0113] As an alternative or in addition, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing a quantitative parameter, associated with the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product and indicative of the percentage of discard elements in the selected product, with an admissibility threshold and for emitting an alarm signal (e.g. through a speaker and / or a remote data communication module belonging to the present selector machine 1) with the aforesaid quantitative parameter which is higher than the admissibility threshold.

[0114] In such case, therefore, the electronic control unit 6, in operation, emits the alarm signal when the percentage of discard elements in the selected product is higher than the admissibility threshold, beyond which the selected product no longer has the required technical specifications to be able to be packaged and sent to a final client.

[0115] For the purpose of autonomously picking up the part of selected product or of discarded product that forms the product to be analyzed, the selector machine 1 according to the invention advantageously comprises transport means 14 operatively connected to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 and arranged for carrying, to the second conveyance means 8, the product to be analyzed (which is formed by at least one part of one between the selected product and the discarded product). In addition, the present selector machine 1 advantageously comprises a first collection compartment 15, which is placed at the end of the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A in order to receive the solid elements of the selected product, and a second collection compartment 16, which is placed adjacent to the first collection compartment 15 in order to receive the solid elements of the discarded product.

[0116] More in detail, the transport means 14 comprise at least one transport device 17 extended from one between the first collection compartment 15 and the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8, in order to transport the at least one product to be analyzed to the second conveyance means 8.

[0117] Preferably, the transport device 17 comprises a duct 37 provided with a suction mouth 38, which is placed at the first or second collection compartment 15, 16 in order to pick up the product to be analyzed, and with a delivery mouth 39, which is placed at the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 (e.g. at a second hopper 34) in order to provide the aforesaid product to be analyzed to the inlet section 9. In addition, such transport device 17 preferably comprises an aerial device 40, which is placed to intercept the duct 37 and is arranged for generating, inside it, an air flow that transports the product to be analyzed from the suction mouth 38 to the delivery mouth 39. Otherwise, the transport device 17 comprises a transport catenary, which is extended as a loop between the inlet section 9 and one between the first collection compartment 15 and the second collection compartment 16, and a plurality of collection trays, which are coupled to the transport catenary in order to collect the product to be analyzed from one between the first and the second collection compartment 15, 16 and for depositing the aforesaid product to be analyzed on the inlet section 9.

[0118] Independent of whether the transport device 17 comprises the duct 37 with aerial device 40 or the transport catenary with collection trays, an embodiment is possible in which the transport device 17 is extended from the first collection compartment 15 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 8, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product (in this case the selector machine 1 is capable of executing quality controls only on the selected product in order to verify if the selected product has the required specifications to be able to be packaged and sent to a client).

[0119] Otherwise, another embodiment is possible in which the transport device 17 is extended from the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 8, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product (in this case the selector machine 1 is only capable of verifying if, in the discarded product, there is an excessive quantity of selection elements uselessly eliminated from the first advancement path A).

[0120] Otherwise, additionally, the transport means 14 comprise two transport devices 17, one of which extended from the first collection compartment 15 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 9, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product, and the other of which is extended from the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 9, another product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product.

[0121] In this manner, by alternatively actuating one or the other of the two transport devices 17, it is possible to provide, to the same second conveyance means 8, a product to be analyzed that corresponds with a sample of the selected product and then a product to be analyzed that corresponds with a sample of the discarded product, without the selected product and the discarded product being mixed together.

[0122] In accordance instead with the preferred embodiment schematized in the enclosed figure 3, the second conveyance means 8 advantageously comprise at least one first channel 18 and a second channel 19. More in detail, the first channel 18 is extended starting from the inlet section 9 defining a second advancement path B, along which the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product is susceptible of advancing, and is also arranged for making the product to be analyzed advance, via falling, into a second analysis section B1 of the corresponding second advancement path B. Additionally, the second channel 19 is preferably extended starting from the inlet section 9 defining a further second advancement path B, along which another product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the discarded product is susceptible of advancing, and arranged for making the corresponding product to be analyzed advance, via falling, in a second analysis section B1 of the corresponding second advancement path B.

[0123] In particular, the first channel 18 of the second conveyance means 8 is attained by means of a respective second slide 27 of the above-described type and the second channel 19 of the second conveyance means 8 is attained by means of another second slide 27 of the above-described type.

[0124] For the purpose of optimizing the bulk of the present selector machine 1, the second slides 27 which make the first channel 18 and the second channel 19 and the first slide 20 are advantageously placed side-by-side each other and separated from each other by lateral barriers 41, which are preferably placed at the first lateral edges 23 and at the second lateral edges 30.

[0125] Preferably, in addition, the transport means 14 are arranged for providing the first channel 18 with the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product and for providing, to the second channel 19, the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the discarded product.

[0126] In particular, in order to be able to provide the products to be analyzed both to the first and second channels 18, 19, the transport means 14 comprise a transport device 17, which is extended from the first collection compartment 15 to the inlet section 9 at the first channel 18 in order to transport, to the aforesaid first channel 18, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product, and a further transport device 17, which is extended from the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 at the second channel 19 in order to transport, to the aforesaid second channel 19, another product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product.

[0127] In this manner, therefore, the selector machine 1 is capable of executing a control both on the selected product and on the discarded product simultaneously, without risking that the selected product and the discarded product be mixed together, due to the first and second channel 18, 19 of the second conveyance means 8.

[0128] For the purpose of being able to simultaneously analyze both the product to be analyzed of the first channel 18 and the product to be analyzed of the second channel 19, saving on the components of the optical detection system 3, the second optical sensor 11 is preferably a video camera arranged for generating the second measurement signals in the form of images and provided with a field of view extended both at the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the first channel 18 and at the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the second channel 19. In addition, still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for identifying, in the second measurement signals in the form of images, a first region associated with the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the first channel 18 and a second region associated with the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the second channel 19. In particular, such electronic control unit 6 is configured for classifying, based on at least one visual parameter, into selection elements and into discard elements, the solid elements depicted in the first region and belonging to the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product and for calculating a corresponding quantitative parameter and, in addition, for classifying, based on at least one visual parameter, into selection elements and into discard elements, the solid elements depicted in the second region and belonging to the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product and for calculating another corresponding quantitative parameter.

[0129] Also forming the object of the present invention is a method for quality control executed by means of the selector machine 1 of the type described up to now.

[0130] Such method provides for at least one selection step and one analysis step, which are described hereinbelow.

[0131] In the selection step, the loose product is advanced along the first conveyance means 2 in order to make it fall along the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A, the first optical sensor 5 generates the first measurement signals, the electronic control unit 6 emits the command signals as a function of the first measurement signals and the expulsion means 7 eliminate determined solid elements of the loose product from the first advancement path A as a function of the first measurement signals, dividing the loose product into the selected product and into the discarded product.

[0132] In addition, in the analysis step, a product to be analyzed formed by at least part of one between the selected product and the discarded product is advanced along the second conveyance means 8 in order to make it fall along the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B, the second optical sensor 11 generates the second measurement signals, the electronic control unit 6 classifies the solid elements of the product to be analyzed at least into selection elements and into discard elements based on at least one visual parameter of the solid elements obtained from the second measurement signals and calculates at least one quantitative parameter which is 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.

[0133] Advantageously, in the selection step, in order to be able to emit the command signals, the electronic control unit 6 obtains, from the generated first measurement signals, at least one comparison parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the loose product, compares the at least one comparison parameter of each solid element of the loose product with at least one first discrimination value, classifies the solid elements of the 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 the loose product with the at least one first discrimination value, and emits the command signals as a function of the classification of the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected, and by means of such command signals the expulsion means 7 are actuated to eliminate, from the first advancement path A, the elements to be discarded, dividing the loose product into the selected product and into the discarded product.

[0134] In addition, advantageously, in the analysis step, in order to be able to calculate the quantitative parameter, the electronic control unit 6 obtains, from the second measurement signals, the at least one visual parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the product to be analyzed, compares the at least one visual parameter of each solid element of the product to be analyzed with a second discrimination value, classifies the solid elements of the 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 the product to be analyzed with the at least one second discrimination value, executes a count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed and calculates the at least one quantitative parameter as a function of the count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed.

[0135] Advantageously, the present method also comprises an adjustment step subsequent to said analysis step.

[0136] Preferably, in the adjustment step, the electronic control unit 6 modifies the at least one first discrimination value as a function of the at least one quantitative parameter.

[0137] Otherwise, in the adjustment step, the electronic control unit 6 actuates an out-put device 12 of the selector machine 1 in order to communicate to a user the at least one quantitative parameter and waits for the user, through a suitable in-put device 13 of the selector machine 1, to maintain the same first discrimination value or it sets a new different first discrimination value.

[0138] The invention thus conceived therefore attains the pre-established objects.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0023]With reference to the enclosed figures, reference number 1 indicates a selector machine according to the present invention.

[0024]Advantageously, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed, in different fields of application, in order to select determined elements in a product constituted by a set of solid elements, in particular with shape and / or color that are very similar.

[0025]More in detail, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed in the food industry, in particular so as to identify in a loose product (in particular granular), such as for example dried fruit (hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds), seeds, grain or the like, and elements that must be discarded before packaging the product, which for example can be shells of the dried fruit, discards of the food product processing or other inedible foreign bodies.

[0026]In addition, the present selector machine 1 can be employed in the waste recovery industry, in particular so as to identify elements o...

Field of application

[0001] The present invention regards a selector machine, according to the preamble of the independent claims 1.

[0002] 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.

[0003] Advantageously, the present selector machine is adapted to operate on small-size loose products, in particular smaller than about 15 mm.

[0004] 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

[0005] 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.

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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.

[0008] 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.

[0009] 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.

[0010] 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.

[0011] The selector machines of known type briefly described hereinbelow have nevertheless proven in practice that they do not lack drawbacks.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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).

[0014] 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 which have actually come to be part of the selected product, in a manner such to be sure that the selected product has the requested level of purity.

[0015] Nevertheless, such quality control carried out by the operator requires a lot of time for the execution thereof, it has low reliability since it requires a manual operation (which leads to errors) for separating, in the selected product, the solid elements that are actually correct from those that must be discarded, and it is unlikely to be representative of the actual quality of the finished product, since the quantity of loose product that the selector machine processes in a unit of time can reach up to fifty tons per hour, while the operator employs a half hour of time to control a small sample thereof.Presentation of the invention

[0016] In this situation, the object underlying the present invention is therefore that of eliminating the problems of the abovementioned prior art, by providing a selector machine, which is capable of autonomously executing a control of the quality of the selected product, without requiring an intervention of human operators.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which does not risk to provide a selected product containing an overly high quantity of impurities.

[0018] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which does not risk to erroneously discard a part of the loose product which would have been selected.

[0019] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which is capable of modifying the operation thereof based on the quality control that is autonomously executed.

[0020] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which is entirely reliable in operation.

[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide a selector machine, which is simple and inexpensive to attain.Brief description of the drawings

[0022] The technical characteristics of the present invention, according to the aforesaid objects, are clearly seen in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represents a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a selector machine according to the present invention, in which several components have been removed in order to better illustrate other ones; figure 2 shows a schematic and lateral view of the selector machine of figure 1; figure 3 shows a perspective schematic view of the selector machine of figure 1, in which several components have been removed in order to better illustrate other ones. Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

[0023] With reference to the enclosed figures, reference number 1 indicates a selector machine according to the present invention.

[0024] Advantageously, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed, in different fields of application, in order to select determined elements in a product constituted by a set of solid elements, in particular with shape and / or color that are very similar.

[0025] More in detail, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed in the food industry, in particular so as to identify in a loose product (in particular granular), such as for example dried fruit (hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds), seeds, grain or the like, and elements that must be discarded before packaging the product, which for example can be shells of the dried fruit, discards of the food product processing or other inedible foreign bodies.

[0026] In addition, the present selector machine 1 can be employed in the waste recovery industry, in particular so as to identify elements of determined materials (e.g. different types of plastic) in order to be correctly disposed of or recycled.

[0027] The present selector machine 1 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.

[0028] In addition, such first conveyance means 2 are arranged for making the loose product advance, via falling, at least into a first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A itself.

[0029] Advantageously, the aforesaid first advancement path A comprises a first tilted section A2, which precedes the first analysis section A1 and on which said loose product is susceptible of sliding, subjected to the force of gravity.

[0030] Preferably, the first conveyance means 2 comprise a first slide 20, which defines the first tilted section A2 of the first advancement path A extended, along a corresponding first main extension direction that is substantially rectilinear and tilted with respect to a vertical direction, between a first upper end 21 thereof and an opposite first lower end 22, starting from which the first analysis section A1 is extended.

[0031] Still more preferably, the first slide 20 is extended, on a corresponding first lying plane containing the aforesaid first main extension direction, between the first upper end 21 and the first lower end 22, which are transverse to the first main extension direction, and between two opposite first lateral edges 23, which are parallel to the first main extension direction.

[0032] In this manner, during use, the loose product descends, subject to the force of gravity, along the first slide 20, with its solid elements that are distributed over the entire extension of the first slide 20 between the two first lateral edges 23 spaced from each other, thus ensuring that the loose product reaches the first analysis section A1 with the solid elements that compose it well-distributed and spaced.

[0033] The present machine 1 is also provided with an optical detection system 3, which comprises the first emitter means 4 and at least one first optical sensor 5.

[0034] The aforesaid first emitter means 4 are arranged for emitting, towards the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A, electromagnetic radiations adapted to hit the loose product.

[0035] In addition, the first optical sensor 5 is directed towards the first analysis section A1 and is arranged for capturing the electromagnetic radiations coming from the loose product irradiated by the first emitter means 4 and for transducing the aforesaid electromagnetic radiations into corresponding first measurement signals.

[0036] More in detail, the first optical sensor 5 is placed adjacent to the first advancement path A, in particular below the first slide 20, and is directed towards the first analysis section A1, so as to detect the loose product free falling from the first slide 20 along such first analysis section A1 with the solid elements spaced from each other.

[0037] Advantageously, the first emitter means 4 comprise one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type), which are arranged for emitting electromagnetic radiations in the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which the spectrum is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the loose product in order to identify therewithin the solid elements that must be discarded.

[0038] Analogously, also the first optical sensor 5 is preferably provided with an interval of sensitivity to electromagnetic radiations belonging to the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which such sensitivity field is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the loose product.

[0039] Preferably, the first optical sensor 5 is provided with a plurality of optical transducers adapted to capture the electromagnetic radiations, which still more preferably are distributed along one or more rows of optical transducers, in particular parallel to the first lying plane of the first slide 20 and transverse with respect to the first main extension direction of the same first slide 20 (in particular, in a manner such to be able to detect the loose product that falls from the first lower end 22 of the first slide 20 after being distributed along the entire extension of the same first slide 20 between the two first lateral edges 23 along a direction transverse to the first main extension direction).

[0040] The first optical sensor 5 is advantageously a video camera, e.g. color, multi-spectral, hyper-spectral and the like.

[0041] In particular, the first optical sensor 5 is arranged for generating the first measurement signals in the form of images formed by a plurality of pixels.

[0042] The selector machine 1 according to the invention also comprises an electronic control unit 6, which is operatively connected to the first optical sensor 5 in order to receive the first measurement signals and is arranged for emitting command signals.

[0043] More in detail, the electronic control unit 6 is arranged for analyzing the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5 in order to identify, in the loose product (in particular falling along the first analysis section A1), determined solid elements that must be discarded and for generating the aforesaid command signals as a function of the identified solid elements to be discarded.

[0044] Additionally, the present selector machine 1 comprises expulsion means 7 operatively connected to the electronic control unit 6 in order to receive the command signals and arranged for eliminating, from the first advancement path A, determined solid elements of the loose product as a function of the command signals, dividing the loose product at least into a selected product, which comprises the solid elements of the loose product that were not eliminated from the first advancement path A by means of the expulsion means 7, and into a discarded product, which comprises the solid elements of the loose product that were eliminated from the first advancement path A by means of the expulsion means 7. Advantageously, the expulsion means 7 comprise multiple nozzles 24 directed towards the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A and arranged for each emitting a jet of compressed air, so as to eliminate, from the first advancement path A, the solid elements identified as elements to be discarded by the electronic control unit 6 analyzing the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5 of the optical detection system 3.

[0045] Preferably, the nozzles 24 are placed below the first optical sensor 5 and each provided with a corresponding solenoid valve 25 placed in fluid connection with a device 26 for feeding compressed air, operatively connected to the electronic control unit 6 and switchable, as a function of the command signals generated by the same electronic control unit 6, between an open configuration, in which the flow of compressed air is allowed from the feed device 26 to the corresponding nozzle 24 so that the latter emits a jet of compressed air towards the loose product free falling along the first analysis section A1, and a closed configuration, in which the flow of compressed air from the feed device 26 to the corresponding nozzle 24 is prevented.

[0046] More in detail, the nozzles 24 are placed side-by-side each other along an alignment direction adjacent to the first analysis section A1, and such alignment direction is in particular substantially parallel to the first lying plane on which the first slide 20 of the conveyance means 2 is extended and transverse to the first main extension direction of the same first slide 20 (in particular, in a manner such to remove, from the first analysis section A1, the solid elements to be discarded of the loose product that falls from the first lower end 22 of the first slide 20, after being distributed along the entire extension of the same first slide 20 between the two first lateral edges 23 along a direction transverse to the first main extension direction).

[0047] In particular, each nozzle 24 is operatively associated with a determined point of the first analysis section A1 (according for example to a determined position grid), in a manner such that the actuation of each nozzle 24 generates a jet of compressed air that hits the solid elements to be discarded of the loose product that pass in such determined point of the first analysis section A1.

[0048] In this manner, the solid elements to be discarded (which must be separate from the rest of the loose product) are hit by the jet of compressed air emitted by one of the nozzles 24 of the expulsion means 7 and are effectively deflected from the first advancement path A while they are situated in the situation of free fall from the first slide 20 along the first analysis section A1.

[0049] Suitably, the first conveyance means 2 can define multiple first advancement paths A, along which multiple loose products, comprising multiple solid elements, are susceptible of advancing, and are arranged for making the loose products advance, via falling, in corresponding first analysis sections A1 of the first advancement path A, in a manner such that the selector machine 1 can at the same time process different types of loose product or can simultaneously process multiple loose products of the same type in order to increase productivity.

[0050] In particular, in such case, the first emitter means 4 and the first optical sensor 5 of the optical detection system 3 and the expulsion means 7 are extended transversely with respect to the plurality of first advancement paths A in order to be able to operate on the plurality of loose products which advance on all the aforesaid first advancement paths A.

[0051] According to the idea underlying the present invention, the present selector machine 1 also comprises 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 the selected product and the discarded product.

[0052] Such second conveyance means 8 define at least one second advancement path B, along which the product to be analyzed is susceptible of advancing.

[0053] In addition, the second conveyance means 8 are arranged for making the product to be analyzed advance, via falling, in a second analysis section B1 of the same second advancement path B. Advantageously, the aforesaid second advancement path B comprises a second tilted section B2, which precedes the second analysis section B1, on which the product to be analyzed is susceptible of sliding, subject to the force of gravity.

[0054] Preferably, the second conveyance means 8 comprise at least one second slide 27, which defines the second tilted section B2 of the second advancement path B extended, along a corresponding second main extension direction that is substantially rectilinear and tilted with respect to a vertical direction, between a second upper end 28 thereof and an opposite second lower end 29, starting from which the second analysis section B1 is extended.

[0055] Still more preferably, the second slide 27 is extended, on a corresponding second lying plane containing the aforesaid second main extension direction, between the second upper end 28 and the second lower end 29, which are transverse to the second main extension direction, and between two opposite second lateral edges 30, which are parallel to the second main extension direction.

[0056] In this manner, during use, the product to be analyzed descends, subject to the force of gravity, along the second slide 27, with its solid elements that are distributed over the entire extension of the second slide 27 between the two second lateral edges 30 spaced from each other, thus ensuring that the product to be analyzed reaches the second analysis section B1 with the solid elements that compose it well-distributed and spaced.

[0057] In addition, still according to the idea underlying the present invention, the optical detection system 8 comprises second emitter means (not illustrated in the enclosed figures), which are arranged for emitting, towards the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B, electromagnetic radiations adapted to hit the product to be analyzed, and at least one second optical sensor 11, which is directed towards the second analysis section B1 and is arranged for capturing electromagnetic radiations coming from the product to be analyzed irradiated by the second emitter means and for transducing the electromagnetic radiations in corresponding second measurement signals.

[0058] More in detail, the second optical sensor 11 is placed adjacent to the second advancement path B, in particular below the second slide 27, and is directed towards the second analysis section B1, so as to detect the product to be analyzed free falling from the second slide 27 along such second analysis section B1 with the solid elements spaced from each other.

[0059] Analogous to the first emitter means 4, also the second emitter means advantageously comprise one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type), which are arranged for emitting electromagnetic radiations in the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which the spectrum is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the product to be analyzed in order to identify, therewithin, the type of the solid elements that compose it.

[0060] In particular, the spectrum of the electromagnetic radiations emitted by the second emitter means substantially coincides with the spectrum of the electromagnetic radiations emitted by the first emitter means 4 (since the solid elements of the product to be analyzed - whether this is formed by a part of the selected product or by a part of the discarded product - previously were part of the loose product and hence can be analyzed by irradiating them with the same type of electromagnetic radiations).

[0061] Possibly, the first advancement path A defined by the first conveyance means 2 and the second advancement path B defined by the second conveyance means 8 are adjacent to each other and the first emitter means 4 and the second emitter means are integrated in a single emission device, which comprises both the one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type) of the first emitter means 4 and the one or more electromagnetic radiation sources (e.g. of LED type) of the second emitter means.

[0062] Analogous to the first optical sensor 5, also the second optical sensor 11 is preferably provided with an interval of sensitivity to the electromagnetic radiations belonging to the visible spectrum and / or infrared spectrum and / or ultraviolet spectrum, in which such sensitivity field is in particular selected as a function of the chemical-physical characteristics of the product to be analyzed.

[0063] In particular, the sensitivity interval of the second optical sensor 11 substantially coincides with the sensitivity interval of the first optical sensor 5 (since, as stated above, the solid elements of the product to be analyzed - whether this is formed by a part of the selected product or by a part of the discarded product - previously were part of the loose product).

[0064] Preferably, the second optical sensor 11 is provided with a plurality of optical transducers adapted to capture the electromagnetic radiations, which still more preferably are distributed along one or more rows of optical transducers, in particular parallel to the second lying plane of the second slide 27 and transverse with respect to the second main extension direction of the same second slide 27 (in particular, in a manner such to be able to detect the product to be analyzed that falls from the second lower end 29 of the second slide 27 after being distributed along the entire extension of the same second slide 27 between the two second lateral edges 30 along a direction transverse to the second main extension direction).

[0065] The second optical sensor 11 is advantageously a video camera, e.g. color, multi-spectral, hyper-spectral and the like.

[0066] In particular, the second optical sensor 11 is arranged for generating the second measurement signals in the form of images formed by a plurality of pixels.

[0067] Additionally, still according to the idea underlying the present invention, the electronic control unit 6 is operatively connected to the second optical sensor 11 in order to receive the second measurement signals and is configured for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed at least into selection elements and into discard elements based on at least one visual parameter of the solid elements obtained from the second measurement signals and for calculating at least one quantitative parameter which is 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.

[0068] In this manner, the arrangement of the second conveyance means 8, of the second emitter means and of the second optical sensor 11 allows the present selector machine 1 to execute an analysis of a sample (i.e. of at least one part) of the selected product or of the discarded product and hence calculate a quantitative parameter that indicates how many selection elements and / or how many discard elements are present in the aforesaid sample, thus allowing a human operator - who views the calculated quantitative parameter - to know if the selector machine 1 is correctly dividing the loose product into selected product and into discarded product. For example, in the event in which the quantitative parameter calculated with reference to a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product indicates that there is an excessive quantity of discard elements, the expulsion means 7 are not correctly eliminating, from the first advancement path A, all the solid elements that must be discarded and this could be caused by a malfunction of the expulsion means 7 or by an erred setting of the electronic control unit 6 which is unable to correctly recognize, based on the first measurement signals, the solid elements that must be discarded. Otherwise, in the event in which the quantitative parameter calculated with reference to a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product indicates that there is an excessive quantity of selection elements, the expulsion means 7 are erroneously eliminating, from the first advancement path A, also solid elements that should have been part of the selected product and this could be caused by an erred setting of the electronic control unit 6 which, based on the first measurement signals, erroneously recognizes, as solid elements to be discarded, the solid elements that should not have been eliminated from the first advancement path A.

[0069] Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 comprises one or more hardware devices, preferably one or more printed circuit boards, which, still more preferably, carry suitable processor modules installed thereon (for example, the one or more modules arranged for analyzing the first measurement signals coming from the first optical sensor 5 and / or the second measurement signals coming from the second optical sensor 11) and / or operating modules (for example, the one or more modules arranged for generating the command signals as a function of the analyzed first measurement signals and for sending such command signals to the expulsion means 7), in which such processor and / or operating modules are in particular in the form of integrated circuits (chips or micro-chips or nano-chips).

[0070] For example, such electronic control unit 6 can be provided with a hardware device for controlling the first emitter means 4, with a hardware device for controlling the first optical sensor 5, with a hardware device for controlling the expulsion means 7 (more in detail, for controlling the solenoid valves 25 of the nozzles 24), with a hardware device for controlling the second emitter means and with a hardware device for controlling the second optical sensor 11, and such hardware devices are preferably operatively connected to a same central control hardware device, in particular a PLC unit (in which, with the expression "PLC unit", it must be intended a unit of "programmable logic controller" type). Preferably, the electronic control unit 6 can comprise a hardware device integrated with the first optical sensor 5 and / or with the second optical sensor 11 in an intelligent video camera (also known in the technical jargon of the field with the expression "smart camera") and such hardware device - integrated in the intelligent video camera together with the first and / or with the second optical sensor 5, 11 - is operatively connected (directly or by means of further hardware devices not integrated in the same intelligent video camera) to the first emitter means 4, to the second emitter means and to the expulsion means 7 (and, in the event in which one of the two between the first and the second optical sensor 5, 11 is not integrated in the intelligent video camera, also to this).

[0071] Possibly, the hardware device integrated with the first optical sensor 5 and / or with the second optical sensor 11 in an intelligent video camera is the central control hardware device of the electronic control unit 6.

[0072] Otherwise, the central control hardware device (instead of being a PLC unit or integrated with the first and / or with the second optical sensor 5, 11 in an intelligent video camera) can be a PC station connected, in a wired or remote manner (e.g. by means of wi-fi), to the hardware device for controlling the first emitter means 4, to the hardware device for controlling the first optical sensor 5, to the hardware device for controlling the expulsion means 7, to the hardware device for controlling the second emitter means and to the hardware device for controlling the second optical sensor 11. Advantageously, the present selector machine 1 comprises a support frame 31, which carries, mounted thereon, the first conveyance means 2 and the second conveyance means 8 and internally defines an operative volume 32 at least partially traversed by the first advancement path A and by the second advancement path B.

[0073] Preferably, the first conveyance means 2 comprise at least one first hopper 33, which is placed upstream of the first advancement path A and is adapted to provide the loose product on the first advancement path A.

[0074] Possibly, the first advancement path A comprises at least one first introduction section A3, which is placed substantially horizontally, precedes the first tilted section A2 and us in particular defined by a first vibrating feeder 35, which is arranged for pushing the loose product from the first hopper 33 to the first tilted section A2 defined by the first slide 20.

[0075] Additionally, the second conveyance means 8 preferably comprise at least one second hopper 34, which defines a corresponding inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8, is placed upstream of the second advancement path B and is adapted to provide the product to be analyzed on the second advancement path B.

[0076] Analogous to the first advancement path A, also the second advancement path B can comprise at least one second introduction section B3, which is placed substantially horizontally, precedes the second tilted section B2 and is in particular defined by a second vibrating feeder 36, which is arranged for pushing the product to be analyzed from the second hopper 34 to the second tilted section B2 defined by the second slide 27.

[0077] In addition, the optical detection system 3 is preferably placed in the operative volume 32 defined inside the support frame 31, in a manner such that the same support frame 31 shields the optical detection system 3 from the light coming from the outside environment, which could otherwise interfere with the electromagnetic radiations emitted by the first emitter means 4 and by the second emitter means and with the electromagnetic radiations coming from the loose product and from the product to be analyzed, which must be respectively detected by the first and by the second optical sensors 5, 11.

[0078] Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5, at least one comparison parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid loose product.

[0079] Preferably, the comparison parameter of each of the solid elements which compose the loose product is a numerical value that indicates the color tone (such as for example red tone, green tone or blue tone, if the first optical sensor 5 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the first measurement signals in the form of images - which represent a respective solid element of the loose product, in which such color tone in particular corresponds with a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images.

[0080] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5, multiple comparison parameters for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid loose product, and such comparison parameters are numerical values that indicate the color tones (such as for example red tone, green tone or blue tone, if the first optical sensor 5 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the first measurement signals in the form of images - which represent a respective solid element of the loose product, in which such color tones in particular each correspond with a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images.

[0081] Possibly, in addition to at least one comparison parameter in the form of numerical value that indicates a color tone, the electronic control unit 6 can be configured for obtaining, from the first measurement signals generated by the first optical sensor 5, at least one other comparison parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid loose product, in which such other comparison parameter can be the number of the pixels that depict the respective solid element (so as to account for the dimensions of the solid elements) and / or can be the form of the aforesaid solid element.

[0082] In addition, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing the at least one comparison parameter of each solid element of the loose product with at least one first discrimination value.

[0083] Preferably, the at least one first discrimination value is a numerical value that represents a threshold color tone, in which such threshold color tone corresponds with one of the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images.

[0084] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing multiple comparison parameter (e.g. multiple numerical values that indicate the color tones corresponding with the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the first measurement signals in the form of images) for each solid element of the loose product with multiple corresponding first discrimination values (e.g. multiple threshold color tones, at least one corresponding with each channel-color of the aforesaid color space).

[0085] The electronic control unit 6 is additionally advantageously configured for classifying the solid elements of the 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 the loose product with the at least one first discrimination value.

[0086] For example, the electronic control unit 6 has set, as first discrimination value, a numerical value which represents a threshold color tone and is configured for classifying each solid element of the loose product as an element to be discarded if the corresponding comparison parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is higher / lower than the first discrimination value and for classifying each solid element of the loose product as an element to be selected if the comparison parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is lower / higher than the first discrimination value.

[0087] The electronic control unit 6 is advantageously configured for emitting the command signals as a function of the classification of the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected, and by means of such command signals the expulsion means 7 are actuated to eliminate, from the first advancement path A, the elements to be discarded, dividing the aforesaid loose product into the selected product and into the discarded product.

[0088] In this manner, due to the comparison of the at least one comparison parameter of each solid element with at least one first discrimination value, the electronic control unit 6 is capable of distinguishing the elements to be discarded and the elements to be selected, in particular accounting for the color and / or size and / or shape of each solid element that composes the loose product.

[0089] In accordance with a first embodiment, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for modifying the at least one first discrimination value as a function of the at least one quantitative parameter.

[0090] In this manner, therefore, the electronic control unit 6 is capable of autonomously modifying the first discrimination value, by means of which the solid elements of the loose product are identified as elements to be discarded or as elements to be selected, based on how many selection elements and / or how many discard elements are present in the product to be analyzed.

[0091] For example, in operation, if the electronic control unit 6 detects, due to the calculation of the at least one quantitative parameter, that in the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product there is an overly high quantity of discard elements, the same electronic control unit 6 consequently modifies the at least one first discrimination value in a manner such to reduce the possibility that a solid element of the loose product be classified as an element to be selected. Hence, in operation, after having in this manner modified the at least one first discrimination value, the electronic control unit 6 will tend to recognize, analyzing the first measurement signals, a greater quantity of solid elements of the loose product as the elements to be discarded, such that the expulsion means 7 eliminate a greater quantity of solid elements from the first advancement path A, increasing the quality of the selected product.

[0092] Additionally, in operation, if the electronic control unit 6 detects, due to the calculation of the at least one quantitative parameter, that in the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product there is an overly high quantity of selection products, the same electronic control unit 6 consequently modifies the at least one first discrimination value in a manner such to increase the possibility that a solid element of the loose product be classified as an element to be selected. Hence, in operation, after having in this manner modified the at least one first discrimination value, the electronic control unit 6 will tend to recognize, analyzing the first measurement signals, a greater quantity of the solid elements of the loose product as elements to be selected, such that the expulsion means 7 eliminate a lower quantity of solid elements from the first advancement path A, decreasing the quantity of selection elements that are erroneously discarded, coming to be part of the discarded product.

[0093] In accordance with another embodiment, the selector machine 1 comprises an out-put device 12, which is susceptible of being actuated by the electronic control unit 6 in order to communicate to a user the at least one quantitative parameter, and an in-put device 13, which is arranged for allowing a user to modify the first discrimination value.

[0094] In this manner, the selector machine 1, instead of autonomously modifying the at least one first discrimination value due to its electronic control unit 6, allows the user to decide whether he / she wishes to modify the same at least one first discrimination value after the user himself / herself has been communicated the at least one quantitative parameter. Hence, in operation, due to the out-put device 12 and to the in-put device 13, the user views the quantitative parameter through the out-put device 12, and based on this he / she understands if, in the discarded product, there are too many selection elements erroneously discarded and / or if in the selected product there are too many discard elements, and he / she decides if and how to modify the at least one first discrimination value based on such information and, if it is deemed necessary to proceed with the modification, employs the in-put device 13 in order to modify the aforesaid first discrimination value.

[0095] The out-put device 12 for example comprises a monitor, on which the at least one quantitative parameter can be shown, and / or a remote communication device (such as for example a wi-fi module and / or a mobile network antenna), through which the quantitative parameter can be sent in the form of text message to a portable device (e.g. a smart-phone or a portable PC) of the user, and / or a speaker, through which the quantitative parameter can be communicated by means of emission of sounds signals.

[0096] In addition, the in-put device 13 for example comprises a keyboard and / or a remote communication device (such as for example the above-indicated wi-fi module and / or mobile network antenna) and / or a touch screen.

[0097] In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the selector machine 1 comprises the out-put device 12 and the in-put device 13 and the electronic control unit 6 is settable in an autonomous operating mode, in which it is configured for modifying the at least one first discrimination value as a function of the at least one quantitative parameter, or in a semi-automatic operating mode, in which the electronic control unit 6 is configured for communicating to the user the quantitative parameter through the out-put device 12 and for waiting for the user to refuse to modify the first discrimination value or to select a new first discrimination value by means of the in-put device 13.

[0098] In this manner, with the first use of the selector machine 1, the user can select from between the autonomous operating mode and the semi-automatic operating mode based on his / her preferences. Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the second measurement signals generated by the second optical sensor 11, the at least one visual parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the product to be analyzed.

[0099] In a manner similar to the comparison parameter, the visual parameter of each of the solid elements which compose the product to be analyzed is preferably a numerical value that indicates the color tone (such as for example the red tone or the green tone or the blue tone, if the second optical sensor 11 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the second measurement signals in the form of images - that represent a respective solid element of the product to be analyzed, in which such color tone in particular corresponds with a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images.

[0100] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for obtaining, from the second measurement signals generated by the second optical sensor 11, multiple visual parameters for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid product to be analyzed, and such visual parameters are numerical values that indicate the color tones (such as for example the red tone, the green tone and the blue tone, if the second optical sensor 11 is a color video camera) of the pixels - of the second measurement signals in the form of images - that represent a respective solid element of the product to be analyzed, in which such color tones in particular each correspond to a determined color-channel (such as for example the channel "R" or the channel "G" or the channel "B") of a color space (such as for example the color space "RGB") employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images.

[0101] Possibly, in addition to at least one visual parameter in the form of numerical value that indicates a color tone, the electronic control unit 6 can be configured for obtaining, from the second measurement signals generated by the second optical sensor 11, at least one other visual parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the aforesaid product to be analyzed, in which such other visual parameter can be the number of the pixels that depict the respective solid element (so as to account for the dimensions of the solid elements) and / or can be the form of the aforesaid solid element.

[0102] In addition, the electronic control unit 6 is advantageously configured for comparing the at least one visual parameter of each solid element of the product to be analyzed with a second discrimination value.

[0103] In a manner similar to the first discrimination value, the at least one second discrimination value is preferably a numerical value which represents a threshold color tone, in which such threshold color tone corresponds to one of the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images.

[0104] Still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing multiple visual parameters (e.g. multiple numerical values that indicate the color tones corresponding to the color-channels of the color space employed by the electronic control unit 6 in order to process the second measurement signals in the form of images) for each solid element of the product to be analyzed with multiple corresponding second discrimination values (e.g. multiple threshold color tones, at least one corresponding to each color-channel of the aforesaid color space).

[0105] The electronic control unit 6 is additionally advantageously configured for classifying the solid elements of the 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 the product to be analyzed with the at least one second discrimination value.

[0106] For example, the electronic control unit 6 has set, as second discrimination value, a numerical value which represents a threshold color tone and is configured for classifying each solid element of the product to be analyzed as an discard element if the corresponding visual parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is higher / lower than the second discrimination value and for classifying each solid element of the product to be analyzed as a selection element if the visual parameter (in the form of numerical value that indicates the color tone of the pixels that represent such solid element) is lower / higher than the second discrimination value.

[0107] In addition, the electronic control unit 6 is advantageously configured for executing a count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed and for calculating the at least one quantitative parameter as a function of the count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed.

[0108] In this manner, by counting the discard elements and the selection elements (in particular represented in the second measurement signals in the form of images), the electronic control unit 6 is capable of generating the quantitative parameter indicative of the quantity of selection elements and / or of discard elements in the product to be analyzed, e.g. in the form of percentage over total.

[0109] The electronic control unit 6 can employ the same software for classifying the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected and for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed into discard elements and into selection elements, or it can employ a software, configured for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed into discard elements and into selection elements, more precise than the software that it employs for classifying the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected.

[0110] In particular, the electronic control unit 6 employs a more precise software for classifying the solid elements of the product to be analyzed, since it has more time available for being able to classify the solid elements of the product to be analyzed that descend along the second advancement path B with respect to the time that it has available for being able to classify the solid elements of the loose product that descend along the first advancement path A, since the electronic control unit 6 must be able to emit the command signals with which it actuates the expulsion means 7 about every 30 milliseconds, otherwise it would not be able to effectively eliminate the solid elements that must be discarded from the first advancement path A by means of the aforesaid expulsion means 7.

[0111] The electronic control unit 6 can in fact calculate a quantitative parameter at each time interval comprised between several minutes and several hours, since the quantitative parameter is not employed for eliminating determined solid elements of the product to be analyzed but for executing in substance a quality control on a sample of the selected product or of the discarded product. Advantageously, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing a quantitative parameter, associated with the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product and indicative of the percentage of selection elements in the selected product, with an admissibility threshold and for emitting an alarm signal (e.g. through a speaker and / or a remote data communication module belonging to the present selector machine 1) with the aforesaid quantitative parameter that is lower than the admissibility threshold.

[0112] In operation, therefore, the admissibility threshold indicates the lower limit of the quantity of selection elements which compose the selected product and the electronic control unit 6 emits the alarm signal when the quantity of selection elements (expressed for example in percentage) falls below the admissibility threshold. In this manner, the user is warned by the selector machine 1 when the selected product no longer has the technical specifications (i.e. it contains too many discard elements) to be able to be packaged and sent to the final client.

[0113] As an alternative or in addition, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for comparing a quantitative parameter, associated with the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product and indicative of the percentage of discard elements in the selected product, with an admissibility threshold and for emitting an alarm signal (e.g. through a speaker and / or a remote data communication module belonging to the present selector machine 1) with the aforesaid quantitative parameter which is higher than the admissibility threshold.

[0114] In such case, therefore, the electronic control unit 6, in operation, emits the alarm signal when the percentage of discard elements in the selected product is higher than the admissibility threshold, beyond which the selected product no longer has the required technical specifications to be able to be packaged and sent to a final client.

[0115] For the purpose of autonomously picking up the part of selected product or of discarded product that forms the product to be analyzed, the selector machine 1 according to the invention advantageously comprises transport means 14 operatively connected to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 and arranged for carrying, to the second conveyance means 8, the product to be analyzed (which is formed by at least one part of one between the selected product and the discarded product). In addition, the present selector machine 1 advantageously comprises a first collection compartment 15, which is placed at the end of the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A in order to receive the solid elements of the selected product, and a second collection compartment 16, which is placed adjacent to the first collection compartment 15 in order to receive the solid elements of the discarded product.

[0116] More in detail, the transport means 14 comprise at least one transport device 17 extended from one between the first collection compartment 15 and the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8, in order to transport the at least one product to be analyzed to the second conveyance means 8.

[0117] Preferably, the transport device 17 comprises a duct 37 provided with a suction mouth 38, which is placed at the first or second collection compartment 15, 16 in order to pick up the product to be analyzed, and with a delivery mouth 39, which is placed at the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 (e.g. at a second hopper 34) in order to provide the aforesaid product to be analyzed to the inlet section 9. In addition, such transport device 17 preferably comprises an aerial device 40, which is placed to intercept the duct 37 and is arranged for generating, inside it, an air flow that transports the product to be analyzed from the suction mouth 38 to the delivery mouth 39. Otherwise, the transport device 17 comprises a transport catenary, which is extended as a loop between the inlet section 9 and one between the first collection compartment 15 and the second collection compartment 16, and a plurality of collection trays, which are coupled to the transport catenary in order to collect the product to be analyzed from one between the first and the second collection compartment 15, 16 and for depositing the aforesaid product to be analyzed on the inlet section 9.

[0118] Independent of whether the transport device 17 comprises the duct 37 with aerial device 40 or the transport catenary with collection trays, an embodiment is possible in which the transport device 17 is extended from the first collection compartment 15 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 8, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product (in this case the selector machine 1 is capable of executing quality controls only on the selected product in order to verify if the selected product has the required specifications to be able to be packaged and sent to a client).

[0119] Otherwise, another embodiment is possible in which the transport device 17 is extended from the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 8, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product (in this case the selector machine 1 is only capable of verifying if, in the discarded product, there is an excessive quantity of selection elements uselessly eliminated from the first advancement path A).

[0120] Otherwise, additionally, the transport means 14 comprise two transport devices 17, one of which extended from the first collection compartment 15 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 9, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product, and the other of which is extended from the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 of the second conveyance means 8 in order to transport, to the second conveyance means 9, another product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product.

[0121] In this manner, by alternatively actuating one or the other of the two transport devices 17, it is possible to provide, to the same second conveyance means 8, a product to be analyzed that corresponds with a sample of the selected product and then a product to be analyzed that corresponds with a sample of the discarded product, without the selected product and the discarded product being mixed together.

[0122] In accordance instead with the preferred embodiment schematized in the enclosed figure 3, the second conveyance means 8 advantageously comprise at least one first channel 18 and a second channel 19. More in detail, the first channel 18 is extended starting from the inlet section 9 defining a second advancement path B, along which the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product is susceptible of advancing, and is also arranged for making the product to be analyzed advance, via falling, into a second analysis section B1 of the corresponding second advancement path B. Additionally, the second channel 19 is preferably extended starting from the inlet section 9 defining a further second advancement path B, along which another product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the discarded product is susceptible of advancing, and arranged for making the corresponding product to be analyzed advance, via falling, in a second analysis section B1 of the corresponding second advancement path B.

[0123] In particular, the first channel 18 of the second conveyance means 8 is attained by means of a respective second slide 27 of the above-described type and the second channel 19 of the second conveyance means 8 is attained by means of another second slide 27 of the above-described type.

[0124] For the purpose of optimizing the bulk of the present selector machine 1, the second slides 27 which make the first channel 18 and the second channel 19 and the first slide 20 are advantageously placed side-by-side each other and separated from each other by lateral barriers 41, which are preferably placed at the first lateral edges 23 and at the second lateral edges 30.

[0125] Preferably, in addition, the transport means 14 are arranged for providing the first channel 18 with the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the selected product and for providing, to the second channel 19, the product to be analyzed formed by at least part of the discarded product.

[0126] In particular, in order to be able to provide the products to be analyzed both to the first and second channels 18, 19, the transport means 14 comprise a transport device 17, which is extended from the first collection compartment 15 to the inlet section 9 at the first channel 18 in order to transport, to the aforesaid first channel 18, a product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product, and a further transport device 17, which is extended from the second collection compartment 16 to the inlet section 9 at the second channel 19 in order to transport, to the aforesaid second channel 19, another product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product.

[0127] In this manner, therefore, the selector machine 1 is capable of executing a control both on the selected product and on the discarded product simultaneously, without risking that the selected product and the discarded product be mixed together, due to the first and second channel 18, 19 of the second conveyance means 8.

[0128] For the purpose of being able to simultaneously analyze both the product to be analyzed of the first channel 18 and the product to be analyzed of the second channel 19, saving on the components of the optical detection system 3, the second optical sensor 11 is preferably a video camera arranged for generating the second measurement signals in the form of images and provided with a field of view extended both at the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the first channel 18 and at the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the second channel 19. In addition, still more preferably, the electronic control unit 6 is configured for identifying, in the second measurement signals in the form of images, a first region associated with the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the first channel 18 and a second region associated with the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B defined by the second channel 19. In particular, such electronic control unit 6 is configured for classifying, based on at least one visual parameter, into selection elements and into discard elements, the solid elements depicted in the first region and belonging to the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the selected product and for calculating a corresponding quantitative parameter and, in addition, for classifying, based on at least one visual parameter, into selection elements and into discard elements, the solid elements depicted in the second region and belonging to the product to be analyzed formed by at least one part of the discarded product and for calculating another corresponding quantitative parameter.

[0129] Also forming the object of the present invention is a method for quality control executed by means of the selector machine 1 of the type described up to now.

[0130] Such method provides for at least one selection step and one analysis step, which are described hereinbelow.

[0131] In the selection step, the loose product is advanced along the first conveyance means 2 in order to make it fall along the first analysis section A1 of the first advancement path A, the first optical sensor 5 generates the first measurement signals, the electronic control unit 6 emits the command signals as a function of the first measurement signals and the expulsion means 7 eliminate determined solid elements of the loose product from the first advancement path A as a function of the first measurement signals, dividing the loose product into the selected product and into the discarded product.

[0132] In addition, in the analysis step, a product to be analyzed formed by at least part of one between the selected product and the discarded product is advanced along the second conveyance means 8 in order to make it fall along the second analysis section B1 of the second advancement path B, the second optical sensor 11 generates the second measurement signals, the electronic control unit 6 classifies the solid elements of the product to be analyzed at least into selection elements and into discard elements based on at least one visual parameter of the solid elements obtained from the second measurement signals and calculates at least one quantitative parameter which is 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.

[0133] Advantageously, in the selection step, in order to be able to emit the command signals, the electronic control unit 6 obtains, from the generated first measurement signals, at least one comparison parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the loose product, compares the at least one comparison parameter of each solid element of the loose product with at least one first discrimination value, classifies the solid elements of the 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 the loose product with the at least one first discrimination value, and emits the command signals as a function of the classification of the solid elements of the loose product into elements to be discarded and into elements to be selected, and by means of such command signals the expulsion means 7 are actuated to eliminate, from the first advancement path A, the elements to be discarded, dividing the loose product into the selected product and into the discarded product.

[0134] In addition, advantageously, in the analysis step, in order to be able to calculate the quantitative parameter, the electronic control unit 6 obtains, from the second measurement signals, the at least one visual parameter for each of the solid elements which compose the product to be analyzed, compares the at least one visual parameter of each solid element of the product to be analyzed with a second discrimination value, classifies the solid elements of the 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 the product to be analyzed with the at least one second discrimination value, executes a count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed and calculates the at least one quantitative parameter as a function of the count of the selection elements and of the discard elements in the product to be analyzed.

[0135] Advantageously, the present method also comprises an adjustment step subsequent to said analysis step.

[0136] Preferably, in the adjustment step, the electronic control unit 6 modifies the at least one first discrimination value as a function of the at least one quantitative parameter.

[0137] Otherwise, in the adjustment step, the electronic control unit 6 actuates an out-put device 12 of the selector machine 1 in order to communicate to a user the at least one quantitative parameter and waits for the user, through a suitable in-put device 13 of the selector machine 1, to maintain the same first discrimination value or it sets a new different first discrimination value.

[0138] The invention thus conceived therefore attains the pre-established objects.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0023]With reference to the enclosed figures, reference number 1 indicates a selector machine according to the present invention.

[0024]Advantageously, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed, in different fields of application, in order to select determined elements in a product constituted by a set of solid elements, in particular with shape and / or color that are very similar.

[0025]More in detail, the present selector machine 1 is intended to be employed in the food industry, in particular so as to identify in a loose product (in particular granular), such as for example dried fruit (hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds), seeds, grain or the like, and elements that must be discarded before packaging the product, which for example can be shells of the dried fruit, discards of the food product processing or other inedible foreign bodies.

[0026]In addition, the present selector machine 1 can be employed in the waste recovery industry, in particular so as to identify elements o...

Claims

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.

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