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Plastic type identification and automatic sorting

Application example

The near-infrared spectrum of plastic pieces flowing in a single layer is captured by a line sensor and matched against a polymer library. Non-target polymers are blown into their own bins by the lower or upper air valves at the end of the belt.

hyperspectral imagingspectral matchingair-jet ejectionencoder trigger
Information delivered

For every piece the type, lane and arrival time go to the valve controller; a non-target polymer is blown into its own bin by the lower or upper valve. Type distribution and purity counters are shown on the operator display.

Plastic type identification and automatic sortingILLUSTRATIVE SIMULATION
Plastic type identification and automatic sorting
  1. 01 Infeed
  2. 02 Spectrum
  3. 03 Identify
  4. 04 Sort
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Shredded plastic pieces are spread on the fast belt in a single layer.

Polymer type
—
Spectral match
—
Piece size
—

Scenes are illustrative simulations; they are not customer references or performance guarantees.

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Need

Shredded pieces flow on a fast belt with random shape, size and orientation; visible colour does not reveal the polymer type and black or dark pieces reflect little light. The type must reach the lane valve before the piece flies off the belt end.

Solution approach

Halogen bar lights spanning the belt give broadband near-infrared illumination; the line-scan head reads the belt width one line per encoder pulse, so the image is independent of belt speed. The spectrum of every pixel is compared with the absorption curves in the polymer library; the lane and the arrival time of the piece at the belt end are computed and the matching valve fires exactly then.

Process steps

  1. 01

    Infeed

    Shredded plastic pieces are spread on the fast belt in a single layer.

  2. 02

    Spectrum

    Under halogen light, line by line on the encoder pulse, the near-infrared spectrum of every piece is captured.

  3. 03

    Identify

    The spectrum is compared with the library curves and the polymer type is assigned.

  4. 04

    Sort

    At the belt end the lower or upper valve in the piece’s lane fires or stays closed according to its type.

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Let us assess your application together

We test your sample in our laboratory and report on resolution, optics and lighting selection.

+90 212 275 2280 – 81
Esentepe / İstanbul · İkitelli OSB Laboratory
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