The photoelectric separator is composed of a mechanical part and a control system. The mechanical part realizes feeding, weighing and sorting. The control system is implemented by PLC to realize the entire action process of the sorter. The industrial control computer communicates with the Electronic scale and the PLC respectively through the serial port and the data acquisition card to achieve the collection and processing of measurement signals. The hardware of the sorter control system mainly consists of electronic scale, industrial control computer, PLC, photoelectric switch, electromagnet, stepper motor and interface circuit, etc.

The separator adopts the differential weighing principle. Within one data acquisition cycle, the weight of the drum is weighed first, then the weight of the drum plus the material is weighed. The actual weight of the material block is obtained by subtracting the two. When the Sorting machine starts up, the electronic scale turns on, and the DC motor drives the drum to rotate. The discharge door closes, and the electronic scale displays the stable value in the no-load running state, that is, the weight of the drum. When the material block falls from the upper slide way, the switch responds, the discharge door opens, and the material block falls into the material trough of the drum. The reading on the electronic scale gradually stabilizes as the drum rotates, and the stable value after feeding is obtained, that is, the weight of the drum plus the material block.

According to the control requirements, the PLC realizes the working process of the mechanical part. The electronic scale measures the weight of the drum and the material block, and the data is transmitted to the industrial control computer through the RS-232C interface. The industrial control computer analyzes and processes the data to obtain the measured values, and compares them with the set values to get the grouping results. The digital 0 card notifies the PLC of the grouping results, and the PLC sends the material blocks to the designated silo according to the grouping results.

The continuous rotation of the drum conveys the material blocks to the sorting device through the slide way. The industrial control computer obtains the weight of the drum through the sampling electronic scale. The vibrating hopper and the linear conveyor are in operation. When the photoelectric switch detects a material block, the photoelectric switch opens the discharge door. The material block falls into the roller through the slide way, and the vibrating hopper and the linear conveyor stop working. The material blocks fall into the drum and gradually stabilize. The industrial control computer samples the electronic scale to obtain the weight of the drum plus the material blocks. The drum rotates, sending the material blocks through the slide to the sorting synchronous belt. The industrial control computer notifies the PLC of the processing result. The PLC starts the stepping motor, driving the synchronous belt to convey the material blocks forward to the predetermined silo. The PLC initiates the solenoid valve trigger signal, and the blower works, causing the material blocks to fall into the silo.