allPIXA SWIR 512 GigE C-Mount Camera Sorts Recyclable Plastics

An imaging solution consisting of the allPIXA SWIR (Short-wave Infrared) Line Scan camera and the Corona II LED Illumination system offers real-time, non-destructive inspection and sorting of mixed plastics with a fast line rate.

By accurately identifying and classifying plastics based on their spectral properties, the camera can contribute to more cost-efficient, higher-purity recycling outcomes and better plastic waste management.

Available in a choice of GenICam-compliant GigE Vision or CameraLink interfaces, the allPIXA features an InGaAs uncooled sensor capable of handling wavelengths from 950 to 1,700 nm while its compact footprint works for space-limited plants. The sensor has resolutions of 512 or 1k and pixel sizes of 25 and 12.5 µm, along with high sensitivity and a line frequency of 40 kHz.

Plastics may look identical to the human eye yet differ significantly in the SWIR spectrum, as different types of plastics absorb and reflect radiation in different ways. These types include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), PP, polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polylactic acid (PLA), and nylon 6.

These different plastic types can be distinguished from each other by the camera, ensuring accurate separation on a conveyor belt by an array of air jets. To reach a finer screening, users can repeat the process several times. Detected foreign particles mixed with the plastic are discharged with minimal material loss before the sorted fractions are transported to the next processing stage.

Features:

• InGaAs line sensor
• 512 x 1 or 1,024 x 1 pixel
• Pixel size 12.5 x 12.5 µm or 25 x 25 µm
• GigE or CameraLink interfaces
• Line rates up to 40 kHz
• Output 1x 8, 10, 12 bit
• Internal FPGA for image preprocessing

Applications/Industries:

Chromasens GmbH