An apparatus which allows a flexible classification of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon comprises a winnowing device configured to separate crushed material of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. The apparatus also comprises an optoelectronic sorting device configured to separate the coarse fraction into at least two fractions.

An apparatus which allows a flexible classification of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon comprises a winnowing device configured to separate crushed material of poly- and/or monocrystalline silicon into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction. The apparatus also comprises an optoelectronic sorting device configured to separate the coarse fraction into at least two fractions.

Systems for autonomously batching a plurality of separated laundry articles into sorted loads for washing and drying are described. For example, each one of a plurality of collection bins is configured to receive a sorted load of separated articles including at least one common one of one or more washing and drying characteristics. A plurality of conveyors are configured to receive thereon the bins and position one bin into a loading position adjacent to an exit orifice of a sorting surface. At least one sensor disposed at least one of on, adjacent to, and within the surface is configured to detect the washing and drying characteristics. A controller in operable communication with a drive of the plurality of conveyors and the at least one sensor is configured to instruct the conveyors to move the bins to batch each separated laundry article into a bin matching the washing and drying characteristics.

Systems for autonomously batching a plurality of separated laundry articles into sorted loads for washing and drying are described. For example, each one of a plurality of collection bins is configured to receive a sorted load of separated articles including at least one common one of one or more washing and drying characteristics. A plurality of conveyors are configured to receive thereon the bins and position one bin into a loading position adjacent to an exit orifice of a sorting surface. At least one sensor disposed at least one of on, adjacent to, and within the surface is configured to detect the washing and drying characteristics. A controller in operable communication with a drive of the plurality of conveyors and the at least one sensor is configured to instruct the conveyors to move the bins to batch each separated laundry article into a bin matching the washing and drying characteristics.

A small object cassette processing station for depositing small objects into selected cells of a small object cassette. The station comprises a bulk small object bin structured and operable to retain a bulk quantity of small objects of a selected type. The station additionally comprises a small object counting and parsing subsystem configured to parse a plurality of groups of small objects received from the bulk quantity of the small objects retained in the bulk small object bin. Each group of small objects comprises a number of small objects by a central control system. The station further comprise a small object distribution subsystem configured to receive each parsed group of small objects and deposit each parsed group of small objects into one of a plurality of small object cells of a small object cassette as stipulated by the central control system.

A small object cassette processing station for depositing small objects into selected cells of a small object cassette. The station comprises a bulk small object bin structured and operable to retain a bulk quantity of small objects of a selected type. The station additionally comprises a small object counting and parsing subsystem configured to parse a plurality of groups of small objects received from the bulk quantity of the small objects retained in the bulk small object bin. Each group of small objects comprises a number of small objects by a central control system. The station further comprise a small object distribution subsystem configured to receive each parsed group of small objects and deposit each parsed group of small objects into one of a plurality of small object cells of a small object cassette as stipulated by the central control system.