Dynamic Illumination Tracking for Resin Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing resin sorting technologies face challenges in achieving both high signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and high throughput, particularly in the recycling of plastic waste from automobiles and electronics, where the need for efficient sorting and identification of resin types is critical.
Innovation Solution
A measurement apparatus integrated into a sorting system, which includes a scanning unit using galvano scanners to track objects with illumination light, a control unit to manage the scanning process, and a sensor to measure reflection light, allowing for efficient Raman measurement without denaturalizing the resin while maintaining high conveyor belt speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the conveyor belt speed is increased to enhance throughput, then productivity is improved, but the exposure time for Raman measurement is shortened, deteriorating measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination light position is dynamically adjusted in real-time to track the moving resin on the conveyor belt. By coordinating the movement of the illumination light with the conveyor belt speed, the system maintains optimal measurement conditions regardless of conveyor speed, thereby preserving measurement precision while enabling high throughput operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback control to monitor the position of the resin on the conveyor belt and adjusts the illumination light position accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that the illumination light continuously tracks the resin, maintaining sufficient exposure time for high S/N ratio measurements even at high conveyor speeds.
2Measurement precision
If high-power laser is emitted to increase signal intensity, then measurement precision is improved, but the resin may be damaged or denaturalized, deteriorating reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination light performs dynamic scanning across the resin surface rather than concentrating high power at a single stationary point. This dynamic illumination approach distributes the laser energy over time and space, reducing the power density at any single location while maintaining sufficient total signal intensity for precise measurement without damaging the resin.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from stationary point measurement to two-dimensional scanning measurement. By moving the illumination light across the resin surface in both x and y directions, the measurement process utilizes spatial dimensions to distribute energy exposure, achieving high signal intensity through integrated signal collection while preventing localized thermal damage.
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
The solution enables efficient resin sorting by improving the S/N ratio and maintaining high throughput, even with high conveyor belt speeds, thereby effectively identifying and sorting resin types without damaging the samples.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor configured to measure reflection light from the illuminated object
Implementation Method 2
a scanning unit configured to perform scanning with illumination light which illuminates the object
Data Source
AI summary
A measurement apparatus used for a sorting apparatus for sorting objects includes a scanning unit configured to perform scanning with illumination light which illuminates the object, a control unit configured to control the scanning unit, and a sensor configured to measure reflection light from the illuminated object, wherein the control unit controls the scanning unit to track the object with the illumination light by changing a position of the illumination light in a moving direction of the object and a direction perpendicular to the moving direction.