Abstract: A method, system, and attachment for sorting articles, such as laundry or the like whereby each article includes as a part thereof a quantity of each of a number of different materials of the type which each produce secondary radiation at a characteristic energy level when x-ray, gamma or other radiation impinges thereon, the combination of materials forming a code uniquely identifing the article. Each article is passed through a pneumatic tube or on a conveyor line substantially one at a time past a source of radiation and a multi-channel energy level detector which produces an electrical output signal indicating the article, and also indicating when two or more combination codes are being simultaneously passed. The articles are then diverted in accordance with the electrical signal.

Abstract: The invention is a device for counting aerosols and sorting them according to either size, mass or energy. The component parts of the invention are an accelerator, a capacitor sensor and a readout. The accelerator is a means for accelerating the aerosols toward the face of the capacitor sensor with such force that they partially penetrate the capacitor sensor, momentarily discharging it. The readout device is a means for counting the number of discharges of the capacitor sensor and measuring the amplitudes of these different discharges. The capacitor employed is a metal-oxide-silicon capacitor in which the metal and oxide layers are very thin. The aerosols are accelerated by the accelerator in the direction of the metal layer with such force that they penetrate the metal and damage the oxide layers, thereby allowing the electrical charge on the capacitor to discharge through the damaged region.