A resin is irradiated with an infrared ray, and a reflected ray from the resin irradiated with the infrared ray is received. In a reflection or absorption spectrum obtained by the reflected ray, a difference of a reflection intensity in a spectrum between a first wave number band of 1340 cm.sup.−1 to 1350 cm.sup.−1, inclusive, and a second wave number band of 1300 cm.sup.−1 to 1340 cm.sup.−1, inclusive, is calculated. It is determined whether or not a specific bromine-based flame retardant is contained in the resin, by using the calculated difference of reflection intensity in the spectrum.

Disclosed herein is a system to detect and characterize individual particles and cells using at least either optic or electric detection as the particle or cell flows through a microfluidic channel. The system also provides for sorting particles and cells or isolating individual particles and cells.

A seed imaging system for imaging seeds includes a seed transfer station configured to move seeds through the system. An imaging assembly includes a first camera mounted relative to the seed transfer station and configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. A second camera is mounted relative to the seed transfer station and is configured to acquire images of the seeds as the seeds move through the system. The second camera has an imaging modality different from an imaging modality of the first camera. First and second cameras may be disposed above and below the seed transfer stations, such as a transparent belt.

Disclosed are methods and systems for spectral imaging of soybean samples to accurately and non-destructively measure the amount of sucrosyl-oligosaccharide in the soybean samples. Populations containing modified and unmodified soybean seeds and having varying amounts of sucrosyl-oligosaccharides, oil or protein can be sorted and separated and further used in soybean processing or breeding.

Techniques for processing ore include the steps of causing an imaging capture system to record a plurality of images of a stream of ore fragments en route from a first location in an ore processing facility to a second location in the ore processing facility; correlating the plurality of images of the stream of ore fragments with at least one or more characteristics of the ore fragments using a machine learning model that includes a plurality of ore parameter measurements associated with the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments; determining, based on the correlation, at least one of the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments; and generating, for display on a user computing device, data indicating the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments or data indicating an action or decision based on the one or more characteristics of the ore fragments.

An ejector for a granular matter color sorter reducing burdens such as cleaning and maintenance in particular associated with a nozzle unit is to be provided. The ejector 10 comprises a nozzle unit 15, a solenoid valve unit 13, and a manifold unit 14. The nozzle unit 15 is constituted by a plurality of nozzle devices 16 that are independent from each other. The solenoid valve unit 13 is constituted by a plurality of solenoid valve devices 19. The respective nozzle devices 16 and the respective solenoid valve devices 19 correspond to each other on a one-on-one basis so that air flow passages of them are connected by an air flow passage of a manifold. The nozzle device 16 and the manifold 29 are detachably connected and made integral in a state where a surface of the nozzle device 16 in which the air flow passage opens and a surface of the manifold 29 in which the air flow passage opens are brought into abutment with each other.

Selector machine comprising an optical detection system provided with an emitter device and with an optical sensor adapted to detect a product to be selected. The emitter device comprises three IR sources, each of which emits electromagnetic radiations in a corresponding spectral band in the infrared spectrum. An electronic control unit alternately turns on the IR sources in corresponding separate time intervals, and the optical sensor detects, in each time interval, corresponding reflected radiations coming from the product. In addition, the electronic control unit comprises a processing module, which is provided with three chromatic channels of a RGB color space in order to associate the measurement signals corresponding to each IR source with a corresponding chromatic channel so as to compose a false color synthesis image of the product.

A method for sorting products and sorting apparatus with a flow of granular products moving in an inspection zone, in which a light beam is moved over the product flow to generate a reflected stream of light. At least one detector unit is provided to detect light reflected by the products to generate detection signals. This detector unit cooperates with a control unit to sort the products by these detection signals. The detector unit contains at least two sensors that are provided one after the other in the reflected stream of light so that a sensor is placed upstream of a downstream sensor. Each sensor detects a different part of the reflected stream of light.

Chopped fiber composite systems and methods are disclosed. Sorting systems include a conveyor, an imager, a plurality of receptacles, a pneumatic device, and controller. Molding systems include a conveyor, an imager, a mold, a pneumatic device, and a controller. The controller directs the pneumatic device to alter the freefall of chopped fiber composite pieces based on characteristics of the chopped fiber composite pieces as they drop from the conveyor and into a receptacle or a mold. Sorting and molding methods include dropping chopped fiber composite pieces, detecting characteristics of the dropping pieces, and directing the pieces based on the detected characteristics.

Systems and methods for particle sorting are presented including a monitoring system downstream of a particle separator or sorter. The system can utilize the monitoring system to adjust or calibrate operational parameters of the system in real time. When a particle of interest is mis-sorted, the probability is high that the particle of interest has been sorted into a non-targeted sortable unit that was adjacent in sequence to the sortable unit that was expected to include the particle of interest. The monitoring system monitors non-targeted sortable units in the system that were adjacent in sequence to targeted sortable units that are predicted to contain particles of interest. Signals from the monitoring system enable automated adjustment or calibration of operational parameters of the system such as sort delay or purity mask parameters.