High throughput cassette filler

A high throughput system for sorting a plurality of different small object types into a plurality of cells of at least one small object cassette, said system comprising:

• the at least one small object cassette comprising a plurality of inter-connected small object cells integrally formed in the at least one small object cassette, the inter-connected, integrally formed small object cells structured to retain small objects;
• an automated closed-circuit conveyor track comprising a plurality of sequential independently controlled track sections, the conveyor system structured and operable to transport the cassette(s) from a cassette loading location around the closed-circuit conveyor track, through at least one cassette processing station, and to a cassette unloading location;
• the at least one cassette processing station disposed over the conveyor track such that the conveyor track extends through each cassette processing station and under a small object distribution subsystem of each respective cassette processing station, wherein the at least one cassette processing stations is structured and operable to deposit one of a plurality of groups of small objects into selected ones of the inter-connected small object cells integrally formed in the at least one small object cassette;
• and
• a central control system comprising a computer-based controller communicatively connected to at least the conveyor track and each cassette processing station, the central control system structured and operable to control operations of each independently controlled track section of the conveyor track and each cassette processing station.

A high throughput system for sorting a plurality of different small object types into a plurality of cells of at least one small object cassette, said system comprising:

• the at least one small object cassette comprising a plurality of small object cells;
• an automated conveyor track structured and operable to transport the cassette(s) from a loading location on the conveyor track to a unloading location on the conveyor track;
• at least one cassette processing station disposed over the conveyor track such that the conveyor track extends through each cassette processing station and under a small object distribution subsystem of each respective cassette processing station;
• each cassette processing station comprising:
• at least one small object counting and parsing subsystem structured and operable to parse a plurality of groups of small objects from a bulk quantity of the small objects, each group of small objects comprising a respective number of small objects stipulated by the central control system;
• and
• a small object distribution subsystem structured and operable to receive each parsed group of small objects and deposit each parsed group of small objects into a respective one of the small object cells of a respective one of the cassette(s) stipulated by the central control system as the respective cassette is positioned adjacent the small object distribution subsystem via the conveyor track;
• each small object counting and parsing subsystem comprising
• a small object queuing assembly structured and operable to receive the groups of small objects from the small object singulator and counter and deposit each group of small objects into the small object distribution subsystem, each small object queuing assembly comprising:
• a first queuing stage fluidly connected to the small object singulator and counter and structured and operable to receive and temporarily retain each group of small objects from the small object singulator and counter;
• and
• a second queuing stage fluidly connected to the first queuing stage and structured and operable to receive and temporarily retain each group of small objects from the first queuing stage;
• and
• a central control system comprising a computer-based controller communicatively connected to at least the conveyor track and each cassette processing station, the central control system structured and operable to control operations of the conveyor track and each cassette processing station.