A Smarter Way to Recycle: A Guide to Using Plastic Color Sorting Machines

Why Plastic Recycling Cannot Do Without Plastic Color Sorters

Under the trend of environmental protection, resource recovery, and green manufacturing, more and more enterprises are investing in the plastic recycling and reuse industry. Plastic waste comes in various colors, and mixed recycling is difficult to meet purity standards. Manual sorting is inefficient and costly. Plastic color sorters, through high-speed image acquisition and precise optical recognition technology, can automatically remove discolored plastics, thus achieving efficient sorting. Its application has greatly promoted the automation and standardization of the plastics industry.

Working Principle of High-Speed Plastic Sorters

1. Feeding System

Waste plastics are evenly fed onto the conveyor belt through vibration or airflow to ensure that a layer of material can enter the recognition area.

2. Image Acquisition: Equipped with CCD + LED Light Source

High-speed cameras with shadow-free cold light or multispectral lighting can capture the details of each material in real-time.

3. Visual Recognition and Artificial Intelligence Algorithms

Through deep learning models, it can recognize colors, materials, shapes, and defects, achieving a recognition level of "visual + semantic."

4. High-Speed Jet Ejection Device

When mixed pigments, foreign substances, or defective materials are detected, the jet device accurately removes them within 0.01 seconds to ensure the purity of the selected material.

5. Discharge Zone

Classified high-quality plastics flow into collection bins, while waste or inferior materials are discharged.

How to Choose a Plastic Color Sorter

Analyze from three aspects: material, production capacity, and configuration requirements to help you choose the right equipment:

1. Based on Materials

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) particles: It is recommended to choose models with stronger spectral recognition capabilities.

Mixed color engineering materials (polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, etc.): The algorithm requires more complex auxiliary functions and needs to support training recognition.

2. Dividing by Forms

Flakes/Layers: Need to be equipped with anti-adhesion conveyor systems to ensure layered loading.

Particles/Granular Materials: Focus on checking the recognition field of view and the response speed of the spray valve.

3. Calculating by Output

For small daily usage: Winia small/medium standard models are recommended.

Large-scale production lines: You can choose the Wenyang multi-channel large models to efficiently match your assembly line.

The Versatility and Customization of Wenyang Plastic Color Sorters

We understand the significant variability in recycling operations. Wenyang plastic color sorters are designed with high flexibility. Whether you are processing post-consumer bottles, industrial waste, or electronic device plastics, our sorters can be customized according to specific requirements to meet particular processing and purity objectives. From small-scale trial models to high-capacity industrial production lines, we provide tailored solutions to meet your unique operational needs, ensuring you have the right tools to handle various material streams.

Quanwen Bi, Mechanical Designer & Company Founder

Founded Anhui Wenyao Intelligent Photoelectronic Technology Co., Ltd. in 2007, with over 20 years of experience in color sorter design.