An automated machine is used to handle and manipulate individual pieces (14)of particulate matter (16). The particulate matter is contained in a bin (12).The machine operates to pick single individual pieces of the particulatematter from the bin. The picked individual pieces are then conveyed forfurther handling. Pneumatic transport is primarily used for the conveyingoperation. One aspect of the handling involves individually weighing (28) eachpiece of the picked particulate matters. Another aspect of the handlinginvolves sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter into a pluralityof receptacles (34). Yet another aspect of the handling involves both weighing(28) and then sorting the individual pieces of particulate matter, wherein thesorting operation may be performed based upon the measured weight (26) of eachpiece.
