Patent ID: 7290666
Filing Date: 2007-11-06
Classification: B07C,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A sorting apparatus for sorting used articles according to their types, wherein said articles have different appearances or internal structures from type to type, said sorting apparatus comprising: a conveyer for conveying said articles of different types in a conveying direction; an imaging device for taking image data from each of said articles as being conveyed on said conveyer; a discrimination device for determining the type of each of said articles on the basis of said image data, and outputting discrimination data for each article; a sorting device disposed behind said imaging device in said conveying direction, for sorting said articles into individual types in accordance with said discrimination data; a number of supply sections for supplying said articles, after being sorted, to a number of disassembling lines which are provided for the respective types of said articles; a buffer section for storing said articles after being sorted; and a control device for controlling said sorting device such that each of said articles is fed from said sorting device through one of said supply sections to a corresponding one of said disassembling lines that is determined in accordance with the type of each article, only when it is determined that the corresponding disassembling line can afford to process said article, and that each of said articles is fed from said sorting device to said buffer section when it is determined that the corresponding disassembling line cannot afford to process said article.