Sorting device and method for sorting a material mixture

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sorting device (10) for sorting a material mixture (MG), having a main conveying device (22) for conveying the material mixture (MG) at a main conveying speed (HFV) along a main conveying path (20), wherein at least one main detection device (24) is arranged in the main conveying path (20) for detecting main features (HM) of objects (O) of the material mixture (MG) at a main detection speed (HEV) which is greater than or equal to the main conveying speed (HFV). The sorting device further has a secondary detection device (34) for detecting secondary features (NM) of the objects (O) of some of the material mixture (MG) in a secondary conveying path (30) at a secondary detection speed (NEV) which is equal to or less than the main detection speed (HEV). The sorting device further has a control device (40) for determining a sorting correlation (SK) between the secondary features (NM) and the main features (HM) and further for sorting the objects (O) of the material mixture (MG) by means of a sorting module (50) downstream of the main conveying device (22) onto at least two different sorting paths (60) on the basis of the detected main features (HM) and the determined sorting correlation (SK).

Description

[0001] SORTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SORTING A MIXTURE OF MATERIAL

[0002] The present invention relates to a sorting device for sorting a mixture of materials and a sorting method for sorting a mixture of materials.

[0003] It is generally known that material mixtures need to be sorted according to different criteria for a wide variety of applications. For example, this applies to a mixture of recyclable waste, which can be separated and sorted according to its different recyclable components. Similarly, mixtures of rock materials extracted from mines can be sorted to distinguish between recyclable and unrecyclable material. In both of these examples, as well as in other applications, precise sorting is crucial. If too much waste is incorrectly sorted for further processing, this leads to undesirably high processing costs, for example, in terms of the energy or materials required and the associated costs of processing the material.If sorting is too aggressive, meaning too much potentially usable material is sent to a reject stream, recyclable or other usable material is lost in an undesirable way. These two conflicting requirements must also be reconciled with relatively high conveying speeds, for example, several meters per second. Large conveying widths are also common, so, for example, when used in mines to sort extracted material into usable material and overburden, the material mixture must be conveyed several meters wide and at several meters per second, and sorted accordingly at the same speed.

[0004] Known devices are used to sort materials by identifying their constituent components. For example, laser technology, optical methods, and X-ray transmission techniques are known to be used to determine the composition of individual objects within a material mixture and to sort accordingly. However, a disadvantage of these methods is that the desired accuracy cannot be achieved with regard to the actual materials. While it is known that X-ray diffraction technology can be used for highly accurate material analysis, it relies on relatively slow detection speeds. Therefore, using X-ray diffraction analysis in sorting devices for material mixtures would significantly and undesirably reduce the overall speed.Therefore, such precise X-ray diffraction technologies cannot yet be used in the sorting devices described above.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to enable the use of slow analysis and detection methods for high-speed sorting tasks in a cost-effective and simple manner without negatively affecting the actual conveying and sorting speed.

[0006] The foregoing problem is solved by a sorting device having the features of claim 1 and a sorting method having the features of claim 10. Further features and details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the sorting device according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the sorting method according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure regarding the individual aspects of the invention always refers, or can refer, to each other.

[0007] According to the invention, a sorting device serves to sort a mixture of materials. For this purpose, this sorting device has a main conveying device for conveying the mixture of materials at a main conveying speed along a main conveying path. At least one main detection device is arranged in the main conveying path for detecting main features of objects in the mixture of materials at a main detection speed that is greater than or equal to the main conveying speed. Furthermore, at least one secondary detection device is provided for detecting secondary features of objects in a portion of the mixture of materials in a secondary conveying path at a secondary detection speed. This secondary detection speed can be equal to or less than the main detection speed.Furthermore, the sorting device includes a control device for determining a sorting correlation between the secondary and primary characteristics. In addition, a sorting module is provided downstream of the main conveying device for sorting the objects of the material mixture, whereby sorting onto at least two different sorting paths is carried out based on the recognized primary characteristics and the determined sorting correlation.

[0008] The core concept of the invention is based on combining two different detection methods in the sorting device. For example, a known technology, such as X-ray transmission technology, can be used for the main detection device. In a known manner, the material mixture is transported along the main conveyor path at the main conveying speed, for example, three meters per second, and examined across its entire width by the main detection device with regard to at least one main characteristic. If, for example, an X-ray transmission device is used as the main detection device, one of the main characteristics can be the differentiation between metallic and organic material components. A more detailed and refined analysis with regard to thickness or geometric parameters can also be provided.The main detection device can also have several individual main detection modules, which in particular use different technologies with regard to detection.

[0009] While previously known solutions directly utilized the main characteristics to perform the sorting, a sorting device according to the invention will have additional information available at this point. This information is based on the fact that a subset of the material mixture is conveyed into a secondary conveyor path. This can occur continuously, temporarily, or even just once, so that this separated portion of the material mixture, and thus a portion of the objects within the material mixture, is then fed to a secondary detection device. The secondary detection device has a lower secondary detection speed and can, for example, include the X-ray diffraction device, which will be explained in more detail later.Because the secondary conveying path now operates at a lower secondary conveying speed compared to the main conveying speed, or because only a small amount of material is conveyed, a more precise analysis method can be used.

[0010] The secondary detection speed, which can also be reduced in this way, now serves to provide the secondary detection device with increased accuracy and / or other analytical capabilities for the detection of one or more secondary characteristics, which provide a significantly more precise indication of the value content of the individual objects in the material mixture. In other words, for example, if the secondary detection device includes an X-ray diffraction device, it is possible to perform a more precise material analysis. The portion of the objects that are introduced into the secondary conveying path as part of the material mixture can now be detected with regard to one or more secondary characteristics at the reduced speed of the secondary detection device. These secondary characteristics can, for example, indicate the precious metal content or other value-determining parameters.Thus, it is not only possible to distinguish between fundamentally metallic and organic materials according to their main characteristics, but also to differentiate whether the metals are valuable metals, such as gold or silver, or low-value materials, such as iron, so that a value-accurate analysis and evaluation can be carried out.

[0011] The core concept of the invention is based on using the knowledge from the secondary characteristics for sorting, so to speak, indirectly, even though these secondary characteristics are not recorded for the entire material mixture and, in particular, not continuously. This is achieved according to the invention by creating a sorting correlation with the aid of the control device. The sorting correlation is based on the fact that, although the material mixture changes over a longer period of conveying, it is essentially predictably constant across the width of the conveying path at any given intermediate point. Thus, separating a portion of the material mixture allows this portion to serve as a sample with significance for the entire material mixture. In other words, a correlation can now be drawn between the currently recorded primary characteristics and the corresponding secondary characteristics that are also recorded.A sorting correlation can therefore be established such that the recorded secondary characteristics are represented by the recordable primary characteristics. If the primary characteristics change, it can be assumed that the secondary characteristics also change, even if they are not determined at all or only partially. If the primary characteristics remain essentially the same in the primary detection device, it can be assumed with a certain probability that the secondary characteristics will also remain unchanged, even if they are not recorded further. The sorting correlation thus creates a sorting relationship between the secondary characteristics relevant for processing and the primary characteristics that can be recorded at the desired speed of the primary conveying system.

[0012] For example, the primary characteristic could be the proportion of metallic material in general. A secondary characteristic allows, for instance, a distinction between worthless and valuable materials. As long as the primary characteristic, such as a metallic material content of more than 60%, is maintained, the parallel recording of a secondary characteristic, such as a 30% gold content, can be interpreted as meaning that, without further recording of the secondary characteristics, a primary characteristic of more than 60% metal will infer a secondary characteristic of more than 30% gold, without this being directly recorded. Sorting correlation thus establishes a temporarily determined secondary characteristic in a sorting relationship, in the form of sorting correlation, with a primary characteristic that is easier and, above all, faster to record.The sorting correlation now allows the subsequent sorting to be carried out based on the continuously and quickly determinable main feature, which can be captured quickly and efficiently with the main recognition device in the known manner.

[0013] It is clearly evident here that the quality of the sorting correlation, and thus the quality of the sorting itself, depends essentially on how accurately the sorting correlation reflects the actual correlation between the main features and the secondary features. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous to generate the sorting correlation repeatedly, especially continuously, in order to establish the most up-to-date possible state of the sorting correlation between the captured secondary features and the continuously captured main features, and to base the sorting task on this. As the preceding explanation makes clear, it is now possible to use the main features for the subsequent sorting module in such a way that they contain, or at least indicate, actual information about the secondary features that are detectable at a slower secondary recognition rate.This allows for improved sorting without reducing the main conveying speed or the main detection speed, and in particular enables the most accurate possible separation between usable parts of the material mixture and waste material from the material mixture.

[0014] It can be advantageous if, in a sorting device according to the invention, the secondary detection device includes an X-ray diffraction device for the detection of at least one of the following secondary features:

[0015] - Material composition of the respective object,

[0016] - Crystal structure of the respective object,

[0017] - X-ray diffraction spectrum (intensity plotted against the wave vector transfer of the measured radiation)

[0018] - Energy-dependent X-ray absorption

[0019] - geometric parameters, in particular thickness and / or diameter of the respective object.

[0020] The preceding list is not exhaustive. Using an X-ray diffraction device, the so-called "scattering spectrum" can be determined. This means that, based on the amount of photons deflected, their energy, and their angle of deflection, the X-ray diffraction characteristics allow conclusions to be drawn about the quantity and type of material in the respective object. The material composition can provide a fundamental indication and correlation to key characteristics, which are also material-specific. However, other auxiliary parameters are also conceivable, such as optical parameters, geometric parameters, or similar. Auxiliary parameters can, for example, indicate that objects of a certain size and / or appearance were detected by the secondary detection device with a secondary characteristic of high object value.These main characteristics, such as size and / or appearance, then suggest similar secondary characteristics with high object value, without these secondary characteristics actually having to be recorded in the main funding path.

[0021] It can be advantageous if, in a sorting device according to the invention, the secondary detection device is designed to detect secondary features that partially overlap with the primary features detected by the primary detection device. These can be, for example, geometric and / or optical parameters. If, for instance, the secondary detection device detects that rock fragments of a certain size contain the desired quantity of precious metal, this geometric factor can be used in the primary detection device to assign a positive sorting criterion to all rock fragments of this or similar size, thus sorting all objects with a corresponding geometric characteristic into a usable part of the sorting path.Accordingly, a simple, geometrically definable primary feature now represents a significantly more complex and slower-detectable secondary feature, and can therefore be captured at high speed and used in the sorting module. Alternatively or additionally, an indirect correlation can be used, meaning the secondary features are designed without overlap with the primary features. Even in this case, the aforementioned advantages in sorting correlation can be achieved, for example, regarding a temporal correlation between the time of the secondary detection device and its capture, as well as the corresponding capture with the primary detection device. One possible configuration is an overlap in which the secondary detection device uses X-ray diffraction and X-ray transmission, while the primary detection device uses only X-ray transmission in an overlapping manner.

[0022] Further advantages can be achieved if, in a sorting device according to the invention, the secondary conveying path diverts a subset of the material mixture from the main conveying path via a secondary branch. This allows for the temporary or even continuous diversion of a portion of the material mixture. Both single and multiple, repeated separations are possible, as the conveying speed for the secondary conveying path can be selectively reduced and adapted to the secondary detection speed via the branch.

[0023] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if, in the sorting device according to the invention as described in the preceding paragraph, the secondary conveying path downstream of the secondary detection device has a secondary return path for returning a portion of the material mixture to the main conveying path. In other words, it now becomes possible not to direct the portion to a reject stream, but rather, and especially, to return it upstream of the sorting module to the main conveying path. This allows for the return of the portion and maximum utilization of the valuable materials contained, despite the parallel secondary detection enabled via the bypass of the secondary conveying path.

[0024] Further advantages can be achieved if, in a sorting device according to the invention, the secondary conveyor path is designed as part of the main conveyor path, with the secondary detection device being integrated, in particular, into the main detection device. The combination of secondary and main conveyor paths allows for the integration of the secondary detection device into the housing of the main detection device. However, in such an embodiment, the main conveyor must be slowed down for the duration of the secondary detection process. This can also be described as a brief deceleration or reduction of the conveyor speed for the purpose of secondary detection.In particular, the secondary detection device is also reduced to a geometric subsection, for example, a partial width of the main conveying device, so that the described cost and space advantages are maintained. It may also be possible for the secondary detection device to achieve a higher speed for this smaller partial width, ideally the same speed as the main conveying device.

[0025] Furthermore, it is advantageous if, in a sorting device according to the invention, the secondary conveyor path is integrated into one of the sorting paths. This represents another possible arrangement of the secondary detection device. In particular, this can be implemented within a sorting path that is either a production path or a reject path. This allows sorting to occur within the sorting path and the sorting correlation to be generated. However, a disadvantage here is the delayed feedback, as the secondary characteristics can only be detected after the sorting has already taken place. Nevertheless, this may lead to a reduced installation space for the overall system of the sorting device. Integration into two or more sorting paths is also conceivable to enable the corresponding feedback to the control device.

[0026] Further advantages arise if, in a sorting device according to the invention, the main detection device comprises at least two main detection modules arranged serially along the main conveying path. These modules can employ identical or different technologies. For example, several X-ray transmission device modules can be arranged serially downstream. However, different technologies are also conceivable, such as an X-ray transmission system with a combined optical monitoring unit.

[0027] Furthermore, it also offers advantages if the main detection device in a sorting device according to the invention includes an X-ray transmission device. As explained several times, this allows for particularly accurate and fast detection, which can also be combined with other detection technologies, such as optical methods.

[0028] Also related to the present invention is a sorting method for sorting a mixture of materials using a sorting device according to the invention. Such a sorting method comprises the following steps:

[0029] - Identifying key features of objects in the material mixture using a main detection device in the main conveying path,

[0030] - Detection of secondary characteristics of the objects of a part of the material mixture using the secondary detection device in the secondary conveying path,

[0031] Determining a sorting correlation which of the recognized secondary characteristics correlate with the recognized main characteristics, sorting the objects of the material mixture with the sorting module onto at least two different sorting paths based on the main characteristics and the determined sorting correlation.

[0032] A sorting method according to the invention offers the same advantages as those explained in detail with reference to a sorting device according to the invention. In particular, this can be achieved with a direct or an indirect correlation, i.e., if, for a direct correlation, the main features overlap with the secondary features, or, in an indirect manner, the temporal correlation between different secondary features and main features can be used for the sorting correlation.

[0033] A sorting method according to the invention can be further developed such that, when determining the sorting correlation, a valuation of the objects within the material mixture is taken into account, based on their secondary characteristics. This valuation can be based, in particular, on current information such as the market price of precious metals, the processing costs for valuable materials in the individual objects, but can also refer to the value of recyclable materials in overburden or waste. Naturally, a variable valuation can be carried out here, which, in particular, additionally considers not only the costs from a monetary perspective, but also, for example, the environmental impact as a valuation factor.This provides a sorting correlation that allows objects above a certain defined value to be distinguished as usable objects and / or value objects with a value below a threshold, as well as reject objects. The sorting correlation adjusts accordingly, and the sorting process is carried out in the sorting module accordingly.

[0034] Advantages also arise when, in a sorting process according to the invention, the material value of the objects and / or the processing costs required for their use are taken into account during valuation. The material value could, for example, be the sales value of a precious metal or a recycled material. The processing costs could, for example, be the associated energy or chemical costs. Combinations are also conceivable. For instance, the cost factor of the processing costs can be subtracted from the material value, allowing a net value to be calculated, which forms the basis for valuation and for the sorting correlation.

[0035] Further advantages can be achieved if, in a sorting method according to the invention, the sorting correlation distinguishes between sorting into a first sorting path in the form of a utilization path and a second sorting path in the form of a scrap path, and in particular further between at least a third sorting path in the form of an intermediate storage path. This makes it possible to differentiate between utilization and scrap or intermediate storage, whereby intermediate storage can take into account possible changes in value or different changes in energy costs during a later stage of storage. This now allows for flexible differentiation based on the sorting correlation specifically for the individual utilization options, i.e., scrap, reprocessing utilization, or intermediate storage.

[0036] Furthermore, it also offers advantages if the steps of detection and determination are repeated in a sorting method according to the invention, so that a new sorting correlation is determined with each repetition and subsequently used for sorting. The different speed ratios between the primary detection speed and the secondary detection speed are still taken into account. In particular, the repetition ensures that if the composition of the material mixture in the main conveying path changes, this is reflected in the sorting correlation by a change in the detected secondary characteristics. Accordingly, sorting always takes place across the entire width of the conveyor belt, while the sorting correlation is continuously updated.

[0037] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. The drawings schematically show:

[0038] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a sorting device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 during the execution of a secondary detection,

[0039] Fig. 3 shows the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 after completion of the secondary detection,

[0040] Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of a sorting device according to the invention,

[0041] Fig. 5 shows another embodiment of a sorting device according to the invention,

[0042] Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the sorting device according to the invention,

[0043] Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment of the sorting device according to the invention and

[0044] Fig. 8 shows another embodiment of the sorting device according to the invention.

[0045] A sorting method according to the invention is explained in more detail with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The sorting device 10 has a main conveying path 20 along which a plurality of objects 0 in the form of a material mixture MG is conveyed. A relatively high main conveying speed HFV of several meters per second is maintained. A main detection device 24, for example comprising an X-ray transmission device, extends over the entire width of the main conveying device 22. This device is capable of detecting one or more main features HM. The main detection speed HEV corresponds to or even exceeds the main conveying speed HFV. The main feature HM is transmitted to a control device 40 and can be stored there for subsequent sorting in the sorting module 50.

[0046] While known solutions directly use the main feature HM as the distinguishing feature for the sorting criterion SK, the invention incorporates a secondary detection process. For this purpose, the secondary detection device 34 is provided in the secondary conveying path 30. A secondary conveying device 32 can now discharge a portion of the material mixture MG via a secondary branch 36, as shown in Figure 1. This subset is temporarily discharged and then conveyed as a subset, as shown in Figure 2, through the secondary detection device 34. Here, the secondary detection process is evaluated with respect to one or more secondary features NM at a secondary detection speed NEV, which, as indicated by the shorter arrow, is slower than the main detection device HEV and also slower than the main conveying speed HFV.This secondary characteristic NM, for example, a specific and preferably value-determining composition of the individual objects 0 of the material mixture MG, is also reported back to the control device 40 and used there to correlate it with the main characteristic HM, which is also recorded at the same time. This results in the sorting correlation SK, meaning that the recorded main characteristic HM is now correlated with a secondary characteristic NM, which was recorded via the secondary detection device 34. This allows the main characteristic HM to be further qualified and quantified, indicating whether, with a high probability, the desired secondary characteristic NM, for example, an exceedance of a value criterion, correlates with this main characteristic HM or not. Thus, the entire range of the material mixture MG can now be assigned the sorting criterion SK and sorted accordingly in the sorting module 50.Figures 1 to 3 show that a switch takes place here, since the sampling for the subset of objects 0 of the material mixture MG has now led to a new sorting correlation SK, which has led to a switch between the usage path 60a of the sorting paths 60 selected for Figures 1 and 2 and a rejection path 60b of the two sorting paths 60.

[0047] Figure 4 shows a further development of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 3, in which a secondary return path 37 is provided to return the subset of objects 0 of the material mixture MG from the secondary conveying path 30 back to the main conveying path 20. This reduces the loss of objects 0 from the material mixture MG via the secondary detection device 34.

[0048] While in Figures 1 to 4 the bypass at the main detection device 24 is configured for the secondary detection device 34, Figure 5 shows a downstream branch and return to the secondary detection device 34. Similarly, Figure 6 shows a possibility of upstream extraction and integration of the subset of objects 0 from the material mixture MG into the secondary detection device 34. In both cases, however, the feedback via the control device 40 into the sorting correlation SK functions identically and as described.

[0049] Figure 7 shows a reduction in the complexity of the installation space through the integration of the secondary detection device 34 into the main detection device 24. The secondary conveying path 30 thus forms a subsection of the main conveying path 20. However, this necessitates a temporary reduction of the overall conveying speed from the main conveying speed HFV to the secondary detection speed NEV during the secondary detection process. This reduction is only temporary, however, and as soon as the sorting correlation SK exhibits the latest correlation, conveying and sorting can resume with the desired, accelerated main conveying device HFV. Figure 7 also shows a division of the sorting process into thirds within the sorting module 50, resulting in three sorting paths 60.In addition to the utilization path 60a and the rejection path 60b, an interim storage path 60c is also provided, which allows interim storage, for example, in the case of value-determining parameters of the main characteristics HM and / or the secondary characteristics NM.

[0050] Figure 8 shows a further development in which, while maintaining the same functionality of the sorting process, the secondary detection device 34 is integrated into one of the sorting paths 60, here into the reject path 60b. The function for the feedback regarding the secondary characteristic NM remains identical.

[0051] The preceding explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of examples.

[0052] The sorting result is shown schematically in the figures. In actual application, in many cases each object O is individually examined by the main detection device 24 and assigned to the usage path 60a or the rejection path 60b, and also sorted there by the sorting module 50. Reference symbol list

[0053] 10 sorting device

[0054] 20 Main Funding Paths

[0055] 22 Main conveying device

[0056] 24 Main detection device

[0057] 30 secondary funding paths

[0058] 32 Auxiliary conveying device

[0059] 34 Secondary detection device

[0060] 36 Side Junction

[0061] 37 Secondary repatriation

[0062] 40 Control device

[0063] 50 sorting module

[0064] 60 sorting path

[0065] 60a Usage path

[0066] 60b Discharge path

[0067] 60c Interim storage path

[0068] MG material mixture

[0069] O object

[0070] HFV main delivery rate

[0071] HEV Main Detection Speed

[0072] NEV secondary detection speed

[0073] HM Main Feature

[0074] NM secondary characteristic

[0075] SK sorting correlation

Claims

Patent claims 1. Sorting device (10) for sorting a mixture of materials (MG), comprising a main conveying device (22) for conveying the mixture of materials (MG) at a main conveying speed (HFV) along a main conveying path (20), wherein at least one main detection device (24) is arranged in the main conveying path (20) for detecting main features (HM) of objects (0) of the mixture of materials (MG) at a main detection speed (HEV) which is greater than or equal to the main conveying speed (HFV), further comprising a secondary detection device (34) for detecting secondary features (NM) of the objects (0) of a part of the mixture of materials (MG) in a secondary conveying path (30) at a secondary detection speed (NEV) which is equal to or less than the main detection speed (HEV),further comprising a control device (40) for determining a sorting correlation (SK) between the minor characteristics (NM) and the major characteristics (HM) and further for sorting the objects (O) of the material mixture (MG) with a sorting module (50) downstream of the main conveying device (22) onto at least two different sorting paths (60) based on the recognized major characteristics (HM) and the determined sorting correlation (SK).

2. Sorting device (10) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the secondary detection device (34) has an X-ray diffraction device for detection of at least one of the following secondary features (SM): - Material composition of the respective object (O) - Crystal structure of the respective object (O) - X-ray diffraction spectrum (intensity plotted against the wave vector transfer of the measured radiation) - Energy-dependent X-ray absorption - Geometric parameter, in particular thickness and / or diameter of the respective object (O) 3. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the secondary detection device (34) is designed for the detection of secondary features (SM) which partially overlap with the main features (HM) which are detected by the main detection device (24).

4. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the secondary conveying path (30) branches off a subset of the material mixture (MG) from the main conveying path (20) via a secondary branch (36).

5. Sorting device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the secondary conveying path (30) downstream of the secondary detection device (34) has a secondary return (37) for returning the subset of the material mixture (MG) to the main conveying path (20).

6. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the secondary conveying path (30) is designed as part of the main conveying path (20), wherein the secondary detection device (34) is in particular integrated into the main detection device (24).

7. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the secondary conveying path (30) is integrated into one of the sorting paths (60).

8. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main detection device (24) has at least two main detection modules arranged serially along the main conveying path (20).

9. Sorting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main detection device (24) has an X-ray transmission device.

10. Sorting method for sorting a mixture of materials (MG) with a sorting device (10) having the features of any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the following steps: - Detection of main features (HM) of objects (0) of the material mixture (MG) with the main detection device (24) in the main conveying path (20), - Detection of secondary features (SM) of the objects (0) of a part of the material mixture (MG) with the secondary detection device (34) in the secondary conveying path (30), - Determining a sorting correlation (SC) to identify which of the identified secondary features (SM) correlate with the identified primary features (PM), - Sorting the objects (0) of the material mixture (MG) with the sorting module (50) onto at least two different sorting paths (60) based on the main characteristics (HM) and the determined sorting correlation (SK).

11. Sorting method according to claim 10, characterized in that, when determining the sorting correlation (SK), a value determination of the objects (0) of the part of the material mixture (MG) is taken into account based on the secondary characteristics (NM).

12. Sorting method according to claim 11, characterized in that the material value and / or the processing costs required for use are taken into account when determining the value of the objects (0).

13. Sorting method according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the sorting correlation (SK) distinguishes between sorting into a first sorting path (60) in the form of a usage path (60a) and a second sorting path (60) in the form of a reject path (60b), in particular further between at least a third sorting path (60) in the form of an intermediate storage path (60c).

14. Sorting method according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the steps of recognition and determination are carried out repeatedly, so that with each repetition a new sorting correlation (SC) is determined and subsequently used for sorting.

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