US 12,240,017 B2
Sorting method and sorting device
Jens Anderle, Deggingen (DE); and Heiko Kühbauch, Köngen (DE)
Assigned to Festo SE & Co. KG, Esslingen (DE)
Appl. No. 18/018,130
Filed by Festo SE & Co. KG, Esslingen (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 28, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/071309
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 26, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/022814, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 3, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0191458 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B07C 5/36 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 5/368 (2013.01) [B07C 2501/0018 (2013.01); B07C 2501/0081 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sorting system for sorting objects, comprising a sensor unit for detecting a property of a sorting object, and a valve arrangement which is adapted to blow on the sorting object in order to convey the sorting object to one of a plurality of possible sorting destinations, wherein the sorting system is adapted to selectively set, according to the detected property, a blowing strength to a first blowing strength greater than zero or to a second blowing strength greater than zero, the second blowing strength being different from the first blowing strength, and to blow the sorting object using the valve arrangement with the set blowing strength to cause the sorting object to be conveyed to the sorting destination, and
wherein the valve arrangement comprises a valve designed as a proportional valve for providing the first and the second blowing strengths, and
wherein the sorting system is adapted to control the valve arrangement with a first electrical voltage different from zero in order to provide the first blowing strength and to control the valve arrangement with a second electrical voltage different from zero in order to provide the second blowing strength, both the first electrical voltage and the second electrical voltage being above 0 V, and
wherein the proportional valve is a piezo valve.