Abstract
The paper presents the design process and manufacturing elements of a colour-based sorting station. The system is comprised of a gravitational storage, which also contains the colour sensor. Parts are extracted using a linear pneumatic motor and are fed onto an electrically driven conveyor belt. Extraction of the parts is done at 4 points, using two pneumatic motors and a geared DC motor, while the 4th position is at the end of the belt. The mechanical parts of the system are manufactured using 3D printer technology, allowing for easy modification and adaption to the geometry of different parts. The paper shows all of the stages needed to design, optimize, test and implement the proposed solution. System optimization was performed using a graphical Matlab interface which also allows for sorting algorithm optimization.
Highlights
Automatic sorting is one of the most common tasks needed in automated systems [1]
Design of the components of the system was done using Solidworks 3D software, used to obtain STL models of the parts needed to 3D print each component
Using this method allows for easy modifications to be made if the sorting pieces are changed
Summary
Automatic sorting is one of the most common tasks needed in automated systems [1] The advantages of such a system are high working speed, high precision, low costs as well as the possibility of sorting through a vast number of objects. Current solutions to this problem are based on several principles, mostly adapted according to what the sorting is done: colour, volume, weight, material type – based on this the measured parameter can be optical, geometric, and magnetic [2]. This was done to exemplify different means of performing this operation
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