Systems and methods of use for commodities analysis, collection, resource-allocation, and tracking

An optical-sorting system for commodity particles, the optical-sorting system having a quality analysis system, the quality analysis system comprising:

• a vibratory plate having a proximal end in receipt of a stream of the commodity particles and a distal end, the vibratory plate configured to repeatedly apply a vibratory force to the stream of the commodity particles to translate each of the commodity particles proximally-to-distally through incremental displacements of each of the commodity particles in response to each application of the vibratory force;
• at least two cameras configured to capture a series of images of each of the commodity particles translating proximally-to-distally across the vibratory plate and falling from the distal end of the vibratory plate;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled with the at least two cameras, the processor executing an analysis and collection module to:
• based on data collected from the series of the images and the vibratory force applied to the commodity particles translating across the vibratory plate, determine a number of analysis attributes associated with each of the commodity particles;
• and
• based on the number of the analysis attributes, sort each of the commodity particles into acceptable particles that are retained or defective particles that are rejected;
• wherein the analysis attributes include a volume of each of the commodity particles, a mass of each of the commodity particles, a density of each of the commodity particles, a color of each of the commodity particles, a color consistency of each of the commodity particles, a shape of each of the commodity particles, a shape consistency of each of the commodity particles, a presence of one or more extrinsic defects associated with each of the commodity particles, and a presence of one or more intrinsic defects associated with each of the commodity particles;
• further comprising a good product chute configured to deliver the acceptable particles from the analysis system to a collection system, the collection system comprising a weigh hopper mount supporting a weigh hopper above a weigh scale lift assembly, the weigh scale lift assembly having a weigh scale lift and a weigh scale, wherein:
• the acceptable particles exit the good product chute into the weigh hopper, and
• the weigh scale lift is configured to rise vertically until the weigh hopper is fully supported upon the weigh scale such that the weigh scale registers a total weight of the acceptable particles within the weigh hopper.

A method for analyzing a batch of commodity particles using a quality analysis system including (1) a vibratory assembly including a vibratory input feeder coupled with a vibratory plate having a proximal end and a distal end, (2) a material hopper positioned to feed material to the proximal end of the vibratory plate, (3) an overhead imaging assembly having a first camera positioned to view a first image-capture zone located on a top surface of the vibratory plate, (4) an imaging box assembly having a distally-facing second camera and a proximally-facing third camera positioned to view a second image-capture zone located below the distal end of the vibratory plate, and (5) a processor communicatively coupled with the vibratory assembly, the overhead imaging assembly, and the imaging box assembly, the processor configured to execute an analysis and collection module, the method comprising:

• dispensing a batch of commodity particles into the material hopper;
• actuating the vibratory input feeder to repeatedly generate a vibratory force that is applied by the vibratory plate to the commodity particles exiting the material hopper onto the proximal end of the vibratory plate, causing the commodity particles to translate proximally-to-distally across the vibratory plate;
• using the overhead imaging assembly, capturing a first set of images of each of the commodity particles as the commodity particles move through the first image-capture zone;
• using the imaging box assembly, capturing second and third sets of images of each of the commodity particles after the commodity particles fall from the distal end of the vibratory plate and move through the second image-capture zone;
• and
• using the processor along with the analysis and collection module, analyzing each of the commodity particles to determine a number of analysis attributes associated with each of the commodity particles;
• wherein the analysis attributes include an incremental displacement of each of the commodity particles in response to the vibrational force, a time over which the incremental displacement occurs, a velocity of the incremental displacement, a momentum of each of the commodity particles, a volume of each of the commodity particles, a mass of each of the commodity particles, a density of each of the commodity particles, and a presence of one or more intrinsic defects within each of the commodity particles.