Device and method for sorting bulk material

A device for sorting bulk material comprising:

• a vibration conveyor apparatus;
• a feed apparatus which feeds bulk material to the vibration conveyor apparatus;
• a rotationally driven roller coupled to one end of the vibration conveyor apparatus and configured to impart a predetermined trajectory to the bulk material;
• a first outlet configured to receive the bulk material conveyed over the end of the vibration conveyor apparatus at the predetermined trajectory;
• a second outlet;
• at least one detector apparatus configured to examine the bulk material conveyed by the vibration conveyor apparatus for defects, the detector apparatus comprising
• at least one X-ray detector apparatus comprising at least one X-ray radiation source and at least one X-ray sensor, and
• at least one optical detector apparatus configured to operate in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range with at least one optical radiation source and at least one optical sensor;
• and
• a sorting apparatus configured to alter the predetermined trajectory of the bulk material identified as defective by the detector apparatus such that it may be deposited into the second outlet.

A device for sorting bulk material comprising:

• a vibration conveyor apparatus;
• a feed apparatus configured to feed bulk material to the vibration conveyor apparatus;
• a bent section coupled to one end of the vibration conveyor apparatus and configured to impart a predetermined trajectory to the bulk material;
• a first outlet configured to receive bulk material that is conveyed over an end of the vibration conveyor apparatus at the predetermined trajectory;
• a second outlet;
• at least one detector apparatus configured to examine the bulk material conveyed by the vibration conveyor apparatus for defects, the detector apparatus comprising
• at least one X-ray detector apparatus comprising at least one X-ray radiation source and at least one X-ray sensor, and
• at least one optical detector apparatus configured to operate in the visible wavelength range and/or in the infrared wavelength range with at least one optical radiation source and at least one optical sensor;
• and
• a sorting apparatus configured to alter the predetermined trajectory of bulk material identified as defective by the detector apparatus and conveyed over an end of the vibration conveyor apparatus such that the bulk material identified as defective falls into the second outlet

A method for sorting bulk material comprising:

• feeding bulk material to a vibration conveyor apparatus;
• examining the bulk material for defects using an assembly comprising at least one X-ray detector apparatus, at least one X-ray radiation source, at least one X-ray sensor;
• and at least one optical detector apparatus including at least one optical radiation source and at least one optical sensor;
• conveying non-defective bulk material over one end of the vibration conveyor apparatus at a predetermined trajectory and into a first outlet;
• and
• manipulating the predetermined trajectory of the bulk material identified as defective and conveyed over the end of the vibration conveyor apparatus such that it is deposited into a second outlet.