DETECTING UNWANTED MATERIALS AMONG CULLET

摘要

An apparatus and a method for inspecting cullet (2) for the presence of unwanted materials among the pieces of glass. A light source such as a laser (11) directs light onto the cullet (2). At least one array of at least two light detectors (8) is positioned to delete reflected light from the cullet (2). The detectors (8) differentiate between non-uniformly scattered light from the cullet (2) and generally uniformly scattered light from the debris. Signalling means are provided to signal the differentiation thereby to indicate the presence of debris in the cullet (2) under inspection. When cullet (2) is present on a moving cullet belt (1), light from the light source (8) is intermittently scanned over the cullet (2) in a raster-type scan. A multi-faceted rotatable mirror (12) may be employed intermittently to reflect light onto the cullet (2).