초록 ▼

An automated interrupt driven system which employs a circular buffer is used to sort materials based on differing electromagnetic radiation absorption and penetration characteristics. The system has a conveyor and a source of electromagnetic radiation which radiates materials travelling along the co

An automated interrupt driven system which employs a circular buffer is used to sort materials based on differing electromagnetic radiation absorption and penetration characteristics. The system has a conveyor and a source of electromagnetic radiation which radiates materials travelling along the conveyor. A controller samples detector outputs at various times to evaluate the absorption and penetration characteristics of the materials to be sorted, based on a plurality of samples. Portions of the materials are ignored to obtain accurate readings from the detectors. Based on the detected penetration and absorption characteristics, the controller activates ejection mechanisms causing materials of different compositions to be deposited into different bins. The controller executes interrupts to cause detection, ejection, testing, and system history maintenance at required times. The circular buffer contains indices which point to various locations which are programmed in memory to trigger and perform specific events. The location of the indices in the circular buffer is used to control event timing, such as activating and deactivating the ejection mechanisms. This configuration, allows several events to be executed simultaneously by moving to the next location in the circular buffer while the event indicated by the index in the previous location continues in progress.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [35.] A method of separating .Iadd.PVC and non-PVC materials, said .Iaddend.materials having different .[.electromagnetic.]. .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.radiation absorption and penetration characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:a) conveying .Iadd.PVC and non-PVC .Iadden

[ What is claimed is:] [35.] A method of separating .Iadd.PVC and non-PVC materials, said .Iaddend.materials having different .[.electromagnetic.]. .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.radiation absorption and penetration characteristics, the method comprising the steps of:a) conveying .Iadd.PVC and non-PVC .Iaddend.materials to be separated from at least one inlet toward at least one outlet through a source of .[.electromagnetic.]. .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.radiation;b) irradiating portions of the .Iadd.PVC and non-PVC .Iaddend.materials conveyed with the source of .[.electromagnetic.]. .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.radiation at a selected energy level;c) periodically polling a sequence of .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.detectors, the detectors corresponding to channels, said polling including sampling for a sample time with the detectors at least one of absolute .[.electromagnetic.]. .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.radiation absorption and penetration characteristics of the material portions radiated; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.d) in response to the absolute .[.electromagnetic.]. .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.radiation characteristics measured by the detectors in step c),.Iadd.categorizing readings for portions irradiated into at least one of a plurality of classes, said classes corresponding to different X-ray radiation absorption and penetration characteristics,determining that readings in at least one of said classes are a more reliable indication of material type than readings in another of said classes, andbased on said more reliable indication of material type, .Iaddend.activating a plurality of material ejection mechanisms at different times as the .Iadd.PVC and non-PVC .Iaddend.materials are conveyed, so that materials.Iadd., .Iaddend.having different absolute .[.electromagnetic.]. .Iadd.X-ray .Iaddend.radiation and penetration characteristics.Iadd., .Iaddend.are ejected at different times and locations on the conveyor into different sorting bins. .Iadd.