This disclosure relates to a method for non-destructive inspection of a fruit (1) having an axis of rotational symmetry (10). The method comprises the step of positioning the fruit (1) in such a way that its axis of rotational symmetry (10) has an orientation that is substantially parallel to a predetermined plane (20) and the step of radiographing the fruit (1), where the direction of emission of X-rays is substantially perpendicular to said predetermined plane (20) and an X-ray image obtained (41) lies on said predetermined plane (20). The X-ray image obtained (41) is processed to calculate, at corresponding points of the X-ray image (41), respective values of attenuation of the X-ray signal through the fruit (1). The X-ray image (41) is divided into a plurality of sections (415) which are perpendicular to the projection (410) of the axis of rotational symmetry (10) on the predetermined plane (20). Each section (415) is the projection of a corresponding slice of the fruit (1) that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotational symmetry (10). For each section (415), the deviation between a signal attenuation trend obtained from processing the X-ray image and a reference trend, or the deviation between a trend of a local coefficient of average attenuation obtained from processing the X-ray image and a trend with constant value, is examined in order to identify any anomalies, discontinuities or variations which are indicative of respective non-uniformities in the corresponding slice of fruit. This disclosure also relates to an apparatus (9) for carrying out a non-destructive inspection of a fruit (1) having an axis of rotational symmetry (10), said apparatus being configured for implementing the method according to the disclosure.

In some embodiments, a system may include an item sorter device. The item sorter device may include at least one optical device configured to capture optical data associated with a waste product, a display, and a processor coupled to the at least one optical device and to the display. The processor may be configured to automatically extract universal product code (UPC) data from the optical data, search one or more data sources based on the UPC data to determine a match, determine a bin of a plurality of bins for storage of the waste product based on the match and based on site-specific classification rules, and provide a graphical interface to the display indicating the determined bin.

Disclosed is an inspection system having a background positioned adjacent an inspection zone; and an image capturing device configured to receive background electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from the background and from the inspection zone, the inspection zone being configured and arranged to receive material for transport into the inspection zone; wherein the background has a background property defined by a background emission, a background absorbance, and a background reflectance, the background property being matched in EMR to a material EMR of material to be transported into the inspection zone, the material having a material property defined by a material emission, a material absorbance, and a material reflectance; and wherein the image capturing device is configured to detect a foreign object within material when transported into the inspection zone by deducting the background EMR from the material EMR.

The present invention relates to a method for sorting tires (15) on basis of its components as well as to an apparatus for carrying out such a method. The present invention also relates to the use of scrap rubber in a pyrolysis process to obtain a char material. The method for sorting tires (15) on basis of silica content (7).

A device for discharging bad products from a product stream, including a detection unit for detecting the product stream and a computer unit for receiving property data of the product stream from the detection unit and for identifying bad products in the product stream. The device includes a compressed air discharge unit controlled by the computer unit and a deflection element discharge unit for the passive discharge of bad products from the product stream. The computer unit divides the identified bad products into first-order and second-order bad products and controls the compressed air discharge unit so that it will actively discharge the first-order bad products, and also controls the deflection element discharge unit so that it will passively discharge the second-order bad products.

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 material sorting system sorts materials utilizing a vision system that implements a machine learning system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups based on such an identification or classification. The material sorting system may include an x-ray fluorescence system to perform a classification of the materials in combination with the vision system, whereby the classification efforts of the vision system and x-ray fluorescence system are combined in order to classify and sort the materials.

The present invention relates to a method for sorting tires (15) on basis of its components as well as to an apparatus for carrying out such a method. The present invention also relates to the use of scrap rubber in a pyrolysis process to obtain a char material. The method for sorting tires (15) on basis of silica content (7).

A device for identifying materials on a conveyor belt by means of X-ray fluorescence comprises an X-ray source, from which X-ray radiation is guided onto material parts, a detector head containing an X-ray detector with a multiplicity of detector elements arranged in a planar fashion for receiving X-ray radiation and converting it into electrical charge signals, and an electronic unit for reading out and processing the charge signals, which comprises for each individual detector element a signal channel having a discriminator unit with a plurality of energy thresholds and a counting unit apparatus for converting the signals into digital counting events, wherein the electronic units are interconnected such that simultaneous occurrence of signals on more than one detector element can be identified and treated separately.

A system for processing meat pieces includes a radiation inspection apparatus configured to receive a primary stream of meat pieces conveyed by a conveyor and to detect trim products containing undesired objects; a reject device; a control unit configured to operate the reject device using the detected undesired objects as an operation parameter such that the meat pieces containing the undesired objects are separated from the primary stream of trim products; an object remover configured to remove the undesired objects from the meat pieces separated from the primary stream of trim products; and a recirculation apparatus configured to receive the meat pieces after undergoing the object remover and recirculate it as a secondary stream into the radiation inspection apparatus. The secondary stream is separated from the primary stream, and the radiation inspection is configured to detect whether any remaining undesired objects are in the secondary stream.