Evaluation of the trajectory of objects transported by a belt conveyor

A key factor in managing solid waste to protect the environment is the reuse of discarded materials. Especially metals - when they do not degrade and their chemical characteristics remain unaltered over time - can be reused more easily than non-metallic materials. This research pointed out a methodology for selecting flowing items by means of optical sensors (sensor sortation) following each object during its movement in the field of vision, recording the changes in optical properties and singling out the class to which the object belongs. A program of stimulation by ray-tracing has been realized: the effects of changes in lighting on the quality of the image of the objects to be selected have been evaluated. The possibility of distinguishing two metals (aluminum and brass) was proven as a function of their selective response to illumination with different wavelengths. Finally, the possibility of tracking and predicting the position of an object by studying its trajectory was assessed. To achieve this, a procedure that calculates the position of an object after leaving the field of vision was examined - one which permits the object to be singled out and sent to the recovery cycle by means of appropriate technology. This research was developed in several phases. Software for ray-tracing was produced, and an experimental phase was carried out to test the software. Then the relative set-up for the methodology of recognizing objects and predicting their movement was tested.