Patent ID: 8346388
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: B07C

Abstract:
1. A system for automated tactile sorting of objects comprising: a delivery module comprising belts, rollers, and a guide comprising base board and fins to form lanes for individually delivering objects to sensing surfaces, each sensing surface corresponding to one lane; a plurality of sensor modules, each module comprising the sensing surface where the objects stream from the delivery module to impact and rebound, and a piezo element fastened within a mounting block which is attached to a cross member with a shock absorbent material; a protective cover for the sensing surface comprising a covering which can move; a signal conditioning module comprising electronic components which transform a sensor output from the sensor module; a signal processing module comprising electronic components obtaining, and quantifying values from the sensors output voltage signal; a decision module comprising electronic components comparing measured values to threshold values and making an actuation decision; a control module comprising a user interface adjusting parameters; an actuation module comprising air manifolds redirecting objects; means to position the sensor module and the actuation module.