A method of identifying an item includes: capturing by a camera an image of the item, searching in the image a predefined dot start and end codes, determining in the image directions of the predefined dot start and end codes, interpolating in the image a reading line to extend from the predefined dot start code to the predefined dot end code, where a direction of the reading line at the predefined dot start code corresponds to the direction of the predefined dot start code, where the direction of the reading line at the predefined dot end code corresponds to the direction of the predefined dot end code, reading along the reading line the dots from the image, and deriving the identification code from the dots as read along the reading line between the predefined dot start code and the predefined dot end code.

There is provided a mobile waste segregation system transportable between different sites. The mobile waste segregation system comprises: an enclosure unit (10) configured for housing a human operator (12), the enclosure unit (10) including a waste segregation facility (14) for receiving at least one waste container and segregating the waste from the or each waste container into different streams of product or commodity, the enclosure unit (10) further including a packing facility operable to pack each stream of product or commodity; an asset tag reader operable to read an asset tag of the or each waste container; and an asset tagging device operable to add an asset tag to each packed stream of product or commodity and/or update an existing asset tag of each packed stream of product or commodity.

A system classifies materials utilizing a vision system that implements an artificial intelligence system in order to identify or classify and then remove automotive airbag modules from a scrap stream, which may have been produced from a shredding of end-of-life vehicles. The sorting process may be designed so that live airbag modules are not activated, which may cause damage to equipment or persons.

Embodiments described herein relate to hardware and software for waste item detection and recognition, along with an education or feedback system. Embodiments described herein use artificial intelligence, which embodies machine learning and computer vision, to detect waste items and generate feedback to nudge the user to dispose the waste items into appropriate receptacles while generating smart operational insights of a designated premise.

A material sorting system sorts materials utilizing a vision system that implements a machine learning system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups based on such an identification or classification. The material sorting system can sort material pieces containing contaminants, such as copper from steel.

Recycling systems can include a conveyor system, an optical device, and a processor operable to detect, identify, and count redeemable objects. The conveyor system can include a plurality of bins and be configured to move the bins from a first end of the conveyor system to a second end of the conveyor system. The optical device can be situated and configured to capture an image of a plurality of objects within a bin of the conveyor system. A processor including computer-readable instructions can be configured to detect and identify the objects within an image captured by the optical device as belonging to one or more object classes. Each object class can determine whether an object is redeemable or unredeemable. The processor can be configured to provide a count of only those objects identified as redeemable.

The present invention concerns a method for the selection and separation of polymers originating from urban and/or industrial plastic waste to obtain plastic materials for recycling which comprises a first step of supplying a mixture of polymers composed of flakes of polymers having dimensions ranging from 6 to 100 mm; a step of identification by means of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy of the flakes of coloured and white plastic material and the flakes of black plastic material and subsequent separation from one other; several consecutive steps of identification by means of NIR spectroscopy of the different types of polymer from the coloured and white plastic material and subsequent separation of said polymer types.

The invention relates to a sorting method comprising the steps of: a. optionally, providing a plurality of objects; b. singulating the objects; c. analyzing the singulated objects, wherein at least one material property is respectively detected for the objects; d. comparing the detected material property(ies) with reference material properties stored in a database, to which a target address is respectively assigned and detecting the fraction affiliation of the objects; and e. sorting the singulated objects according to the target address assigned to their detected material property(ies) via one of the reference material properties in the database.

An apparatus and a method for separating or sorting parts are described. For example, an apparatus can include a fluidic section that comprises an input section. The fluidic section can be configured to receive a fluid including a plurality of parts at the input section. The fluidic section can be configured to receive the fluid at an inlet port of the fluidic section. The fluidic section can include at least two branches extending from the input section, and each of these at least two branches can have an outlet through which the fluid or part of the fluid can be routed. The apparatus can include a set of sensors configured to capture information about the plurality of parts in the fluidic section. The apparatus can further include a set of actuators configured to effect, based on the information, a change in a movement of a set of parts from the plurality of parts such that the set of parts is distributed via the fluid to at least one of the at least two branches.

Facilities and systems for handling of particulate plastic solids obtained from a mixed waste plastic separation system are provided. The facilities comprise at least one enclosed structure and an elongate overhead conveyor associated with the at least one enclosed structure that is configured to selectively deposit the particulate plastic solids into a plastic solids transport system that interconnects the handling facility and a plastic chemical recycling facility and/or at least one inventory pile within the at least one enclosed structure.