Granule / masterbatch type sorting and classification
The granule stream sliding down an inclined chute is scanned continuously by a line-scan camera. Each pellet is assigned to its type from colour and shape features; off-type pellets are deflected into the reject bin at the chute end by an air pulse from the matching nozzle only.
Pellet class, nozzle channel and ejected count are displayed. The matching nozzle pulses during free fall; off-type pellets enter the reject crate while the normal stream enters the accept crate.
- 01 Feed
- 02 Scan
- 03 Classify
- 04 Eject
Granules spread from the feed hopper onto the chute as a single layer.
- Class
- —
- Nozzle no.
- —
- Ejected
- —
Scenes are illustrative simulations; they are not customer references or performance guarantees.
Need
Pellet overlap and differing fall speeds separate imaging from nozzle timing. A pellet detected from colour and shape differences must be tracked to the correct nozzle channel.
Solution approach
The inclined chute spreads pellets and line scanning images the stream width under a bar light. A pellet classified by colour and shape is mapped to a nozzle channel; the display shows the strip image and selected channel, and the scene shows ejection alignment.
Process steps
- 01
Feed
Granules spread from the feed hopper onto the chute as a single layer.
- 02
Scan
Under a bar light the full width of the stream is scanned line by line.
- 03
Classify
The class of an off-type pellet and the nozzle it lines up with are determined.
- 04
Eject
When the pellet reaches the chute end the matching nozzle fires and deflects it to the reject bin.
Related applications
Let us assess your application together
We test your sample in our laboratory and report on resolution, optics and lighting selection.