High throughput cassette filler

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

• depositing a different bulk quantity of small objects in each of a plurality of bulk small object bins, each different bulk quantity of small objects comprising a different type of small objects, and each bulk small object bin being part of a respective one of a plurality counting and parsing subsystems of a cassette processing station of a small object sorting system;
• loading a plurality of small object cassettes onto a closed-circuit conveyor track of the small object sorting system that extends through the cassette processing station;
• independently controlling the operation of a plurality of independent and connected track sections of the closed-circuit conveyor track such that each small object cassette is controllably moved along the closed-circuit conveyor track from a loading and unloading location of the closed-circuit conveyor track and sequentially positioned under a small object distribution subsystem the cassette processing station;
• parsing a plurality of groups of small objects from the bulk quantity of the small objects deposited in one or more of the small object bins;
• depositing each parsed group of small objects into a respective one of a plurality of inter-connected small object cells integrally formed in each small object cassette as each small object cassette is positioned under the small object distribution subsystem;
• independently controlling the operation of the plurality of independent and connected track sections of the closed-circuit conveyor track such that each small object cassette is controllably moved along the closed-circuit conveyor track from under the small object distribution subsystem to the loading and unloading location of the closed-circuit conveyor track;
• and
• unloading the plurality of small object cassettes having the parsed groups of small objects deposited in the small object cells thereof from the closed-circuit conveyor track.