A method of processing aluminum alloy rims, the method comprising:
- providing a feed of a plurality of aluminum alloy rims of different compositions, 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;
- storing in a non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy rim categories;
- dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into a plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims by, for each rim in the feed of aluminum alloy rims, scanning that aluminum alloy rim to determine the serial number of that aluminum alloy rim;
- based on the serial number, operating a data processor to determine, 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;
- and then,
- allocating that aluminum alloy rim to the batch of aluminum alloy rims corresponding to that aluminum alloy rim category;
- after dividing the feed of aluminum alloy rims into the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, separately processing each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims wherein for each batch of aluminum alloy rims of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, separately processing that batch comprises fragmenting the aluminum alloy rims of that batch into fragments, and then cleaning the fragments, the cleaning including shot blasting the fragments;
- and then,
- the method further comprises, for each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, separately supplying the fragments of that batch for recycling,
- further comprising storing in the non-transient computer-readable memory, manufacturer records identifying a plurality of aluminum alloy rim manufacturers, the plurality of aluminum alloy rim manufacturers including, for each category in the plurality of categories of aluminum alloy rims, an associated aluminum alloy rim manufacturer for that category, wherein for each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, separately supplying the fragments of that batch for recycling to produce an aluminum alloy product, comprises supplying the fragments of that batch to the associated aluminum alloy rim manufacturer for the category corresponding to that batch,
- further comprising storing in the non-transient computer-readable memory, a plurality of aluminum alloy composition ranges, the plurality of aluminum alloy composition ranges comprising, for each category in the plurality of categories of aluminum alloy rims, an associated aluminum alloy composition range for that category, the associated aluminum alloy composition range for that category comprising, for each element in a plurality of elements, an element range for that element;
- wherein, for each batch of the plurality of batches of aluminum alloy rims, after shot blasting that batch of fragments, the method further comprises
- determining a plurality of estimated compositions by, for each fragment of a representative sample of fragments of that batch of fragments determining an estimated composition for that fragment comprising for each element in the plurality of elements, a concentration estimate for that element in that fragment;
- determining from the plurality of estimated compositions, an aggregate composition estimate for the plurality of shot blasted pieces, the aggregate composition estimate comprising a plurality of element concentration estimates comprising an element concentration estimate for each element in the plurality of elements;
- and
- operating a data processor to i) approve that batch of fragments when the aggregate composition estimate for the plurality of shot blasted pieces falls within the associated aluminum alloy composition range of the category determined for that batch;
- and ii) otherwise reject the fragments.