US 12,103,045 B2
Removing airbag modules from automotive scrap
Nalin Kumar, Fort Worth, TX (US); and Manuel Gerardo Garcia, Jr., Fort Wayne, IN (US)
Assigned to SORTERA TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Markle, IN (US)
Filed by Sortera Alloys, Inc., Fort Worth, TX (US)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/882,506.
Application 16/852,514 is a division of application No. 16/358,374, filed on Mar. 19, 2019, granted, now 10,625,304, issued on Apr. 21, 2020.
Application 17/882,506 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/752,669, filed on May 24, 2022.
Application 17/752,669 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/667,397, filed on Feb. 8, 2022, granted, now 11,969,764.
Application 17/667,397 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/495,291, filed on Oct. 6, 2021, granted, now 11,975,365.
Application 17/495,291 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/491,415, filed on Sep. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,278,937, issued on Mar. 22, 2022.
Application 17/491,415 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/380,928, filed on Jul. 20, 2021.
Application 17/380,928 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/227,245, filed on Apr. 9, 2021, granted, now 11,964,304.
Application 17/227,245 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/939,011, filed on Jul. 26, 2020, granted, now 11,471,916.
Application 17/491,415 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/852,514, filed on Apr. 19, 2020, granted, now 11,260,426, issued on Mar. 1, 2022.
Application 16/939,011 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/375,675, filed on Apr. 4, 2019, granted, now 10,722,922, issued on Jul. 28, 2020.
Application 16/375,675 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/963,755, filed on Apr. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,710,119, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Application 16/358,374 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/963,755, filed on Apr. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,710,119, issued on Jul. 14, 2020.
Application 15/963,755 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/213,129, filed on Jul. 18, 2016, granted, now 10,207,296, issued on Feb. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/229,724, filed on Aug. 5, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/490,219, filed on Apr. 26, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/193,332, filed on Jul. 16, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0371057 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B07B 13/00 (2006.01); B07B 13/18 (2006.01); B07C 5/12 (2006.01); B07C 5/342 (2006.01); G06F 18/2413 (2023.01); G06T 7/00 (2017.01); G06T 7/10 (2017.01); G06V 10/46 (2022.01); G06V 10/764 (2022.01); G06V 10/82 (2022.01)
CPC B07B 13/003 (2013.01) [B07B 13/18 (2013.01); B07C 5/12 (2013.01); B07C 5/342 (2013.01); B07C 5/3422 (2013.01); G06F 18/2413 (2023.01); G06T 7/0004 (2013.01); G06T 7/0006 (2013.01); G06T 7/10 (2017.01); G06V 10/46 (2022.01); G06V 10/765 (2022.01); G06V 10/82 (2022.01); B07C 2501/0036 (2013.01); B07C 2501/0054 (2013.01); G06T 2207/20084 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30136 (2013.01); G06T 2207/30141 (2013.01); G06V 2201/06 (2022.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of sorting live airbag modules from a moving stream of automotive scrap pieces, comprising:
conveying automotive scrap pieces past a vision system, wherein the automotive scrap pieces include a live airbag module;
capturing visual images of the automotive scrap pieces;
processing the captured visual images of the automotive scrap pieces through an artificial intelligence system in order to distinguish the live airbag module from the other automotive scrap pieces; and
sorting the live airbag module from the moving stream of automotive scrap pieces.