In Minecraft, you can filter items using a redstone contraption known as an item sorter. This mechanism allows you to automatically sort specific items from a mixed input and direct them into designated storage chests.
An item sorter is a type of redstone mechanism that can be used to filter specific items into chests. This is incredibly useful for organizing large quantities of resources gathered through mining, farming, or other activities.
How Item Sorters Work
While various designs exist, a common and efficient method relies on hoppers and redstone components. They generally work using two hoppers, stacked vertically or configured side-by-side with one feeding into the other.
Here's a breakdown of the core concept described:
- Input Hopper: Items are fed into a primary hopper or system that leads to the sorting mechanism.
- Filtering Hopper (Top Hopper): This is the hopper where the filtering magic happens. The top hopper is filled with a specific configuration:
- One slot contains at least one of the item you wish to filter (often 18 or 41 items are placed to prevent other items from entering).
- The remaining slots are filled with non-stackable placeholder items or items that you will never sort (like renamed blocks or specific junk items, usually 1 item per slot) to "lock" them.
- This setup ensures that only the specific item you want to filter can stack up in the first slot.
- Collection Hopper (Bottom Hopper): This hopper is positioned directly underneath the filtering hopper and feeds into a chest or another storage system.
- Redstone Control: Redstone components, typically a comparator, repeater, and redstone torch, monitor the filtering hopper.
- A comparator detects when the quantity of the filtered item in the filtering hopper exceeds a certain threshold (usually when a stack starts forming beyond the initial filter items).
- This signal is amplified and inverted to control the collection hopper.
- The hopper underneath is powered so that it cannot remove items from the top hopper until the comparator detects enough of the specific item. When enough items stack up, the redstone signal activates, which typically turns off a redstone torch powering the bottom hopper, allowing the overflow of the filtered item to drop into the collection hopper.
Item Flow Overview
- Mixed items travel into the filtering hopper.
- Only the designated filter item can accumulate beyond the initial filter amount.
- When the filtered item quantity reaches a certain point, the redstone signal triggers.
- The collection hopper, previously locked by redstone power, becomes unlocked.
- The excess filtered items drop into the collection hopper and are transferred to a chest.
- Other items pass over or are blocked by the filter slots and continue down the sorting line to other filters or an overflow chest.
Key Components for a Basic Item Sorter
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Hopper | Transfers items; used for filtering and collection. |
| Chest | Stores the sorted items. |
| Redstone Dust | Transmits power signals. |
| Redstone Comparator | Detects item quantity in the filtering hopper. |
| Redstone Repeater | Strengthens/delays redstone signals. |
| Redstone Torch | Provides a constant power source; used to control hoppers. |
| Solid Block | Supports redstone components and hoppers. |
Building an item sorter requires precise placement of these components. Once built, you can feed a stream of mixed items into the system, and it will automatically route specific items into their designated chests, greatly simplifying inventory management in your Minecraft world.
