Patent · US Expired

Sortation method for transparent optically active articles

US5603413A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
11References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 1, 1994
Grant dateFeb 18, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 1, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S209/938
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for sorting plastic items is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of transmitting polychromatic light from a source through each individual item; detecting the quantity of light of a first color passing through each individual item with a detector opposed to the source as a stream of the items is successively directed past the source and the detector; detecting the quantity of light of a second color passing through each individual item with the detector, wherein the second color is different from the first color; and selectively removing individual items from the stream, the removal being based upon a comparison of the quantity of light of the first color detected and the quantity of light of the second color detected.

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