Sortex Limited

Kenneth C Henderson

Herbert Fraenkel

Robert Davis

Stewart J Mills

Sorting apparatus has a conveyor belt or equivalent mechanism for moving particles at a speed sufficient to generate a stream of particles in air, which particles can be graded such that selected material can be removed. The grading or sorting is conducted by a primary scanning system for analysing light reflected from particles in the stream in a plurality of wavelength ranges. Ejectors for removing particles from the stream are disposed downstream of the scanning system, and are instructed in response to signals received from the scanning system. An auxiliary scanning system is also included to establish the presence of material in the stream, and in the event that a void is detected in a given region, then the analysis of that region by the primary scanning system and any corresponding activation of the ejectors is inhibited. If the auxiliary scanning system operates on the basis of light transmitted in the infra-red wavelength, then the scanning system can differentiate between a situation in which it is receiving light reflected from a product piece in a product stream, and light transmitted across the path of the product stream in the absence of a product piece therefrom. By this means, the monitoring of light received from the path of the product stream in the infra-red range can be used to perform all functions.

Sorting apparatus

Sorting apparatus has a conveyor belt or equivalent mechanism for moving particles at a speed sufficient to generate a stream of particles in air, which particles can be graded such that selected material can be removed. The grading or sorting is conducted by a primary scanning system for analysing light reflected from particles in the stream in a plurality of wavelength ranges. Ejectors for removing particles from the stream are disposed downstream of the scanning system, and are instructed in response to signals received from the scanning system. An auxiliary scanning system is also included to establish the presence of material in the stream, and in the event that a void is detected in a given region, then the analysis of that region by the primary scanning system and any corresponding activation of the ejectors is inhibited If the auxiliary scanning system operates on the basis of light transmitted in the infra-red wavelength, then the scanning system can differentiate between a situation in which it is receiving light reflected from a product piece in a product stream, and light transmitted across the path of the product stream in the absence of a product piece therefrom. By this means, the monitoring of light received from the path of the product stream in the infra-red range can be used to perform all functions.

Sorting apparatus has a conveyor belt or equivalent mechanism for moving particles at a speed sufficient to generate a stream of particles in air, which particles can be graded such that unacceptable material can be removed. The grading or sorting is conducted by a primary scanning system for analyzing light reflected from particles in the stream in a plurality of wavelength ranges. Ejectors for removing particles from the stream are disposed downstream of the scanning system, and are instructed in response to signals received from the scanning system. An auxiliary scanning system is also included to establish the presence of material in the stream, and in the event that a void is detected in a given region, then the analysis of that region by the primary scanning system and any corresponding activation of the ejectors is inhibited.

A valve device is disclosed for controlling the delivery of gas from a pressurised source suitable for use in a pneumatic ejector in particle sorting apparatus. It uses a diaphragm as a valve member disposed over an output port from a chamber which is in substantially continuous communication with a source of gas or air under pressure. Both sides of the diaphragm are exposed to pressurised gas or air in the chamber. For this reason, and because the diaphragm itself engages the output port to close it, when the input pressure is applied there is a differential pressure which elastically deforms the diaphragm to close the output port. The diaphragm has a piezoelectric element, and the valve device includes an electric circuit operable to selectively activate the piezoelectric element and withdraw the valve member from the output port to admit pressurised gas or air thereinto.

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London, United Kingdom

Kenneth C Henderson