SORTERA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

A nozzle assembly with an array of nozzles that are oriented at projection angles relative to each other so that each nozzle's intended focal point on the conveyor belt more effectively diverts material pieces having different sizes, shapes, and/or masses. The array of nozzles expel or project a gaseous or liquid media from orifices formed in tips of each of the nozzles towards/against material pieces transported past the nozzle assembly based on the identification/classification of the individual material pieces as described with respect to a material handling system disclosed herein. The nozzle assembly may be designed with internal conduits for a more efficient flow of air, which increases the response time from when a pressurized air jet is actuated from a nozzle.

A material sorting system sorts materials utilizing multiple stages of classification and sorting, including a vision system that implements an artificial intelligence system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, and an x-ray fluorescence (“XRF”) system or Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy to perform a subsequent classification and sorting of the remaining materials.

A material sorting system sorts materials utilizing a vision system that implements a machine learning system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups based on such an identification or classification. The material sorting system can sort material pieces containing contaminants, such as copper from steel.

A sorting system conveys a heterogeneous mixture of material pieces past an XRF system and a vision system. A classification of a material piece is changed to a high copper content aluminum alloy when the XRF system classifies the material piece as a low copper content aluminum alloy and the vision system determines that the material piece is a thin strip material piece. The reclassified material piece is then sorted accordingly.

Systems and methods for classifying, evaluating, and sorting materials within a contiguous stream of materials. Segments of the material stream are classified and evaluated, whether such segments make up a whole material piece or a portion of a material piece. The sorting is then performed as a function of the classifications and evaluations.

A material sorting system sorts materials utilizing an x-ray fluorescence and/or a vision system that implements a machine learning system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups based on such an identification or classification determining that the materials are composed of either wrought aluminum, extruded aluminum, or cast aluminum. The system is capable of sorting between cast aluminum alloys and also between wrought aluminum alloys.

A material handling system sorts mixed materials utilizing a combination of a spectroscopic sensor, such as x-ray fluorescence, and a vision system that implements an artificial intelligence system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups based on such an identification or classification. The system is capable of sorting between materials typically found within Zorba, such as wrought, cast, and extrusion aluminum alloys.

A system and method for classifying and sorting a plurality of materials utilizing a machine learning system in order to identify signatures of each of the materials corresponding to elemental compositions specific to each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups as a function of such identified signatures.

A material handling system classifies and sorts a heterogeneous mix of materials utilizing an x-ray fluorescence and/or a vision system that implements an artificial intelligence system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups as a function of such an identification or classification.

When x-ray fluorescence (“XRF”) spectroscopy is utilized to classify materials transported on a moving conveyor belt, there is the possibility of the x-ray beam only partially irradiating the material piece, which can result in the capture of an inaccurate XRF spectrum needed to classify the material piece. This can lead to an improper (erroneous) classification and resultant sortation of material pieces (e.g., aluminum alloys). In a material handling system, the area of the intersections between the x-ray beam spots from an x-ray fluorescence system and the material pieces are measured and correspondingly used to correct the measured XRF spectrum associated with each material piece. The material pieces can then be sorted according to the corrected XRF spectrum.