A method for detecting mentholated tobacco, comprising irradiating tobacco containing menthol and a fluorescent taggant with radiation and observing the tobacco for fluorescence from the taggant. A system and method for detecting and separating mentholated tobacco from non-mentholated tobacco within a product stream is also provided.

A copolymer is prepared by the polymerization of monomers that include an ultraviolet absorbing monomer, and a base-solubility-enhancing monomer. The copolymer is useful for forming a topcoat layer for electron beam and extreme ultraviolet lithographies. Also described are a layered article including the topcoat layer, and an associated method of forming an electronic device.

A sorting apparatus and related methods are described and include acquiring a multiplicity of synchronized image signals of a product stream which is to be sorted; generating a multiplicity of fused sensor signals; forming an image model previously acquired from the objects to be sorted; identifying objects in the product stream, and generating object presence and defect signals; determining a spatial orientation of the objects in the product stream; detecting the defects and removing the defects from the product stream.

The present application relates to a method and system for conducting ore presorting based on hierarchical arrayed intelligent sorting. The method includes: acquiring parameter information of ores to be processed, and determining, according to the parameter information, the number of intelligent sorting devices and a sorting hierarchy structure of a plurality of intelligent sorting devices for hierarchical arrayed intelligent sorting; determining, according to the sorting hierarchy structure of the plurality of intelligent sorting devices, a granularity hierarchy structure for conducting multi-hierarchy granularity processing on the ores to be processed; associating each sorting hierarchy in the sorting hierarchy structure with a corresponding granularity hierarchy in the granularity hierarchy structure to form a multi-hierarchy ore processing structure including at least two processing hierarchies; and conducting ore presorting on the ores to be processed based on the multi-hierarchy ore processing structure so as to acquire ores that meet a predetermined granularity.

Sorting device and method for detecting irregularities in a product flow (1) moving in free flight through a detection zone (10), with a detection device (11) provided for detecting irregular products (6) in the product flow (1). The detection device (11) is separated from the product flow (1) by a closed wall (16) having at least one window (17) so that the product flow (1) can be detected by the detection device (11). This window (17) is shielded from the product flow (1) by a disc-shaped element (18) which can be driven around a rotational axis (19) in order to remove contaminants from said element (18).

A method for removing foreign matter from an agricultural product stream of a manufacturing process. The method includes conveying a product stream past an inspection station; scanning a region of the agricultural product stream as it passes the inspection station using at least one light source of a single or different wavelengths; generating hyperspectral images from the scanned region; determining a spectral fingerprint for the agricultural product stream from the hyperspectral images; comparing the spectral fingerprint obtained in step (c) to a spectral fingerprint database containing a plurality of fingerprints using a computer processor to determine whether foreign matter is present and, if present, generating a signal in response thereto; and removing a portion of the conveyed product stream in response to the signal. A system for detecting foreign matter within an agricultural product stream is also provided.

An inspection unit for performing an optical inspection on a grain to be transferred by transfer means includes a visible light source, a near-infrared light source, a visible light detection unit, and a near-infrared light detection unit. A determination unit plots wavelength components of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and a near-infrared light component in a three-dimensional space, to create a three-dimensional optical correlation diagram, for a plurality of good product samples and defective product samples, and sets a threshold value, in which: the wavelength components are detected by the visible light detection unit; and the near-infrared light component is detected by the near-infrared light detection unit.

An ore-sorting system includes a trona ore screen system including an ore crusher and a filter. The ore-sorting system further includes a beneficiation system having a sensor and a separator. The separator includes an identification system configured to accept or reject ore. The accepted ore is deposited in a bin and the rejected ore is ejected with a high-pressure air jet.

An ore-sorting system includes a trona ore screen system, the trona ore screen system including an ore crusher and a filter. The screen system is configured to produce an ore feed comprising ore particles having a predetermined size. The ore sorting system further includes a beneficiation system that receives the ore particles having a predetermined size, the beneficiation system configured to increase an economic value of the trona ore by removing gangue material, resulting in a high-grade ore product. The beneficiation system includes a laser scanner. The ore sorting system also includes a sorter configured to separate the high-grade ore product from the gangue material. The sorter includes an identification system configured to accept or reject ore. The accepted ore is deposited in a bin and rejected ore is ejected with a high-pressure air jet.

A trona ore processing system includes a trona ore screen system including an ore crusher and a filter. The trona ore processing system further includes a sorting system having a dual laser scanning-based imaging processor to identify ore purity. The trona ore processing system further includes a separator configured to accept or reject ore. A first grade ore is sent to a calciner and a second grade ore is sent to a mill.