GB2288461A - System for plastics identification - Google Patents
System for plastics identification Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2288461A GB2288461A GB9406842A GB9406842A GB2288461A GB 2288461 A GB2288461 A GB 2288461A GB 9406842 A GB9406842 A GB 9406842A GB 9406842 A GB9406842 A GB 9406842A GB 2288461 A GB2288461 A GB 2288461A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- chamber
- spectrometer
- sample
- front wall
- aperture
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 title claims abstract description 28
- 238000004140 cleaning Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 238000010926 purge Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 abstract description 8
- 238000004064 recycling Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004611 spectroscopical analysis Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007613 environmental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000284 extract Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011005 laboratory method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003973 paint Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004381 surface treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/02—Details
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B17/00—Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics
- B29B17/02—Separating plastics from other materials
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/02—Details
- G01J3/0202—Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01J—MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY
- G01J3/00—Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours
- G01J3/02—Details
- G01J3/0291—Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/44—Resins; Plastics; Rubber; Leather
- G01N33/442—Resins; Plastics
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B17/00—Recovery of plastics or other constituents of waste material containing plastics
- B29B17/02—Separating plastics from other materials
- B29B2017/0213—Specific separating techniques
- B29B2017/0279—Optical identification, e.g. cameras or spectroscopy
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
- B29L2031/30—Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof
- B29L2031/3044—Bumpers
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
- Y02W30/00—Technologies for solid waste management
- Y02W30/50—Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies
- Y02W30/62—Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
Abstract
To enable a spectrometer (10) to be used for taking analysis readings from plastics articles of varying shapes and degree of preparation, the spectrometer is enclosed within a housing (12) which has an interface device (14) attached to an aperture (18). The interface has a chamber having a front wall with a sample aperture (18) against which the sample (24) can be placed so that a surface of the sample is exposed to the interior of the chamber, an operable closure member at the back of the chamber to block communication between the chamber and the spectrometer, and, in the chamber, means for cleaning a sample surface exposed to the interior of the chamber, means for extracting debris from the interior of the chamber and means for feeding a purging medium into the chamber. Particular utility is in recycling of plastic materials e.g. vehicle bumpers (24) resulting from scrapping of vehicles. System enables plastics to be sorted according to plastic type. <IMAGE>
Description
PLASTICS IDENTIFICATION
This invention relates to an apparatus for identifying different plastics materials. The apparatus is particularly (but not exclusively) suitable for use in the plastics industry, for separating plastics components into chemically similar groups as a first stage in, for instance, the recycling of the plastics materials.
One field of application is the recycling of motor car components. When a motor car is scrapped, its saleable components such as battery, tyres or radio are removed, usually for use in other vehicles. The metal parts of the scrap car are generally re-cycled, and what remains is shredded and used as land-fill.
The remainder that is used for land-fill consists primarily of a mixture of plastics materials. For environmental and/or economic reasons, it is desirable to be able to recycle such waste plastics materials. However it is not possible effectively to recycle mixtures of waster plastics without first separating the plastics into chemically similar groups or families. Failure to achieve this separation would mean that unknown portions of different plastics were incorporated in the melt during the reclaim process. The presence of other plastics components in a blend may necessitate changes in processing conditions or lead to unacceptable changes in the physical properties of the finished recycled material.
Whilst a number of laboratory techniques are known for identifying different plastics materials, none of these are suitable for use in a continuously operating plastics recycling line, and none of them can cope easily with scrap motor car parts which are of irregular size and shape and are usually dirty.
Our co-pending International Patent Application number
PCT GB93/02244 describes a method and an instrument for identifying plastics materials using a spectroscopy technique. While spectroscopy can lead to accurate results in terms of plastics identification, the instrumentation required is delicate and has to be carefully set up and maintained.
The present invention therefore seeks to provide an interface between spectroscopy apparatus and a piece of plastics to be identified, which will allow plastics components of a wide variety of shapes and conditions to be brought into a uniform position where they can be tested by the apparatus.
According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for identifying plastics, the apparatus comprising a spectrometer, a protective casing surrounding the spectrometer with a sensing window formed in one face of the casing, and an interface device associated with the aperture, the interface device comprising a chamber having a front wall with a sample aperture against which the sample can be placed so that a surface of the sample is exposed to the interior of the chamber, an operable closure member at the back of the chamber to block communication between the chamber and the spectrometer, and, in the chamber, means for cleaning a sample surface exposed to the interior of the chamber, means for extracting debris from the interior of the chamber and means for feeding a purging medium into the chamber.
The chamber is preferably enclosed by side walls in the form of collapsible bellows. The front wall may be displaceable towards and away from the sensing aperture of the spectrometer casing, and the displacement may be accomplished by mounting the front wall on spring-loaded guide rods which allow the front wall to be moved towards the sensing aperture, up to a defined end position at which a spectrometer reading will be taken.
The sample surface cleaning means, the debris extraction means and the purging medium feed means may all be sequentially operated by switches which are tripped in turn as the front wall is displaced towards the sensing aperture of the spectrometer casing. The mechanisms for sample surface cleaning, for debris extraction and for introduction of purging medium may all be constructed in such a way that they are brought into position between the front wall and the sensing aperture, when they are operated, and are automatically moved out of the region between the front wall and the sensing aperture when their function has been completed.
The sample surface cleaning means may be a grinding wheel, router or similar device which rotates in contact with the sample surface through the sample aperture of the front wall.
The debris extraction means can be a suction pipe which uses suction to extract debris, particularly debris produced by the action of the sample surface cleaning.
The debris extraction means may operate simultaneously with the sample surface cleaning means.
The purging medium feed means will preferably fill the chamber with an inert medium at a positive pressure, prior to the spectrometer reading being taken. The use of a positive pressure will prevent ingress of particles into the chamber.
The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a plastics
identification apparatus according to the invention,
and also showing a plastics item to be identified;
and
Figure 2 is a cross-section through part of the
apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a spectrometer 10 indicated in dotted lines which is housed within a protective housing 12. The protective housing protects the delicate spectrometer instrument from dirt and other foreign matter and from physical shocks. The housing is therefore continuous around the spectrometer instrument, apart from a sensing aperture or window 58 through which the spectrometer can look at a sample to be analysed.
On one face of the casing 12 there is a sample interface device 14. This device consists of a front plate 16 with a sample aperture 18, a back wall 20 mounted on the outer surface of the housing 12 and a flexible bellows 22 which encloses a chamber between the front wall 16 and the back wall 20. The back wall has an opening 57 which is closed by a shutter 56, and which registers with the sensing window 58 of the housing 12.
A sample to be identified, in this case a motor vehicle bumper 24, is placed against the sample window 18, as will now be described with reference to Figure 2.
In Figure 2 the vehicle bumper 24 (which has a curved rather than a flat surface) is placed against the front wall 16 so that it covers the sample aperture 18. It may be desirable to place a compressible rubber seal 26 around the aperture 18 so that part of the bumper 24 within the seal is sealed against the outside environment.
To take a reading, the operator holds the bumper 24 against the front wall 16 and exerts pressure on the bumper which gradually pushes the bumper and the front wall towards the protective housing 12. The front wall is mounted on guide rods 28, 30 which are biased away from the housing 12 by compression springs 32, 34. The force of these springs can however be overcome by the pressure which the operator exerts on the bumper.
As the inner ends of the guide rods 28, 30 pass into the interior of the casing 12, a foot 36 on the rod 30 moves past switch levers 38, 40, 42, 44 on a switch mounting arm 46. After the first stage of inward movement, the switch lever 38 is tripped and this triggers operation of a grinding wheel 48 which rotates to grind a clean surface area on the bumper. the purpose of this grinding step is to remove any surface treatments such as paint and/or surface grime which may have accumulated on the surface.
As the movement of the front wall 16 towards the housing continues, the foot 36 will next operate the switch lever 40 which will stop operation of the surface cleaning, will cause the grinding wheel to be moved away from the sample aperture, and will start a debris extraction routine which extracts any debris contained within the chamber 50 through a suction pipe 52.
When the foot 36 reaches the third switch lever 42, debris extraction will stop, the pipe 52 will be moved away from the sample aperture, and the chamber 50 will be purged by introducing an inert gas through a gas pipe 54.
Finally when the foot 36 reaches the last switch lever 44, purging will stop, the pipe 54 will be withdrawn, a shutter 56 which closes a sensing window 58 will be opened, and the spectrometer itself will be activated to take a reading of the clean bumper surface 24.
Once the reading has been taken, a signal is given to the operator, possibly by the illumination of a green light somewhere on the casing, that the bumper can be removed and the springs 32, 34 will then restore the front wall 16 to its original position and the apparatus will be ready for another sample to be put in place and another reading to be taken.
Although a spectrometer can produce very accurate results in respect of plastics identification, a spectrometer instrument is a delicate instrument, the setting and handling of which requires considerable skill. Using an interface as described here between the spectrometer and the sample to be identified allows the spectrometer to be isolated from the environment and yet to be used for taking quick readings of a number of different samples.
Claims (11)
1. Apparatus for identifying plastics, the apparatus comprising a spectrometer, a protective casing surrounding the spectrometer with a sensing window formed in one face of the casing, and an interface device associated with the aperture, the interface device comprising a chamber having a front wall with a sample aperture against which the sample can be placed so that a surface of the sample is exposed to the interior of the chamber, an operable closure member at the back of the chamber to block communication between the chamber and the spectrometer, and, in the chamber, means for cleaning a sample surface exposed to the interior of the chamber, means for extracting debris from the interior of the chamber and means for feeding a purging medium into the chamber.
2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the chamber is enclosed by side walls in the form of collapsible bellows.
3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the front wall is displaceable towards and away from the sensing aperture of the spectrometer casing.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the displacement is accomplished by mounting the front wall on spring-loaded guide rods which allow the front wall to be moved towards the sensing aperture, up to a defined end position at which a spectrometer reading will be taken.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sample surface cleaning means, the debris extraction means and the purging medium feed means are all adapted to be sequentially operated by switches which are tripped in turn as the front wall is displaced towards the sensing aperture of the spectrometer casing.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the mechanisms for sample surface cleaning, for debris extraction and for introduction of purging medium are all constructed in such a way that they are brought into position between the front wall and the sensing aperture, when they are operated, and are automatically moved out of the region between the front wall and the sensing aperture when their function has been completed.
7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sample surface cleaning means is a grinding wheel which rotates in contact with the sample surface through the sample aperture of the front wall.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the debris extraction means is a suction pipe which uses suction to extract debris, particularly debris produced by the action of the sample surface cleaning.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the debris extraction means is adapted to operate simultaneously with the sample surface cleaning means.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the purging medium feed means is adapted to fill the chamber with an inert medium at a positive pressure, prior to the spectrometer reading being taken.
11. Apparatus for identifying plastics, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (8)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9406842A GB2288461A (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1994-04-07 | System for plastics identification |
| ES95913918T ES2127519T3 (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1995-04-05 | IDENTIFICATION OF PLASTICS. |
| DE69507796T DE69507796T2 (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1995-04-05 | PLASTIC IDENTIFICATION |
| EP19950913918 EP0754297B1 (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1995-04-05 | Plastics identification |
| US08/732,483 US5786892A (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1995-04-05 | Plastics identification |
| JP52615795A JPH09511580A (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1995-04-05 | Plastic identification |
| AT95913918T ATE176725T1 (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1995-04-05 | PLASTIC IDENTIFICATION |
| PCT/GB1995/000779 WO1995027892A1 (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1995-04-05 | Plastics identification |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9406842A GB2288461A (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1994-04-07 | System for plastics identification |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9406842D0 GB9406842D0 (en) | 1994-06-01 |
| GB2288461A true GB2288461A (en) | 1995-10-18 |
Family
ID=10753118
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9406842A Withdrawn GB2288461A (en) | 1994-04-07 | 1994-04-07 | System for plastics identification |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2288461A (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0713082A3 (en) * | 1994-11-17 | 1997-05-28 | Ford Motor Co | Optical module for a spectrometer |
| WO2000067004A1 (en) * | 1999-05-03 | 2000-11-09 | General Electric Company | System and method to quantify appearance defects in molded plastic parts |
| WO2007034569A1 (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2007-03-29 | Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. | Spectrometer mount and measuring apparatus including same |
-
1994
- 1994-04-07 GB GB9406842A patent/GB2288461A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0713082A3 (en) * | 1994-11-17 | 1997-05-28 | Ford Motor Co | Optical module for a spectrometer |
| WO2000067004A1 (en) * | 1999-05-03 | 2000-11-09 | General Electric Company | System and method to quantify appearance defects in molded plastic parts |
| US6868371B1 (en) | 1999-05-03 | 2005-03-15 | General Electric Company | System and method to quantify appearance defects in molded plastic parts |
| WO2007034569A1 (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2007-03-29 | Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. | Spectrometer mount and measuring apparatus including same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9406842D0 (en) | 1994-06-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |