Material sorting system

Abstract

Provided is a material sorting system. The system comprises a conveying apparatus, an identification apparatus, a blowing apparatus, a sorting assembly, and a discharging apparatus. The conveying apparatus is used for conveying materials to be sorted until the materials leave the tail end of the conveying apparatus; the identification apparatus is used for identifying material information of the materials on the conveying apparatus; the blowing apparatus is used for blowing, on the basis of the material information, at least some of the materials leaving the tail end to corresponding sorting channels; the sorting assembly defines at least two sorting channels for receiving the materials; and the discharging apparatus comprises at least two discharging devices, wherein the at least two discharging devices are in one-to-one correspondence with the at least two sorting channels and are used for conveying the materials to positions away from the tail end. The sorting assembly comprises a buffer structure. After a target material having specific material information leaves the tail end, the buffer structure is used for buffering the target material by changing the state of the buffer structure.

Description

Material sorting system

[0001] This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202411254317.8, filed on September 6, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of material sorting, and more particularly, to a material sorting system. BACKGROUND

[0003] Material sorting refers to a process of classifying and selecting materials according to specific properties or standards of the materials in production, logistics, warehousing, and the like. Taking mineral sorting as an example, existing intelligent dry sorting machines sort materials into concentrate and tailings, or into different types of ores. After separation using sorting technology, the sorted materials are received by, for example, a conveyor belt in the corresponding sorting chamber / chute.

[0004] Taking the sorting of lump coal and gangue as another example, in the related art, CN110355115A discloses an auxiliary TDS intelligent dry sorting machine including a chute switching device for coal and gangue separation, wherein the conveying device, the sorting chamber, and the chute are arranged in sequence in the height direction. The nozzles arranged at the inlet of the sorting chamber spray and blow the lump coal or gangue, changing the movement trajectory of the lump coal or gangue, so that the lump coal and the gangue fall into the respective corresponding chutes.

[0005] The inventors have found that in many installation sites, the height of the site is insufficient, resulting in problems such as the overall installation of the material sorting device being limited. For example, due to the arrangement requirements of different equipment of the dry sorting machine in the height direction, the height of the sorting bin, the floor height, and different spraying strategies affecting the flight trajectory of the minerals, the site cannot meet the overall height installation requirements of the material sorting device in the height direction.

[0006] Specifically, when the site cannot meet the overall height installation requirements of the material sorting device in the height direction, there are difficulties in arrangement, for example, the conveying device, the sorting chamber, and the chute of the material sorting machine all have strict size and height requirements. Therefore, it is usually required that the installation site reserve sufficient height to meet the overall installation size of the conveying device, the sorting chamber, and the chute in the height direction. In addition, a flight space for the minerals after being sprayed and blown is also required. If the height of the site cannot meet the installation requirements, it is necessary to spend a lot of cost, such as digging a pit in the ground or raising the sorting machine to reform the installation site, in order to realize normal installation and normal sorting, which results in low construction efficiency, high construction difficulty, and long installation period during the installation process.

[0007] In addition, in the related art, the conveying device, the sorting chamber and the chute of the sorting machine are arranged in sequence in the height direction, and the minerals fall along a flight path of first rising and then descending after being sprayed. The height difference and the flight speed in the process cause the minerals to have a large impact force. Some minerals do not contact the inner wall of the chute, but directly fall from the inlet part of the chute to the outlet part of the chute, so that the minerals after leaving the outlet part of the chute can cause a certain impact damage to the equipment below. SUMMARY

[0008] In view of the above problems, the present disclosure provides a material sorting system.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a material sorting system is provided, comprising: a conveying device for conveying material to be sorted until the material leaves the end of the conveying device; an identification device for identifying material information of the material on the conveying device; a spraying device for spraying at least part of the material leaving the end to a corresponding sorting channel according to the material information; a sorting assembly defining at least two sorting channels receiving the material; and a discharge device comprising at least two discharge equipment, wherein the at least two discharge equipment correspond one-to-one to the at least two sorting channels for conveying the material to a position away from below the end; wherein the sorting assembly comprises a buffer structure for providing a buffer for a target material having a specific material information by changing the state of the buffer structure after the target material leaves the end.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the material sorting system further comprises: a control device for screening a target material having the specific material information according to the material information, and changing the state of the buffer structure according to the movement trajectory of the target material to provide a buffer for the target material.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the specific material information is determined according to at least one of material volume, material category, moving speed or material weight.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the buffer structure comprises: N sorting partitions for defining the at least two sorting channels, N being an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the control device changes the state of the buffer structure according to the movement trajectory of the target material comprises: changing the inclination angle of at least one of the sorting partitions and / or changing the relative distance between at least one of the sorting partitions and the end according to the movement trajectory of the target material to block the target material to provide a buffer.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the surface of each of the sorting partitions comprises a flexible surface for blocking the target material to provide a buffer.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the sorting partitions is configured to be installed in the sorting assembly along a first direction, the first direction being the same as the conveying direction of the conveying device, or to be installed in the sorting assembly along a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sorting assembly comprises a circumferential side wall and at least one passage partition formed by the sorting partitions extending along the second direction, wherein each of the passage partitions is connected to the circumferential side wall at both ends along the second direction, and each of the passage partitions separates different sorting passages at both sides along the first direction.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the circumferential side wall comprises an inclined side wall located at at least one side, and each of the inclined side walls at the sides is formed by the sorting partitions extending along the first direction.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the discharging device comprises a discharging conveying belt, and each of the inclined side walls at the sides extends downwardly and inwardly towards the corresponding sorting passage, so that the orthographic projection of the bottom of each of the sorting passages falls within the range of the corresponding discharging conveying belt below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0019] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 schematically shows a structural diagram of a material sorting system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 2 schematically shows a structural diagram of a buffer structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 3 schematically shows a structural diagram of a buffer structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 4 schematically shows a structural diagram of a material sorting system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 5 schematically shows a partial structural diagram of a material sorting system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 6 schematically shows a structural diagram of a sorting assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] The reference numerals in the above-described drawings are as follows: 100, conveying device; 200, identification device; 300, blowing device; 400, sorting assembly; 410, sorting channel; 420, buffer structure; 500, discharge device; 600, control device.

[0027] It should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, the dimensions of the whole / partial structure or the whole / partial region can be exaggerated or reduced in the drawings used to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure, i.e., these drawings are not drawn according to the actual scale. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that these descriptions are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that one or more embodiments can be practiced without these specific details. In addition, in the following description, descriptions of well-known structures and techniques have been omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the concept of the present disclosure.

[0029] The terms used herein are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. The terms "include", "comprise" and the like used herein indicate the presence of the features, steps, operations and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations or components.

[0030] All terms used herein, including technical and scientific terms, have the meanings commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise defined. It should be noted that the terms used herein should be interpreted in the meaning consistent with the context of the specification, and should not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal manner.

[0031] In the case of using expressions similar to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc.", it should be generally interpreted as the meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art (for example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" should include but is not limited to a system having A alone, a system having B alone, a system having C alone, a system having both A and B, a system having both A and C, a system having both B and C, and / or a system having A, B, and C, etc.).

[0032] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a configuration diagram of a material sorting system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, the material sorting system includes a conveying device 100, an identifying device 200, a blowing device 300, a sorting assembly 400, and a discharging device 500. The conveying device 100 is configured to convey the material to be sorted until the material leaves the end of the conveying device 100; the identifying device 200 is configured to identify the material information of the material on the conveying device 100; the blowing device 300 is configured to blow at least part of the material leaving the end to the corresponding sorting channel 410 according to the material information; the sorting assembly 400 defines at least two sorting channels 410 to receive the material; and the discharging device 500 includes at least two discharging devices corresponding to the at least two sorting channels 410, which are configured to convey the material to a position away from the end. FIG. 1 shows a case where three discharging devices correspond to three sorting channels 410.

[0034] For example, each discharging device 500 of the discharging device can convey the material along a straight extension direction, which can be the same as or different from the conveying direction of the conveying device 100. When the straight extension direction is different from the conveying direction of the conveying device 100, the two directions can have an included angle greater than 0, for example, the two directions are perpendicular when the included angle is 90°. For another example, each discharging device 500 of the discharging device can form a curved, zigzag, or irregularly shaped conveying track to convey the material, so as to more flexibly adapt to the actual situation of the sorting site, facilitate the layout of the discharging device 500, and convey the material.

[0035] The sorting assembly 400 includes a buffer structure (not shown in FIG. 1), which is configured to provide a buffer for the target material having a specific material information by changing its state after the target material leaves the end.

[0036] It should be noted that in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the material sorting system can be used for mineral sorting, food sorting, garbage sorting, etc. The material information of the material to be sorted is identified by the identifying device 200, and the material is divided into multiple categories based on the material information, and different categories of materials are sorted. In the specific classification, different classification methods of different categories can exist according to different sorting requirements. The material categories can be classified according to shape and size, classified according to density, classified according to material content, etc., and the present disclosure does not limit this.

[0037] It should be noted that the material sorting system can have different material information analysis means, blowing strategies of the blowing device, and buffer structures when used in different scenarios such as mineral sorting, food sorting, and garbage sorting. In detail, in the field of mineral sorting, the material sorting system can use X-ray transmission technology to identify the mineral composition and shape; the blowing strategy can be changed according to the density and size of the mineral, and a plastic flat plate can be used to provide a buffer. In the field of food sorting, the material sorting system can use near-infrared spectroscopy analysis, a vision system, and a weight sensor to detect the chemical composition, appearance characteristics, and weight differences of food; the blowing strategy can be changed according to the fragility and moisture content of the food, and a soft material made of a buffer pad and a flexible conveyor belt can be used to reduce food damage. In the field of garbage sorting, metal detectors, X-ray transmission technology, and visual recognition systems can be used to identify and classify garbage of different materials and shapes; the blowing strategy can be changed in multiple stages according to the density and size of the garbage, and air cushions or springs can be used as buffer structures to absorb impact forces. Compared with the food sorting field and the garbage sorting field, the mineral sorting field can use buffer structures with higher surface hardness due to the weight and hardness of the minerals.

[0038] For example, in the field of mineral sorting, minerals can be divided into metallic minerals and non-metallic minerals. Metallic minerals include ferrous metals and non-ferrous metals, such as iron, manganese, chromium, etc. Non-ferrous metal ores include copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, tin, molybdenum, nickel, antimony, tungsten, etc. Non-metallic minerals include most oxygen-containing salt minerals and some oxide and halide minerals, such as diamond, crystal, iceberg stone, boron, tourmaline, mica, topaz, corundum, graphite, gypsum, asbestos, and fuel minerals. When classifying minerals, the material categories include different classifications based on the types of metals contained, the grade, and the chemical composition. In the following embodiments of the present disclosure, mineral sorting is exemplarily described. Mineral categories can be divided into three categories based on the different specific metal contents, including high-grade minerals (with the highest specific metal content), medium-grade minerals (with a medium specific metal content), and low-grade minerals (with the lowest specific metal content).

[0039] Exemplarily, the conveying device 100 can be one or a combination of a horizontally arranged conveying belt, an inclined conveying belt, and an angled inclined slide. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the conveying device 100 is a horizontally arranged conveying belt. Different types and different particle sizes of materials are distributed along the length direction (i.e., the conveying direction) and the width direction on the conveying device 100. Since the conveying belt has a certain running speed, different materials scattered on the conveying belt are conveyed to the end position of the end, and the materials are thrown from the conveying belt to perform a horizontal throwing motion. Referring to the coordinate system in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, hereinafter, the length direction (the longitudinal direction), the width direction (the transverse direction), and the height direction (the vertical direction) of the conveying device 100 are also referred to as the first direction (y direction), the second direction (x direction), and the third direction (z direction).

[0040] Exemplarily, the identification device 200 can include an image recognition system and / or an X-ray system. The X-ray system can be composed of an X-ray source and an X-ray detector. The image recognition system can be composed of a camera and a light source. The X-ray system can be used to obtain the type of the material, and the image recognition system can be used to obtain the size and shape of the material. Of course, in other embodiments, the X-ray system can also be used to obtain the particle size of the material, or other identification devices can be used to obtain the shape characteristics of the material, and the present disclosure does not limit this.

[0041] Based on the type of the sorted material and the different types of the material to be sorted, different identification devices 200 can be used. In addition, different identification devices 200 can also be used in combination. For example, when the material types are divided based on the shape and size, the image recognition system can be used to divide the material types by identifying the shape information of the material; for example, based on the different types of metals, the X-ray system can be used to divide the material types by identifying the metal components in the material; of course, the X-ray system can also be used to identify the shape of the material. For the identification method of the material information, a variety of known methods can be used, and the present disclosure does not go into detail here.

[0042] Taking the X-ray system as an example, the X-ray system is used to identify the metal components in the mineral, and the mineral is divided into high-grade mineral, medium-grade mineral, and low-grade mineral by the content of the metal components. For example, three types of materials are divided into siderite, hematite, and magnetite according to the amount of iron content. The density of siderite is 3.8-3.9 g / cm 3 , the density of hematite is 3.4-4.4 g / cm 3 , and the density of magnetite is 4.9-5.2 g / cm 3The X-ray system can include one X-ray source and detector arranged above and below the conveying device 100 or above and below the upper and lower sides of the material movement trajectory. However, the X-ray source and detector can also be arranged on two sides of the conveying device 100, respectively.

[0043] The spraying device 300 includes one or more nozzles, for example, a plurality of nozzles arranged in an array along the second direction. The spraying device 300 can also include electromagnetic valves and a gas supply device. Each nozzle can be connected to an electromagnetic valve, which can be a high-frequency electromagnetic valve. The electromagnetic valve is in communication with the gas supply device (not shown). The gas supply device contains compressed gas, which is used to provide a gas source for the nozzles to spray different types of materials.

[0044] The spraying device 300 in the embodiment of the present disclosure is located on the lower side of the material movement trajectory. The material movement trajectory in the present disclosure refers to the movement trajectory of the material after leaving the end of the conveying device 100. In the present embodiment, by arranging the spraying device 300 on the lower side of the movement trajectory, the spraying force can be applied to the material, reducing energy consumption while improving the influence of different spraying positions on the sorting accuracy. For example, when the material reaches the spraying position, the spraying device 300 can instantaneously spray a high-pressure gas flow for a specific duration, changing the movement trajectory of the material through the gas flow, so that the material falls into the corresponding sorting channel 410, and the separated material passes through the sorting channel 410 by gravity.

[0045] The X-ray system can also identify the shape, projected area, etc. of the mineral. Referring to FIG. 1, when the materials corresponding to different shapes (for example, size or particle size) are adjusted, the number of nozzles can also be adjusted to control the spraying pressure. For example, when the area of the material is large, a large number of nozzles can be used to spray the surface of the material, and when the area of the material is small, a small number of nozzles can be used to spray the surface of the material, so that the spraying distance (horizontal movement distance) of materials of different volumes and weights is maintained within a certain range.

[0046] In some embodiments, if the material does not fall into the preset sorting channel after being sprayed, the spraying strategy can be adjusted in real time during the sorting process, for example, the pressure of the nozzle is increased or decreased to change the intensity of the air flow, thereby affecting the flight distance and direction of the material; the spray angle of the nozzle is adjusted so that the direction of the air flow is perpendicular to the tangent of the flight trajectory of the material at a certain point; the start and stop time of the spraying is adjusted to match the speed and position of the material passing through the nozzle. The relative positions between the sorting channels can also be adjusted according to the actual landing point of the material to ensure that the material can accurately fall into the sorting channel. In addition, after the sorting is completed, the nozzle can also be redesigned, for example, nozzles of different shapes are designed to generate air flow patterns more suitable for the characteristics of specific materials; the internal structure of the nozzle is optimized to achieve more uniform or more concentrated air flow distribution.

[0047] The sorting channel 410 closest to the conveying device 100 in the first direction in FIG. 1 receives the material that naturally falls flat without being sprayed. For the remaining sorting channels 410, the spraying timing of the spraying device 300 can be determined according to the conveying speed of the conveying device 100 and the setting position of the spraying device 300, etc. In one spraying, all or part of the air holes in the nozzle can be opened according to the category and position of the mineral at the moment when the mineral reaches the spraying position, and the mineral is sprayed into the corresponding sorting channel 410. For example, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, by controlling the parameters such as the elevation angle, force, and number of nozzles of the spraying device 300, different categories of materials enter different sorting channels 410.

[0048] Exemplarily, the sorting assembly 400 is used to provide multiple sorting channels 410 separated from each other, and each sorting channel 410 is used for the same category of material to pass through. The same category of material refers to the material with the same attribute or conforming to the same standard. The sorting assembly 400 can have the shape of a cuboid, and multiple sorting channels 410 are separated by setting movable or fixed partitions inside.

[0049] Exemplarily, the discharge device 500 can include multiple discharge equipment. The discharge equipment can include a conveying belt, which can be flat or inclined according to the flowability of the material and the sorting requirements, and the material falling from the sorting channel 410 is conveyed to the designated collection area or further processing equipment.

[0050] In the third direction, the length of the sorting channel 410 (the distance between the top of the channel entrance and the bottom of the channel exit) can be adjusted according to the site conditions, for example, when the sorting system is installed on site, the length of the sorting channel 410 is determined and adjusted according to the distance between the installation bottom surface of the conveying device 100 (the plane where the bottom of the conveying device 100 closest to the ground is located, which is parallel to the ground) and the ground, so that the discharge equipment can be arranged below the sorting channel 410 and aligned in the third direction, so that the discharge equipment can accurately receive the material from the corresponding sorting channel 410 and transport it to the designated location. Therefore, by setting the length of the sorting channel 410 and by timely transporting the material away by the discharge equipment, the limitation of the material sorting system in the third direction can be reduced.

[0051] It can be understood that, assuming that there is a first distance between the entrance of a certain sorting channel 410 and the conveying device 100 in the height direction, and a second distance between the bottom of the sorting channel 410 and the discharge equipment, if the length of the sorting channel 410 is too short, at least one of the first distance and the second distance will be too far, if the first distance is too far, the material will not easily enter the sorting channel 410, if the second distance is too far, the material may deviate from the discharge equipment after leaving the channel due to the action of gravity. Therefore, when adjusting the length, the first distance between the outlet of each sorting channel 410 and the conveying device 100 in the height direction can be less than a first preset value, and the second distance between the outlet of each sorting channel 410 and the corresponding discharge equipment in the height direction can be less than a second preset value, thereby determining the length of the sorting channel 410. The first preset value or the second preset value can be determined according to site practice, expert experience or simulation. In addition, the second preset value is greater than the material height of the discharge position of the sorting channel 410 in a unit of time (such as 1 minute), so that the discharge equipment can smoothly transport the material, and the material height can also be determined according to site practice, expert experience or simulation.

[0052] In the case that the distance between the installation bottom surface of the conveying device and the ground is large, a longer sorting channel is provided to ensure that the material can smoothly fall onto the discharge device after sorting. Conversely, if the distance is small, the length of the sorting channel can be shortened accordingly to reduce the height requirement, leaving space for the installation of the discharge device. The latter is particularly important when the overall installation of the sorting device is limited in height. For example, the distance between the installation bottom surface of the conveying device 100 and the ground is 2 meters, and the installation height of the discharge device is 0.5 meters. In the height direction, the installation requires the "channel entrance top" of the sorting channel 410 to be lower than the installation bottom surface of the conveying device 100 to facilitate the material to fall into the channel. In this case, the length of the sorting channel 410 can be designed to be within 1.5 meters. For another example, the distance between the installation bottom surface of the conveying device 100 and the ground is 5 meters, and the installation height of the discharge device is 1 meter. In this case, the length of the sorting channel 410 can be designed to be within 4 meters. The distance between the bottom of the sorting channel 410 and the discharge device can be less than or equal to 0.2 meters (assuming the material height is less than or equal to 0.2 meters), which can ensure that the material does not deviate after leaving the sorting channel 410 and accurately falls onto the discharge device, and can leave enough space for the discharge device to transport the material without being blocked by the sorting channel.

[0053] For example, for certain material categories that are too large in volume, too hard, too fast in movement, too heavy, or not resistant to impact and have sharp external surfaces, they can cause greater impact and damage to the discharge device, leading to failure of the discharge device, or cause damage to the material itself, resulting in poor sorting effect.

[0054] In the related art, a chute is provided along the height direction and can be installed at an inclination, so that the chute has a large enough area to allow the material to fall on the chute as much as possible during the falling process, thereby playing a buffering role. However, the chute needs to be long enough, which makes the height requirement for the installation site more stringent.

[0055] In contrast, the material sorting system of the present disclosure does not have additional equipment such as a chute to cope with the scenario of insufficient installation height. However, at the same time, the absence of a chute and the shortening of the length of the sorting channel greatly increases the probability that the material will directly impact the discharge device without being buffered.

[0056] Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, by providing a buffering structure 420 in the sorting assembly, the target material can be buffered by changing its own state before impacting the discharge device, reducing the impact force of the target material on the discharge device, and reducing the height requirement for the installation site. The state refers to the collection of physical structure, position, function and action exhibited by the buffering structure at a certain time point or time period.

[0057] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a structural diagram of a buffer structure 420 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 2 is a top view showing the sorting channel 410 and the buffer structure 420. As shown in FIG. 2, the sorting channel 410 is provided with a buffer structure 420, which can include one or more elastic buffer strips, and is arranged at the bottom of the sorting channel 410. When the material falls to the bottom of the sorting channel 410, it can be slowed down by contacting the elastic buffer strips. The elastic buffer strips can be made of rubber.

[0059] For example, the two ends of each elastic buffer strip are movably connected to the sorting channel 410, i.e., each elastic buffer strip can move relative to another elastic buffer strip, so that the gap between adjacent elastic buffer strips is variable. For example, the two ends of each elastic buffer strip can be mounted on a track provided in the sorting channel 410, so as to be movable on the track.

[0060] For non-target materials, the original state of each elastic buffer strip can be maintained, so that the non-target materials fall from the gap or fall after touching the elastic buffer strips. For target materials, the position of a certain elastic buffer strip can be changed to the landing point of the target material to block the target material and achieve buffering; or the gap between adjacent elastic buffer strips can be changed so that the gap is smaller than the diameter of the target material, and when the landing point is within the gap, the target material can be blocked by the two elastic buffer strips to achieve buffering.

[0061] If the target material is stuck in the gap, or the non-target material is stuck in the gap and cannot fall, the gap can be increased to allow the material to pass. In some embodiments, guide rails are mounted on the inner walls of the sorting channel 410 along a third direction, and the end of each elastic buffer strip is provided with a sliding block that can slide along the guide rails in the third direction. The sliding block at the end of the buffer strip is pushed by a manual knob or an electric push rod, so that at least one end can move up and down in the third direction. On the side wall of the sorting channel, a series of through holes with different sizes and shapes are designed between adjacent guide rails, which can be customized according to the size and shape of the material. A collection groove or slide is designed below the through hole, which directly passes through the corresponding discharge device of the sorting channel 410. If the target material is stuck in the gap, or the non-target material is stuck in the gap and cannot fall, the buffer strips on both sides of the gap can be changed so that one end of each buffer strip is tilted upward, until the material rolls to the through hole of the side wall of the sorting channel 410, and then falls to the discharge device through the collection groove or slide.

[0062] It should be noted that when the material has specific material information, it is a target material, otherwise it is a non-target material. Taking coal and gangue as an example, the material information can be set with a screening condition, such as the category or volume size of the ore. For example, if the screening condition is that the category of the ore is "coal", all the materials identified as coal will be considered as target materials. Similarly, if the screening condition is that the material exceeding a certain volume, whether it is coal or gangue, as long as the volume exceeds this threshold, it will also be considered as a target material. In addition, one or more material information can be set with a screening condition at the same time. For example, a condition combination can be set, which requires the material to be both "coal" category and to exceed a certain volume, only the material that meets both conditions at the same time will be selected for buffering to provide accurate buffering.

[0063] FIG. 3 schematically shows a structural diagram of a buffering structure 420 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] FIG. 3 is a top view showing the sorting channel 410 and the buffering structure 420. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the sorting channel 410 is provided with a buffering structure 420, which can include a buffering net, and is arranged at the bottom of the sorting channel 410. When the material falls to the bottom of the sorting channel 410, it can be slowed down by contacting the buffering net, and then falls through the mesh of the buffering net.

[0065] Exemplarily, the mesh size of the buffering net is adjustable. For non-target materials, the original size of the mesh can be kept, so that the non-target materials fall from the mesh, or fall after touching the buffering net. For target materials, the size of the mesh can be adjusted after the target material is monitored, so that the mesh is smaller than the diameter of the target material, and when the landing point is within the range of the mesh, the target material can be blocked to achieve buffering. If the target material is stuck in the mesh, or the non-target material is stuck in the mesh and cannot fall, the mesh can be increased for the material to pass through. The buffering net can include a nylon net or a metal net.

[0066] In some embodiments, the buffer net can include a multi-layer net structure, i.e., the buffer net is composed of multiple layers of nets with different mesh sizes stacked together. According to the buffering needs of different sizes of materials, the relative positions or angles between the layers of nets can be changed to change the mesh size through which the materials pass. In other embodiments, the buffer net can include a tension-adjustable net structure, i.e., the mesh size of the buffer net is controlled by adjusting the tension of the net. For example, by changing the tension of the net, the size of the mesh can be adjusted to adapt to the buffering needs of different sizes of materials. Among them, the size of the mesh directly affects whether the material can pass through the mesh. If the mesh size is larger than the size of the material, the material will be able to pass through smoothly; if the mesh size is smaller than the size of the material, the material will be intercepted on one side of the net to serve as a buffer. For the buffering needs of materials with a target material size, the mesh size is adjusted to be smaller than the target size. The material size here is the area of the orthographic projection, and the mesh size is the mesh opening area.

[0067] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, different materials are sorted by using at least two sorting channels 410, and at least two discharge devices are used to deliver the materials to a position away from the end of the conveying device 100. When installed, the height requirements of the conveying device 100, the sorting channels 410 and the discharge devices are considered, so that the height required by the related art for setting additional devices such as a chute and a material distribution bin under the material distribution assembly 400 is saved, and the height requirement in the third direction is further reduced. Moreover, by providing a buffer structure, a target material with specific material information can be provided with buffering, replacing the original buffering of the target material by a chute and the like, thereby reducing the damage caused by the impact of the target material on the discharge device, and prolonging the service life of the discharge device. Therefore, the material sorting system of the present disclosure can be suitable for different installation sites, for example, for installation sites where the "height" is not enough for the usual sorting assembly and discharge device. The material sorting system of the present disclosure can more efficiently utilize the limited space, effectively improve the site construction efficiency, reduce the construction difficulty, shorten the construction period, and reduce the failure rate.

[0068] FIG. 4 schematically shows a structural diagram of a material sorting system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0069] In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the material sorting system further includes a control device 600 (such as a computer) in communication connection with the conveying device 100, the identification device 200, the blowing device 300, the sorting assembly 400 and the discharge device 500. The control device 600 is used to screen a target material with specific material information according to the material information, and to change the state of the buffer structure 420 in combination with the motion trajectory of the target material to provide buffering for the target material.

[0070] For example, the control device 600 can calculate the volume, category, moving speed and weight of a piece of ore through the material information, and determine that the piece of ore has specific material information as the target material when the piece of ore meets the screening conditions. For example, the speed of the ore after leaving the end of the conveying device 100 (e.g., the speed of the material leaving the conveying belt is equal to the speed of the conveying belt), acceleration and other data are collected, and the speed of the conveying belt, the angle of inclination, the angle of spraying and the spraying intensity and other environmental factors are considered to predict the movement trajectory of the ore in real time.

[0071] For example, first, the identification device 200 (such as an image recognition system and an X-ray system) is used to collect visible light images and ray images of the material in real time. The collected visible light images and ray images are transmitted to the control device 600. In addition, a pressure sensor can be installed on the conveying device 100 below the material to be sorted to obtain the weight of the material and transmit it to the control device 600. The control device 600 can calculate the volume, category, moving speed and predict the movement trajectory according to the visible light images and ray images. Then, the control device 600 matches the collected material information (such as one or more of the volume, category, moving speed and weight) with the screening conditions. When the material information meets all the screening conditions, the control device 600 determines that the material is the target material. For example, when the material information of a piece of ore matches the screening conditions, the control device 600 determines it as the target material and changes the state of the buffer structure 420 according to the movement trajectory of the ore to provide buffering for the target material. For example, the position of one or more elastic buffer strips is changed, or the mesh size of the buffer net is changed.

[0072] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the state of the buffer structure 420 can be dynamically changed to adapt to the buffering needs of different target materials, providing a high-adaptability grading buffering effect and reducing damage to the discharge equipment or the material itself caused by impact during the sorting process.

[0073] In some embodiments, in addition to adding the above-mentioned elastic buffer strips or buffer nets to the sorting channel 410, the buffer structure 420 can also be composed of partitions that define the sorting channel 410, which will be further described below.

[0074] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the buffer structure 420 includes N sorting partitions for defining at least two sorting channels, and N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0075] In some embodiments, the control device 600 changes the state of the buffer structure 420 according to the movement trajectory of the target material includes changing the inclination angle of at least one of the sorting partitions and / or changing the relative distance between the at least one of the sorting partitions and the end of the conveying device to block the target material to provide the buffer. The relative distance refers to the horizontal distance between the sorting partition and the end of the conveying device along the conveying direction.

[0076] To maintain the correspondence between the sorting channels and the corresponding discharge devices, the orthographic projection of the bottom outlet end of each sorting channel 410 falls within the range of the corresponding discharge conveyor below regardless of the change of the state of the buffer structure 420. In some embodiments, the inclination angle of each sorting partition is adjusted within a range and / or the relative distance between the sorting partition and the end of the conveying device is changed within a range. For example, for a certain sorting channel, the orthographic projection of the bottom of the sorting channel still falls within the range of the corresponding discharge conveyor below when any one of the sorting partitions is at the maximum inclination angle. In addition, the orthographic projection of the bottom of the sorting channel still falls within the range of the corresponding discharge conveyor below when any one of the sorting partitions has the minimum or maximum relative distance to the end of the conveying device along the conveying direction.

[0077] For any one of the sorting partitions, the inclination angle or the relative distance to the end of the conveying device can be in the initial state or the state after the last adjustment before being changed. In the initial state, each sorting partition can be parallel to the third direction (only an example), and the distance between the sorting partition and the end of the conveying device can be a fixed value, and the fixed values corresponding to different sorting partitions are different. The state after the last adjustment is the inclination angle and / or the relative distance adjusted according to the last time the corresponding target material is provided with the buffer.

[0078] The specifications of the sorting partitions can be flexibly set according to the sorting scenarios. For example, the length of the sorting partition affects the size of the area that can be provided with the buffer, and a longer partition can provide a larger adjustment range of the inclination angle and a longer buffer area. The width of the sorting partition also affects the size of the area that can be provided with the buffer, and a wider partition can provide a larger blocking area, which helps to more effectively block and buffer the material.

[0079] Exemplarily, the sorting partitions for separating different sorting channels can be rotatable and / or movable baffles. It should be noted that the sorting channels 410 involved in the present disclosure refer to the specific paths in which the material is guided into during the sorting process by the sorting partitions.

[0080] For example, the control device 600 receives the material information, and screens the target material according to the size, weight, or speed, etc. Then, the control device 600 tracks the movement trajectory of the target material in real time, and calculates the landing position. Then, the control device 600 automatically changes the inclination angle and position of the sorting baffle of the sorting channel 410 according to the landing position, to ensure that the target material lands on the sorting baffle and is buffered. The inclination angle can be the angle between the surface of the sorting baffle and the third direction, for example, the inclination angle can be in the range of -90° to +90°. The change of the relative distance can be realized by changing the position of the sorting baffle in the first direction.

[0081] In some embodiments, the movement trajectory of the target material is related to factors such as the shape, blowing area, and density of the material, and is also related to external wind resistance, blowing force, and blowing angle, etc. Different movement trajectories of different materials are caused by different shapes, blowing areas, or weights of the materials. Therefore, if the movement trajectory is calculated only by the shape, blowing area, or weight, there will be deviation from the actual movement trajectory. In the present disclosure, the movement trajectory of the material is calculated by the center of mass, which can improve the accuracy of material blowing and prevent material misselection. Specifically, the control device 600 can obtain the center of mass of the material by using the density function and the shape function according to factors such as the shape, blowing area, and density of the material. The movement trajectory of the center of mass is calculated by using the blowing mode of the center of mass of the material and combining external wind resistance, blowing force, and blowing angle, etc. The landing position is predicted by the movement trajectory of the center of mass.

[0082] In some embodiments, the two sides of the sorting baffle can be connected with a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft is fixedly connected with a gear, the rotation of the rotating shaft is controlled by the rotation of the gear, and the inclination angle of the sorting baffle is changed. Further, a guide rail is arranged on the sorting assembly. The guide rail provides a linear track extending in the first direction, and a moving part is installed in the track. The rotating shaft extends out of the gear and is connected with the moving part. An electric push rod can be used to push the moving part to move along the track, and the relative distance between the at least one sorting baffle and the end of the conveying device is changed.

[0083] According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the sorting assembly itself can be used as the buffer structure 420, that is, the sorting baffle can provide a buffering function while separating the sorting channel 410.

[0084] In some embodiments, the size of the inlet end of a sorting channel 410 or the position of the inlet end of a sorting channel 410 relative to the end of the conveying device 100 can be changed by controlling the position of one or more sorting baffles, so as to adapt to different sorting scenarios and ensure that the material accurately enters the corresponding sorting channel 410 and is then conveyed to a specific area by the discharging equipment.

[0085] It can be understood that the size of the inlet end changes, and the size of the outlet end also changes generally. Therefore, the size of the inlet end is also within a certain range, and when the size of the inlet end is within the range, the orthographic projection of the bottom outlet end of each sorting channel 410 falls within the range of the corresponding discharge conveyor below.

[0086] In some embodiments, the surface of each sorting baffle includes a flexible surface for blocking the target material to provide cushioning. That is, by changing the inclination angle and / or position of the sorting baffle, the target material falls on the flexible surface, which plays a cushioning role.

[0087] In some embodiments, when being prepared, the sorting baffle can be made of materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or polyimide (PI) to form a flexible baffle. The sorting baffle can have good impact resistance, and when subjected to external force, it can effectively block the material to achieve cushioning. In addition, the sorting baffle also has good flexibility and is easy to elastically deform, thereby providing good cushioning for the target material.

[0088] In some embodiments, one or more surfaces of the sorting baffle are coated with a layer of flexible material, such as rubber, silicone or other high-elasticity polymers, to form a flexible surface. When the target material falls on the flexible surface, the flexible coating absorbs impact energy.

[0089] In some embodiments, the sorting baffle can include a plurality of layers of materials stacked together, and one or more surfaces are flexible material layers, such as foams, sponges or aerogels, to form a cushioned flexible surface.

[0090] In some embodiments, the sorting baffle can include a first baffle layer, a spring layer and a second baffle layer. The spring layer is sandwiched between the first baffle layer and the second baffle layer, and can provide cushioning when the target material impacts the surface of the plate. In this embodiment, due to the presence of the spring layer, the surface of the first baffle layer or the second baffle layer can be considered as a flexible surface.

[0091] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the flexible surface can absorb the impact force when the material falls, reduce the damage caused by the impact of the material, provide better cushioning, and also improve the service life of the sorting baffle.

[0092] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 5, each sorting baffle is configured to be installed in the sorting assembly 400 extending in a first direction, which is the same as the conveying direction of the conveying device 100, or to be installed in the sorting assembly 400 extending in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The sorting assembly 400 is obtained by combining the sorting baffles extending in the first direction and the sorting baffles extending in the second direction, and a plurality of sorting channels 410 are defined.

[0093] In some embodiments, the sorting assembly 400 comprises a circumferential side wall and at least one channel partition. Each channel partition is constituted by a sorting partition extending along the second direction, wherein each channel partition is connected with the circumferential side wall at both ends along the second direction, and each channel partition separates different sorting channels 410 at both sides along the first direction.

[0094] The circumferential side wall refers to the side wall around the periphery of the sorting assembly 400, forming the peripheral structure of the sorting assembly 400, which can be combined by multiple side walls. The channel partition refers to the partition inside the sorting assembly 400 for separating different sorting channels 410. Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the sorting channels 410 distributed in front and back are separated by the sorting partition extending along the second direction. It should be noted that although FIGS. 5 and 6 only show one sorting partition extending along the second direction to divide two sorting channels 410, the number of sorting partitions extending along the second direction can be flexibly set according to requirements to form more sorting channels 410 as required.

[0095] The control device 600 can change the inclination angle of the channel partition and / or the relative distance from the end of the conveying device according to the motion trajectory of the target material to provide a buffer for the target material. For example, when the inclination angle of the channel partition is adjustable and the position is adjustable, at both ends of the second direction, a rotating shaft can be connected and installed, the rotating shaft is fixedly connected with a gear, the rotation of the rotating shaft is controlled by the rotation of the gear, and then the inclination angle change of the sorting partition is realized. Further, the two ends of the rotating shaft respectively extend into the guide rails installed on the side wall through the gears. The guide rails provide a linear track extending along the first direction, and a moving part is installed in the track. The two ends of the rotating shaft are respectively connected with the moving part. An electric push rod is used to push the moving part to move along the track extending along the first direction, thereby changing the relative distance between the at least one channel partition and the end.

[0096] In some embodiments, the control device 600 can change the angle of inclination and / or the position of the inclined side wall to provide a buffer for the target material according to the movement trajectory of the target material. For example, when the angle of inclination of the inclined side wall is adjustable and the position is adjustable, the two ends of the rotating shaft can be connected to the two end side walls of the inclined side wall. The rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the gear, and the rotation of the rotating shaft is controlled by the rotation of the gear, thereby changing the angle of inclination of the inclined side wall. Further, the two ends of the rotating shaft extend into the guide rail, and the guide rail is installed on the two end side walls connected to the inclined side wall. The guide rail provides a straight track extending in the second direction, and the moving part is installed in the track. The two ends of the rotating shaft are connected to the moving part. An electric push rod is used to push the moving part to move along the track extending in the second direction, thereby changing the position of at least one inclined side wall.

[0097] In some embodiments, the circumferential side wall includes an inclined side wall on at least one side, and each inclined side wall is formed by a sorting partition extending in the first direction.

[0098] The inclined side wall refers to a side wall that is inclined at an angle to the third direction or the radial direction of the circumferential side wall, and is used to change the flow direction of the material or provide a buffer. For example, when the inclination angle of the channel partition is limited in the range of change or is not convenient to adjust, the inclined side wall can be used to provide a buffer. The inclined side wall can be fixed, or the inclination angle and position of the inclined side wall can be dynamically adjusted.

[0099] In some embodiments, the control device 600 can change the angle of inclination and / or the position of the inclined side wall to provide a buffer for the target material according to the movement trajectory of the target material. For example, when the angle of inclination of the inclined side wall is adjustable and the position is adjustable, the two ends of the rotating shaft can be connected to the two end side walls of the inclined side wall. The rotating shaft is fixedly connected to the gear, and the rotation of the rotating shaft is controlled by the rotation of the gear, thereby changing the angle of inclination of the inclined side wall. Further, the two ends of the rotating shaft extend into the guide rail, and the guide rail is installed on the two end side walls connected to the inclined side wall. The guide rail provides a straight track extending in the second direction, and the moving part is installed in the track. The two ends of the rotating shaft are connected to the moving part. An electric push rod is used to push the moving part to move along the track extending in the second direction, thereby changing the position of at least one inclined side wall.

[0100] Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, the position of the slanted sidewall can be limited to move within a certain range. For example, when the slanted sidewall moves towards the interior of the sorting assembly, it stops moving when the top edge extending in the first direction is in the same line with the side edge of the conveying device. This can avoid the situation that the sorting passage 410 is too narrow in the second direction, causing the material conveyed by the side edge of the conveying device to fall outside the passage.

[0101] In some embodiments, the passage partition is designed as a telescopic structure. When the slanted sidewall needs to move in the second direction, the passage partition can be shortened or lengthened in the second direction, providing the condition for the movement of the slanted sidewall (if the passage partition is a rigid plate and cannot be telescoped, the slanted sidewall cannot move), and maintaining the shape of the sorting passage to allow the material to fall in. For example, the passage partition includes a plurality of strip-shaped plates arranged in sequence in the second direction. The strip-shaped plates are connected by flexible connectors such as springs, rubber bands or flexible plastic. When telescoping, the flexible connectors are deformed to achieve the telescoping of the passage partition in the second direction.

[0102] In some embodiments, referring to FIG. 5, the discharge device includes a discharge conveyor belt, wherein each slanted sidewall extends obliquely downward towards the interior of the corresponding sorting passage 410, so that the orthographic projection of the bottom of each sorting passage 410 falls within the range of the corresponding discharge conveyor belt below. The number of discharge conveyor belts is not limited to two as shown in FIG. 5, and can be more than three.

[0103] The discharge conveyor belt can be a belt mechanism in the discharge device for conveying the material to a subsequent processing or storage area. For example, the slanted sidewall is inclined with respect to the third direction and extends obliquely downward towards the interior, so that the material can fall within the range of the discharge conveyor belt after leaving the bottom of the sorting passage 410.

[0104] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the slanted sidewall extends obliquely downward towards the interior of the passage and transitions to above the discharge conveyor belt, which can guide the material to the discharge conveyor belt, reducing the length of the discharge conveyor belt and effectively reducing the layout cost of the discharge conveyor belt.

[0105] In some embodiments, adjacent discharge conveyor belts can convey materials in different directions. Continuing to refer to FIG. 5, it shows that adjacent discharge conveyor belts are arranged in parallel and convey materials in opposite directions. This can reduce the repeated conveying path of adjacent discharge conveyor belts and avoid mixing of materials on adjacent discharge conveyor belts. Conveying different kinds of materials to respective processing areas can make rational use of different areas, reduce the area requirement of local areas, and enhance the sorting capacity.

[0106] The specific working process of the material sorting system of the present disclosure is described below by taking the example of mineral sorting:

[0107] The ore is output to the conveying device 100 by using a feeding device such as a mineral sizing screen, a vibrating feeder, or a belt machine, so that the ore is uniformly supplied to the conveying device 100. The ore is as flat as possible on the conveying device 100, and the ore does not overlap.

[0108] The conveying device 100 can be set to various types of conveying belts or belts according to actual needs, and is transported from the feeding device to the end of the conveying device 100, so that a sorting operation is performed after the ore leaves the end of the conveying device 100.

[0109] The identification device 200 can include an X-ray source installed above the conveying device 100 and an X-ray detector installed below the conveying device 100. In some embodiments, the identification device 200 can also include a camera device installed above the conveying device 100. For example, the X-ray source emits X-rays that penetrate the ore and reach the X-ray detector. According to the signals received by the detector, one or more of the equivalent atomic information, density information, particle size information, or image information of the substance, and position information can be obtained. According to the above-mentioned equivalent atomic information, density information, particle size information, or image information, the identification and classification of the substance can be realized (for example, the equivalent atomic information can be used to distinguish between clean coal and gangue), and the position of each type of substance can be determined in combination with the position information of the substance.

[0110] The blowing device 300 can include a plurality of air nozzles, the blowing amount of the plurality of air nozzles can be different, and each air nozzle can be independently controlled to blow. The plurality of air nozzles are uniformly supplied under the end of the conveying device 100 in an array or at intervals. The identification device 200 sends the physical property information and position information of the identified ore to the control device 600. The control device 600 controls the air nozzles at the corresponding position to blow according to the received physical property information and position information of the ore, so as to realize the sorting of the ore.

[0111] Referring to FIG. 4, three types of ore sorting are exemplarily illustrated. The triangular mark in FIG. 4 is referred to as the first type of ore, the square mark is referred to as the second type of ore, and the circular mark is referred to as the third type of ore. The first type of ore falls from the end of the conveying device 100 into the sorting channel 410 closest to the end of the conveying device 100 and is not blown. The second type of ore falls from the end of the conveying device 100 to the corresponding blowing position, and the second type of ore is blown to enter the sorting channel 410 at the intermediate position. The third type of ore falls from the end of the conveying device 100 to the corresponding blowing position, and the third type of ore is blown to enter the sorting channel 410 farthest from the conveying device 100.

[0112] The sorting assembly includes a plurality of sorting channels 410 defined by the sorting partitions. During the process of the various types of ores passing through the sorting channels 410, the sorting partitions achieve the buffering function through the blocking of the target ores. For example, the control device 600 identifies the second type of ores with a large volume according to the material information transmitted by the identification device 200, and then changes the inclination angle of one or more sorting partitions defining the middle position sorting channel 410, so that the second type of ores fall on the flexible surface of the sorting partition, and then guide the second type of ores to the lower discharge device.

[0113] Finally, the three types of ores corresponding to the three sets of discharge devices are transported to the corresponding areas.

[0114] The above one or more embodiments have the following beneficial effects: the at least two sorting channels are used to sort different materials, and the discharge devices corresponding to the sorting channels transport the materials to positions away from the end of the conveying device, and the height requirements of the conveying device, the sorting channels and the discharge devices are considered during installation, so that the height required by the additional equipment such as the chute and the material distribution bin under the material distribution assembly in the related art is saved, and the requirement for the height of the installation site is further reduced. Moreover, by providing the buffering structure, the target material with specific material information can be buffered, replacing the original buffering of the target material by the chute, thereby reducing the damage of the impact of the target material on the discharge device, prolonging the service life of the discharge device. Therefore, the material sorting system of the present disclosure can be applied to different installation sites, effectively improves the site construction efficiency, reduces the construction difficulty, shortens the construction period, and reduces the failure rate.

[0115] Those skilled in the art can understand that the features described in various embodiments and / or claims of the present disclosure can be combined or / and integrated in various combinations, even if such combinations are not explicitly described in the present disclosure. In particular, the features described in various embodiments and / or claims of the present disclosure can be combined and / or integrated in various combinations without departing from the spirit and teachings of the present disclosure. All these combinations and / or integrations fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0116] The above describes the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, these embodiments are only for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Although each embodiment is described above separately, this does not mean that the measures in each embodiment cannot be used advantageously in combination. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. Without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, those skilled in the art can make various substitutions and modifications, which should all fall within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A material sorting system, comprising: a conveying device for conveying a material to be sorted until the material exits a terminal end of the conveying device; an identification device for identifying material information of the material on the conveying device; a blowing device for blowing at least part of the material exiting the terminal end to a corresponding sorting channel according to the material information; a sorting assembly defining at least two sorting channels for receiving the material; and a discharge device comprising at least two discharge apparatuses corresponding to the at least two sorting channels respectively for conveying the material to a position away from below the terminal end; wherein the sorting assembly comprises a buffer structure for providing a buffer for a target material having a specific material information by changing a state of the buffer structure after the target material exits the terminal end. The material sorting system further comprises:

2. The material sorting system of claim 1, wherein, a control device for screening the target material having the specific material information according to the material information, and changing the state of the buffer structure according to a movement trajectory of the target material to provide a buffer for the target material. The specific material information is determined according to at least one of a material volume, a material category, a moving speed or a material weight.

3. The material sorting system of claim 2, wherein, The buffer structure comprises:

4. The material sorting system of claim 2, wherein, N sorting partitions for defining the at least two sorting channels, N being an integer greater than or equal to 1. The control device changing the state of the buffer structure according to the movement trajectory of the target material comprises:

5. The material sorting system of claim 4, wherein, changing an inclination angle of at least one of the sorting partitions and / or changing a relative distance between at least one of the sorting partitions and the terminal end according to the movement trajectory of the target material to block the target material to provide a buffer. A surface of each of the sorting partitions comprises a flexible surface for blocking the target material to provide a buffer.

6. The material sorting system of claim 5, wherein, Each of the sorting partitions is configured to:

7. The material sorting system of claim 5, wherein, extend along a first direction in the sorting assembly, the first direction being the same as a conveying direction of the conveying device; or extend along a second direction in the sorting assembly, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. The sorting assembly comprises:

8. The material sorting system of claim 7, wherein, a circumferential side wall; at least one channel partition formed by the sorting partitions extending along the second direction, wherein each of the channel partitions is connected to the circumferential side wall at two ends along the second direction, and each of the channel partitions separates different sorting channels at two sides along the first direction. The circumferential side wall comprises:

9. The material sorting system of claim 8, wherein, an inclined side wall located at at least one side, each of the inclined side walls at the side being formed by the sorting partitions extending along the first direction. The discharge apparatus comprises a discharge conveyor belt, wherein 10. The material sorting system of claim 9, wherein, each of the inclined side walls at the side extends obliquely downward towards an inside of a corresponding sorting channel, such that a normal projection of a bottom of each of the sorting channels falls within a range of a corresponding discharge conveyor belt below. ​

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