Advanced Sorting Technologies, LLC

Russell S Bruner

Garry R Kenny

Paul G Gaddis

David L Lee

James M Roggow

David R Morgan

A method is provided for sorting white paper from a stream of paper wherein the concentration of white paper is less than the concentration of non-white paper. The method includes identifying the white paper by detecting the presence of an optical characteristic of the white paper as the stream of paper is passed by a sensor. Then the white paper is ejected from the stream of paper by controlling one or more actuators directed against the white paper, and thereby separating the white paper from the non-white paper. The method is particularly applicable to the sorting of white paper during curbside recycling.

System and method for sensing white paper

Apparatus and methods are provided for sensing the presence of bright white paper on a conveyor of a paper sorting system. The conveyor is constantly illuminated with ultraviolet light. When bright white paper is present in the inspection zone of the conveyor, it will re-radiate fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light. Periodically, the inspection zone of the conveyor is illuminated with a second light source in the visible light spectrum. Light is collected from the inspection zone of the conveyor, including reflected light from the secondary source and including emitted fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light falling on bright white paper. Periodically a microprocessor associated with the sensor senses reflected light from the second source to determine whether any object if present on the conveyor. The microprocessor then senses the level of fluorescent light energy being emitted from any object on the conveyor. The system determines first whether any object is present on the conveyor, as a result of the reflected secondary light, and then determines whether that object is bright white paper depending upon the measured level of emitted fluorescent light energy. Based upon these determinations, the stream of waste paper on the conveyor can be sorted into two fractions, one of which is the bright white paper.

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Mt. Juliet, TN, United States of America

Russell S Bruner