In a method for selectively sorting out free-flowing products (4) which are conveyed in a preferably groove-shaped conveying track (3) in a conveying direction (2) along a conveying path (1), the conveyed products (4) are checked by an inspection apparatus in an inspection portion of the conveying path (1). In a sorting-out portion arranged downstream along the conveying path (1), the product (4) that does not fulfil a predefinable inspection criterion is then sorted out and removed from the conveying track (3) by a suction device (8). To do this, the suction device (8) is arranged on the conveying path (1) and a suction flow that flows away from the conveying track (3) is generated for a predetermined suction duration in order to suction-off the product (4) out of the conveying track (3). According to the invention, it is provided that a suction tube (10) of the suction device (8) comprising a suction opening (9) is arranged at a front end (5) of the groove-shaped conveying track (3), in order to suction-off the product (2) that is falling from the conveying track (3) along a fall trajectory (6) at the front end (5) of the conveying track (3) through the suction opening (9).

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate an apparatus for inspecting and sorting a plurality of substrates. The apparatus includes a sorting unit, a first conveyor lane disposed within the sorting unit in a first direction and a first plane, and at least a second conveyor lane disposed within the sorting unit, the second conveyor lane positioned in a second direction at an angle of greater than about 45 degrees relative to the first direction, wherein the second conveyor lane is positioned in a second plane that is different than the first plane.

A method is disclosed for sorting a plurality of objects including an object that is one of a grain, a nut, a tree nut, or a bean. The plurality objects are conveyed along a guide plate having at least two channels between a first end and a second end of the corresponding channel. The channels have a first aperture provided at a first longitudinal position thereof and an additional aperture provided at a second longitudinal position on the guide plate located downstream of the first aperture. An optical measurement associated with a property of the object of the plurality of objects is conducted when the object passes the first aperture towards the second end with an object measurement unit. The object conveyed on the corresponding channel is ejected with an ejector unit when reaching the second longitudinal position based on the measured property of the object and a timing signal.

A vacuum tube assembly for removing material is disclosed, including: a vacuum generator configured to generate a vacuum airflow; one or more tubes coupled to the vacuum generator and configured to channel the vacuum airflow; and an actuation mechanism coupled to the one or more tubes, wherein the actuation mechanism is configured to actuate at least one tube from a first position relative to a material stream to a second position relative to the material stream, wherein the first position is farther from the material stream than the second position.

A suction head (1) for a waste sorting system includes a main tubular body (2) having a connecting end (3) for connection to a suction system (S) and a suction end (4) for engagement with a waste item. An upper sleeve member (5) and a lower sleeve member (6) are arranged around the suction end (4), wherein the upper sleeve member (5) is longitudinally movable with respect to the main tubular body (2) and the lower sleeve member 6 is removable from the suction end (4). An annular gripper sheet (7) of flexible material is arranged between the upper and lower sleeve member (5, 6). A biasing member (8) is in longitudinal biasing engagement with the upper sleeve member (5) for biasing the upper sleeve member (5) toward the lower sleeve member (6), clamping the annular gripper sheet (7) between the upper and lower sleeve member (5, 6).

An insect sortation system includes a first puff system in a puff-back region for moving insects toward an inlet of an insect pathway and a second puff system in a puff-forward region for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. The first puff system is configured to singulate the insects. The second puff system is configured to sort the insects.

An inspection and sorting system sorts conveyed articles. The system is provided with a conveyance device, an X-ray inspection device, and a sorting device. The conveyance device conveys inspection articles. The X-ray inspection device inspects the conveyed inspection articles. The sorting device has an air sorting mechanism that sorts the conveyed inspection articles in a sorting operation. The sorting device has a sorting information receiving component, a reference signal receiving component, and a sorting mechanism control component. The sorting information receiving component receives sorting information relating to the sorting of the inspection articles based on an inspection result of the X-ray inspection device. The reference signal receiving component receives a fixed-interval reference signal relating to the conveyance by the conveyance device. The sorting mechanism control component controls the air sorting mechanism to execute the sorting operation based on the sorting information at a timing adjusted by the reference signal.

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.

An insect sortation system can track movement of insects along a predefined pathway. The insect sortation system includes a puff-back system for moving insects toward an inlet of the pathway and a puff-forward system for moving insects toward an outlet of the pathway. An overhead imaging system captures images of the insects at one or more locations along the pathway. Once imaged, the insect may be classified into a category (e.g., sex category, species category, size category, etc.) using a variety of different classification approaches including, for example, an industrial vision classifier and/or a machine learning classifier. Once classified, the insects can be directed to various chambers for subsequent processing.

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.