Abstract: The present invention relates to sorting apparatuses and sorting methods. According to one aspect of the present invention, a sorting apparatus includes an intake section configured to receive plural articles to be sorted; an exhaust section located downstream of the intake section; and an air manifold adjacent the intake section and positioned to emit an air stream in a generally downstream direction and wherein the articles move in a given direction of movement, and the emitted air stream sorts at least some articles from remaining articles and directs the at least some articles in the downstream direction from the intake section to the exhaust section.

Abstract: An article inspection system is described wherein articles are fed to a working flight of a conveyor moving at high velocity. The articles are delivered through a stabilizer to an article inspection device. The articles are fed to the working flight of the conveyor in a laterally spaced relationship and at a velocity different than the high forward velocity of the continuously moving working flight. The stabilizer is utilized to adjust the velocity of the individual articles to match that of the working flight, and to stabilize the articles individually in laterally spaced orientations across the working flight. The stabilizer includes a flexible, open mesh surface that is mounted by a resilient core to a rotatable shaft. A drive wheel is mounted to the shaft and engages the working flight to rotate the open mesh surface at a velocity matching that of the working flight.