Patent ID: 6795179
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: B07C,G01N

Abstract:
In a system for sorting randomly positioned scrap metal particles on a moving conveyor, a scanning system for directing a light beam to a selected location, the scanning system including:an image detector for locating scrap particles as they pass through a predefined viewing area; a position detector for detecting the position of the moving particles; a beam director for receiving a beam from at least one source and re-directing the beam to one of a plurality of target scanner assemblies, each target scanner assembly including a beam deflector mounted in the path of the light beam to further direct the beam to a selected location within a two-dimensional target area, and a focusing optical element mounted in the path of the light beam downstream from the beam deflector to focus the light beam and provide a generally uniform light power density along a focal surface; and a control including logic for processing the image data acquired from the image detector to identify scrap particles as the particles pass through the viewing area, and, when desired, targeting a scrap particle in the target area and generating the control signals necessary to operate the light beam director and target scanner assembly to direct the beam at the targeted scrap particle.