A color sorting method for small-grain agricultural products combining an area scanning photoelectric characteristic and a line scanning photoelectric characteristic is provided. The present invention obtains an area scan image of small-grain agricultural product materials on a conveyor belt by using an area scan camera, which can accurately extract area array features of the materials and realize accurate identification of the unqualified materials. At the same time, the present invention can provide key parameters for accurate positioning during free falling of the materials while identifying the unqualified materials by using the area scan image, and can cooperate with the line scan positioning camera and the pneumatic nozzle to achieve high-speed elimination of the unqualified materials.

Systems and methods for sorting utilizing an inflatable actuator are disclosed. A sorting system utilizing an inflatable actuator includes an inflatable actuator. The inflatable actuator is disposed in a cantilever beam orientation atop a support surface. The system includes an inflation component coupled to the inflatable actuator to provide an inflation force. Additionally, the system includes a control component configured to send an activation signal to the inflation component responsive to a detection of an object to be sorted. Responsive to the activation signal, the inflation component inflates the inflatable actuator to cause the inflatable actuator to make contact with the object to be sorted. The contact of the inflatable actuator with the object to be sorted causes the object to change from a first trajectory to a second trajectory.

An identification apparatus 1000 includes a light collecting unit 20 configured to collect scattered light from a sample, spectroscopic elements 150l and 150h configured to disperse light from the light collecting unit 20, an imaging unit 170 that includes a plurality of light detection elements arrayed in a row direction 172r and a column direction 172c and to which optical spectra from the spectroscopic elements 150l and 150h are projected along the row direction 172r, and an acquisition unit 30 configured to acquire spectral information about the sample based on an output signal from the imaging unit 170. The optical spectra corresponding to the sample are projected to the imaging unit 170 discontinuously in at least one of the row direction 172r and the column direction 172c.

Disclosed is a system and method for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a target copper content. The system includes an analysis and selection station including first magnetic resonance analyzer measuring the copper content of input ore and a controlled diverter to divert portions of the input ore to a collection path when the copper content meets or exceeds a predetermined cut-off value. The predetermined cut-off is adjusted by a controller in response to the first magnetic resonance analyzer. A second magnetic resonance analyzer measures the copper content of the ore in a product path. That measurement is fed back to the controller to fine tune the adjusted cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore having the targeted copper content. The system may include a station for sizing the input ore, a station for sizing the output ore, and a station for sizing waste produced by the system.

An optical sorter includes optical sorting units adapted to sort materials by quality. A first optical sorting unit sorts the materials by quality and transfers a fraction of the materials discharged from a defectives discharge unit in the first optical sorting unit to a second optical sorting unit. A second optical sorting unit sorts the materials by quality and transfers a fraction of the materials discharged from a defectives discharge unit in the second optical sorting unit to a third optical sorting unit, which sorts the materials transferred from the second optical sorting unit by quality. The optical sorter allows a fraction of the materials to be transferred to the third optical sorting unit and sorted therein, the materials to be sorted being among the materials sorted by quality in the first optical sorting unit and being discharged from the defectives discharge unit of the first optical sorting unit.

A method for handling harvested root crops such as potatoes. The method includes the steps of optically imaging (i.e., by the hyper-spectral imaging system) a bulk flow of a harvested root crop to produce image data and analysing the image data to identify discrete objects within the bulk flow. Each identified object is categorised as either acceptable or unacceptable based on a comparison with at least one discriminator and objects classified as unacceptable are removed (by the ejector actuator) from the bulk flow to provide a sorted flow of the harvested root crop.

A vibratory conveyor includes a feed tray, an electromagnetic linear actuator and a movable drive train interconnecting the feed tray and the electromagnetic linear actuator such that the electromagnetic linear actuator will move the feed tray during energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A sensor assembly is positioned to detect movement of the electromagnetic linear actuator. A controller connected to receive an output of the sensor assembly and connected to control energization of electromagnetic linear actuator, wherein the controller is configured to adjust energization of the electromagnetic linear actuator based upon the output of the sensor assembly. A vibratory conveyor in which the movable drive train includes at least one parallel spring element therealong is also disclosed.

An apparatus for sorting is described and includes acquiring a multiplicity of synchronized image signals of a product stream which is to be sorted; generating a multiplicity of fused sensor signals; forming an image model previously acquired from the objects to be sorted; identifying objects in the product stream, and generating object presence and defect signals; determining a spatial orientation of the objects in the product stream; detecting the defects and removing the defects from the product stream.

An apparatus for sorting is described and includes acquiring a multiplicity of synchronized image signals of a product stream which is to be sorted; generating a multiplicity of fused sensor signals; forming an image model previously acquired from the objects to be sorted; identifying objects in the product stream, and generating object presence and defect signals; determining a spatial orientation of the objects in the product stream; detecting the defects and removing the defects from the product stream.

Disclosed is a system and method for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a target copper content. The system includes an analysis and selection station including first magnetic resonance analyzer measuring the copper content of input ore and a controlled diverter to divert portions of the input ore to a collection path when the copper content meets or exceeds a predetermined cut-off value. The predetermined cut-off is adjusted by a controller in response to the first magnetic resonance analyzer. A second magnetic resonance analyzer measures the copper content of the ore in a product path. That measurement is fed back to the controller to fine tune the adjusted cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore having the targeted copper content. The system may include a station for sizing the input ore, a station for sizing the output ore, and a station for sizing waste produced by the system.