Bulk Material Sorting via Laser Triangulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sorting technologies rely on color or spectral differences, which are ineffective when materials are covered in dirt or have indeterminable shapes, limiting their applicability in sorting bulk materials like crushed mineral ores, plastics, and metals.
Innovation Solution
A method using multi-dimensional sorting criteria, including height distribution and light propagation characteristics on polygonal surfaces, employing laser triangulation to distinguish objects based on their topological nature and penetration depth-dependent light transmittance, enabling efficient sorting of materials with unknown shapes and structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If color or spectral differences are used for sorting, then sorting can be performed for clean materials, but sorting becomes ineffective when materials are covered in dirt or have indeterminable shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sorting parameter from color/spectral composition to light propagation characteristics (transmittance, reflection, scattering) and geometric properties (height, shape). This allows sorting of materials regardless of their color or surface condition, as these physical properties remain detectable even when materials are covered in dirt or have irregular shapes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of measurement by using laser triangulation to detect the third dimension (height/depth) of particles. This geometric dimension provides additional sorting criteria that are independent of color and spectral properties, enabling reliable sorting of materials with indeterminable shapes or those covered in contaminants.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sorting criteria are used to improve accuracy, then sorting precision increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple measurement functions (light transmittance detection, reflection detection, scattering detection, and height measurement via laser triangulation) into a single integrated optical detection system. This combination achieves multi-dimensional sorting accuracy while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate sorting systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical detection system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: detecting light propagation characteristics, determining particle height, and identifying geometric shapes. This multi-functional approach achieves high sorting precision without requiring separate dedicated systems for each measurement type.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise separation of materials like quartz and feldspar, as well as shiny metals, by determining the width and height of laser reflections, overcoming limitations of color-based sorting and detecting internal structures, thus improving sorting efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the propagation of a light band of a light source that shines constantly over time to generate the continuously shining light band on a polygonal surface of the individual Object are used, the light band is projected on a plane and a first part of the light generated is reflected from the surfaces of the objects and a second part corresponding to the topological or polygonal nature of the surface of the individual object in the respective upper polygonal material geometry at an entry point enters, is then scattered and reemerges at an exit point, the light traversing a path beneath the material surface, by second means for detecting reflected propagation in a definable width of the light band, such a reflected and scattered propagation in a grid with one increment per segment along the light band is recorded optically and location- and time-related as digital signals from several sequentially recorded lines according to the principle of laser triangulation or polygonation
Implementation Method 2
a first part of the light generated is reflected from the surfaces of the objects
Implementation Method 3
a second part corresponding to the topological or polygonal nature of the surface of the individual object in the respective upper polygonal material geometry at an entry point enters, is then scattered and reemerges at an exit point
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
In a method having a device for individual grain sorting of objects (3.1) from bulk materials (3) on a conveying device (1) and an actuable discharge unit (2) which separates into fractions, the height distribution of the object (3.1) and the propagation of a light source (4) are advantageously used as sorting criterion, wherein a light-band (4.1) is projected transversely with respect to a conveying direction of the bulk material (3) on a plane of the conveying device (1), the objects (3.1) are moved through under the light-band (4.1), a first part (4.1.1) of the light is reflected, a second part (4.1.2) enters again at an entry point (3.1.1), is scattered and exits again at an exit point (3.1.2), a scattered propagation (B) is detected by a camera (9), and contiguous regions are identified in buffered rows (Bz), and the measured values are subjected to an evaluation and are combined to form characteristic values, and the discharge unit (2) is actuated in dependence on preset sorting parameters.