OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The object of the present invention is related to a machine with artificial vision
for automatic separation of coloured plastic, based on multispectral vision analysis
technology, which uses the ultraviolet, visible and infrared zones of the spectrum
simultaneously, at wavelengths of less than 400nm, between 400 and 700nm, and greater
than 700nm. The spectrogram of each part analysed is obtained, which is specific to
each type of plastic, facilitating its separation. The pneumatic extraction system
with its blower bar facilitates separating more than one component.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Nowadays, plastic that proceeds from urban residue recycling consists above all of
different coloured packaging of a variety of compositions. Normally, plastic packaging
is found made of PE, PP, PVC, PET, etc., and they can all be different colours.
[0003] The main problem is to classify the plastic according to its composition, that is,
by type of plastic, for instance, differentiating PVC from PET, whether or not they
are the same colour, etc., which implies clearly identifying each type of plastic,
and doing this despite the packaging being soiled to different degrees and having
different coloured labels.
[0004] Machines can be found on the market based on artificial vision technology and which
function within the visible spectrum, that is, they carry out analysis with lighting
systems and cameras within the range of 400nm to 700nm wavelengths. With this, plastics
can be separated by colour but not by composition. These machines carry out automatic
separation of plastics by colour by way of analysing the colour, combined with a pneumatic
blowing extraction system. In these machines the vision system acts on the extraction
system to separate the colour chosen depending on the circumstances.
[0005] There is another type of machine based also on artificial vision that functions within
the infrared zone of the spectrum, that is, with wavelengths of over 700nm. With them,
some plastics can be separated by composition, but not all of them can be reliably
separated.
[0006] On the other hand, all of the machines currently on the market can only separate
a maximum of one type of plastic at each pass by way of a blower bar.
[0007] This leads us to the conclusion that the limitations of the current applications
based on artificial vision are due to two factors: firstly, in order to analyse the
parts the visible range of the spectrum is used or, at most, the infrared range, so
that the possibility of identifying different types of plastic are limited and are
not reliable; secondly, at each pass only one component can be separated by way of
a blower bar.
[0008] It is, thereby, desirable that a machine with artificial vision for automatic separation
of recyclable plastic should be provided that overcomes the drawbacks and faults of
the currently available machines, particularly, to improve the separation possibilities
and reliability for different types of plastic, and that can separate more than one
component at each pass, leading to much greater efficiency and lower costs of the
separation.
[0009] A machine with said characteristics is disclosed below and claimed in claim 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In order to solve and improve the limitations of the technology used by existing
machines that apply artificial vision, a machine with artificial vision for automatic
separation by colour of recyclable plastic with new multispectral analysis technology
that uses ultraviolet, visible and infrared zones of the spectrum simultaneously,
that is, wavelengths lower than 400nm, between 400 and 700nm and over 700nm. Thereby,
a spectrogram is obtained of each part analysed, specific to each type of plastic,
and thus the separation possibilities and reliability for each different kind of plastic
are much greater. This also has beneficial effects on eliminating environmental pollution,
and facilitates using the materials for recycling at a later stage. On the other hand,
the machine of the invention is provided with a pneumatic extraction system made up
of a blower bar that can separate more than one component at each pass, leading to
much greater efficiency and lower costs of the separation.
[0011] The machine of the invention comprises:
- A vibrating input system or conveyer belt for transporting the plastic to be analysed
(packaging or pieces of plastic);
- A line module located within a sealed, dustproof case positioned bridging over the
conveyer belt, where the multispectral light system and the multispectral vision system
for image intake are situated, which uses the ultraviolet, visible and infrared zones
of the spectrum simultaneously at wavelengths of less than 400nm, between 400 and
700nm and greater than 700nm, with automatic temperature control; the vision system
may have one or several cameras depending on the type of material to be separated;
- A control module, which makes up a separate unit from the line module and is located
within said sealed, dustproof case, in which a computer system is contained for processing
and analysing the images made by the multispectral analysis of the pieces of plastic,
the electronics (processing cards), an electronic interface for commanding the output
electrovalves in the extraction system, and a tactile screen where the number of parts
separated is registered and the shift statistics, type of material being separated,
etc.
- A pneumatic extraction system for removing pieces, made up of a blower system that
consists of a blower bar, a pneumatic electrovalve system and a compressed air chamber,
located at the end of the vibrating input system or conveyer belt, which is reached
by the corresponding electrical signals proceeding from the electronic cards that
are connected to the computer system;
[0012] The machine, by way of the vision system, identifies the type of plastic to be separated
based on multispectral analysis, that is, on the spectrogram of each piece.
[0013] Within the process, if the result of the analysis is that the piece should be extracted
from the main flow, an order is sent by way of the electronic cards for activating
the pneumatic output electrovalves.
[0014] Once the pieces to be separated have been identified, they are blown with air from
the compressed air chamber by the pneumatic extraction system.
[0015] One of the innovation that this machine offers is that the blower bar facilitates
separating more than one type of plastic at a time, which is possible thanks to the
use of either of the two possible embodiments of the pneumatic extraction system:
a) using a single type of pneumatic electrovalves and regulating the flow and pressure
of each blow the pieces can be moved different distances depending on the type of
plastic, and b) in another embodiment, using different types of valves with regards
their air flow and blow pressure and alternating them with a mechanical determining
device according to the pieces to be separated.
[0016] The pieces separated by blowing are gathered on conveyer belts or in different containers
that the machine provides in the final process. These final conveyer belts or containers
are inside a booth in order to prevent the selected plastics from falling off said
belts; said booth is provided with a display window as well as an opening on its lower
side as an exit for the extraction conveyer belts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] For an improved understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment of this invention
is provided below, accompanied by the attached, non-limiting and illustrative drawings:
- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the machine with artificial
vision for automatic separation of recyclable plastic with multispectral vision of
the invention, where the conveyer belt (1), the sealed case that houses the line module
(2) and the control module where the tactile screen is located (5), the pneumatic
extraction system for pieces with its system of electrovalves (4), the chamber for
storing compressed air (6) and the blower system (3), the set of conveyer belts or
containers for extraction from the main flow and of the separate components (7), the
booth (8) and the window (9) for viewing the plastic;
- Figure 2 shows a lengthways raised lateral view of the machine with artificial vision
for automatic separation of recyclable plastic with multispectral vision of the invention,
displaying the configuration of all of the equipment, its location, the entrance for
the material deposited on the conveyer belt, and its collection once it has been selected.
- Figure 3 shows a plane view of the ma with artificial vision for automatic separation
of recyclable plastic, in which the exit of the already selected material can be seen.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Shown in Fig. 1 is a preferred embodiment of the assembly that makes up the machine
with artificial vision for automatic separation of recyclable plastic with multispectral
vision of the invention that uses ultraviolet, visible and infrared zones of the spectrum
simultaneously, at wavelengths of less than 400nm, between 400 and 700nm and greater
than 700nm.
[0019] The machine consists of a conveyer belt (1), line module (2), control module with
tactile screen (5) and pneumatic extraction system (4) for removing pieces. The system
is completed with a drum (6) for storing compressed air and one or several separating
walls depending on the number of components to be separated at one pass, all of them
being adjustable in inclination and height.
[0020] Fig. 1 shows the machine as a whole, in which the conveyer belt (1), vibrator, carries
the plastic to be analysed (packaging or pieces of plastic). On the conveyer belt
(1) a sealed, dustproof case IP65 is situated, containing a line module (2) in which
the multispectral lighting system and the multispectral vision system for processing
and analysing images; the control module with the tactile screen (5) is also located
in said sealed case. At the end of the conveyer belt (1) is the blower system (3)
where the blower bar is located and the pneumatic electrovalve system (4). The system
of pneumatic electrovalves (4) is made up of different types of valves. As for the
pneumatic extraction system in a preferred embodiment it is made up of different types
of valves as regards the flow and pressure according to the number of components to
be separated. These valves are alternated so as to create a blow resolution in the
blower bar according to the type and sizes of the pieces to be separated. The system
is completed with a chamber (6) for storing compressed air and one or several separating
walls according to the number of plastics to be separated in a single pass, all being
adjustable in inclination and height. The separated material is collected on the conveyer
belts (7) for extracting the main flow and the separated plastics. These conveyer
belts (7) are covered by a booth (8) so as to prevent the pieces (plastics) from going
outside the collection area, this booth (8) including an inspection window (9) as
well as an opening on its lower side as an exit for the extraction conveyer belts
(7).
[0021] In order to complement the preferred embodiment a block diagram is shown of the operating
mode of the machine with artificial vision for separating recyclable plastics with
multispectral vision.

[0022] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as a preferred
embodiment of the same, it only needs to be added that modifications may be introduced
in its shape, materials and disposition, as a whole and the in parts of which it is
composed, as long as said alterations do not substantially affect the characteristics
of the invention as claimed below.
1. Machine with artificial vision for automatic separation by colour of recyclable plastics,
characterized in that it comprises:
- A vibrating input system or conveyer belt (1) for transporting the plastics to be
analysed (packaging or pieces of plastic);
- A line module (2) located inside a sealed, dustproof case with automatic temperature
control and positioned bridged over said conveyer belt (1), where a multispectral
lighting system and a multispectral vision system for image intake are located, which
use ultraviolet, visible and infrared zones of the spectrum simultaneously, at wavelengths
of less than 400nm, between 400 and 700nm, and greater than 700nm; said vision system
having optionally one or several cameras depending on the type of material to be separated;
- A control module with tactile screen (5), that forms a unit separate from said line
module (2) and is located within said sealed, dustproof case, in which a computer
system is contained for processing and analysing images obtained by said line module
(2), processing cards, an electronic interface for controlling a set (4) of electrovalves
for expelling the separated pieces of plastic; and
- A pneumatic extraction system for removing pieces made up of a blower system (3)
that consists of a single blower bar for separating more than one type of plastic
simultaneously, a set (4) of pneumatic electrovalves and a deposit of compressed air
(6), located at the end of the vibrating input system of conveyer belt (1), said set
(4) of pneumatic electrovalves receiving electrical signals proceeding from said electronic
cards that are connected to said computer system.
2. Machine with artificial vision for automatic separation by colour of recyclable plastics
according to claim 1, characterized in that the vision system has one or several cameras depending on the type of material to
be separated.
3. Machine with artificial vision for automatic separation by colour of recyclable plastics
according to claim 1, characterized in that the separated materials are collected on conveyer belts (7) covered by a booth (8)
so as to prevent the pieces (plastics) from going out of the collection area, this
booth (8) including an inspection window (9) as well as an opening on its lower side
as an exit for the extraction conveyer belts (7).
4. Machine with artificial vision for automatic separation by colour of recyclable plastics
according to claim 1, characterized in that said set of pneumatic electrovalves (4) is made up of a single type of pneumatic
electrovalves that regulate the flow and the pressure of each blowing so as to send
the selected pieces to different points depending on the type of plastic.
5. Machine with artificial vision for automatic separation by colour of recyclable plastics
according to claim 1, characterized in that said set of pneumatic electrovalves (4) is made up of different types of valves with
regards to the air flow and blow pressure alternated in accordance with the size of
the pieces to be separated.