An article sorting apparatus, comprising a sorting mechanism (23) that performs a sorting operation to convey an inspected article (W) in one of a plurality of sorting directions (D1, D2 and D3); and a control unit that receives a sorting control signal (RJ) and controls operation of the sorting mechanism (23), wherein the sorting mechanism (23) includes rejection arms (31, 32) that change posture between a rejection posture where the rejection arms contact with the article (W) to change the conveyance direction to a specific sorting direction (D2 or D3) and a pass allowance posture where the rejection arms allow the article (W) to pass without contacting with the article, and air cylinders (33A, 33B) that operate the rejection arms to change the posture thereof, and an acceleration sensor (61) and a detection unit (62) and a deterioration determination circuit (46) that determines the deterioration of the movable portion (23M).

A singulating system for parcels comprises: an inner wall; a first section comprised of a series of driven rollers, which are skewed relative to a longitudinal direction of travel, so that the parcels are conveyed not only in the longitudinal direction of travel, but also toward the inner wall; a second section for receiving the parcels from the first section, and then identifying and moving parcels in a side-by-side arrangement and/or parcels with an irregular shape; and a third section for receiving the parcels from the second section. In some embodiments, the singulating system also includes a visioning subsystem, including a camera for acquiring image data of the parcels as the parcels move toward or into the second section, and a computer to receive and analyze the image data from the camera to identify parcels in a side-by-side arrangement and/or parcels with an irregular shape.

A sorter for sorting out discrete products includes an arrangement of adjacent sorting fingers. The sorting fingers, depending on pivoted positions, open a sorting gap in a conveying path for bad products to be sorted out or else close the sorting gap in order to support the further conveying of good products.

Methods and systems of producing collectible cards are disclosed. An example method includes producing a first stack of cards including a first card type and a second card type from a single substrate sheet, separating the first stack of cards into a first sub-stack and a second sub-stack. The first sub-stack includes the first card type and the second sub-stack includes the second card type. The example method includes comparing a first top card of the first sub-stack to a first reference card and, based on the first top card being substantially similar to the first reference card, automatically transferring the first sub-stack to a first tray designated to receive the first card type.

Apparatuses, method and computer program products for automatically performing sorting operations are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may comprise: an array of gripping elements, and at least one processing component configured to: obtain image data corresponding with the plurality of items; identify, from the image data, one or more characteristics of the plurality of items; determine, based at least in part on the one or more characteristics, an ordered sequence corresponding with the plurality of items; and generate a control indication to cause at least one of the gripping elements to perform the sorting operations based at least in part on the ordered sequence.

Embodiments of the disclosure can relate to systems and methods for sorting balls. The systems and methods may involve the use of a ball-feeding mechanism for receiving one or more balls, and feeding the one or more balls to a projection element. The projection element may be located beneath the ball-feeding mechanism such that the balls drop from the ball-feeding mechanism to the projection element, and the balls then project from the projection element to a ball-sorting apparatus. The balls may then subsequently be sorted into a sorting container of one or more sorting containers based on the projected height of the ball.

A sorting installation sorts objects and contains a sorter for conveying objects and also an end station facility accepting objects. The sorter is configured to bring at least a few of the objects conveyed on the sorter in an object introduction direction, which is different from a local direction of object conveyance of the sorter in an area of the sorter adjoining the end station facility, into the end station facility. In order to make possible a fine distribution of the objects that is favorable in terms of the effort involved, the end station facility has a first object store, a second object store and also a transport facility. The transport facility is configured to transport the objects brought by the sorter into the end station facility optionally along a first transport path to the first object store or along a second transport path to the second object store.

A system for sorting objects is provided. For instance, the system includes a first and second sensor for observing the objects before and after sorting and a controller having an action agent module and a learning agent module. The controller updates, by the learning agent module, a policy matrix after sorting previously sorted objects. The policy matrix includes state data of the previously sorted objects including sensor data, an action performed by the sorting actuator, and a sorting score. The controller actuates the sorting actuator, calculates a specific sorting score based on a specific action performed by the sorting actuator, and updates the policy matrix to create an updated policy matrix including updated sorting rules. The updated policy matrix is used in sorting subsequent objects. In another example, the controller loads a policy matrix that was determined incrementally during sorting of previously sorted objects.

Systems and methods for sorting utilizing an inflatable actuator are disclosed. A sorting system utilizing an inflatable actuator includes an inflatable actuator. The inflatable actuator is disposed in a cantilever beam orientation atop a support surface. The system includes an inflation component coupled to the inflatable actuator to provide an inflation force. Additionally, the system includes a control component configured to send an activation signal to the inflation component responsive to a detection of an object to be sorted. Responsive to the activation signal, the inflation component inflates the inflatable actuator to cause the inflatable actuator to make contact with the object to be sorted. The contact of the inflatable actuator with the object to be sorted causes the object to change from a first trajectory to a second trajectory.

A system and method for scanning, sorting, repairing and packaging hardwood flooring pieces is provided. The system provides a scanning section, a sorting section, an assessment section and a packaging section. The scanning section identifies problematic pieces. The sorting section automatically sorts and completes rows of hardwood flooring pieces. The assessment section filters and repairs identified pieces and the packaging section packages rows of hardwood flooring pieces. The use of manpower may be limited to certain tasks only, such as the analysis of the identified boards, the repairing or the packaging. An algorithm is tracking each of the pieces of the system and may thus manage the optimal functioning of the system. A method for scanning, sorting, assessing and packaging hardwood flooring pieces is further provided.