Patent Document ID: 9785851
Application ID: 15198159
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of sorting scrap particles comprising: imaging a moving conveyor containing scrap particles using a vision system to create an image of the conveyor containing scrap particles, the image corresponding to a timed location of the conveyor; employing a control unit executing instructions to analyze the image as a matrix of cells; employing the control unit executing instructions to identify cells in the matrix containing a particle by distinguishing the particle from a background indicative of the conveyor; employing the control unit executing instructions to calculate a color input for the particle from a color model by determining color components for each cell in the matrix associated with the particle; generating and directing a light beam to the particle on the conveyor downstream of the vision system and within a target area using a scanner assembly including a beam deflector; isolating and measuring at least one emitted band of light from the particle in the target area at a selected frequency band using a detector to provide a signal indicative of spectral data for the particle to the control unit; employing the control unit executing instructions to generate a data vector for the particle containing the color input and the spectral data; and employing the control unit executing instructions to classify the particle into one of at least two classifications of a material as a function of the data vector.