A robotic singulation system that provides an automated visual indication for human intervention is disclosed. In various embodiments, the system includes a communication interface; and a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to: receive via the communication interface an indication of an error with respect to a receptacle comprising a conveyance structure; and in response to the indication, cause a visual indication to be provided with respect to the receptacle as it is moved through a workspace by the conveyance structure.

A parcel processing system includes a conveyor segment that transports a stream of singulated items received from a parcel singulator. An imaging device discretely captures an image of each singulated item of the stream of singulated items transported on the conveyor segment. An automatic recognition system processes the captured images and utilizes a binary classification model to generate a classier output designating each image as a positive, representing a singulation error, or as a negative, representing a correct singulation. An operator station selectively receives a sequence of images from the automatic recognition system to enable an operator to validate the classifier output for the received images, for identifying false positives and/or false negatives therefrom. Items associated with images that are identified as false positives at the operator station are processed as correctly singulated items. Items associated with images that are identified as false negatives are processed as incorrectly singulated items.

A separating device of an optical testing unit for testing rotationally symmetrical test objects includes two corresponding pocket wheels, each having a plurality of pockets distributed uniformly over a circumference. The pocket wheels rotate synchronously in opposite directions about parallel axes in response to a drive. A continuous conveyor transports the test objects on a transporting plane. Depending on the geometry of the test objects, the distances between the respective pocket wheels and between the pocket wheels and the transporting plane are determined so that the test objects, which are fed via and accumulating section, are moved between the pocket wheels while being guided by two pockets of the two pocket wheels and are released by the two pockets downstream of an engagement section. Once released the test objects are accelerated to a higher transporting speed in an accelerating section of the continuous conveyor and are separated as a result.

A separating device of an optical testing unit for testing rotationally symmetrical test objects includes two corresponding pocket wheels, each having a plurality of pockets distributed uniformly over a circumference. The pocket wheels rotate synchronously in opposite directions about parallel axes in response to a drive. A continuous conveyor transports the test objects on a transporting plane. Depending on the geometry of the test objects, the distances between the respective pocket wheels and between the pocket wheels and the transporting plane are determined so that the test objects, which are fed via and accumulating section, are moved between the pocket wheels while being guided by two pockets of the two pocket wheels and are released by the two pockets downstream of an engagement section. Once released the test objects are accelerated to a higher transporting speed in an accelerating section of the continuous conveyor and are separated as a result.

The present invention discloses a system for textile items sorting comprising a reception station; a textile items recognition station; a pick-up and transferring device including grippers configured to grab individual pieces of textile items, and moving members configured to convey the gripper from the reception station to the textile items recognition station; and a sorting and separating station. The present invention also discloses a method for automatic sorting of textile items comprising the steps of: accumulating textile items within a reception station; picking up textile items from the reception station and transferring them to a textile items recognition station; identifying the textile items in the textile items recognition station; and conveying identified textile items to a sorting and separating station for textile items including several deposits for receiving different kinds of sorted textile items.

The present invention discloses a system for textile items sorting comprising a reception station; a textile items recognition station; a pick-up and transferring device including grippers configured to grab individual pieces of textile items, and moving members configured to convey the gripper from the reception station to the textile items recognition station; and a sorting and separating station. The present invention also discloses a method for automatic sorting of textile items comprising the steps of: accumulating textile items within a reception station; picking up textile items from the reception station and transferring them to a textile items recognition station; identifying the textile items in the textile items recognition station; and conveying identified textile items to a sorting and separating station for textile items including several deposits for receiving different kinds of sorted textile items.

The present application discloses a method, system, and computer system for sequencing a set of objects to be loaded into a transport container. The method includes (i) receiving an indication of the set of objects to be loaded into the transport container for transport from a source location to a destination location, (ii) determining, based at least in part on object information corresponding to the set of objects and resources available to load the set of objects, a sequence according to which the set of objects are to be loaded into the transport container, and (iii) providing the sequence to a robotic system to implement in connection with loading the set of objects to the transport container.

A robot system for picking randomly shaped and sized object from a continuously moving stream of objects in bulk, e.g. a 3D bulk, and placing the object singulated and aligned on an induction or directly on a sorter. A pick and place robot has a robotic actuator for moving a gripper with a controllable gripping configuration of its gripping members, e.g. four suction cups, to adapt the gripper for various objects. A control system processes a 3D image of objects upstream of a position of the pick and place robot, identifies separate objects in the 3D image, and selects which object to grip, based on parameters of the identified separate objects determined from the 3D image. Based on e.g. size and shape of the selected object to grip, the gripping configuration of the gripper is adjusted to match the surface of the object to grip for optimal gripping. The robotic actuator, e.g. a gantry type robotic actuator, is then controlled to move the gripper to a position for gripping the object, and afterwards move the gripper with the gripped object to a target position and with a target orientation to release grip of the object and thus place the object on an induction or directly on a sorter. An image after placing the object along with properties of the object determined from the 3D image can be used as input to a machine learning for online improving pick and place performance of the robot system, e.g. for online improving the algorithm for selection of which object to pick, and also for selection of the appropriate gripping configuration to match the object.

An automated process for separating and recycling a broad mix of waste material including, but not limited to, paper and flexible plastics. A materials recovery facility (MRF) collects, presorts, and separates into individual commodities the material, then separates partially processed 2D blends from 3D containers, while refraining from any quality control of the 2D blends, and bales the 2D blends. A fiber center receives the bales from the MRF, aggregates the partially processed 2D blends, removes recyclable commodities including flexible plastics from the 2D blends, aggregates each recyclable commodity that is removed from the 2D blends, and forms separate commodity streams of clean paper and clean flexible plastics. Also provided are a related fiber center (and an infrastructure including the center) and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying software for performing the process.

An automated process for separating and recycling a broad mix of waste material including, but not limited to, paper and flexible plastics. A materials recovery facility (MRF) collects, presorts, and separates into individual commodities the material, then separates partially processed 2D blends from 3D containers, while refraining from any quality control of the 2D blends, and bales the 2D blends. A fiber center receives the bales from the MRF, aggregates the partially processed 2D blends, removes recyclable commodities including flexible plastics from the 2D blends, aggregates each recyclable commodity that is removed from the 2D blends, and forms separate commodity streams of clean paper and clean flexible plastics. Also provided are a related fiber center (and an infrastructure including the center) and at least one computer-readable non-transitory storage medium embodying software for performing the process.