초록 ▼

Apparatus and methods are provided for sensing the presence of bright white paper on a conveyor of a paper sorting system. The conveyor is constantly illuminated with ultraviolet light. When bright white paper is present in the inspection zone of the conveyor, it will re-radiate fluorescent light en

Apparatus and methods are provided for sensing the presence of bright white paper on a conveyor of a paper sorting system. The conveyor is constantly illuminated with ultraviolet light. When bright white paper is present in the inspection zone of the conveyor, it will re-radiate fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light. Periodically, the inspection zone of the conveyor is illuminated with a second light source in the visible light spectrum. Light is collected from the inspection zone of the conveyor, including reflected light from the secondary source and including emitted fluorescent light energy as a result of the ultraviolet light falling on bright white paper. Periodically a microprocessor associated with the sensor senses reflected light from the second source to determine whether any object if present on the conveyor. The microprocessor then senses the level of fluorescent light energy being emitted from any object on the conveyor. The system determines first whether any object is present on the conveyor, as a result of the reflected secondary light, and then determines whether that object is bright white paper depending upon the measured level of emitted fluorescent light energy. Based upon these determinations, the stream of waste paper on the conveyor can be sorted into two fractions, one of which is the bright white paper.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for determining whether an object in an inspection zone is white paper comprising the steps of:a) transmitting ultraviolet light onto said object; b) receiving fluorescent energy created by said object; c) measuring said fluorescent energy to determine whether said object is white paper;

1. A method for determining whether an object in an inspection zone is white paper comprising the steps of:a) transmitting ultraviolet light onto said object; b) receiving fluorescent energy created by said object; c) measuring said fluorescent energy to determine whether said object is white paper; d) transmitting a second light onto the inspection zone; and e) measuring said second light reflected from said inspection zone to determine whether any object is present.