Controller of an optical sorter is configured to receive an input of a candidate for a target quality condition regarding an allowable mix rate of defective products in sorting targets discharged from the optical sorter as acceptable products, receive an input of quality information indicating a mix rate of the defective products regarding at least a part of the sorting targets, simulate, based on the information, a sorting result regarding a quantity and/or a yield of the sorting targets discharged as the acceptable products that is expected to be acquired when sorting is conducted by a sorting device to achieve the candidate for the target quality condition and output a result of the simulation, receive an input of a final target quality condition to be employed when conducting the sorting, and conduct the sorting based on a sorting control parameter that allows the final target quality condition to be achieved.

A rejection device includes a detection sensor that detects an article, pressurization point setting means for setting an essential pressurization point of the article by using a distance from a front end of the article and a transport time corresponding to a transport speed for each type of the article by a compressed air, a management timer that manages a rejection delay time set by using a delay time from a detection time point when a rear end of the article is detected by a detection sensor to a time point when the essential pressurization point enters a discharge bias section, and rejection command means for inputting a rejection command signal to the rejection unit for a predetermined command time from a time-up time point of the management timer.

A system is provided for the identification and separation of heterogeneous material, the system comprising: a hyperspectral identification system for capturing spectra of material; a computer receiving and analyzing data from the hyperspectral identification system and selecting desired materials from the heterogeneous materials; and an ejection system, whereby the desired materials are ejected from the system.

Time-varying control of a controllable air stream is disclosed, including: a set of image sensors configured to capture image data showing a target object being conveyed by a conveyor device along a Y-direction; an array of air jets located along an X-direction, wherein the X-direction crosses the Y-direction; and a processor configured to: receive the image data from the set of image sensors; determine a classification of the target object within the image data; and modify a two-dimensional firing polygon of air to be directed by the array of air jets on the target object based at least in part on the classification of the target object; and wherein the array of air jets is configured to perform a sorting operation on the target object as the target object is translated across the array of air jets based at least in part on the modified two-dimensional firing polygon.

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.

An inspection sorting device includes a conveying unit that conveys the inspection target; an electromagnetic wave irradiation unit for irradiating electromagnetic waves to the inspection target; an electromagnetic wave detection unit detects electromagnetic waves transmitted through the inspection target; an inspection unit that inspects the inspection target based on the detected electromagnetic waves; a gas supply unit for supplying gas; a gas distribution unit that distributes the gas to a plurality of discharge outlets; a plurality of injection control units that control the discharge of gas from the discharge outlets. A plurality of gas injection units are downstream of the electromagnetic wave detection unit and aligned; a plurality of interconnection units that are one-to-one flow paths between the discharge outlets and the gas injection units. A sorting control unit specifies the object to be sorted based on the inspection result in the inspection unit and controls the injection control unit.

A bean defect sorter includes a container configured to store beans, a transfer guide configured to receive the beans from the container and to guide each bean in series, the transfer guide being configured to discharge the beans one by one, a rotary configured to rotate in a predetermined direction and to receive each of the beans discharged from the bean dispenser, an imaging device configured to provide a bean image of one or more of the beans, a processor including a learning algorithm that is configured to classify each bean as one of a normal bean, a defective bean, and an indeterminable bean, a bean sorter configured to discharge each bean from the rotary by using air pressure according to a classification result, a storage configured to store each of the normal bean, the defective bean, and the indeterminable bean, and a residual bean collector to process escaped beans.

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.

Separation machine (10) for separating wood-based materials from other materials, comprising: feed means (24) that convey the materials (A) on the conveyor belt (11) with which there is associated a detection unit (14) configured to detect the presence of materials of organic origin and/or metallic materials; a plurality of compressed air nozzles (12a), disposed downstream of an outlet end (13) of such conveyor belt (11) and configured to selectively push said materials downward; and a blowing device (25) for blowing air towards the wood-based materials coming from said outlet end (13) pushing them beyond a separation element (18) disposed downstream of said blowing device (25).

Methods and devices for sorting silicon fragments. The method includes the steps of singulating the chunks in a singulating region and recording the projected area of a chunk in a 2D profile plane with at least one first measuring device. Recording at least one height information item above and/or below the 2D profile plane with at least one further measuring device. Calculating the size of the chunk from the projected area and the height information item and controlling at least one deflecting device as a function of the calculated size.