Laser Sampling Location Display for Recycled Material Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual sampling of valuable metals from recycled raw materials, such as electric boards and IC chips, often results in inaccuracies due to human error, leading to discrepancies in evaluation between the supplier and receiver.
Innovation Solution
A sampling location displaying apparatus using laser irradiation to mark sampling locations on the specimen, allowing for arbitrary shape, brightness, and color modification, ensuring accurate and unbiased sampling, even for specimens not suitable for automatic sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If manual sampling is performed by human operators, then flexibility in handling various specimen types is maintained, but sampling accuracy and consistency deteriorate due to human error and arbitrariness
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling process is divided into distinct phases: random location selection by the controller, laser marking of the selected location, and manual collection by the operator. This segmentation ensures that the critical random selection function is automated while preserving manual flexibility for specimen handling and collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser marking device serves as an intermediary between the automated random selection system and the manual sampling operation. It translates abstract random coordinates into visible, actionable markers on the specimen surface, bridging the gap between automated precision and manual execution.
2Measurement precision
If automated sampling apparatuses are used, then sampling accuracy is improved, but applicability to various specimen types deteriorates due to size and shape limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The sampling system is designed to handle diverse specimen types (electric boards, IC chips, cellular phones, flexible substrates, films, photographic papers) through a universal approach: random coordinate generation, laser marking, and manual collection. The system adapts to different specimen geometries without requiring specialized sampling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts to various specimen types by generating random sampling locations based on the specimen's actual boundaries and characteristics. The laser marking and manual collection process adjusts to different sizes, shapes, and materials, providing a flexible yet precise sampling method for all specimen types.
3Productivity
If sampling locations are selected arbitrarily by operators, then sampling speed is maintained, but evaluation reliability deteriorates due to potential bias in selecting valuable metal concentrations
Solution Approach 1:
The controller pre-generates random sampling locations before the actual sampling operation. This preliminary random selection eliminates operator bias in choosing sampling points, ensuring that valuable metal concentrations are not intentionally targeted or avoided. The random locations are then marked with the laser, and operators simply collect samples at these predetermined locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through laser-marked sampling locations on the specimen surface. This feedback mechanism ensures that operators collect samples exactly at the randomly selected locations, preventing deviation or bias while maintaining efficient sampling workflow.
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 apparatus enables reliable sampling of increments with quality closer to the accurate average quality of the specimen, reducing human error and ensuring consistent evaluation by displaying sampling locations randomly or in a highly visible manner.
Implementation Method 1
a laser irradiation part configured to send a laser light irradiation toward a sample spread on a sampling field
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
According to the sampling method of the aspect of the present invention, the coordinate (location information) of the sampling location on the sampling specimen (G) is generated randomly by the controller (12), such as a personal computer, of the sampling location display (10). Based on the location information, the sampling location is displayed on the sampling specimen (G), which is a part of the recycled raw material, by laser light. Because of this, arbitrariness, in which the operator artificially selects the sampling location, during incremental sampling for setting the average quality of the sampling specimen (G), such as the average content of valuable metal, can be excluded reliably.