Abstract: In an optical sorter that includes an optical detection unit to detect a to-be-sorted material at a detection position, a determining unit to determine a to-be-sorted material to be removed, based on a detection result by the optical detection unit, and an air-jetting unit to blow off and remove the to-be-sorted material to be removed using jet air of a compressed gas, based on a determination result by the determining unit, the air-jetting unit includes a piezoelectric valve to perform valve opening and closing by driving a valve disc utilizing displacement of a piezoelectric element, and a valve driving unit to apply a drive voltage to the piezoelectric element, and the valve driving unit controls the drive voltage applied to the piezoelectric element in accordance with the to-be-sorted material to be removed to thus control a jet-air pressure of the compressed gas for removing the to-be-sorted material.

Abstract: Method for sorting corn kernels of a batch of corn kernels, the method comprising the steps of: laying the corn kernel on a support surface, the corn kernel having a resting surface in contact with the support surface, and an upper surface opposite the resting surface, acquiring at least one orientation image of the corn kernel with an orientation imaging system, the orientation imaging system having a modality adapted to enable structural features of the corn kernel to be measured, determining an orientation of the corn kernel with respect to the support surface based on the structural features of the corn kernel measured on the orientation image, sorting the corn kernel as a function of the orientation.

Abstract: A device for discharging bad products from a product stream, including a detection unit for detecting the product stream and a computer unit for receiving property data of the product stream from the detection unit and for identifying bad products in the product stream. The device includes a compressed air discharge unit controlled by the computer unit and a deflection element discharge unit for the passive discharge of bad products from the product stream. The computer unit divides the identified bad products into first-order and second-order bad products and controls the compressed air discharge unit so that it will actively discharge the first-order bad products, and also controls the deflection element discharge unit so that it will passively discharge the second-order bad products.

Abstract: Methods and systems for achieving higher efficiencies and capacities in sorting feed material are described herein, such as for separating desirable “good” rock or ore from undesirable “bad” rock or ore in an unsegregated, unseparated stream of feed material. In the disclosure, higher efficiencies are achieved with combinations of multiple sensor/diverter cells in stages in a cascade arrangement. The number and combination of cells in the cascade may be determined through a priori characterization of probabilities involved in sensor/rock and rock/diverter interactions, and mathematical determinations of the optimal number and combination of stages based on this probability. Further, as disclosed herein, desired sorting capacities are achieved through addition of multiple cascades in parallel until the desired sorting capacity is reached.

Abstract: A powdery-material feeding device is configured to feed a powdery material to a compression-molding machine configured to obtain a molded product by filling a die bore with the powdery material and to compress the powdery material with punches. The powdery-material feeding device includes a detector configured to detect a biologically-originated foreign matter mixedly contained in the powdery material to be fed to the compression-molding machine, and a controller configured to control to remove the powdery material mixedly containing the biologically-originated foreign matter detected by the detector to avoid feeding of the powdery material mixedly containing the biologically-originated foreign matter to the compression-molding machine, or to control to stop the feeding of the powdery material to the compression-molding machine.

Abstract: A sensor device for determining a position of seeds while sowing. The sensor device includes a radiation assembly which generates an illumination radiation oriented towards a target area, and a detection assembly. The radiation assembly includes a radiation source which provides an emission spectrum of the illumination radiation covering a spectral range. The detection assembly includes a radiation detector which detects an incident radiation, and a filter member with an attenuation band and a pass band. The radiation detector includes a field of view. The pass band has an attenuation which is less than an attenuation of the attenuation band in a wavelength range where the wavelengths are longer than those of the attenuation band. The target area and the field of view intersect. The radiation source and the radiation detector form a triangulation arrangement so that a distance from the target area to the detection assembly can be determined.

Abstract: Provided are microfluidic systems and methods for detecting, sorting, and dispensing of low abundance events such as single cells and particles, including a variety of eukaryotic and bacterial cells, for a variety of bioassay applications. The systems and methods described herein, when implemented in whole or in part, will make relevant microfluidic based tools available for a variety of applications in biotechnology including antibody discovery, immuno-therapeutic discovery, high-throughput single cell analysis, target-specific compound screening, and synthetic biology screening.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns a cytometry system including a handling system that enables presentation of single cells to at least one laser source. The laser source is configured to deliver light to a cell within the cells in order to induce bond vibrations in the cellular DNA. The system further includes a detection facility that detects the signature of the bond vibrations, wherein the bond vibration signature is used to determine the folding or packing of the DNA.

Abstract: A system and a method of sorting scrap particles is provided. A moving conveyor containing scrap particles is imaged using a vision system to create a vision image corresponding to a timed location of the conveyor, and is sensed using a sensing system to create a sensing matrix corresponding to the timed location. The sensing system has at least one array of analog proximity sensors. A control system analyzes the vision image as a vision matrix of cells, and generates a vision vector containing vision data from the vision matrix for the particle. The control system analyzes the sensing matrix, and generates a sensing data vector containing sensing data from the sensing matrix for the particle. The control system classifies the particle into one of at least two classifications of a material as a function of the vision data vector and the sensing data vector.

Abstract: An aspect of the disclosure includes a method, a system and a computer program product for removing dynamic images when determining the position of an object relative to a reflective surface. The method includes acquiring a first image of an object and the reflective surface with a camera, the camera positioned adjacent the reflective surface. It is determined when a dynamic element is displayed on the reflective surface. A second image is generated by subtracting the dynamic element from the first image. The object is identified in one of the first image and second image. A reflection of the object on the reflective surface is identified in the second image. Three-dimensional coordinates of at least a portion of the object are determined based at least in part on the identifying of the object and the identifying of the reflection of the object.

Abstract: A sheet processing device, a sheet manufacturing apparatus, and a sheet processing method enable effectively removing the color material of printed parts. A sheet processing device for processing a printed sheets has a detector configured to detect the printed parts of the sheet; and a refining prevention agent applicator configured to selectively apply a refining prevention agent that prevents refinement of the sheet to a printed area including the printed parts detected by the detector.

Abstract: A robotic system is disclosed that includes an articulated arm with an end effector. The robotic system is for use in a robotic environment requiring interaction with persons in the robotic environment, and includes a plurality of lights that are illuminated responsive to known near-future movements of the articulated arm to convey the known near-future movements of the articulated arm to the persons in the robot environment.

Abstract: A system for plant parameter detection, including: a plant morphology sensor having a first field of view and configured to record a morphology measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, a plant physiology sensor having a second field of view and configured to record a plant physiology parameter measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, wherein the second field of view overlaps with the first field of view; a support statically coupling the plant morphology sensor to the physiology sensor, and a computing system configured to: identify a plant set of pixels within the physiology measurement based on the morphology measurement; determine physiology values for each pixel of the plant set of pixels; and extract a growth parameter based on the physiology values.

Abstract: An inspection and sorting machine and a related method of operation are provided. The inspection and sorting machine includes an inspection system that outputs a first signal corresponding to a fastener condition and a second signal corresponding to an inspection condition. Based on the inspection system output, a controller determines whether a fastener is classified as conforming or whether the fastener is classified as undetermined. Conforming fasteners are diverted into a conforming parts chute, and undetermined fasteners are diverted into a recirculated parts chute. The remaining fasteners are diverted into a reject chute. The undetermined fasteners are recirculated into the inspection and sorting machine for re-inspection.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for optical quality control of the coating or staining of a kernel-type substrate, in particular seed with a color and contrast intensive coating composition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for classification and/or sorting of seeds with the help of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy, use of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy for classification and/or sorting of seeds and seeds classified and/or sorted with terahertz time-domain spectroscopy.

Abstract: Chopped fiber composite systems and methods are disclosed. Sorting systems include a conveyor, an imager, a plurality of receptacles, a pneumatic device, and controller. Molding systems include a conveyor, an imager, a mold, a pneumatic device, and a controller. The controller directs the pneumatic device to alter the freefall of chopped fiber composite pieces based on characteristics of the chopped fiber composite pieces as they drop from the conveyor and into a receptacle or a mold. Sorting and molding methods include dropping chopped fiber composite pieces, detecting characteristics of the dropping pieces, and directing the pieces based on the detected characteristics.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a pneumatic particle separator includes a base member formed with an elongated lumen. Also formed on the base member for fluid communication with the lumen are, in order, an air flow injection channel, the lumen, a diverter, and an n-number of type channels. Further, a particle injection channel is connected in fluid communication with the air flow injection channel. In this combination, when an air flow is established through the air flow injection channel and the lumen, particles are drawn by venturi action from the particle injection channel for single file transit through the lumen for analysis. A subsequent pneumatic diversion through the diverter then provides an exit for each particle from the base member through a preselected type channel for collection. The analysis performed in the lumen is used for an assay report.

Abstract: A system for plant parameter detection, including: a plant morphology sensor having a first field of view and configured to record a morphology measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, a plant physiology sensor having a second field of view and configured to record a plant physiology parameter measurement of a plant portion and an ambient environment adjacent the plant, wherein the second field of view overlaps with the first field of view; a support statically coupling the plant morphology sensor to the physiology sensor, and a computing system configured to: identify a plant set of pixels within the physiology measurement based on the morphology measurement; determine physiology values for each pixel of the plant set of pixels; and extract a growth parameter based on the physiology values.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a recognition dictionary evaluation apparatus calculates, in response to the update of a recognition dictionary file, a recognition rate by item of each commodity according to feature amount data of the updated recognition dictionary file; evaluates the recognition dictionary file based on the calculated recognition rate by item of each commodity; detects, in a case in which the recognition dictionary file is evaluated to be improper, a low recognition commodity of which a correct recognition rate that a commodity is correctly recognized from all commodities is lower than a given level, and an incorrect recognition commodity of which an incorrect recognition rate is high within the recognition rate by item of the low recognition commodity; and notifies the items of the low recognition commodity and the incorrect recognition commodity.

Abstract: An image scanner system and method with document sorting capability that includes the ability to sort based on image content is described. A processor instructs drive motors and rollers of the transport system moving the document along a transport path within the scanner to stop movement, such that document is stopped at a position after it is imaged to provide time for the processor to analyze the image content and make a sorting decision. The transport system is then restarted and the document is delivered to a paper path switching mechanism to provide the physical sort. Based on the processing, the switching mechanism is positioned such that the document will follow a transport path into a desired output tray. The system may reverse the transport system to back up the document before being restarted in order to allow for paper path switching of longer documents.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment, a recognition dictionary creation apparatus comprises an image capturing section, a measurement module, a specification module, an extraction module and a registration module. The image capturing section photographs a commodity at a distance away from the image capturing section to capture an image of the commodity. The measurement module measures the distance from the image capturing section to the commodity photographed by the image capturing section as a distance data. The specification module specifies the commodity from the captured image. The extraction module extracts an appearance feature amount of the commodity from the captured image. The registration module registers the appearance feature amount extracted by the extraction module in a recognition dictionary file in association with the distance data as a feature amount data of the specified commodity at the distance measured by the measurement module.

Abstract: A separation apparatus includes: a conveyor that conveys a group of pieces; a material distinguishing unit that distinguishes between first pieces and second pieces that are placed on the conveyor, according to material; a blower that generates airflow supplied from a middle of the conveyor toward a conveying end along a conveying surface; a first separation unit that blows off the first pieces thrown forward from the conveying end, based on a differentiation result obtained by the material distinguishing unit; a second separation unit that blows off the second pieces toward a different place; and a current plate provided below the group of pieces thrown forward and protruding from the conveyor.

Abstract: A method for sorting wastes wherein waste or recyclable material is supplied in carrier bags. A sorting apparatus includes a conveyor provided for receiving the carrier bags for separation from each other by guiding the carrier bags into containers according to an allotment. An RFID identifier is connected to each carrier bag. A closing member is provided with the RFID identifier in closing, or as verification of closing. At least one sensor is utilized on the basis of the information read from the RFID identifier of the closing member. At least one handling device, such as a robot, is provided wherein the at least one handling device is controlled to transfer the carrier bags to be sorted from the conveyor into the different allotments on the basis of the information given by the RFID identifiers. The invention also relates to an apparatus.

Abstract: A sorting installation and a sorting method jointly sort two kinds of flat mail items. For each article to be sorted, a value that a prescribed sorting feature assumes for the article is measured. The article is transported by a first transport device to a separating filter. An article of the first article kind is redirected in a first outward-transfer device. On the basis of the ascertained sorting feature value, one sorting output from a first set of sorting outputs is selected. The article is transferred outward to the selected sorting output from the first sorting output set. An article of the second article kind is redirected to a second transport device and transported to a second outward-transfer device. On the basis of the ascertained sorting feature value, one sorting output from a second set of sorting outputs is selected.

Abstract: Methods and systems for processing ores by assaying the ore to determine what ore constituent has to be separated, by controlling the volume of ore processed at one time, and/or by controlling the amount of heat added to or extracted from the ore.

Abstract: A method of ejecting a faulty absorbent article which includes a step of detecting a failure region of an absorbent article in which a failure location of the absorbent article exists, and a type of a failure in the failure region, by identifying a shape of the absorbent article in the course of the manufacturing line, a step of deciding the absorbent article to be ejected based on the detection result of the failure region and the type of failure in the step of detecting, and a step of disengaging, from the manufacturing line, the absorbent article decided in the step of deciding, and then ejecting the absorbent article in the course of the manufacturing line. In the step of deciding, the number of absorbent articles to be ejected in the step of ejecting is decided according to the failure region and the type of the failure.

Abstract: A microparticle sorting device that automatically and accurately adjusts the positions of a fluid stream and a collection container is provided. The microparticle sorting device including a pair of deflecting plates that face each other with a passage area of a fluid stream therebetween, a camera that captures the image of the fluid stream, and a fluid stream detection light source that emits light parallel to a direction in which the deflecting plates face each other and that is movable in a direction perpendicular to the fluid stream and the light is provided. In the microparticle sorting device, the collection container that receives the fluid stream is mounted so as to be movable in the direction perpendicular to the fluid stream and the light.

Abstract: There is provided a microparticle sorting method, including a procedure of collecting a microparticle in a fluid that flows through a main channel in an area that is formed in a manner that a vertical cross-section increases in a flow direction of the fluid at a branch channel which is in communication with the main channel by generating a negative pressure in the branch channel.

Abstract: A method of separating a mined material that comprises assessing the grade of successive segments of the mined material, and separating each segment on the basis of grade into a category that is at or above a grade threshold or a category that is below the grade threshold. An apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for sorting foreign matter from a flow, the method comprising the steps of: identifying objects within a flow; for each identified object, determining reflectance intensities at at least two different wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths; and for each identified object, comparing the reflectance intensities at the at least two different wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths to a reference intensity profile, wherein the identified object is characterized as foreign matter when the reflectance intensities at the at least two different wavelengths or ranges of wavelengths fall within a predetermined region of the reference intensity profile.

Abstract: Identification of a material composition. The material composition is configured with a color additive that is embedded or otherwise not visible. The color additive identifies the specific material composition. A discrete section or sub-section of the material is deformed such that the embedded color additive is made visible in the optical spectrum, after which the discrete section or sub-section may be sorted for recycling.

Abstract: A high-speed, high-resolution, triangulation-based, 3-D method and system for inspecting manufactured parts and sorting the inspected parts are provided. The method includes consecutively transferring the parts so that the parts move along a path which extends from a supply of parts and through an imaging station. A triangulation-based sensor head is supported at the imaging station. The sensor head is configured to generate focused lines of radiation and to sense corresponding reflected lines of radiation. The focused lines are delivered onto an end surface of each part to obtain a corresponding array of reflected lines of radiation. The sensor head senses the array of reflected lines to obtain a corresponding set of 2-D profile signals. The set of profile signals represent a 3-D view of the end surface. The set of 2-D profile signals of each part is processed to identify parts having an unacceptable defect.

Abstract: A piezoelectric valve stably supplies gas even for a long gas ejection time, with a high responsivity to opening the valve, is provided. The piezoelectric valve, including a gas-pressure-chamber for receiving a compressed gas supplied from outside, a gas-discharge-channel through which the compressed gas is discharged from the gas-pressure-chamber, comprises: a valve body disposed in the gas-pressure-chamber and opens/closes the gas-discharge-channel; a piezoelectric element for producing a driving force to move the valve body as a displacement; a displacement-enlarging-mechanism for enlarging the displacement of the piezoelectric element to act on the valve body; and a driving unit having a signal-generating-unit for generating a signal comprising a pre-pulse and a main pulse and provides the signal generated by the signal-generating-unit to a driving circuit as an input signal to apply a driving voltage to the piezoelectric element to make the piezoelectric element expand and drive the valve body open.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for sorting mined material, such as mined ore, are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a chamber for exposing fragments of a material to be sorted to electromagnetic radiation, with the chamber comprising an inner wall for fragments to move downwardly and outwardly over from an upper inlet of the chamber to a lower outlet of the chamber. The apparatus also comprises a detection system for assessing one or more than one characteristic of the fragments. The apparatus also comprises a sorting means for separating the fragments into multiple streams in response to the assessment of the detection system.

Abstract: A chute for an optical sorting machine allows objects to be sorted to drop under gravity from the lower end of the chute, thereby supplying the objects to an optical detection section. The chute is provided with: a first portion which includes a portion for receiving the objects to be sorted which are supplied from a supply section; and a second portion which continues from the first portion. The first portion is composed of a single part and has: flat surfaces along which the objects to be sorted flow down; and connection surfaces. The flat surfaces located upstream are bent downward and the connection surfaces located downstream are bent upward to form a smooth undulation in the surface along which the objects to be sorted flow down.

Abstract: A method of sorting material that comprises determining whether a volume of material to be mined or a volume of stockpiled material is upgradable to produce a supply of material of greater economic value. If the determination is positive, the material is dry sorted to increase the grade or economic value. The determination is done by taking a plurality of samples from the initial volume of material and analyzing the material to determine if the material is able to be upgraded. The determination can be by X-Ray analysis. The upgrading can involve a size reduction step.

Abstract: A digital versatile disc (DVD) rental kiosk comprises a mechanism whereby the quality of DVDs is assessed on their return to the kiosk following rental. Any DVD that shows signs of damage, or otherwise considered have a poor playback quality, is placed in a quarantine area and is thereby prevented from being issued to a future customer. A method of assessing the quality of returned DVDs is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sorting particles into quality classes are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a measurement device (400) for determining at least one analytical property of said particles. A transport device (300) transports the particles past the measurement device. A sorting device (500) is operatively coupled to the measurement device and sorts the particles into at least two quality classes based on the analytical property. To achieve rapid and reliable transport, the transport device comprises a transport surface (310) configured to move in a transport direction. The transport surface has a plurality of perforations. The transport device further comprises a pump (130) for applying a pressure differential to these perforations, to cause particles fed to the transport device to be aspirated to the perforations and to be transported on the transport surface past the measurement device to the sorting device.

Abstract: A method for separating a mixture of solid materials can includes a sorting step based on differences in X-Ray transmission of different materials and a density sorting step at an elevated density. The mixture of solid materials can be a plastic-rich mixture recovered from waste electrical and electronic equipment. The mixture of solid materials can include plastics that contain brominated flame retardants. In some cases, a XRT or DEXRT sorter is used to remove the majority of plastics that contain brominated flame retardants from the mixture.

Abstract: An automatic sorting system identifying and sorting non-homogenous material includes a conveyor belt and an identification unit above the conveying surface for identifying material. The identification unit includes a projector projecting light downwardly onto material to be identified, which reflects light towards the identification unit. The identification unit includes a lens receiving the reflected light from the material, and a first processing unit linked to the lens for spectral analysis of reflected light captured by the lens to determine the nature of the material, and a second processing unit linked to the first processing unit for comparing spectral analysis results with data associated with different materials stored in a second processing unit database. A sorting unit links to the second processing unit and cooperates with the second end of the conveyor to sort material released from the second end depending on signals from the second processing unit.

Abstract: An improved actuator for use in a microfluidic particle sorting system utilizes a staggered packing scheme for a plurality of actuators used to selectively deflect a particle in an associated sorting channel from a stream of channels. An actuator block may be provided for housing a two-dimensional array of actuators, each configured to align with an actuation port in an associated sorting chip containing a plurality of sorting channels. The actuator block may include a built-in stressing means to pre-stress each actuator housed by the block. An actuator comprising a piezo-electric stack may employ contact-based electrical connection rather than soldered wires to improve packing density. The actuator may be an external actuator. That is, the external actuator is external to the substrate in which the sorting channels are formed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is the use of differences in x-ray linear absorption coefficients to process ore and remove elements with higher atomic number from elements with lower atomic numbers. Use of this dry method at the mine reduces pollution and transportation costs. One example of said invention is the ejection of inclusions with sulfur, silicates, mercury, arsenic and radioactive elements from coal. This reduces the amount and toxicity of coal ash. It also reduces air emissions and the energy required to clean stack gases from coal combustion. Removal of said ejected elements improves thermal efficiency and reduces the pollution and carbon footprint for electrical production.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to systems and methods for sorting a native aggregate, such as a fluorescent nanoparticle aggregate, which includes multiple objects, some of which have different characteristics, into lower level ensembles, such as monochromatic nanoparticle ensembles. In one aspect, the system includes two detectors, one of which accepts all emitted wavelengths and another one which is preceded by a filter to permit transmission of a specific wavelength or range of wavelengths. In another aspect, the system includes multiple detectors, each detector configured to detect a given wavelength or range of wavelengths, such that no two detectors have overlapping wavelengths or ranges. In yet another aspect, the system includes an optical regulator in front of a detector. This disclosure is also directed to systems and methods for multiplexing and analyzing a target analyte using the monochromatic nanoparticle ensembles.

Abstract: A system is provided for identifying at least one physical characteristic of items in a stream of items moving along a path through an inspection zone, and for separating items from the stream of items based upon the at least one physical characteristic. The system includes a movable transversely scanning mirror arranged to reflect electromagnetic energy from the inspection zone onto an array of detectors. The detectors of the array are arranged to sequentially receive electromagnetic energy so that on each transverse scan of the mirror for any given sub-zone within the inspection zone the detectors of the array receive electromagnetic energy reflected from the mirror at different times. The controller is then operable to correlate input signals from the various detectors corresponding to detected levels of electromagnetic energy received at different times from each given sub-zone within the inspection zone.

Abstract: A wire sorting system identifies and sorts wire from mixed electronic waste solely by the shape of the wire. A digital image of a stream of articles is created, and the image data may be processed using a Gabor filter technique to identify elongated narrow objects such as wire.

Abstract: A method of mining is disclosed. The method includes mining material in a mine in accordance with a mine plan designed to maximise the financial performance of the mining operation at the mine.

Abstract: An inspection unit of a welding inspection device includes: a striking device having a striking member that applies an impulsive force to a press molded article, a drive mechanism that applies a drive force to the striking member, and an urging member that urges the striking member; a microphone to which sound waves generated from the press molded article; and a detection device that detects a welding state of the press molded article. The striking member applies the impulsive force to the press molded article in a state in which the drive force by the drive mechanism is cut off and the striking member is urged by the urging member in the direction opposite to the application direction, and after application of the impulsive force to the press molded article, the striking member is forcibly pulled back in the direction opposite to the application direction by the urging member.

Abstract: An inspection system is configured for use with a conveyer apparatus including carrier bars. Each carrier bar conveys pellet-shaped articles along a predetermined path. The inspection system includes at least one camera unit for sensing a predetermined characteristic of the pellet-shaped articles, a removal unit, and a controller. The removal unit, downstream from the at least one camera unit, removes selected pellet-shaped article(s) from the carrier bar(s) depending on whether the characteristic is sensed by the at least one camera unit. The controller is in communication with the at least one camera unit and the removal unit. The controller provides a signal to the removal unit in accordance with the sensed characteristic. The removal unit includes a rotatable ejection drum having extended vacuum nozzles along its length, equal to the number of articles conveyed in each carrier bar. Each vacuum nozzle selectively removes article(s) from the carrier bar(s) by suction.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a container sorting system capable of increased sorting efficiency. The present invention discloses a device in which the distance is shortened between detection and ejection of containers being sorted by reflective infrared radiation, transmission infrared radiation, or both. The present invention also includes a method of operating such device.