Systems for sorting seeds are disclosed, as well as batches of seeds that have been sorted using the systems.

The invention relates to a method and to a device for sorting particles of a material flow into at least two fractions, the particles in the material flow being observed by means of at least one detector, particles being subjected to acoustic pressure on the basis of the properties determined by the detector so that they are supplied to different fractions.

The invention provides a method and a near infrared indexer for recycling plastic objects. The method includes illuminating the plastic objects with a light source for detecting the presence, obtaining spectra in the near infrared region in respect of each of the plastic objects detected, comparing the obtained spectra with a database having spectra of known plastic types and sorting the plastic objects based on the comparison obtained. The accuracy of sorting of the plastic objects is above 95%. The method utilizes near infrared range of 600 nm-1000 nm. The indexer includes a first optical chamber. A second optical chamber is coupled to the first optical chamber. A sorting arrangement having an exit chamber is positioned proximal to the second optical chamber. The exit chamber is provided with a first collection chute and a second collection chute.

In an induction system for use with an object processing system, a distribution system is disclosed for providing dissimilar objects into one of a plurality of receiving units. The distribution system includes a conveyor section that travels over a vacuum roller, and the plurality of receiving units arranged generally below the vacuum roller such that an object with a mass will fall toward one of the plurality of receiving units based on both the object's mass and a vacuum force applied to the object through the conveyor section.

A work cell and method for automatically separating objects disposed in 3D clusters includes dispensing the objects onto a horizontal conveying surface to form a 2D array, reforming the 2D array into a 1D stream in which the objects move in single-file in a predefined moving direction, utilizing a vision-based or other stationary sensing system to identify a selected target object in the 1D stream as the target object passes through an image capture (sensing) region, calculating trajectory data defining the target object's time-based position in the 1D stream, and then utilizing the trajectory data to control a robot arm or other object removal mechanism such that only the selected object is forcibly removed (e.g., swiped or picked-up) from the horizontal conveying surface. A continuous-loop-type conveying mechanism includes two parallel conveyor-belt-type conveying structures and associated belt-switching structures. An AI-powered vision system identifies new object shapes during preliminary learning phases.

A work cell and method for automatically separating objects disposed in 3D clusters includes dispensing the objects onto a horizontal conveying surface to form a 2D array, reforming the 2D array into a 1D stream in which the objects move in single-file in a predefined moving direction, utilizing a vision-based or other stationary sensing system to identify a selected target object in the 1D stream as the target object passes through an image capture (sensing) region, calculating trajectory data defining the target object's time-based position in the 1D stream, and then utilizing the trajectory data to control a robot arm or other object removal mechanism such that only the selected object is forcibly removed (e.g., swiped or picked-up) from the horizontal conveying surface. A continuous-loop-type conveying mechanism includes two parallel conveyor-belt-type conveying structures and associated belt-switching structures. An AI-powered vision system identifies new object shapes during preliminary learning phases.

A product inspection system includes a separating device separating a pair of adjacent products in a row of products by a predetermined distance, an image capturing device simultaneously capturing a plurality of images of a plurality of surfaces of all the products of the row of products that have been separated by the separating device, and a rotating device simultaneously rotating the products in the row of products separated by the separating device. The surfaces to be inspected of each product in the row of products are successively rotated to an orientation facing the image capturing device.

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 determining that the materials are composed of either wrought aluminum, extruded aluminum, or cast aluminum.

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 determining that the materials are composed of either wrought aluminum, extruded aluminum, or cast aluminum.

A container inspection system is described herein. The container inspection system includes a camera and a computing system, wherein the camera is configured to capture multiple images of a transparent container as the transparent container is transported along a conveyor. Thus, the camera captures several images of the transparent container when the transparent container is at different positions relative to the camera. The container inspection system detects a defect in the transparent container based upon one or more images in the several images.