Patent · US Expired

Computer-controlled system and method for sorting plastic items

US5150307A · kind A · utility

72Cited by
32References
29Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1990
Grant dateSep 22, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W30/62
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A computer-controlled system and method for separating and sorting plastic items is provided. The computer-controlled system first comprises a first component for separating, singulating and orientating the plastic items, a second component for identifying the composition of the plastic material, a third component for identifying the color of the plastic material, and a fourth component responsive to the first and second component for distributing the plastic material to a specific collection vessel. The method of the present invention comprises a first step of separating, singulating and orientating the plastic items. The second step of the method of the present invention is to determine the composition of the plastic item. The third step of the method of the present invention is to determine the color of each plastic item. The fourth step of the method of the present invention is to discharge each plastic item to an appropriate collection vessel based on the plastic item's color and composition.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.