A sorting method automatically sorts workpieces produced in a flatbed machine tool according to a scheduled sorting process by a sorting device. The method includes: providing at least one piece of process information created as a result of manufacturing of the workpieces; analyzing the at least one piece of process information, such that it is determined whether there is a sorting disruption; and upon determining that there is the sorting disruption, automatically modifying the sorting process.

A product carrying-out device for a steel material cutting machine includes a product information acquisition unit, a product laying-stability judgement unit, a storage box information acquisition unit, a carrying-out position determination unit, and a carrying-out control unit. The product information acquisition unit acquires information on a length and a diameter of a product. The product laying-stability judgement unit judges whether or not the product can be laid stably when its cut surface is made perpendicular to a ground. The storage box information acquisition unit acquires information on a shape of a storage box. The carrying-out position determination unit determines a carrying-out position of the product in the storage box based on the acquired information. The carrying-out control unit controls a carrying-out mechanism to carry out the product made by the steel material cutting machine to the carrying-out position determined by the carrying-out position determination unit.

A product carrying-out device for a steel material cutting machine includes a product information acquisition unit, a product laying-stability judgement unit, a storage box information acquisition unit, a carrying-out position determination unit, and a carrying-out control unit. The product information acquisition unit acquires information on a length and a diameter of a product. The product laying-stability judgement unit judges whether or not the product can be laid stably when its cut surface is made perpendicular to a ground. The storage box information acquisition unit acquires information on a shape of a storage box. The carrying-out position determination unit determines a carrying-out position of the product in the storage box based on the acquired information. The carrying-out control unit controls a carrying-out mechanism to carry out the product made by the steel material cutting machine to the carrying-out position determined by the carrying-out position determination unit.

An electric wire processing apparatus (1) includes: a clamp (3R) to grip and convey an electric wire (5); an upper tray (21) disposed under a movement path (51t) for a first end (51) of the electric wire (5); a nonconforming item tray (23) disposed under the movement path (51t) and laterally of the upper tray (21); a shared tray (24) disposed toward a second end (52) of the electric wire (5) relative to the upper tray (21) and the nonconforming item tray (23); a conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) to determine whether the electric wire (5) has been processed successfully; and a controller (9) to cause, upon determination by the conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) that the electric wire is a conforming item, the clamp (3R) to release its grip on the first end (51) of the electric wire (5) when the first end (51) is located over the upper tray (21), and to cause, upon determination by the conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) that the electric wire is a nonconforming item, the clamp (3R) to release its grip on the first end (51) of the electric wire (5) when the first end (51) is located over the nonconforming item tray (23).

An electric wire processing apparatus (1) includes: a clamp (3R) to grip and convey an electric wire (5); an upper tray (21) disposed under a movement path (51t) for a first end (51) of the electric wire (5); a nonconforming item tray (23) disposed under the movement path (51t) and laterally of the upper tray (21); a shared tray (24) disposed toward a second end (52) of the electric wire (5) relative to the upper tray (21) and the nonconforming item tray (23); a conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) to determine whether the electric wire (5) has been processed successfully; and a controller (9) to cause, upon determination by the conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) that the electric wire is a conforming item, the clamp (3R) to release its grip on the first end (51) of the electric wire (5) when the first end (51) is located over the upper tray (21), and to cause, upon determination by the conforming/nonconforming determiner (14) that the electric wire is a nonconforming item, the clamp (3R) to release its grip on the first end (51) of the electric wire (5) when the first end (51) is located over the nonconforming item tray (23).

A cassette transport system includes stockers which stores cassettes accommodating substrates therein, processing apparatuses respectively connected to the stockers, and a controller which controls transportation of the cassettes. The controller selects, as a first stocker, a stocker of which a storage modulus is greater than or equal to a reference storage modulus among the stockers, and controls dischargeable cassettes among the cassettes stored in the first stocker to be sequentially discharged from the first stocker according to a predetermined order.

A cassette transport system includes stockers which stores cassettes accommodating substrates therein, processing apparatuses respectively connected to the stockers, and a controller which controls transportation of the cassettes. The controller selects, as a first stocker, a stocker of which a storage modulus is greater than or equal to a reference storage modulus among the stockers, and controls dischargeable cassettes among the cassettes stored in the first stocker to be sequentially discharged from the first stocker according to a predetermined order.