To provide an optical grain sorter that can reduce the proportion of non-defective grains blown off collaterally, and even in a case in which a plurality of defective grains or the like fall down in a state overlapping each other, can blow off all the defective grains or the like.

The optical granular matter sorter includes a control unit configured to control an ejection time of a compressed gas from an air ejecting unit based on a result of detection obtained by an optical detecting unit, in which the control unit has a comparing unit configured to compare a defect detection time for an object to be sorted by the optical detecting unit and a single-granular matter passage set time set in advance, and a calculating unit configured to multiply the defect detection time by a predetermined coefficient based on a result of comparison obtained by the comparing unit to calculate the ejection time, and in a case in which the defect detection time is less than or equal to the single-granular matter passage set time as the result of comparison obtained by the comparing unit, the calculating unit multiplies the defect detection time by a small coefficient as compared to a case in which the defect detection time exceeds the single-granular matter passage set time to calculate the ejection time, and controls the ejection time of the compressed gas from the air ejecting unit based on a result of calculation.

Disclosed herein is a method for dynamic analysis of parcels, particularly intended to be implemented within logistics facilities. The method achieves real time analysis of stability performance of the parcels before the parcels enter specific paths within the logistics facility, so that the paths can be chosen based of stability performance of the parcels determined through the method.

A method of sorting articles with a sorter apparatus and a sorter apparatus having a conveying surface that is adapted to transport articles in a direction of conveyance and a mechanism adapted to displace articles on the conveying surface, the sorter apparatus having an endless web of bodies travelling in an endless loop defining the conveying surface includes a distributed drive system having at least one drive that is adapted to produce to provide force with at least one of the bodies to propel the endless web. A diagnostic device traveling with the web and positioned at one of the bodies of the endless web. The diagnostic device is adapted to monitor operation of the sorter apparatus and includes at least one sensor that is adapted to detect at least one parameter of a proximate drive that is proximate to the at least one sensor, and a controller adapted to receive the at least one parameter from the at least one sensor. A stationary thermal sensor may also monitor the endless loop via another controller including receiving thermal data from the stationary thermal sensor and the another controller correlates the thermal images with a portion of the endless loop.

A sorter processes trading cards in an affordable, accurate, and easy-to-use manner. The sorter includes an input and output bin. A transport path moves cards between the bins and has two scan bars, one above and one below the path. The scan bars capture an image of a top and bottom surface of ones of the cards. A controller coordinates movement of the cards along the path and receives the image for processing. Users interact with the controller by way of an interface to influence the processing. The sorter also includes a coil to detect metal foil on the cards. Other embodiments are envisioned.

A cell sorting system that automatically generates a sorting strategy based on examples of target events provided by an operator. The target events can be selected using measurements ranging from traditional flow cytometry measurements to derived measurements that are computationally expensive to complex measurements such as images.

An efficient material recovery facility is disclosed, including: a first sorting device configured to: process a first instruction to remove a first target item from a set of items; and in response to the first instruction, perform a first sorting action to remove the first target item from the set of items, wherein the set of items excluding at least the first target item is to be transported towards a second sorting device, wherein the second sorting device is associated with a same sorting device type as the first sorting device; and wherein the second sorting device is configured to perform a second sorting action to remove a second target item from the set of items excluding at least the first target item in response to receiving a second instruction to remove the second target item.

The invention relates to a method for determining a quality of empties comprising pallets, boxes and bottles which are fed to an equipment for sorting the empties according to the quality and for controlling the equipment. The method comprises: Receiving a pallet that is palletized with boxes that can comprise bottles, assigning information about an origin of the pallet; feeding the pallet to a depalletizer, determining whether the pallet is depalletizable, and assigning information to depalletizability to the pallet, and if the pallet is depalletizable, depalletizing the pallet; assigning information about the origin to each of the depalletized pallets; feeding the boxes to an empties inspection system, determining whether the boxes are unloadable, and assigning information about unloadability to each of the boxes; if the boxes are unloadable, checking the fullness with bottles and assigning information about the fullness to each of the boxes.

An object processing system is disclosed that includes a plurality of track sections, and a plurality of remotely actuatable carriers for controlled movement along at least portions of the plurality of track sections, each of the actuatable carriers being instructed at any time to move a limited number of track section only.

An automated carrier system is disclosed for moving objects to be processed. The automated carrier system includes a base structure of a carrier on which an object may be supported, and at least two wheels mounted to at least two motors to provide at least two wheel assemblies, the at least two wheel assemblies being pivotally supported on the base structure for pivoting movement from a first position to a second position to effect a change in direction of movement of the carrier.

An electrical component testing apparatus can include a vacuum plate including a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and through-holes extending through the vacuum plate from the first surface to the second surface. The apparatus also includes a manifold arranged at the second surface of the vacuum plate. The manifold can include a manifold body and passageways extending within the manifold body, wherein each of the passageways includes a first end and a second end. The first end includes an opening that intersects an exterior of the manifold body at a first location corresponding to a location of a through-hole in the vacuum plate and the second end includes an opening that intersects an exterior of the manifold body at a second location. The apparatus can also include a source of pressurized air coupled to the opening of the second end.