INFRARED IMAGING SPECTROSCOPY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SORTING PARTICULATE MATERIAL

摘要

An infrared spectral system (10) for identifying target mineral grain particles within a group of mineral grains (12) is disclosed. In an example embodiment, the system (10) comprises a conveyor belt (20) for carrying the group of mineral grains (12), at least one infrared excitation module (16) that includes means (40) for providing infrared radiation to the group of mineral grains (12) on the conveyor belt (20), at least one infrared collection module (32) for collecting the reflected infrared radiation from the group of mineral grains (12) on the conveyor belt (20), processing means (72) for determining the location of target mineral grain particles on the conveyor belt (20), and target particle extraction means for picking the target particles based on the processing means' determined location of target particles. In an example embodiment, the means (40) for providing infrared radiation to the particles on the conveyor belt includes a heater element (46) located within a heater holder (42). In a second example embodiment, particles are presented as a batch to a spectral imaging system (100), and target particles are picked by a robotic system.