AN APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF SORTING OBJECTS USING REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY

摘要

An apparatus for and method of identifying and sorting target particles using reflectance spectroscopy in the visible (VIS) to the near infrared (NIR) spectral range, are disclosed. In one version, a hyperspectral imaging apparatus (10) is used to identify and sort target particles within a batch of particles, the apparatus comprising a tray (12) for supporting the batch of particles, leveling means for leveling the batch of particles into substantially a monolayer, a hyperspectral scanning system (14) for scanning the batch of particles, to produce a hyperspectral image of the batch of particles, a classifier for determining the pixel coordinates of target particles in the hyperspectral image, converter means for converting the pixel coordinates to world coordinates of the target particles on the tray (12), and target particle extraction means (16) for picking the target particles based on the calculated world coordinates and for transferring the picked target particles to a storage arrangement (18).