An apparatus for sorting and related methods are described and include 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.

A method for identifying the presence of partly liberated diamonds in a material stream. The method including illuminating a material with a multi-wavelength beam including at least one monochromatic SWIR laser beam, and at least one IR scatter-/anti-scatter laser beam. A sorting process including ejecting objects including material classified as diamond from a transportation direction of the material stream.

A food article defect removal apparatus includes a manifold that defines one or more chambers for holding pressurized fluid. First channels extend from a first side of the manifold into fluid communication with the chambers. Second channels extend from the first side of the manifold to a second side of the manifold. Valves selectively connect corresponding first channels and second channels together to dispense the pressurized fluid from the manifold. The manifold can have an exterior wall that at least partially defines a first chamber and a second chamber, with an interior wall disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The interior wall can define the second channels. The valves can be included with a valve assembly, which includes a driver operably coupled with the valves. The valves can be pluggably coupled with the driver.

Disclosed is a system for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a desired target copper content. The system includes a first magnetic resonance analyzer for measuring the copper content of ore input into the system and a controller that controls a 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 system also includes a second magnetic resonance analyzer to measure the copper content of the ore in the collection path. The measurements are then fed back to the controller where the controller can adjust the predetermined cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore with the targeted copper content.

An automated grains inspection apparatus for a production line comprises an inlet to receive the grains and an outlet from which the grains are discharged. A feeder configured to receive the grains from the inlet and release the grains aligned in a line formation is provided while at least one camera is positioned sideway beneath the feeder to capture images of the grains while they fall. At least one background surface positioned sideway beneath the feeder and opposite the camera is also provided in an inspection zone so that the grains are configured to be aligned between the camera and the background surface.

A system and a method of sorting scrap particles is provided. A moving conveyor containing scrap particles is imaged using a vision system to create a vision image corresponding to a timed location of the conveyor, and is sensed using a sensing system to create a sensing matrix corresponding to the timed location. The sensing system has at least one array of analog proximity sensors. A control system analyzes the vision image as a vision matrix of cells, and generates a vision vector containing vision data from the vision matrix for the particle. The control system analyzes the sensing matrix, and generates a sensing data vector containing sensing data from the sensing matrix for the particle. The control system classifies the particle into one of at least two classifications of a material as a function of the vision data vector and the sensing data vector.

A method for object classification, including: guiding a continuous stream of objects from a transport mechanism directly into an unsupported path, along which the object stream is fed through a detection region; illuminating the detection region with a radiation band in a first direction; optically scanning the detection region to detect electromagnetic radiation reflected by the at least one object in the detection region by viewing the detection region along a second direction, wherein the directions have a cross-section in the detection region and form an angle relative each other of 10-80; analyzing the information; and classifying objects in at least two different directions based on the analysis of the transparency information from the optical scanning; wherein the step of analyzing the information from the optical scanning includes analyzing the objects based on the intensity, spread and texture of the detected radiation from the optical scanning.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for sorting particles of a material flow into at least two fractions, the particles in the material flow being observed by means of at least one detector, particles being subjected to acoustic pressure on the basis of the properties determined by the detector so that they are supplied to different fractions.

A device for sorting spherical objects, the device comprising: a feeder for feeding the spherical objects; and a sorting plate comprising a receiving region for receiving the spherical objects and a sorting region comprising a good objects transferring region for transferring good spherical objects and a defective objects transferring region for transferring defective spherical objects.

An automated grains inspection apparatus for a production line comprises an inlet to receive the grains and an outlet from which the grains are discharged. A feeder configured to receive the grains from the inlet and release the grains aligned in a line formation is provided while at least one camera is positioned sideway beneath the feeder to capture images of the grains while they fall. At least one background surface positioned sideway beneath the feeder and opposite the camera is also provided in an inspection zone so that the grains are configured to be aligned between the camera and the background surface.