Abstract: Apparatuses, method and computer program products for automatically performing sorting operations are disclosed herein. An example apparatus may comprise: an array of gripping elements, and at least one processing component configured to: obtain image data corresponding with the plurality of items; identify, from the image data, one or more characteristics of the plurality of items; determine, based at least in part on the one or more characteristics, an ordered sequence corresponding with the plurality of items; and generate a control indication to cause at least one of the gripping elements to perform the sorting operations based at least in part on the ordered sequence.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to one or more techniques that may be employed alone or in combination, in the refurbishment or recycling of used solar modules. In certain approaches, a (heated) wire may be used to cut through one or more layers (e.g., front encapsulant, back encapsulant, both front and back encapsulant, backsheet) of a solar module that is being recycled or refurbished. Some approaches may employ testing of a used solar module, alone or in combination with information (e.g., as part of a received package) regarding parameters of a used solar module such as panel size, width, length, height, thickness of glass, or others. According to specific embodiments, used solar modules may be subjected to various cleaning processes at one or more points during refurbishment/recycling.

Abstract: An inspection device is an inspection device for a battery unit for a smoking article having a battery embedded therein, the battery unit including a suction detection part that detects negative pressure in the battery unit, the inspection device including: a suction path to be connected to the suction detection part through a suction port, a suction source disposed in the suction path, a control unit that inspects operation of the battery unit on the basis of the negative pressure detected by the suction detection part, by operating the suction source to suck the suction detection part through the suction path.

Abstract: A machine such as an industrial robot operates either in a stand-alone or in-production mode to perform a number of tests on a battery object having one of several different assembly levels and packaging geometries. The machine has selectable testing programs that correspond to various combinations of object assembly levels and geometries. The machine performs the tests either by coming into contact with a predetermined location on the conductive material of the object or viewing that location. The test results are analyzed to determining if retesting is necessary. After all of the tests are completed on an object, the tested object is assigned a grade and then sorted by grade. The tested objects may be kept at the machine location or sent on for further processing based on the assigned grade. After the testing is completed on one object, the machine tests the next object to be tested.

Abstract: A magnet evaluating device evaluates an evaluation magnet by passing the evaluation magnet, which is formed by connecting a plurality of magnetic sections with insulating material in between, and a master magnet of the same form through an alternating magnetic field generated by an excitation coil, measuring the eddy current occurring in the magnetic section as voltage or current occurring in a detection coil and comparing the measured value for the evaluation magnet and the measured value for the master magnet.

Abstract: A system includes a robot, comprising a manipulator and a controller, with a gripper mounted on the manipulator, for picking the battery for testing and sorting, a battery holding section for receiving batteries for testing and sorting at predetermined locations in the battery holding section, and a testing section disposed within the working range of the robot, for testing an electrical condition of the battery for testing and sorting, whereby the controller controls the manipulator and the gripper to first-pick the battery for testing and sorting at the predetermined location from the battery holding section and place it to contact the testing section for testing, the testing section tests the battery and sends to the controller a signal indicating the electrical condition of the tested battery, and the controller controls the manipulator and the gripper to second-pick the battery contacting the testing section and sort it according to the signal.

Abstract: A light-guiding cover structure includes a top cover unit and a light-guiding unit. The top cover unit has a plurality of receiving spaces formed therein. The light-guiding unit includes a plurality of light-guiding groups, wherein each light-guiding group includes a plurality of optical fiber cables received in the corresponding receiving space, and each optical fiber cable has two opposite ends exposed from the bottom surface of the top cover unit and respectively facing at least one light-emitting device and at least one light-sensing device that have been disposed under the top cover unit. Therefore, the optical fiber cables received in the corresponding receiving space, thus when the light-guiding cover structure is applied to the LED package chip classification system, the aspect of the LED package chip classification system can be enhanced.

Abstract: A system includes a robot, comprising a manipulator and a controller, with a gripper mounted on the manipulator, for picking the battery for testing and sorting, a battery holding section for receiving batteries for testing and sorting at predetermined locations in the battery holding section, and a testing section disposed within the working range of the robot, for testing an electrical condition of the battery for testing and sorting, whereby the controller controls the manipulator and the gripper to first-pick the battery for testing and sorting at the predetermined location from the battery holding section and place it to contact the testing section for testing, the testing section tests the battery and sends to the controller a signal indicating the electrical condition of the tested battery, and the controller controls the manipulator and the gripper to second-pick the battery contacting the testing section and sort it according to the signal.

Abstract: An LED package chip classification system includes a rotation unit for transporting a plurality of LED package chips, a chip test unit, and a chip classification unit. The rotation unit includes a rotary turntable, a plurality of receiving portions formed on the rotary turntable, and a plurality of suction-exhaust dual-purpose openings respectively disposed in the receiving portions. Each LED package chip has a positive electrode pad and a negative electrode pad disposed on the bottom side thereof The chip test unit includes a chip test module adjacent to the rotation unit for testing each LED package chip. The chip classification unit includes a plurality of chip classification modules adjacent to the rotation unit for classifying the LED package chips. Therefore, the LED package chips can be classified by matching the rotation unit, the chip test unit, and the chip classification unit.

Abstract: A battery testing and sorting apparatus that includes an upwardly inclined conveyor having a conveyor drive for moving batteries to be tested and sorted. The conveyor includes a battery feeding section disposed along the conveyor for positioning the batteries laterally onto the conveyor so that terminals of the batteries are in a horizontal orientation on the conveyor. A testing section is disposed along the conveyor upstream from the battery feeding section for testing the electrical condition of the batteries as they move along the conveyor. A sorting section is disposed along the conveyor upstream from the testing section for ejecting the batteries from the conveyor according to the electrical condition of the batteries determined by the testing section. In this manner, a battery testing and sorting apparatus is provided for continuously sorting large quantities of batteries into groups based on the electrical condition of the batteries.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for classifying and recovering the main components of used batteries, particularly, a method and an apparatus by which the batteries are conveyed on a conveyor while an alternating magnetic field of a plurality of frequencies is applied to each and a detection means detects what sort of induced magnetic field has resulted from the eddy current induced in the battery. The orthogonal components in the change of the induced magnetic field are detected; the relationship between these orthogonal components and the frequencies are compared with the database of the same which is previously obtained, and the batteries are sorted according to their classification and size. This method can sort large amounts of used batteries continuously. In this invention, the battery will be drawn down into the detection region either magnetically or mechanically while the stable transport of the battery is achieved.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a battery inspection system. The battery inspection system includes a battery feeding conveyor for feeding batteries to be inspected. One or more transfer robots are positioned near the rear end of the battery feeding conveyor for transferring batteries fed through the battery feeding conveyor to inspection and discharge positions. An X-ray generator is positioned under the transfer robots for applying X-rays to batteries transferred by the transfer robots. A satisfactory battery discharging conveyor is positioned near the transfer robots for discharging satisfactory battery moved by the transfer robots and having been inspected. A defective battery discharging robot is positioned near the front end of the satisfactory battery discharging conveyor for removing defective batteries from batteries moving along the satisfactory battery discharging conveyor and having been inspected.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for classifying and recovering the main components of used batteries, particularly, a method and an apparatus by which the batteries are conveyed on a conveyor while an alternating magnetic field of a plurality of frequencies is applied to each and a detection means detects what sort of induced magnetic field has resulted from the eddy current induced in the battery. The orthogonal components in the change of the induced magnetic field are detected; the relationship between these orthogonal components and the frequencies are compared with the database of the same which is previously obtained, and the batteries are sorted according to their classification and size. This method can sort large amounts of used batteries continuously. In this invention, the battery will be drawn down into the detection region either magnetically or mechanically while the stable transport of the battery is achieved.

Abstract: The apparatus is used for detecting the proper conductivity of a conductive film enclosed within a nonconductive substrate or envelope such as a fluorescent lamp without requiring physical contact with the fluorescent lamp. The conductive film detector comprises a capactive proximity switch mounted close to but spaced from the lamp as the lamp passes the inspection station. At the inspection station there is also provided a feeler switch for sensing lamp presence and a cam switch for inspection initiation when the lamp is instantaneously properly positioned. A control unit powers the capacitive proximity switch and receives the proximity switch output to control a lamp rejection mechanism for rejecting lamps having resistance that is too high. The set up procedure involved adjustment of the capacitive proximity switch sensitivity by using test lamps of alternately acceptable resistance and unacceptable resistance, along with adjustment of lamp-to-proximity switch spacing.

Abstract: The apparatus is used for detecting the proper conductivity of a conductive film enclosed within a nonconductive substrate or envelope such as a fluorescent lamp without requiring physical contact with the fluorescent lamp. The conductive film detector comprises a capacitive proximity switch mounted close to but spaced from the lamp as the lamp passes the inspection station. At the inspection station there is also provided a feeler switch for sensing lamp presence and a cam switch for inspection initiation when the lamp is instantaneously properly positioned. A control unit powers the capacitive proximity switch and receives the proximity switch output to control a lamp rejection mechanism for rejecting lamps having resistance that is too high. The set up procedure involved adjustment of the capacitive proximity switch sensitivity by using test lamps of alternately acceptable resistance and unacceptable resistance, along with adjustment of lamp-to-proximity switch spacing.

Abstract: A method for rapidly testing rechargeable electrochemical cells following assembly which enables the testing of cells to be carried out in a substantially uncharged condition. Cells in the assembly line are energized with a constant current pulse applied to their electrodes via the cell terminals, the current being of sufficient magnitude and duration so as to develop an increased charge voltage between the cell terminals. The charge voltage so developed during the application of the current and while the electrodes of the cell are incompletely charged is then measured and compared with a predetermined zone of acceptable values for cell performance. Preferably, the developed charge voltage is permitted to stabilize prior to measurement. In addition, measurements of open circuit voltage are taken immediately before and after application of the current pulse.

Abstract: A method and system for testing and sorting a production run of sheet-like batteries includes: testing each battery to obtain a first value of electrical energy; placing machine readable indicia on each battery corresponding to the first value; retesting each battery after passage of a period of time to obtain a second value of electrical energy; machine reading the indicia and computing the rate of decay of electrical energy for each battery as a function of the difference between said first and second values per unit time; and sorting the batteries in accordance with the computed rate of decay to separate those batteries having an acceptable rate of decay from those batteries having too great a rate of decay.

Abstract: An article, such as a light-emitting diode, for replacing a slide base switchboard lamp has polar characteristics. The article has a light emitting cap located at one end and a cylindrical slide base with two contacts located diametrically across the base extending from the emitter. Handling the articles for testing their light intensity and hue characteristics involves orienting them. The articles are first oriented longitudinally in a vertical direction and to face the emitter all in the same direction. The articles are then conveyed in sequence to a test station. An eccentric force is applied to the base through friction between the moving articles and a stationary ledge. The applied force rotates the articles into one or the other of two oriented positions in which the contacts on the base become located in a plane perpendicular to the direction of their conveyance. A preliminary test determines which of the two positions have been assumed by each article.