Method and device for automatically separating telephone cards according to specific materials

摘要

Cards are fed to and held on a sorting table (10) which rotates between various analysis positions. Cards are fed to and held on a sorting table (10) which rotates between various analysis positions. Cards with contact functioning electronic chips are detected by passing test contacts; cards with contact functioning chips or magnetic strips are identified by optical examination of the card structure; cards based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are detected by a Beilstein test involving pyrolysis and those based on acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) are identified by infrared inspection. An independent claim is made for an equipment for the automatic sorting process. Preferred Features: PVC based cards are identified by pyrolysing and by detecting light emission in the 500-530 nm range. ABS based cards are identified by the nitrile groups through measuring the absorption of the card in the infrared range with wave lengths of 4.2-4.6 microns. The sorting table (1) is circular and has rectangular, radially arranged card holders (11) in which cards are held by vacuum. Movement of the sorting table is incremental between identification, punching and ejection equipment (a-e) located opposite each segment of the sorting table. Chip-carrying telephone cards are identified by test heads passing over cards to sense contact faces. Optical investigation is by a light source directed at a specific onto the cards on the table and an optical sensor which distinguishes between cards with contacts and those with magnetic strips. Copper powder and binder in a solvent are applied before the pyrolysis which is effected by laser or by spark excitation using copper electrodes. Openings in the base of the sorting table allow for punching out chips. Remaining cards are ejected from the base of the card holders either mechanically or with compressed air.