Sorting between metal alloys
AssigneeSortera Alloys, Inc.
InventorsNalin Kumar, Manuel Gerardo Garcia, JR., Isha Kamleshbhai Maun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A material sorting system sorts materials utilizing an x-ray fluorescence and/or a vision system that implements a machine learning system in order to identify or classify each of the materials, which are then sorted into separate groups based on such an identification or classification determining that the materials are composed of either wrought aluminum, extruded aluminum, or cast aluminum. The system is capable of sorting between cast aluminum alloys and also between wrought aluminum alloys.
Claims20
A method for sorting a plurality of metal alloy pieces into at least a first sorted collection of metal alloy pieces having a first metal alloy composition and a second sorted collection of metal alloy pieces having a second metal alloy composition different from the first metal alloy composition, the method comprising:
- conveying the plurality of metal alloy pieces by a conveyor system at a predetermined speed;
- determining an approximate length of each of the plurality of metal scrap pieces along a line substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the plurality of metal alloy pieces by the conveyor system, wherein the determining the approximate length of each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces comprises measuring the approximate length of each of the plurality of metal alloys scrap pieces as they travel at the predetermined speed past a distance measuring device;
- exposing the plurality of metal scrap pieces to x-rays emitted by an x-ray source of an x-ray fluorescence (“XRF”) system, and detecting, by the XRF system, x-ray fluorescence signals emitted by the plurality of metal scrap pieces in response to the x-rays emitted by the x-ray source;
- wherein the XRF system is configured to measure an XRF spectrum emitted from a particular one of each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces only for a time period determined as a function of the measured approximate length for the particular one of each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces, wherein the time period is determined as a function of the measured approximate length of the particular one of each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces and the predetermined speed so that only the XRF spectrum emitted from the particular one of each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces is measured and not from an environment surrounding the particular one of each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces;
- classifying a first one of the plurality of metal alloy pieces as having the first metal alloy composition and classifying a second one of the plurality of metal alloy pieces as having the second metal alloy composition, wherein metal alloy compositions of the plurality of metal alloy pieces are classified as a result of acquired x-ray fluorescence detected from each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces using the XRF system;
- and
- sorting the first one of the plurality of metal alloy pieces from the second one of the metal alloy pieces in response to (1) classifying the first one of the plurality of metal alloy pieces as having the first metal alloy composition, and (2) classifying the second one of the plurality of metal alloy pieces as having the second metal alloy composition.
A system for classifying metal alloys comprising:
- a conveyor system configured to convey a plurality of received metal alloy pieces at a predetermined speed;
- a distance measuring device configured to determine an approximate length for each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces;
- an XRF system configured to emit x-rays towards each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces;
- the XRF system configured to determine separate XRF spectra for each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces during time periods determined as a function of the approximate lengths and the predetermined speed;
- circuitry configured to produce a plurality of spectra of net counts on a per channel basis for a plurality of channels each corresponding to a chemical element, wherein each of the plurality of spectra pertains to one of the plurality of metal alloy pieces;
- circuitry configured to normalize each of the net counts to generate an elemental composition signature for each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces;
- and
- circuitry configured to compare each of the generated elemental composition signatures to one or more known elemental composition signatures, wherein the one or more known elemental composition signatures each correspond to one of a plurality of different standard reference metal alloy compositions, in order to classify each of the plurality of metal alloy pieces as corresponding to at least one of the plurality of different standard reference metal alloy compositions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.