Non-stackable item sorter with hopper minecart
Solution 1:
The problem of detector rail locking the hopper is an age-old problem of using it in minecart unloaders. There are two general approaches:
- Use another hopper minecart partially embedded in a transparent block under the detector rail to pull the items; use an activator rail to lock/unlock it. It's important the block is transparent so that the detector rail doesn't power it up (activating the activator rail, locking a normal hopper underneath the minecart, and other headaches). To embed the cart like this, first use a fence/wall to stop it after rolling it partially off the activator rail, then zero-tick the transparent block into it (push it with a piston activated by a button attached to its side; the button pops off in the same tick the piston is activated, as result the block doesn't nudge the minecart).
- Stop the minecart partially on the detector rail, partially on a rail on top of a hopper. Make sure the block under the detector rail is transparent.
