Suction gripper debris filter

A method for filtering materials from a material sorting system, the method comprising:

• drawing an airflow through a suction gripper assembly, the suction gripper comprising a body assembly and a mounting assembly, wherein the body assembly includes:
• an internal airflow passage configured to communicate an airflow between an airflow application port positioned at a first end of the body assembly and a gripping port positioned at the opposing second end of the body assembly, a cup fitting attached to the gripping port, a suction cup secured to the cup fitting, and an attachable filer inserted into the suction cup and fastened to the cup fitting;
• and wherein the mounting assembly includes one or more mounting points for pivotally attaching the suction gripper assembly to a sorting robot of the material sorting system;
• drawing an airflow through the internal airflow passage using a vacuum system coupled to the airflow application port;
• utilizing the attachable filter to filter the airflow.