There is provided a microparticle sorting method including a procedure of collecting a microparticle in a fluid that flows through a main channel in a branch channel that is in communication with the main channel by generating a negative pressure in the branch channel. In the procedure, a flow of a fluid is formed that flows toward a side of the main channel from a side of the branch channel at a communication opening between the main channel and the branch channel.

A particle sorting apparatus is provided. The particle sorting apparatus includes a first detector of a first scatter channel to detect a first light scatter generated by a particle flowing in a flow channel of a fluid sample and passing through a first laser beam, and a second detector of a second scatter channel to detect a second light scatter generated by the particle flowing in the flow channel of the fluid sample and passing through a second laser beam. The particle sorting apparatus also includes circuitry configured to output a first scatter pulse information and a first detection time of the first light scatter channel, a second scatter pulse information and a second detection time of the second light scatter channel. The first laser beam and the second laser beam are irradiated to the particle in different positions of the flow channel.

A particle sorting apparatus is provided. The particle sorting apparatus includes a first light irradiating unit including a first mirror and a first light source for irradiating a first light to particles flowing through a flow path at a first position; a second light irradiating unit including a second mirror and a second light source configured to irradiate a second light to particles flowing through the flow path at a second position which is different from the first position; a light detecting unit is configured to detect a light emitted from the particles; a sorting unit; and a sorting control unit configured to control sorting of the particles based on data of the particles detected at the light detecting unit and an arrival time associated with a time difference between a light from the first light irradiating unit and a light from the second light irradiating unit; wherein the flow path and the sorting unit are provided within a microchip.

Images depicting items in a waste flow on a conveyor belt are provided to two analysis systems. The first system processes images to decode digital watermark payload data found on certain of the items (e.g., plastic containers). This payload data is used to look up corresponding attribute metadata for the items in a database, such as the type of plastic in each item, and whether the item was used as a food container or not. The second analysis system can be a spectroscopy system that determines the type of plastic in each item by its absorption characteristics. When the two systems conflict in identifying the plastic type, a sorting logic processor applies a rule set to arbitrate the conflict and determine which plastic type is most likely. The item is then sorted into one of several different bins depending on a combination of the final plastic identification, and whether the item was used as a food container or not. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Disclosed are systems and methods for sorting material on a conveyor of a conveyor system, such as a conveyor system for material including non-ferrous metals. The conveyor system includes a conveyor belt and a separator system. The conveyor belt is adapted to convey the material. The separator system includes a separator below the conveyor belt and is configured to selectively apply a separating force onto the material on the conveyor belt such that at least one piece of the material is lifted off of the conveyor belt. A method of sorting material on a conveyor belt includes receiving the material on the conveyor belt, conveying the material with the conveyor belt, and applying the separating force onto the material with the separator such that at least one piece of the material is lifted off of the conveyor belt.

A sorting system for inspected parts includes a storage assembly, a conveyance system, and a controller. The storage assembly has a plurality of bins configured to receive and store the inspected parts. The conveyance system is configured to deliver the inspected parts to the storage assembly. The controller programmed to, assign part types to each of the plurality of bins. The controller is further programmed to operate the conveyance system to deliver each of the inspected parts to one of the plurality of bins having a matching part type. The controller is further programmed to, in response to a full condition of the storage assembly, empty the inspected parts from a first the plurality of bins.

Differences in x-ray absorption coefficients and ash content are used to process coal waste and concentrate rare earth elements (REE) found in coal seams. A method for processing the coal waste includes receiving, by a detector, at least one collimated x-ray beam from an x-ray source that has been passed through a sample of coal waste; determining measurements of at least one x-ray absorption characteristic of the sample based on the received at least one collimated x-ray beam; and identifying a first region in the sample having a concentration of rare earth elements based on the measured x-ray absorption characteristic.

A method and system for inspecting unidentified mixed parts to identify the parts are provided. The system includes an inspection station which includes a vision-based robotic subsystem including a robot configured to pick up a self-supporting part and place the part on a fixtureless rotary stage so that a part axis of the part is substantially centered and aligned with a measurement axis of the inspection station during part rotation. A second subsystem optically measures a profile and features of the self-supporting part during part rotation. A processor is operable to compare the profile and the features of the part to be identified with the profile and corresponding features of stored templates to identify a template which matches the profile and features of the part to be identified and to generate and transmit an identification signal representing a part identification code for the part associated with a matched template.

A seed sorting system for sorting seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes an x-ray camera configured to acquire x-ray images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. The x-ray camera is configured to produce high quality images at high line scan rates to accommodate a speed and width at which the seeds are moved by the seed transfer station through the system. A sorting assembly is configured to sort the seeds into separate bins based on the acquired x-ray images of the seeds.

An X-ray product quality automatic inspection device of the present invention comprises: a distributed X-ray source having a plurality of targets and being able to generate X-rays for irradiating an inspected product from the plurality of targets in a predetermined sequence; a detector for receiving the X-rays generated by the distributed X-ray source and outputting a signal representing characteristics of the received X-rays; a transport device for carrying the inspected product to pass through an X-ray radiation region; and a power supply and control device, which is used to supply power to and control the X-ray product quality automatic inspection device, to form characteristic information of the inspected product according to the signal from the detector and to provides an inspection and analysis result of the inspected product according to the characteristic information.