According to various embodiments, a compactor arrangement (202) may have the following: a compactor (102); an empty-container transport device (202t) for transporting empty containers (104) in the compactor arrangement (202) in a transport region (1000t) above the empty-container transport device (202t); a first anti-encroachment guard structure (1000s) which laterally delimits the transport region (1000t) and which is provided between the transport region (1000t) and the compactor (102), wherein the first anti-encroachment guard structure (1000s) defines a feed region (1000d) through which empty containers (104) can be fed laterally out of the transport region (1000t) to the compactor (102); and a guard device (1002) having a second anti-encroachment guard structure (1002s) which is configured such that, selectively, an encroachment from the direction of the transport region (1000t) into the feed region (1000d) can be prevented.

A microfluidic device and multi-stage target cell enrichment using the microfluidic device are disclosed herewith.

Method for producing and maintaining an assignment of object data of an object to a changing physical position of the object in a sorting device, with the steps: feeding in an object at an entry point to the sorting device, capturing and storing identity data as part of the object data of the object; on the basis of sorting data, determining a transfer point assigned to the object; transporting the item as far as the specified transfer point; discharging the object at the specified transfer point; capturing optical object data of each object ejected at the transfer point once the object has reached a predetermined position on the sorting device, at the transfer point or along a delivery path extending from the transfer point to a removal point, and storing the optical object data as a further part of the object data of the object; transporting the object along the delivery path; and during that transportation, tracking the discharged object on the basis of the optical object data by means of tracking, and storing a current position of the object as a further part of the object data of the object, as well as a device for executing the process.

Method for producing and maintaining an assignment of object data of an object to a changing physical position of the object in a sorting device, with the steps: feeding in an object at an entry point to the sorting device, capturing and storing identity data as part of the object data of the object; on the basis of sorting data, determining a transfer point assigned to the object; transporting the item as far as the specified transfer point; discharging the object at the specified transfer point; capturing optical object data of each object ejected at the transfer point once the object has reached a predetermined position on the sorting device, at the transfer point or along a delivery path extending from the transfer point to a removal point, and storing the optical object data as a further part of the object data of the object; transporting the object along the delivery path; and during that transportation, tracking the discharged object on the basis of the optical object data by means of tracking, and storing a current position of the object as a further part of the object data of the object, as well as a device for executing the process.

A reverse vending machine is provided that includes an interface cabinet having an inlet portal. At least one bin is provided for receiving the accepted recyclable container. A roller system identifies and sorts the recyclable containers. A crusher is driven by a motor with a mechanical coupling between the crusher and the motor. The crusher is adapted to receive various containers and is positioned intermediate between the roller system and the bin. A cart or frame displaceable relative to the interface cabinet, the crusher is mounted on the cart or the frame. A reverse vending machine in another embodiment includes a interface cabinet, the interface cabinet having an inlet portal for recyclable container input and a rejected container depository. At least one bin and a roller system are provided along with a wash system for cleaning components of the interface cabinet between the inlet portal and the bin.

A measurement method comprises acquiring, using image sensors (Cji) for each object during its displacement, at least three radiographic images of the region to be inspected. The images are obtained from at least three radiographic projections of the region to be inspected, the directions of projection (Dji) of which are different from each other. A computer system is provided with an a priori geometric model of the region to be inspected for the series of objects. Using the computer system and considering a constant attenuation coefficient and, from the a priori geometric model, at least three radiographic images of the region to be inspected, a digital geometric model of the region to be inspected is determined. For each object of the series, from the digital geometric model of the region to be inspected, at least one linear dimension measurement of the region to be inspected is determined.

The present invention relates to a testing method and a corresponding testing system, for example for testing workpieces (2), which are provided for producing containers, in particular beverage bottles, and which can consist of a basic body and a barrier layer that is at least partially applied to the basic body, whereby the workpieces (2) are transported into a receiving vessel (4) by means of a transport device (3), and whereby an image of the workpieces (2) is generated by means of a capturing device (6) and is transmitted to a processing device for testing, wherein the workpieces (2) are led into the receiving vessel (4) upon leaving the transport device (3), whereby the image is generated between the departure from the transport device (3) and the receiving vessel (4) and wherein the image is processed by the processing device in such a way that the quality of the basic body and/or the quality of the barrier layer of the workpieces (2) is tested in order to detect defective workpieces (2). The same testing system and the same testing method can also be used to count the workpieces (2).

A sorting system for sorting products, in particular vulnerable products, such as apples and pears, and a method therefor. The sorting system comprises a singulator, a measuring system, and a sorting device provided with a number of sorting outlets, along with a control operatively connected to the measuring system and the sorting device, and provided with a classification system. The control is provided with a selection module configured to switch the sorting system between a basic configuration and a task configuration in which the selection module is configured to select sorting commands and to couple a sorting command to one or more of the available sorting outlets adaptable to the specific product properties by the control. A product allocation system is configured to distribute assessed products over the qualifying sorting outlets in the task configuration.

A sorting system for sorting products, in particular vulnerable products, such as apples and pears, and a method therefor. The sorting system comprises a singulator, a measuring system, and a sorting device provided with a number of sorting outlets, along with a control operatively connected to the measuring system and the sorting device, and provided with a classification system. The control is provided with a selection module configured to switch the sorting system between a basic configuration and a task configuration in which the selection module is configured to select sorting commands and to couple a sorting command to one or more of the available sorting outlets adaptable to the specific product properties by the control. A product allocation system is configured to distribute assessed products over the qualifying sorting outlets in the task configuration.

Paper sheets preprocessing apparatus includes a material remover, a detector, a controller, and a display. The material remover removes a material from a paper sheets assembly. The paper sheets assembly includes a plurality of paper sheets strapped by the material. The detector is located at an upstream side than the material remover, and detects information of the paper sheets assembly. The controller decides whether the paper sheets assembly satisfies a predetermined specification, based on the information detected by the detector. If the controller decides that the paper sheets assembly does not satisfy the predetermined specification, the display displays a reason to decide that the paper sheets assembly does not satisfy the predetermined specification.