Silverware Sorting and Orienting System

Abstract

This study investigates the sorting and orientation of silverware in commercial dishwashing applications. The purpose of this research was to investigate means to effectively sort and orient mixed silverware, piece by piece. The challenge was to efficiently lift silverware pieces off a magnetic conveyor, accurately sort them, and orient them into their respective collection bins. It was desired to have high accuracy, repeatability and reliability while operating at speeds to process at least 30 pieces per minute of mixed clean and unclean knives, spoons, forks and soupspoons. The method of study was primarily experimental. An efficient, accurate and reliable mechanism for sorting and orienting silverware has been designed, developed and tested. Lifting mechanisms powered by solenoids has been successfully incorporated to lift silverware off magnetic conveying blocks. An orienting mechanism powered by solenoids has also been incorporated to place differently oriented silverware in different collection bins. Suitable DAQ boards were used in the system to interface with the computer. Software was developed for a PC to interface with an existing machine vision identification and inspection system, and send and receive controlling signals to the various components, employing a specially constructed power supply. Experimental results demonstrate that the accuracy of sorting of the Silverware Sorting and Orienting Machine in a stand-alone mode was 98.20%; accuracy in orienting the silverware was 100% at processing rates up to 55 pieces/min. In co-ordination with the vision-based identification and inspection system at a processing rate of 45 pieces/min, the accuracy of sorting was 98.00%; accuracy in orienting the silverware was 100%.