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 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 identification apparatus 1000 includes a light collecting unit 20 configured to collect scattered light from a sample, spectroscopic elements 150l and 150h configured to disperse light from the light collecting unit 20, an imaging unit 170 that includes a plurality of light detection elements arrayed in a row direction 172r and a column direction 172c and to which optical spectra from the spectroscopic elements 150l and 150h are projected along the row direction 172r, and an acquisition unit 30 configured to acquire spectral information about the sample based on an output signal from the imaging unit 170. The optical spectra corresponding to the sample are projected to the imaging unit 170 discontinuously in at least one of the row direction 172r and the column direction 172c.

The present disclosure relates to apparatus and processes for inspection, sortation, and pysrolysis of waste plastic feeds. In at least one embodiment, a method includes inspecting a waste platic bale, shredding its contents to particles, and sorting those particles based on target identifiers, such as material composition. The sorted material are then pyrolyzed to achaive a desired pyrolysis product.

An optical sorter includes optical sorting units adapted to sort materials by quality. A first optical sorting unit sorts the materials by quality and transfers a fraction of the materials discharged from a defectives discharge unit in the first optical sorting unit to a second optical sorting unit. A second optical sorting unit sorts the materials by quality and transfers a fraction of the materials discharged from a defectives discharge unit in the second optical sorting unit to a third optical sorting unit, which sorts the materials transferred from the second optical sorting unit by quality. The optical sorter allows a fraction of the materials to be transferred to the third optical sorting unit and sorted therein, the materials to be sorted being among the materials sorted by quality in the first optical sorting unit and being discharged from the defectives discharge unit of the first optical sorting unit.

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 optical sorter includes a light source configured to irradiate a sorting target in transit on a conveyance route with light, an optical sensor configured to detect light emitted from the light source and associated with the sorting target, a determination portion configured to determine whether the sorting target is a foreign object and/or a defective product based on a signal acquired by the optical sensor with respect to the light associated with the sorting target, and at least one intermediate member disposed at a position located between the light source and the conveyance route in a direction in which the sorting target is irradiated with the light from the light source and located in such a manner that the intermediate member does not affect the detection of the light associated with the sorting target. The at least one intermediate member includes a reflection region on which the light emitted from the light source is reflected. The optical sensor is further configured to detect the light emitted from the light source and reflected on the reflection region.

An apparatus for sorting is described and includes 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.

An apparatus for sorting is described and includes 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.

An identification apparatus 1000 includes a light collecting unit 20 configured to collect scattered light from a sample, spectroscopic elements 150l and 150h configured to disperse light from the light collecting unit 20, an imaging unit 170 that includes a plurality of light detection elements arrayed in a row direction 172r and a column direction 172c and to which optical spectra from the spectroscopic elements 150l and 150h are projected along the row direction 172r, and an acquisition unit 30 configured to acquire spectral information about the sample based on an output signal from the imaging unit 170. The optical spectra corresponding to the sample are projected to the imaging unit 170 discontinuously in at least one of the row direction 172r and the column direction 172c.