Pallet sorting system and method of use

A method for conveying a pallet through a pallet sorting system, the method comprising:

• receiving a pallet at a first position of a feeder, a loading assembly, or a conveyor system;
• at least partially locating the pallet within a tunnel scanner assembly having first sensors, a mirror, and image sensors;
• sensing from the first sensors a first set of pallet data, wherein the first set of pallet data is non-image data, and wherein at least one first sensor of the first sensors senses data by:
• emitting an electromagnetic signal that is reflected by a mirror to the pallet, wherein the pallet reflects at least a portion of the emitted electromagnetic signal;
• and
• detecting the at least a portion of the emitted electromagnetic signal reflected off the pallet via the mirror;
• sensing, by the image sensors, a second set of pallet data, wherein at least one image sensor of the image sensors detects light reflected from the pallet via a mirror;
• receiving, at a logic module the first set of pallet data and the second set of pallet data;
• selectively communicating a subset of pallet data from the logic module to a machine learning module, the subset of pallet data comprising:
• the first set of pallet data or a subset of the first set of pallet data;
• and
• the second set of pallet data or a subset of the second set of pallet data;
• determining a third set of pallet data at the machine learning module based on the subset of pallet data;
• communicating the third set of pallet data from the machine learning module to the logic module;
• determining, at the logic module, a conveyance path based at least on the third set of pallet data;
• communicating the conveyance path from the logic module to a controller module;
• transporting the pallet along the conveyance path to a second position via the conveyor system in communication with the controller module;
• and
• activating a clearing device at a predetermined frequency or upon determination that the mirror is unclean.

A pallet sorting system comprising:

• a conveyance system comprising:
• a receiving portion and a delivery portion, wherein the delivery portion couples to a loading assembly to provide at least one pallet from a feeder to the loading assembly and wherein the loading assembly couples to an overhead conveyor system having a push rail and a friction brake;
• a tunnel scanner assembly located between the receiving portion and the delivery portion, wherein the tunnel scanner assembly includes:
• a camera configured to obtain image data;
• a sensor configured to obtain non-image data;
• and
• a mirror, wherein light detected by the camera is received from the mirror, and wherein the mirror reflects an electromagnetic signal provided by the sensor;
• and
• a control system operably coupled to the conveyance system and the tunnel scanner assembly, the control system configured to receive the image data from the camera and the non-image data from the sensor, determine from the image data and the non-image data information related to a pallet located at least partially within the tunnel scanner assembly, provide a conveyance path for the pallet based on the information related to the pallet, and activate the conveyance system to transport the pallet along the conveyance path.