Method and apparatus for sorting bulk material
US5333739A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 24, 1993 |
| Grant date | Aug 2, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 24, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB07C5/366
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus for sorting bulk material, such as scrap glass, which consists of individual glass parts. Glass scraps are serially fed into a chute and illuminated by a white light source. An optical detector comprising two optical sensors measures optical frequency transmittance data from individual glass scraps, at two frequencies. The two transmittance measurements are logarithmized and a quotient is formed to eliminate the transmittance effect due to glass thickness. The scraps are then classified by a classifier on the basis of the measuring data in accordance with empirically determined classification parameters. The parts are then sorted by a compressed air jet in accordance with the classification. The classification parameters are previously determined by providing a sample of the glass of one color. The measuring data of that sample is determined and optimal classification parameters are then determined on the basis of the measuring data in occurring in the sample.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.