Small object sorting system and method
AssigneeMonsanto Technology LLC
InventorKevin L. Deppermann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated object sorting system is provided. In various embodiments, the automated object sorting system includes an automated object extraction assembly and an automated object collection assembly. The automated object extraction assembly extracts one or more objects from an object sorting tray based on one or more attributes and/or traits of interest. The automated collection assembly selectively deposits the extracted objects in selected collection receptacles according to the particular attributes and/or traits of each respective object.
Claims17
An automated object sorting system for sorting objects and depositing the sorted objects into selected receptacles, the system comprising:
- first and second sorting trays each configured to hold multiple objects to be sorted;
- an indexing table configured to hold the first and second sorting trays at opposite end portions of the indexing table;
- a transfer funnel disposed generally below the indexing table, wherein the indexing table is further configured to rotate about an axis to selectively position one of the first and second sorting trays over the transfer funnel;
- an array of nozzles operable to remove multiple ones of the objects from the one of the first and second sorting trays positioned over the transfer funnel;
- and
- a collection assembly including multiple collection receptacles, the collection assembly operable to position the collection receptacles under the transfer funnel to receive the removed objects from the array of nozzles, via the transfer funnel;
- wherein the transfer funnel includes at least two internal passages for directing the removed objects through the transfer funnel to at least two of the multiple collection receptacles.
An automated object sorting system for sorting objects and depositing the sorted objects into selected receptacles, the system comprising:
- a sorting tray configured to hold multiple objects to be sorted;
- an indexing table configured to hold the sorting tray;
- a transfer funnel disposed generally below the indexing table;
- an array of nozzles disposed generally above the indexing table;
- and
- a sensor located adjacent the transfer funnel, the sensor configured to determine a position of the sorting tray relative to the array of nozzles, wherein, in response to a determination by the sensor that the sorting tray is positioned under the array of nozzles, the array of nozzles is operable to remove one or more of the objects from the sorting tray and transfer the removed one or more objects to the transfer funnel.
An automated object sorting system for sorting objects and depositing the sorted objects into selected receptacles, the system comprising:
- a sorting tray configured to hold multiple objects to be sorted;
- an indexing table configured to hold the sorting tray;
- a transfer funnel disposed generally below the indexing table;
- an array of nozzles disposed generally above the indexing table, the array of nozzles operable to remove multiple of the objects from the sorting tray;
- and
- a collection assembly disposed generally below the transfer funnel, the collection assembly including multiple collection receptacles configured to receive the removed objects from the array of nozzles, via the transfer funnel;
- wherein the transfer funnel includes at least two internal passages for directing the removed objects through the transfer funnel to different ones of the multiple collection receptacles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.