Sorting Bins
Hopper Array for Sorted Waste Stream Accumulation
The hopper array for sorted waste stream accumulation is a 40-kilogram storage assembly consisting of eight 100-liter Stainless 316L hoppers with polypropylene liners. Designed to segregate metals, polymers, composites, hazardous items, and organics, each discrete bin accumulates material until capacitive level sensors trigger downstream processing. In the lunar environment, pervasive abrasive dust threatens mechanical reliability, requiring sealed bin tops and solid-state capacitive sensing to eliminate vulnerable moving parts. Operating at 20 watts, the array incorporates vibration-assist mechanisms to clear cohesive material bridges and features robotic-mate fittings for automated maintenance pickup.
Array of hoppers accumulating sorted items per category (metal, polymer, composite, hazardous, organic) until they reach quantity for processing.
Purpose
Array of hoppers accumulating sorted items per category (metal, polymer, composite, hazardous, organic) until they reach quantity for processing.
Context
Child of L2-WMS-SORT within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Discrete hoppers per category prevent cross-contamination
- ▸Level sensors trigger downstream processing when full
- ▸Manual access for inspection and contingency removal
- ▸Vibration-assist anti-bridging for cohesive items
- ▸Standardised palletisation for L1-ROB transport
Typical implementations
- ▸Industrial recycling bin systems
- ▸Laboratory waste segregation
- ▸Pharmaceutical packaging bin arrays
Lunar considerations
- ▸Lunar dust ingress mitigated by sealed bin tops
- ▸Robotic-mate fittings for L1-MNT pickup
- ▸Capacitive level sensors avoid moving parts
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Array of hoppers accumulating sorted items per category (metal, polymer, composite, hazardous, organic) until they reach quantity for processing. |
| bin count | 8 |
| bin capacity l | 100 |
Physical
| mass kg | 40 |
| materials | Stainless 316L hoppers, Polypropylene liners, Vibrators |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 20 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 25 |
| mtbf hours | 200000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Metals stream
- Electronics stream
- Hazardous stream
Requires
- Sorted items input
- Bin transport to processing
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Sorting Bins" (L3-WMS-SORT-BIN). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-WMS-SORT-BIN
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.