An automated sorting and packing system is described. In an example implementation, the system may include a transfer station that transfers an item into a shipping carton, one or more conveyors that convey the item and/or carton to a transfer station, a scanner that scans the item, and a processor communicatively coupled with the scanner and the one or more conveyors. According to some implementations, the system may perform operations including determining a carton identifier associated with a carton based on an order, assigning a transfer station to the order and the carton identifier based on scan data identifying an item, transporting the item to the transfer station using a conveyor, and transferring the item from the conveyor to a carton associated with the carton identifier using the transfer station.

Automated sorting of a sealable bag includes contactlessly scanning a surface or surfaces of a sealable bag (upper or lower surface or both) as the sealable bag is conveyed past an inspection station; obtaining a surface profile topology of the scanned surface; calculating apparent volume of the sealable bag from the surface profile topology; determining whether the apparent volume is within volume thresholds of over filled, under filled and unsealed bags; and sorting the sealable bag to a discard station responsive to a determination that the apparent volume of the sealable bag does not fit within the selected threshold(s).

Automated sorting of a sealable bag includes contactlessly scanning a surface or surfaces of a sealable bag (upper or lower surface or both) as the sealable bag is conveyed past an inspection station; obtaining a surface profile topology of the scanned surface; calculating apparent volume of the sealable bag from the surface profile topology; determining whether the apparent volume is within volume thresholds of over filled, under filled and unsealed bags; and sorting the sealable bag to a discard station responsive to a determination that the apparent volume of the sealable bag does not fit within the selected threshold(s).

The present invention discloses an automated segregation unit including one or more feeders, one or more optical decision makers, one or more optical sorters, a plurality of storage units. A plurality of transport means operationally couples the said components. The optical decision maker is integrated with a first vision system configured to categorize one or more materials present in a stream of mixed objects on the basis of one or more identity parameters. The optical sorter configured to physically segregate the categorized one or more materials from the stream of mixed objects. The one or more optical decision makers instructs the one or more optical sorters to eject one or more category of segregated objects to its respective storage unit. A method of operating the automated segregation unit is also disclosed in the present invention.

The present invention discloses an automated segregation unit including one or more feeders, one or more optical decision makers, one or more optical sorters, a plurality of storage units. A plurality of transport means operationally couples the said components. The optical decision maker is integrated with a first vision system configured to categorize one or more materials present in a stream of mixed objects on the basis of one or more identity parameters. The optical sorter configured to physically segregate the categorized one or more materials from the stream of mixed objects. The one or more optical decision makers instructs the one or more optical sorters to eject one or more category of segregated objects to its respective storage unit. A method of operating the automated segregation unit is also disclosed in the present invention.

A system for removing unstable articles from an automated processing stream includes an automated processing stream with a plurality of processing units including a flow diverter and configured to carry a stream of articles, a vision system, and a control system interfacing with the automated processing stream and the vision system, wherein the vision system is configured to detect positions of an article and to transmit position data to the control system, and wherein the control system is configured, through operation of a processor, to determine an expected position of the article based on a first detected position, compare the expected position to a second detected position of the article, determine a deviation of the second detected position from the expected position, and control the flow diverter to divert the article based on the deviation.

A system for removing unstable articles from an automated processing stream includes an automated processing stream with a plurality of processing units including a flow diverter and configured to carry a stream of articles, a vision system, and a control system interfacing with the automated processing stream and the vision system, wherein the vision system is configured to detect positions of an article and to transmit position data to the control system, and wherein the control system is configured, through operation of a processor, to determine an expected position of the article based on a first detected position, compare the expected position to a second detected position of the article, determine a deviation of the second detected position from the expected position, and control the flow diverter to divert the article based on the deviation.

Food products (22) being transported on a conveyor (24) are scanned to ascertain if designated desired physical parameters are met. If so, the food products (22) are allowed to continue along a processing path. If not, the food products are diverted from the processing path by a diverter system (30) consisting of the plurality of individually operated diverter units positioned across the width of the conveyor. The diverter units (32) are controlled by a control system (28) so that only the diverter units in alignment with work products (22) to be diverted are actuated thereby to remove the work product from the processing path (25).

Food products (22) being transported on a conveyor (24) are scanned to ascertain if designated desired physical parameters are met. If so, the food products (22) are allowed to continue along a processing path. If not, the food products are diverted from the processing path by a diverter system (30) consisting of the plurality of individually operated diverter units positioned across the width of the conveyor. The diverter units (32) are controlled by a control system (28) so that only the diverter units in alignment with work products (22) to be diverted are actuated thereby to remove the work product from the processing path (25).

A system for recycling planar objects including compressed mineral fiber material includes: a conveyor arranged to covey the planar objects through a number of stations at least including a thickness measurement station and a sound measurement station. The sound measurement station includes a sound reflecting surface arranged to back a first major surface of a planar object, a sound emitter arranged to emit sound towards the sound reflecting surface, a sound receiver arranged to receive sound reflected from the sound reflecting surface, and a converter arranged to determine a property related to sound absorption. A sorting station is arranged to sort the planar objects based on determined properties in to a plurality of fractions.