A system for processing aluminum alloy rims, the system comprising:
- an aluminum alloy rim transfer mechanism for providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions and for dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, each aluminum alloy rim in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims having a serial number distinguishing that aluminum alloy rim from other aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of aluminum alloy rims;
- a computer-readable memory having stored thereon a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories;
- a scanner wherein, in operation and for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, the scanner scans that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim;
- a data processor linked for communication with the computer-readable memory and the scanner, wherein, in operation, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, the scanner transmits the serial number to the data processor, and, based on the serial number and the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, the data processor then determines, from amongst the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories, an aluminum alloy rim category for that aluminum alloy rim, wherein each batch of aluminum alloy rims in the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims corresponds to a category in the plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories;
- downstream processing equipment for receiving and separately processing each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, wherein, in operation, the downstream processing equipment fragments the aluminum alloy rims of that batch into fragments, and then shot blasts the fragments;
- and,
- a composition analyzer for, in operation, for each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, and for each fragment of a representative sample of fragments of that batch of fragments, determining, for each contaminant element of the at least one contaminant element, a contaminant concentration estimate for that fragment, the composition analyser being linked for electronic communication with the data processor;
- wherein, in operation, for each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims,
- in operation, the downstream processing equipment shot blasting the fragments comprises at least partly removing at least one contaminant element from the fragments;
- and,
- in operation, the data processor i) determines an aggregate contaminant concentration calculation for that batch of fragments based on, for each contaminant element of the at least one contaminant element, and for each fragment of the representative sample of fragments, the contaminant concentration estimate for that contaminant element in that fragment;
- and ii) either approves or rejects that batch of fragments, based on the aggregate contaminant concentration calculation for that batch of fragments, the aggregate contaminant concentration calculation being based on, for each contaminant element of the at least one contaminant element, and for each fragment of the representative sample of fragments, the contaminant concentration estimate for that contaminant element in that fragment.