Arduino based Color Sorting Machine

The Color sorting machine using Arduino is a fascinating and renowned project for techies, who would like to combine Electronics, Machine Building and Programming. The Color Sorting Machines is used for sorting mainly RGB colors. This Color sorting machine separates different colored objects and classifies them in to respective containers/cups. The Color Sorting machine is fully automated with the help of Arduino UNO. This Electronics Project made up of Arduino UNO along with Arduino UNO BOB, RGB Color Sensor, Two Servo Motors and some plastic funnels and tube parts. 

Block Diagram of Color sorting machine using Arduino:

Color Sensor: The color sensor is embedded inside the color sorting section. Color sensor analyzes and classifies the RGB colors and provides the corresponding output values for the RGB colors to the Arduino UNO.

TCS 3200 Color Sensor is used with this Color Sorting machine. This sensor acts as a perfect color sensor for the Color Sorting Machine. The TCS3200 Color sensor’s PCB module includes a TAOS TCS3200 RGB color sensor chip, white LEDs (4 Numbers) and LED control circuit with some basic components.

 Features of TCS3200 Color Sensor:

• It is a Programmable high resolution color light to frequency converter sensor

• It provides a Programmable Color and full scale output frequency

• It can directly control with the Microcontroller

Arduino UNO: The heart of the Color Sorting Machine is Arduino UNO. The customized Arduino board from mepits – “Arduino UNO BOB” plays a prominent role here. Actually we are making all the connections to the Arduino UNO board through this “Arduino UNO BOB”. This will scale down the connection complexities and boost the overall performance of the machine. The RGB Color Sensor and all the Servo motors are connected to Arduino UNO through the customized Arduino UNO BOB. An external 9-12 Volt supply voltage is used for powering the Arduino and the servo motors. This Color Sorting Machine is a Real Time running System according to the programming codes.

Chute controlling motor: A servomotor is used for controlling or arranging the chute according to the color sensed by the color sensor. The chute is arranged so as to store the colored objects in to corresponding containers/cups.

Object Pick controlling Motor:  The Object Picking Part is the resolving portion of the Color Sorting Section. Another servomotor is used here for picking the colored objects after identifying the color.

Basic Physical Parts of the Arduino based Color Sorting Machine: 

Funnel Section: we can fill the colored objects in to the Sorting Machine through this funnel section.

Color Sorting Section:  There is one circular shaped rotating part (Object Picking part) below the funnel and it is embedded to another circular shaped plastic part (Object Carrying part). There is a single hole in the Object Picking part so as to join the colored objects from the funnel section to the color sorting section. The RGB Color Sensor is fixed inside this Object Picking part. The Object Carrying part section over the Object Picking part has two holes. The Object Carrying part is stagnant, while the Object Pick part is revolving.   

Chute Section: This is actually the sloping shaft or slide, through which the sorted colored objects will finally drops in to the cups/container.

Circuit Diagram of Color Sorting machine using Arduino with PCB Layout:                                   

Applications of Arduino based Color Sorting Machine:

• The color Sorting Machine can be used for Industrial purposes, like sorting different industrial parts according to the colors. 
• For sorting skittles, colored balls and M&Ms.
• Can be used in Automobile Industries.