News

APPLIED’S X-RAY ORE SORTER AIDS SCHEELITE BENEFICIATION  


Melbourne based Applied Sorting Technologies Pty Ltd has supplied Vital Metals Ltd, the North Queensland scheelite explorer, with innovative x-ray ore sorting machinery for upgrading the company’s Watershed deposit which is moving closer to development
 
The initial, pilot scale Applied Sorting x-ray machine (see photo attached) is currently running bulk samples in Perth and is providing excellent results in terms of waste rejection and tungsten recovery over ore samples with a wide range from +5 mm to 100 mm square mesh in size.
 
In these pre-concentration tests an averaged overall rejection of 55.2% of the feed material was achieved at an extremely satisfactory “throw-away” tailings grade of 0.027% WO3.
 
Applied Sorting Technologies spokesman Peter Hawkins says that “X-ray ore sorting can be applied to a wide range of mineral types as well as the tungsten ores, scheelite and wolfram.
 
“Ores of most of the steel alloying elements like molybdenum, vanadium, nickel and  manganese may be beneficiated using x-ray ore sorting as may several other high value materials like tin, bismuth,  tantalum etc.”
 
“Our system uses high-speed digital x-ray imaging to detect the amount of the desired mineral within each rock.
 
“It has the advantage of not relying on rock surface information, unlike alternative sensing methods which rely on surface optical fluorescence or light reflectance properties to indicate grade.
 
“Instead, it effectively measures the weight of the valuable material contained within each rock and computes the corresponding rock grade.
 
“It is highly effective in ores where the mineralisation occurs as veins or lenses, even only a few mm in size, within the rocks being sorted.
 
The x-ray system is able to look inside the rocks, add up the weight of the valuable particles and decide whether a particular rock should be accepted or rejected.”
 
Mr Hawkins says the other advantage that the x-ray system has over optical sorting methods is the ability to ignore surface effects such as smearing of friable fluorescent scheelite material onto barren adjacent rocks which in an optical system leads to significant dilution.
 
In addition, the lack of optical sensors means that the feed can be dusty, muddy or clean, wet or dry and still be successfully sorted.
 
“The Applied Sorting system is unique in the way in which it combines algorithms adapted from detection of foreign matter in food products together with the digital processing needed for high-speed rock sorting and air blast operation.
 
“This is done whilst keeping intact the timing information of each particle as it travels along the conveyor, which allows high-speed air jets to open at the correct time after the rock has launched off the conveyor head pulley.”
 
X-ray sorting has been used widely for many years in diamond recovery.
 
The founders of Applied Sorting Technologies were responsible for developing and building x-ray sorters still being used today by Argyle Diamond Mines while they were employees of CRA Group Special Equipment unit.
 
After forming Applied Sorting in 1992 they expanded into building high speed x-ray inspections systems for use on export beef and cheese as well as retaining their involvement in mineral processing.
 
The latest machines are a joint development between Applied Sorting Technologies Pty Ltd and Diamond Valley Instruments Pty Ltd which also has extensive experience in the Argyle x-ray diamond recovery operations.
 
Commercial versions of the new x-ray ore sorting machines will have capacities of up to around 100 tonnes per hour.
 
For further information contact Applied Sorting Technologies on 03 9850 7622 or email to sales@appliedsorting.com.au


 The pilot scale XR-3000 x-ray ore sorter bulk testing scheelite ore samples derived from the Watershed scheelite deposit of Vital Metals in North Queensland.



APPLIED SORTING APPOINTS ACCUWEIGH AS DISTRIBUTOR

Applied Sorting Technologies has appointed packaging and weighing equipment specialist Accuweigh to be its exclusive distributor for the company’s range of Australian made x-ray food inspection systems.

Business Development Manager, John Vincent describes Applied Sorting Technologies as being principally a technology company. “Our key strengths are our skills in developing and building systems requiring advanced sensing technology combined with high speed materials handling and information processing. We are particularly innovative in x-ray work. Our engineers developed and built the first high speed x-ray diamond separators for the Argyle diamond mines and we were commissioned to develop and supply the first x-ray meat inspection machines which are now used by most of Australia’s major beef exporters 

We are very strong on technology but we needed a better marketing presence to let the public know what we have to offer. We chose Accuweigh to be our marketing partners after considering several alternative approaches. Accuweigh have a strong and progressive technical capability as well as being a respected organisation that is presently selling products that are complimentary to ours to the same customers that are potential users of our equipment.

  Several major food processors across Australia are already using our equipment. By working with Accuweigh we are confident we can further expand our customer base..” 

For further information call Applied Sorting Technologies on 03 9850 7622 or Accuweigh on 08 9259 5535 (http://www.accuweigh.com.au/).

 

 

ROBOTIC FOOD PROCESSING NOW WITH X-RAY VISION

X-ray imaging has been added to the arsenal of sensing technologies being used to guide robotic food processing and packaging systems.

Robots are playing an increasingly important role in helping Australian producers maintain high quality standards for their products while at the same time helping to lower costs and reduce waste.

Queensland based Zen Automation specialises in delivering turnkey, robotics based food preparation, inspection and packaging systems that function as an integral part of the client’s overall operations.

Brisbane based Zen Automation Technology has been working closely with Melbourne based Applied Sorting Technologies in using x-ray sensing to expand the capabilities of robotics systems, particularly for processing fresh fruit and vegetables.

Historically most robots have relied on a range of visual sensing systems and image processing software to guide operations like picking, grading or trimming products and then placing them into appropriate locations or containers.

By adding x-ray imaging, robotic systems can now look at the inside of the products as well as the outside.

Typical applications where x-ray imaging can be used to guide robots include looking internally for damage caused by insects or disease and either grading the product accordingly or directing automatic trimming robots to remove the defect.

Fresh lettuces can be scanned for stones and insect damage and the image used to position and align the lettuce for automatic core removal.

Software developed by Zen Automation enables their robot systems to handle products presented in random orientation and position on a belt.

For example, random sausages can be x-rayed for metal or bone contamination, picked up, regardless of their orientation, correctly aligned and placed into trays for shrink-wrapping.

According to Zeng Li, Managing Director of Zen Automation, “every situation is different and we bring together the best combination of technologies to provide a turnkey solution.

“X-ray imaging is new in food processing robotics but it has a lot of potential.
“Applied Sorting is an Australian based company specialising in x-ray imaging and we expect that by working with them we can give our clients a wider range of solutions for their needs”.

Further information can be found by phoning Zen Automation on 07 3255 6968 or Applied Sorting on 03 9850 7622.

      

X-ray images for automatic separation of products containing foreign matter (cos lettuce) and for automatic lettuce core removal.

 

 

APPLIED SORTING ADDS DUAL LANE X-RAY FOOD INSPECTION SYSTEM

Applied Sorting has just released a new dual lane version of its XR-3000P x-ray inspection system (the XR-3000PD) that enables two streams of different products to be inspected simultaneously on the one machine.

As well as giving virtually two machines for not much more than the price of one, the new system is expected to create substantial savings in the cost of ancillary materials handling facilities and in saving valuable floor space compared to installing two separate machines.

Each lane or channel can to be operated with different detection parameter settings, enabling two different types of products to be inspected at the same time.

Defective products can be rejected on the basis of contaminants like glass, stones, metal, plastics etc. or because of under-fill or missing ingredients.

The new system is readily interchangeable between a dual or single channel configuration.

In the dual channel configuration it can inspect two streams of products up to 150mm wide while in single channel mode it can inspect products up to 300mm wide.

The single belt can be varied in speed between 5 and 60 metres per minute.

A variety of reject product deflector options are available to suit different kinds of products and operating conditions.

Because each Applied Sorting X-Ray Inspection System is built in Australia, against individual customer orders, the company is able to offer preferred brand choices in components like PLC’s, switch gear, drive motors, gear boxes and VSD’s.

Applied Sorting can also work with their customer’s engineering team to ensure the installed system satisfies OH&S requirements and food safety standards.

Because of its economy and versatility the new Applied Sorting machine is expected to be popular with contract packers as well as food manufacturers.

It is being targeted at the inspection of frozen foods, bakery products, smallgoods, confectionery, dips, and powdered food products including cake mixes, sauces and beverages.


Applied Sorting’s new dual lane version of its XR-3000P inspection system enables two streams of different food products to be inspected against a range of criteria simultaneously on the one machine.