LIBS Metal Sorting with Dynamic Focal Length Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current metal recycling technologies face low sorting accuracy due to reliance on metal color and magnetism, and existing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy systems suffer from measurement errors caused by varying positions and shapes of waste metals, leading to inefficient recycling of valuable metal resources.
Innovation Solution
An automatic metal sorting system using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, which includes a conveyor, shape measurer, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopic device, and discharger, employing a galvano-scanner, focusing module, and collection module with variable lenses to accurately analyze plasma spectrum signals and adjust focal lengths for precise metal identification and sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laser induced breakdown spectroscopy is used to analyze waste metals, then sorting accuracy is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when waste metals are at varying positions due to focal length changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the focal length of the laser adjustable rather than fixed. The system changes the focal length dynamically according to the position of waste metals on the conveyor belt, allowing the laser to maintain optimal focus regardless of where the metal piece is located. This resolves the contradiction between achieving high sorting accuracy through LIBS and maintaining measurement precision despite position variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the focal length parameter of the laser based on the detected position of waste metals. By adjusting this critical parameter, the system maintains consistent measurement quality across different positions, thereby resolving the contradiction between improved sorting accuracy and maintained measurement precision.
2Productivity
If waste metals are moved on a conveyor at high speed, then productivity is improved, but sorting accuracy deteriorates due to reduced analysis time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by measuring the position and shape of waste metals before the laser analysis. This advance measurement allows the system to pre-calculate the optimal focal length and prepare the analysis parameters, enabling high-speed conveyor operation without compromising sorting accuracy because everything is ready before the metal piece reaches the analysis point.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sorting methods with a laser-based spectroscopic analysis system. This substitution enables non-contact, high-speed analysis that can keep pace with fast conveyor speeds, resolving the contradiction between productivity and sorting accuracy.
3Device complexity
If the laser focal length is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to position variations of waste metals
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by creating a laser analysis system that can handle waste metals at any position on the conveyor belt. The adjustable focal length mechanism allows a single device configuration to serve multiple position scenarios, maintaining measurement precision without requiring multiple fixed-focus systems, thus balancing device complexity with measurement precision.
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 system enables high-speed, accurate sorting of mixed metal scraps, increasing recycling rates and economic value by correcting focal length errors and improving sorting efficiency, particularly for non-ferrous metals with similar colors.
Implementation Method 1
a laser induced breakdown spectroscopic device configured to determine the kind of the waste metal by emitting a laser to the waste metal and receiving and analyzing a plasma spectrum signal generated by the emitted laser
Implementation Method 2
a plasma signal focus adjuster configured to adjust a focal length of the laser emitted from the laser emitter in accordance with a change in position and shape of the waste metals
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an automatic metal sorting system using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy. The system may include: a conveyer configured to move waste metals at a constant speed; a shape measurer configured to measure a position and a shape of at least one waste metal on the conveyer; a laser induced breakdown spectroscopic device configured to determine the kind of the waste metal by emitting a laser to the waste metal and receiving and analyzing a plasma spectrum signal generated by the emitted laser; and a discharger configured to separate and discharge the waste metal in accordance with the determined kind of the waste metal.