SORTIERGERAET

A number of steeply inclined tapered slides are arranged for gravity assisted singulation and alignment of items such as rice grains that are introduced at the top from vibrating chutes that are gently inclined in the opposite direction. The chutes extend from a common vibrating feed tray and have adjustable entrance gates to equalize the flow rates of the items. A stationary hopper supplies the feed tray through a flexible coupling. At the bottom of each slide, a photoelectric viewer is arranged to operate an ejector for diverting grains having dark spots. A variable background is provided and is adjusted so that the signal induced thereby is identical to that of the mid-portion of an acceptable grain. Light sources are positioned both above and below the photoelectric means so as to provide extra illumination for the leading and trailing ends of each grain, thus to avoid spurious signals similar to those induced by dark spots but caused by the rounded ends of acceptable grains.