# US 2026/0241418 A1 · Sorting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0241418 A1 - Document ID: US20260241418A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/871,385 - Filed: 2023-06-07 - Published: 2026-08-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-19 - Assignees: Hitachi Zosen Corporation - Applicants: Hitachi Zosen Corporation - Inventors: Akira IMAMURA; Fumiya HASHIMOTO; Takayasu YOKOBAYASHI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260241418A1 ## CPC - B07C 5/365: {using a single separation means} - B07C 5/342: according to optical properties, e.g. colour {(according to radiation transmittivity B07C5/3416)} - B07C 5/3425: {of granular material, e.g. ore particles, grain (investigation moving fluids or granular solids using optical means G01N21/85)} - B07C 5/36: Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution {(sorting according to destination B07C3/003, B07C3/02)} - G01N 21/85: Investigating moving fluids or granular solids - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract Provided is a sorting device that avoids being unable to sort a conforming granular particle from among a plurality of granular particles. A sorting device includes: an identification unit that identifies a non-conforming granular particle in an image obtained by taking an image of a plurality of granular particles, the non-conforming granular particle being a granular particle that does not conform to a standard; and a housing. The housing has a plurality of discharge areas, a suction path, and an introduction path. The discharge areas are arranged to divide the plurality of granular particles into a plurality of groups. The suction path is communication with a discharge area, and air in a discharge area assigned a group including the non-conforming granular particle and granular particles in the discharge area assigned the group including the non-conforming granular particle are sucked into the suction path. The introduction path is in communication with a discharge area, and air outside of the discharge area is introduced to the discharge area through the introduction path. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sorting device, comprising: an identification unit that identifies a non-conforming granular particle in an image obtained by taking an image of a plurality of granular particles, the non-conforming granular particle being a granular particle that does not conform to a standard; and a housing, wherein the housing has: a plurality of discharge areas arranged to divide the plurality of granular particles into a plurality of groups; a suction path that is in communication with a discharge area, air in a discharge area assigned a group including the non-conforming granular particle and granular particles in the discharge area assigned the group including the non-conforming granular particle being sucked into the suction path; and an introduction path that is in communication with a discharge area, air outside of the discharge area being introduced to the discharge area through the introduction path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the introduction path penetrates through the housing from outside of the housing to the discharge area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sorting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the discharge areas is provided with at least one suction path, and each of the discharge areas is provided with a plurality of introduction paths, which are arranged around the suction path. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sorting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a belt conveyor that conveys the plurality of granular particles spread in a predetermined region on the belt conveyor; and a suppressor that suppresses a lift of the belt conveyor that occurs when the granular particles in the discharge area assigned the group including the non-conforming granular particle are sucked into the suction path of the housing disposed at a position to cover the granular particles on the belt conveyor from above. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sorting device according to claim 4, wherein the suppressor suppresses the lift of the belt conveyor at a plurality of positions around the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The sorting device according to claim 5, wherein the suppressor has: a presser that presses the belt conveyor when the belt conveyor is being lifted. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sorting device according to claim 6, further comprising: an actuator unit that moves the presser to a position to press the belt conveyor from above to suppress the lift of the belt conveyor and then moves the presser upward away from the belt conveyor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The sorting device according to claim 4, further comprising: a feed path through which the plurality of granular particles pass, the feed path vibrating to make the plurality of granular particles pass through the feed path to feed the granular particles onto the belt conveyor; and a guide that guides the granular particles toward a central part in a width direction of the feed path. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sorting device according to claim 1 further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The sorting device according to claim 2, further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The sorting device according to claim 3, further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path. ### Claim 12 (depends on 4) The sorting device according to claim 4, further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) The sorting device according to claim 5, further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The sorting device according to claim 6, further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path. ### Claim 15 (depends on 7) The sorting device according to claim 7, further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The sorting device according to claim 8, further comprising: a separating unit that separates air sucked through the suction path and the granular particles including the non-conforming granular particle sucked through the suction path.