A transport apparatus comprises an endless vacuum conveyor belt (310) having a plurality of perforations (311). The conveyor belt transports the particles along a transport direction (T) while they are aspirated to the perforations, thereby defining a moving transport surface (316). The transport surface extends in an essentially vertical plane (x-z), and the transport direction (T) is inclined upwardly relative to the horizontal direction (x). An inclined recycling tray (200) recycles particles that have fallen from the conveyor belt back to a feeding zone (150) purely by the action of gravity. A separating wall (600) separates a processing zone from a clean zone of the apparatus. The conveyor belt interacts with an elongate vacuum box, which is open along one side, the open side being covered by an elongate slider. The slider has suction openings with a cross section that varies along the transport direction (T).

An inspection and sorting machine and a related method of operation are provided. The inspection and sorting machine includes an inspection system that outputs a first signal corresponding to a fastener condition and a second signal corresponding to an inspection condition. Based on the inspection system output, a controller determines whether a fastener is classified as conforming or whether the fastener is classified as undetermined. Conforming fasteners are diverted into a conforming parts chute, and undetermined fasteners are diverted into a recirculated parts chute. The remaining fasteners are diverted into a reject chute. The undetermined fasteners are recirculated into the inspection and sorting machine for re-inspection.

A reconfigurable sorting facility is disclosed, including: a plurality of sorting facility devices; and one or more processors configured to: store physical layout information that describes corresponding positions of the plurality of sorting facility devices within a sorting facility; collect feedback data from the plurality of sorting facility devices; and identify at least a subset of the plurality of sorting facility devices to reconfigure based at least in part on the collected feedback data and respective positions of the subset of the plurality of sorting facility devices.

Dynamic bale creation is disclosed, including: a plurality of sorting facility devices configured to capture objects from a material stream based at least in part on target sorting metrics specified by a bale recipe; and one or more processors configured to: determine current sorting metrics associated with captured objects that are to be added to a collection mechanism at a sorting facility; and determine whether to trigger reconfiguration of at least a subset of the plurality of sorting facility devices based at least in part on a comparison between the target sorting metrics and the current sorting metrics.

Centralized control of multiple sorting facilities is disclosed, including: a feedback interface configured to collect sorting results feedback data from a first sorting facility, wherein the first sorting facility is associated with a second sorting facility; and one or more processors configured to reconfigure a set of sorting facility devices located in the second sorting facility based at least in part on the sorting results feedback data.

Co-located sensors in a sorting facility are disclosed, including: a first sensor associated with a first field of view, and wherein the first sensor is located in a sorting facility; a second sensor associated with a second field of view, wherein the second field of view is adjacent to or overlaps with the first field of view, and wherein the second sensor is located in the sorting facility; and one or more processors configured to: receive a first image including a first set of objects from the first sensor; receive a second image including a second set of objects from the second sensor; and evaluate the first image and the second image to determine a sorting decision with respect to a target object.

The invention relates to a device and corresponding method for sorting bulk material, in particular pellets, comprising a vibration conveyor apparatus and a feed apparatus, which feeds bulk material to the vibration conveyor apparatus and is examined for defects using a detector apparatus. Bulk material identified as being non-defective is deposited in a first outlet and bulk material identified as being defective is shorted out and deposited in.

Separation of materials using sorting devices is disclosed, including: receiving image data from sensors, wherein the image data corresponds to a set of objects being transported through a base sorting line; determining a subset of objects from the set of objects that are associated with a designated category based on the image data; sending a first set of data to a first sorting device to perform a diverting action on the subset of objects, wherein the first sorting device and a second sorting device are located along the base sorting line, wherein each of the first and second sorting devices is configured to perform diverting actions to separate materials associated with the designated category off from the base sorting line; and sending a second set of data to the second sorting device to perform a second action, wherein the second action is determined based on the image data.

The disclosure provides systems and methods of use in the analysis, collection, resource allocation, and tracking associated with the sale of commodities. Embodiments include a vibratory-and-optical analysis and collection system that may be incorporated into a collection and storage machine. The analysis and collection system and/or the collection and storage machine may be associated with a consumption-based resource-allocation system that determines a payment price for a batch of commodity sold and then digitally allocates all transaction resources to the relevant stakeholders to the commodity sales transaction occurring at the analysis and collection system and/or the collection and storage machine. A commodity-to-consumer tracking system may be provided to track the batch of commodity sold from the point of harvest and sale through to the end consumer. Other embodiments are disclosed.

The disclosure provides systems and methods of use in the analysis, collection, resource allocation, and tracking associated with the sale of commodities. Embodiments include a vibratory-and-optical analysis and collection system that may be incorporated into a collection and storage machine. The analysis and collection system and/or the collection and storage machine may be associated with a consumption-based resource-allocation system that determines a payment price for a batch of commodity sold and then digitally allocates all transaction resources to the relevant stakeholders to the commodity sales transaction occurring at the analysis and collection system and/or the collection and storage machine. A commodity-to-consumer tracking system may be provided to track the batch of commodity sold from the point of harvest and sale through to the end consumer. Other embodiments are disclosed.