The high-speed identification and sorting of nonferrous scrap

Abstract

There are various approaches to sorting alloys. Perhaps the most simple method and one which is in greatest use today is hand sortation, which is normally a rather inaccurate process. An opportunity exists to recover low-grade nonferrous scrap by sorting it into various alloys with high accuracy by applying spectrographic analysis techniques. This article presents an alternative method for scrap identification and sortation in which optoelectronics are utilized to make a rapid and accurate identification of the scrap item. The scrap is then sorted automatically without operator intervention.