METHOD AND APPARATUS OF SORTING PLASTIC ITEMS

摘要

A method of sorting plastic items by measuring the effect an item has on light directed at a stream of items from a light source (224), then selectively removing items from the stream based on a comparison of the light measured and the light emitted from the detector (226) is provided. The invention also includes an apparatus for separating plastic items which comprises a light source (224), a detector (226) for measuring the effect an individual item has on light emitted from the detector, and sortation means (229) for selectively removing items from the stream based on a comparison of the light emitted by the light source (224) and that measured at the detector (226). A method for separating single plastic bottles from engaged interlocked bottle clusters comprising directing an air jet (125, 128) at an item sufficiently forceful to displace a single bottle to a collection means (136) but insufficiently forceful to displace an interlocked bottle cluster is also provided.