US 12,343,763 B2
Automated golf ball sorting apparatus with image recognition technology
Dirk Johnson, Dallas, TX (US); Kelven Hua, Richardson, TX (US); Trenton Burns, Richardson, TX (US); Kolby Brubaker, Richardson, TX (US); Frank Hartman, Richardson, TX (US); Vin La, Richardson, TX (US); and Jacob Garcia, Richardson, TX (US)
Assigned to Sort It Out Solutions, LLC, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed by Sort It Out Solutions, LLC, Dallas, TX (US)
Filed on Nov. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/511,447.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/384,050, filed on Nov. 16, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0157401 A1, May 16, 2024
Int. Cl. B07C 5/34 (2006.01); B07C 5/342 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01); B07C 5/38 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 5/3412 (2013.01) [B07C 5/3422 (2013.01); B07C 5/362 (2013.01); B07C 5/38 (2013.01)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sorting apparatus for a set of golf balls comprising:
a frame;
a ball hopper supported by the frame;
a set of sort bins, above the ball hopper, supported by the frame;
a chain driven elevator, having a base positioned adjacent to the ball hopper, and an apex, mounted at an inclined angle to the frame;
a motor, operatively connected to the chain driven elevator;
a set of ball cups, each ball cup of the set of ball cups mounted to the chain driven elevator;
a camera, positioned to view at least one ball cup of the set of ball cups;
a gravity fed sorter divider, positioned adjacent to the apex and above the set of sort bins, and having a set of ball gates above and corresponding to the set of sort bins;
a set of sensors, corresponding to the set of ball gates, wherein each sensor of the set of sensors is operable to send a ball present interrupt;
a control system, having a set of memories, operatively connected to the motor, the camera, the set of sensors, and the set of ball gates;
the set of memories containing a set of program instructions, that when executed cause the control system to:
activate the motor;
receive an image from the camera of a golf ball marking on at least one golf ball of the set of golf balls;
derive an image classification of the image, using a convolutional neural network;
receive the ball present interrupt, corresponding to a sensor of the set of sensors;
track a sequential ball position, using the ball present interrupt; and
activate a ball gate, of the set of ball gates, based on the image classification and the sequential ball position;
whereby a golf ball, of the set of golf balls, having the golf ball marking, is tracked, and is directed to a sort bin, of the set of sort bins, corresponding to the image classification;
a conveyor base bottom, held diagonally positioned adjacent a conveyor base top, by the frame;
a drive shaft, having a set of drive sprockets, driven by the motor, rotatively supported by the conveyor base top;
an idler shaft, having a set of idler sprockets, rotatively supported by the conveyor base bottom;
a linear ball roller positioned on the drive shaft and the idler shaft;
a chain assembly, adjacent the linear ball roller, engaged with the set of drive sprockets and the set of idler sprockets; and
a set of ball platforms fixed to the chain assembly;
wherein the set of ball platforms engages the set of golf balls and rotates them along the linear ball roller.