Apparatus for automated sorting of plastic utensils

A sorting apparatus, for sorting a plurality of items, said sorting apparatus comprising:

• at least one hopper, for receiving said plurality of items, said at least one hopper including a hopper bottom region;
• a lifting device having a top region and having a bottom region disposed proximate said hopper, said lifting device including:
• a plurality of lifting bars, for receiving said plurality of items from said hopper when each of said plurality of lifting bars is positioned at said bottom region of said lifting device proximate said hopper bottom region, and for lifting said plurality of items toward said top region of said lifting device, said plurality of lifting bars having a predetermined spacing between each of said plurality of bars, wherein said predetermined spacing is less than a length of one of said plurality of items;
• and
• a back plate, for mating with said plurality of lifting bars as said plurality of lifting bars move from said bottom region to said top region of said lifting device, wherein said at least one of said plurality of items leans against said back plate when said at least one lifting bar lifts said at least one of said plurality of items.

A sorting apparatus, for sorting a plurality of items, said sorting apparatus comprising:

• at least one hopper, for receiving said plurality of items, said at least one hopper including a hopper bottom region;
• a lifting device having a top region and having a bottom region disposed proximate said hopper, said lifting device including at least one lifting bar, for receiving at least one of said plurality of items from said hopper when said at least one lifting bar is positioned at said bottom region of said lifting device proximate said hopper bottom region, and for lifting said at least one of said plurality of items toward said top region of said lifting device;
• at least first and second speed-up conveyer belts, for separating and conveying said plurality of items in a spaced relationship, said first speed-up conveyer belt disposed proximate said top region of said lifting device, for receiving said at least one of said plurality of items from said lifting device, and said second speed-up conveyer belt disposed proximate said first speed-up conveyer belt, for receiving said at least one of said plurality of items from said first speed-up conveyor belt, wherein a predetermined speed of said second speed-up conveyer belt is greater than a predetermined speed of said first speed-up conveyer belt;
• and
• an infeed region, for receiving said plurality of items from said at least first and second speed-up conveyor belts, said infeed region being coupled to an atmospheric flow, for delivering said plurality of items to a continuously moving conveyor system.

A sorting apparatus, for sorting a plurality of items, said sorting apparatus comprising:

• at least one hopper, for receiving said plurality of items, said at least one hopper including a hopper bottom region;
• a lifting device having a top region and having a bottom region disposed proximate said hopper, said lifting device including at least one lifting member, for receiving at least one of said plurality of items from said hopper when said at least one lifting member is positioned at said bottom region of said lifting device proximate said hopper bottom region, and for lifting said at least one of said plurality of items toward said top region of said lifting device;
• a separating and conveying device disposed proximate said top region of said lifting device, for receiving said at least one of said plurality of items from said lifting device, and for separating and conveying said plurality of items in a spaced relationship;
• and
• a delivery mechanism operatively coupled to said separating and conveying device, said delivery mechanism including:
• a flexible infeed region, for receiving said plurality of items in said spaced relationship from said separating and conveying device, wherein an atmospheric flow moves said plurality of items in said spaced relationship;
• and
• a mobile delivery housing, for delivering said plurality of items in said spaced relationship to a conveyor system.

A sorting apparatus, for sorting a plurality of items, said sorting apparatus comprising:

• at least one hopper, for receiving said plurality of items, said at least one hopper including a hopper bottom region;
• a lifting device having a top region and having a bottom region disposed proximate said hopper, said lifting device including at least one lifting member, for receiving at least one of said plurality of items from said hopper when said at least one lifting member is positioned at said bottom region of said lifting device proximate said hopper bottom region, and for lifting said at least one of said plurality of items toward said top region of said lifting device;
• a separating and conveying device disposed proximate said top region of said lifting device, for receiving said at least one of said plurality of items from said lifting device, and for separating and conveying said plurality of items in a spaced relationship;
• a delivery mechanism operatively coupled to said separating and conveying device, for receiving said plurality of items in said spaced relationship;
• a conveyor system having a plurality of item receiving regions, for receiving each of said plurality of items in said spaced relationship from said delivery mechanism;
• and
• a trough disposed proximate said conveyer system, for receiving said each of said plurality of items from said conveyor system, and a sliding mechanism, for sliding said each of said plurality of items along said trough toward a packing system conveyor.