Steinert UniSort PR can sort packaging, substitute fuels or plastics from e-scrap

The new UniSort PR sorting system from Steinert, Walton, Kentucky, is designed to replace conventional scanning systems with a powerful, flexible, accurate, reliable and user-friendly performance, the company says.

This new generation of UniSort equipment is based on the latest near infrared (NIR) camera technology known as hyper spectral imaging (HSI). HSI combines high-resolution spatial and spectral information and can measure more points on the spectra, making it more accurate, with higher purity and more clarity on the information collected as material is processed, Steinert says.

According to the company, HSI requires less light intensity and calibration. As a result, small objects are reliably recognized, and complex sorting tasks are possible because the system records the complete spectral region for every spatial point and uses mature, fast spectrometric algorithms.

The UniSort PR’s camera technology is suitable for a range of applications, including sorting packaging, substitute fuels or plastics from electronic scrap (e-scrap). In addition to image processing, a range of nozzle powers are designed for optimal matching to the material to be sorted. The UniSort PR is available in four width sizes.

Hardware components are designed to enable the analytical processing of the flood of data from the spectroscopic measurements. The spectral measurements are not compared with known patterns. The specially developed algorithms are designed to classify the standard plastics and be adapted to tackle more difficult tasks.

All of the spectroscopic data recorded are measured simultaneously and processed in the camera. The HSI technology uses the principle of a high-resolution line camera with a resolution of 320 pixels perpendicular to the belt direction. The system measures continuously with the incident light rather than only recording one scan point at a time.

The HSI sensor is mounted above the conveyor belt in such a way that larger objects, such as bulky components or smaller canisters that have found their way onto the belt, can pass without problems.

The UniSort PR sorter offers a selection of two nozzle bar grids. The standard grid size is suitable for fraction sizes in the range 50–280 millimeters and has a nozzle separation of 31 millimeters. The grid dimension for the fine-grain fraction measures 12.5 millimeters and is suitable for targeted ejection of fraction sizes of 10 millimeters and greater. Nozzle grids of 16.5 millimeters and 22.5 millimeters are also available on request.

For more information and to watch the UniSort PR in operation, visit www.steinertglobal.com/us/en/products/unisort/unisort-pr.

Steinert is exhibiting at WasteExpo 2018 in Las Vegas at Booth No. 2443.