An article carrier is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a mounting portion adapted for connection to a conveyor such that when the article carrier is connected to the conveyor the conveyor is positioned on a conveyor axis of the article carrier. The article carrier has first and second carrier portions connected to the mounting portion which are configured to allow weighing of one or more articles carried, in use, by the carrier portions. The first carrier portion comprises a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and the second carrier portion comprises a third bearing surface and a spaced apart fourth bearing surface. A distance between the conveyor axis and any point on one of the bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis, is different to a distance between the conveyor axis and any point on any of the other bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis.

An article carrier is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a mounting portion adapted for connection to a conveyor such that when the article carrier is connected to the conveyor the conveyor is positioned on a conveyor axis of the article carrier. The article carrier has first and second carrier portions connected to the mounting portion which are configured to allow weighing of one or more articles carried, in use, by the carrier portions. The first carrier portion comprises a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and the second carrier portion comprises a third bearing surface and a spaced apart fourth bearing surface. A distance between the conveyor axis and any point on one of the bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis, is different to a distance between the conveyor axis and any point on any of the other bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis.

An integral weighing and sorting system that weighs articles on a roller belt and selectively actuates or deactuates belt rollers to divert selected articles. After an article is weighed on the roller belt, its weight is compared to a predetermined weight range. Out-of-range articles are directed to exit the belt via a different route from that of in-range articles by actuating the rollers to rotate in a direction transverse to the travel direction in a roller-actuation zone.

A sorting device for sorting articles, comprising a conveyor which is movable in a conveying direction along a conveying path, the conveyor comprising a number of sorting units, each sorting unit comprising a carriage and at least one load-carrying element connected to the carriage for supporting articles, wherein the load-carrying elements are movable with regard to an associated carriage for unloading articles from the load-carrying elements at predetermined unloading positions, at least two of the sorting units being coupled together, a gap being formed between two adjacent load-carrying elements of two sorting units that are coupled together, the gap being covered by an intermediate element adapted to support an article, the sorting device comprising a stationarily arranged removal device for moving a selected article in a transverse direction off the conveyor at a predetermined removal position, wherein the removal device comprises a support element, the support element being movable along a longitudinal direction extending parallel to the conveying path, a first drive means being adapted to move the support element with a speed and in a transversal position corresponding to the selected article, the removal device further comprising a pushing element supported by the support element, a second drive means being adapted to move the pushing element in the transverse direction in order to remove the article from the conveyor.

A sorting device for sorting articles, comprising a conveyor which is movable in a conveying direction along a conveying path, the conveyor comprising a number of sorting units, each sorting unit comprising a carriage and at least one load-carrying element connected to the carriage for supporting articles, wherein the load-carrying elements are movable with regard to an associated carriage for unloading articles from the load-carrying elements at predetermined unloading positions, at least two of the sorting units being coupled together, a gap being formed between two adjacent load-carrying elements of two sorting units that are coupled together, the gap being covered by an intermediate element adapted to support an article, the sorting device comprising a stationarily arranged removal device for moving a selected article in a transverse direction off the conveyor at a predetermined removal position, wherein the removal device comprises a support element, the support element being movable along a longitudinal direction extending parallel to the conveying path, a first drive means being adapted to move the support element with a speed and in a transversal position corresponding to the selected article, the removal device further comprising a pushing element supported by the support element, a second drive means being adapted to move the pushing element in the transverse direction in order to remove the article from the conveyor.

An assembly for processing fruit and vegetable products includes a plurality of units for containing fruit and vegetable products (A), which can move in sequence along a conveyance line. The assembly includes at least one vision element, arranged along the line and intended at least to check the actual number (N) of containment units on which each product (A) lies and is conveyed along the line, with such actual number (N) being able to depend randomly or otherwise on the size, shape, arrangement and/or method of loading on the line of the respective product (A). Downstream of the element there are at least one first device for weighing a first predefined number (n.sub.1) of consecutive containment units and at least one second device for weighing a second predefined number (n.sub.2) of consecutive containment units.

An assembly for processing fruit and vegetable products includes a plurality of units for containing fruit and vegetable products (A), which can move in sequence along a conveyance line. The assembly includes at least one vision element, arranged along the line and intended at least to check the actual number (N) of containment units on which each product (A) lies and is conveyed along the line, with such actual number (N) being able to depend randomly or otherwise on the size, shape, arrangement and/or method of loading on the line of the respective product (A). Downstream of the element there are at least one first device for weighing a first predefined number (n.sub.1) of consecutive containment units and at least one second device for weighing a second predefined number (n.sub.2) of consecutive containment units.

A sorting device for sorting articles, comprising a conveyor which is movable in a conveying direction along a conveying path, the conveyor comprising a number of sorting units, each sorting unit comprising a carriage and at least one load-carrying element connected to the carriage for supporting articles, wherein the load-carrying elements are movable with regard to an associated carriage for unloading articles from the load-carrying elements at predetermined unloading positions, at least two of the sorting units being coupled together, a gap being formed between two adjacent load-carrying elements of two sorting units that are coupled together, the gap being covered by an intermediate element adapted to support an article, the sorting device comprising a stationarily arranged removal device for moving a selected article in a transverse direction off the conveyor at a predetermined removal position, wherein the removal device comprises a support element, the support element being movable along a longitudinal direction extending parallel to the conveying path, a first drive means being adapted to move the support element with a speed and in a transversal position corresponding to the selected article, the removal device further comprising a pushing element supported by the support element, a second drive means being adapted to move the pushing element in the transverse direction in order to remove the article from the conveyor.

A sorting device for sorting articles, comprising a conveyor which is movable in a conveying direction along a conveying path, the conveyor comprising a number of sorting units, each sorting unit comprising a carriage and at least one load-carrying element connected to the carriage for supporting articles, wherein the load-carrying elements are movable with regard to an associated carriage for unloading articles from the load-carrying elements at predetermined unloading positions, at least two of the sorting units being coupled together, a gap being formed between two adjacent load-carrying elements of two sorting units that are coupled together, the gap being covered by an intermediate element adapted to support an article, the sorting device comprising a stationarily arranged removal device for moving a selected article in a transverse direction off the conveyor at a predetermined removal position, wherein the removal device comprises a support element, the support element being movable along a longitudinal direction extending parallel to the conveying path, a first drive means being adapted to move the support element with a speed and in a transversal position corresponding to the selected article, the removal device further comprising a pushing element supported by the support element, a second drive means being adapted to move the pushing element in the transverse direction in order to remove the article from the conveyor.

A method of delivering a set of nonuniform cannabis inflorescences (buds) that fit within a target weight range. The method includes iteratively weighing a bud and automatically placing the weighed bud into one holding bin, out of a set of holding bins and automatically determining if the weight of any combination of the contents of the set of holding bins fits within the target weight range. When a combination of the contents of the holding bins fits within the target weight range, combining these holding bin contents together.