Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously sorting dirty laundry articles into batched loads for washing are described. For example, an autonomous sorting system includes an enclosed channel including a stationary floor extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the channel, a plurality of arms disposed in series along the enclosed channel for selectively grasping at least one of the plurality of deformable articles in sequence. The system includes an outlet orifice adjacent the outlet end through which each separated deformable article exits the enclosed channel upon release by the terminal gripper of the one of the plurality of arms, and one or more conveyors disposed adjacent the outlet end configured for receiving thereon a plurality of bins for collecting for washing together two or more articles of the plurality of deformable articles released through the outlet orifice having a common sensor-detected one or more characteristics.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously sorting dirty laundry articles into batched loads for washing are described. For example, an autonomous sorting system includes an enclosed channel including a stationary floor extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the channel, a plurality of arms disposed in series along the enclosed channel for selectively grasping at least one of the plurality of deformable articles in sequence. The system includes an outlet orifice adjacent the outlet end through which each separated deformable article exits the enclosed channel upon release by the terminal gripper of the one of the plurality of arms, and one or more conveyors disposed adjacent the outlet end configured for receiving thereon a plurality of bins for collecting for washing together two or more articles of the plurality of deformable articles released through the outlet orifice having a common sensor-detected one or more characteristics.

Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously sorting dirty laundry articles into batched loads for washing are described. For example, an autonomous sorting device includes an enclosed channel including a plurality of sequential work volumes and a stationary floor extending between an inlet end and an outlet end of the channel, a plurality of arms disposed in series along the enclosed channel for rotating, tilting, extending, and retracting a terminal gripper of each arm into an associated work volume for grabbing at least one of a plurality of deformable dirty laundry articles and passing the at least one deformable laundry article to an adjacent work volume for grasping and hoisting by an adjacent arm. The device includes an inlet orifice for receiving the dirty laundry articles into the enclosed channel and an outlet orifice adjacent the outlet end through which each separated deformable article exits the enclosed channel into sorting bins.

An apparatus for physical correspondence recognition and processing in a postal system is described, comprising a housing comprising an opening for receiving physical correspondence, the physical correspondence including a readable element including textual information, and a secure enclosure for storing the physical correspondence, a visual processing and digitizing component, for processing the physical correspondence and the at least one readable element, dimension and weighing component for determining dimensions and weight of the physical correspondence, and a communication component coupled to the housing, for transmitting and receiving recognition and processing information related to the physical correspondence and readable element.

An apparatus for physical correspondence recognition and processing in a postal system is described, comprising a housing comprising an opening for receiving physical correspondence, the physical correspondence including a readable element including textual information, and a secure enclosure for storing the physical correspondence, a visual processing and digitizing component, for processing the physical correspondence and the at least one readable element, dimension and weighing component for determining dimensions and weight of the physical correspondence, and a communication component coupled to the housing, for transmitting and receiving recognition and processing information related to the physical correspondence and readable element.

Method and system for inspecting a manufactured part supported on an optically-transparent window of a rotary actuator at an inspection station are provided. The window rotatably supports the part in a generally vertical orientation at which a bottom end surface of the part has a position and orientation for optical inspection. An illuminator is configured to illuminate the bottom end surface of the part through the window with radiant energy to obtain reflected radiation signals which are reflected off the bottom end surface of the part. The reflected radiation signals travel through the window. A lens and detector assembly is configured to form a bottom image from the reflected radiation signals at a bottom imaging location below the window and is configured to detect the bottom image. The window is made of a material which is substantially transparent to the radiant energy and the reflected radiation signals.

Systems and methods for delivering mining material to a multimodal array of different types of sensors and classifying and sorting the mining material based on the data collected from the multimodal array of sensors. The arrays of different sensors sense the mining material and collect data which is subsequently used together to identify the composition of the material and make a determination as to whether to accept or reject the material as it passes off the terminal end of the material handling system. Diverters are positioned at the terminal end of the material handling system and are positioned in either an accept or reject position based on the data collected and processed to identify the composition of the mining material.

Systems and methods for delivering mining material to a multimodal array of different types of sensors and classifying and sorting the mining material based on the data collected from the multimodal array of sensors. The arrays of different sensors sense the mining material and collect data which is subsequently used together to identify the composition of the material and make a determination as to whether to accept or reject the material as it passes off the terminal end of the material handling system. Diverters are positioned at the terminal end of the material handling system and are positioned in either an accept or reject position based on the data collected and processed to identify the composition of the mining material.

A method and apparatus are provided for sorting items to a plurality of sort destinations. The items are fed into the apparatus at an input station having a scanning station. The scanning station evaluates one or more characteristics of each item. The items are then loaded onto one of a plurality of independently controlled delivery vehicles. The delivery vehicles are individually driven to sort destinations. Once at the appropriate sort destination, the delivery vehicle ejects the item to the sort destination and returns to receive another item to be delivered. A re-induction conveyor may be provided for receiving select items from the vehicles and conveying the items back to the input station for re-processing. Additionally, a controller is provided to control the movement of the vehicles based on a characteristic each item being delivered by each vehicle. The system may also include vehicles having edge-detection assemblies for detecting items being loaded onto or discharged from the vehicles.

The present invention relates to the technical field of automation apparatuses, in particular, to a tilting-pan typed sorting machine, including a frame body, a code reading device, an unloading device, a reset track, and a sorting sliding slot, where an operation track is disposed on the frame body; the code reading device is disposed above the operation track; the unloading device is disposed below the operation track; the reset track is disposed below the operation track; several tilting-pan trolleys are disposed on the operation track; a side of the operation track is further provided with a linear motor; and the sorting sliding slot is disposed at two sides of the unloading device of the operation track. The linear motor is adopted for driving main line operation, and a pure mechanical structure design is adopted for a sorting bogie unloading and reset mechanism;