The present invention relates to systems and methods for sorting a wide variety of packages, including, but not limited to, parcels, mail pieces, bundles, and other similar items. Embodiments of the invention specifically relate to interchangeable sorting modules with sort stations that may be used to quickly and accurately sort packages of varying shapes and sizes. Additional embodiments of the invention relate to a control architecture for operating the aforementioned interchangeable sorting modules. Such control architecture may comprise a programmable logic controller (PLC) for controlling each of the interchangeable sorting modules.

There is provided a conveyor assembly for sorting merchandise items. In one form, the conveyor assembly includes: a merchandise identification module; sortation modules each comprising a multi-directional sorting portion with two sets of rollers, a first wing including a third set of rollers, a second wing including a fourth set of rollers, and a controller configured to receive an IP address; a first, disassembled state of the sortation modules; a second, assembled state of the sortation modules; a merchandise database; and a control circuit configured to receive identifying information about an unsorted merchandise item, assign a unique IP address to each sortation module corresponding to the position of the sortation module, determine a sortation destination for the unsorted merchandise item, determine the sortation module corresponding to the sortation destination; and instruct the controller of the corresponding sortation module to divert the unsorted merchandise item to the sortation destination.

Provided is a color sorting machine capable of properly removing foreign mater even when the specific gravity of the object to be sorted is low. A color sorting machine MI removes foreign matter F in the object to be sorted being conveyed from a conveyance route G into a removal route R. The color sorting machine M1 is equipped with a supply portion 1 supplying the object to be sorted to the conveyance route G, a sorting portion 2 surrounding a sorting region R and partially formed by transparent walls 21a and 21b, a first conveying portion 3 surrounding the periphery of the conveyance route G to the sorting region R, a second conveying portion 4 hermetically surrounding the periphery of the conveyance route G from the sorting region R, a removing portion 5 hermetically surrounding the periphery of the removal route D extending from the sorting region R, an air intake port 32, a detection device 6 optically detecting the foreign matter F in the object to be sorted, a removal device 7 having an ejection port 72 hermetically inserted into the sorting portion 2, and a first suction device 8 provided in the second conveying portion 4 and sucking in the air in the conveyance route G to thereby generating an airflow heading for the second conveying portion 4 from the air intake port 32.

The invention relates to a method for switching between different products such as vegetables and fruit on a sorting system, a computer-readable medium and sorting system suitable therefor, the method comprising of:receiving a switching signal during sorting of products of the first product type that products of the second product type have to be sorted;the controller selecting sorting channels which are free of products of the first product type;assigning at least some selected sorting channels to the second product type;assigning sorting classes of the second product type to one or more of the assigned sorting channels; andsorting products of the second product type in sorting channels assigned thereto during the emptying of sorting channels of the first product type. Preparatory emptying of some of the sorting channels optionally takes place prior to the switch-over.

Disclosed is a system for sorting copper-bearing ore to select portions having a desired target copper content. The system includes a first magnetic resonance analyzer for measuring the copper content of ore input into the system and a controller that controls a diverter to divert portions of the input ore to a collection path when the copper content meets or exceeds a predetermined cut-off value. The system also includes a second magnetic resonance analyzer to measure the copper content of the ore in the collection path. The measurements are then fed back to the controller where the controller can adjust the predetermined cut-off value above, up or down, to optimize the yield of ore with the targeted copper content.

Method and systems for accumulation are described. In one embodiment, a dispensing station includes a receiving opening, a dispensing opening and a storage area. The dispensing station receives and dispenses a container. A transportable storage system includes multiple partitions disposed on a carrier portion to define multiple carriage sections. The carriage sections are electronically identifiable and selectively hold or eject the container. A bin apparatus for receiving the container includes a movable portion to selectively hold and release the container. A control unit for commanding the bin apparatus to dispense the container to a desired carriage section of the transportable storage system is provided. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

A multi-level induction station is disclosed. The multi-level induction station includes multiple sorting levels arranged in a vertical stacked configuration; a vertically traveling automated lift that carries articles vertically between the sorting levels along a frame positioned proximate to the multiple sorting levels; an information acquisition device positioned to read information from an article on the lift; multiple transport devices positioned on the sorting levels to receive the articles; and a control system that directs the multi-level induction station to determine a destination for an article and direct the lift to a platform where a transport device is at an article-receiving position at the sorting level to receive the article.

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.

A seed sorting system for sorting seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes a 2D camera configured to acquire 2D images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system and a 3D camera configured to acquire 3D images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. A sorting assembly is configured to sort the seeds into separate bins based on the acquired 2D and 3D images of the seeds.

There is provided a conveyor assembly for sorting merchandise items. In one form, the conveyor assembly includes: a merchandise identification module; sortation modules each comprising a multi-directional sorting portion with two sets of rollers, a first wing including a third set of rollers, a second wing including a fourth set of rollers, and a controller configured to receive an IP address; a first, disassembled state of the sortation modules; a second, assembled state of the sortation modules; a merchandise database; and a control circuit configured to receive identifying information about an unsorted merchandise item, assign a unique IP address to each sortation module corresponding to the position of the sortation module, determine a sortation destination for the unsorted merchandise item, determine the sortation module corresponding to the sortation destination; and instruct the controller of the corresponding sortation module to divert the unsorted merchandise item to the sortation destination.