Integration of sorting system for contaminant removal from wool using a second computer

Abstract

This paper presents integration of a mechatronic sorting system with a vision system for contaminant removal from wool using a second computer by two parallel data transmission methods. The used parallel data transmission methods include one using interrupt controlled Windows ® callback functions and another which continuously checks INTR A and INTR B signals. The sorting system primarily consists of eight solenoid valves that direct compressed air streams to blow the contaminants away. After image processing, the high-resolution image is mapped to a low-resolution image with the spatial positions of moving contaminants on the conveyor. Then, the low-resolution image data are transmitted from the host computer to the second computer by either of the parallel data transmission methods. Finally, the second computer sends the received low-resolution image data to the solenoid valves in real time by synchronized interrupt data transmission mode. The experimental results demonstrate that the second computer can correctly receive the low-resolution image data from the host computer and accurately send the low-resolution image data to the sorting system, at the camera speed of around 1500 lines/s, and the conveyor speed of 20 m/min in real time. The successful integration of the sorting task using a second computer has a practical significance. This makes the use of a microcontroller to replace the second computer possible, which can complete more complex control tasks in real time.