US 7,482,584 B2
	Method for the automatic analysis of refuse containing polymers and an automatic analytical device for this purpose
Rudolf Kämpf, Haingründau (Germany); and Reinhard Wolf, Rodenbach (Germany)
Assigned to Lurgi Zimmer GmbH, Frankfurt (Germany)
Filed on Oct. 06, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/959,732.
Claims priority of application No. 103 46 768 (DE), filed on Oct. 06, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0127285 A1, Jun. 16, 2005
Int. Cl. H01J 49/04 (2006.01); G01N 1/24 (2006.01); B29B 17/00 (2006.01)

U.S. Cl. 250—288  [250/282; 250/281]

30 Claims

1. A method by which refuse objects containing polymers are analyzed before recycling with regard to the polymers they contain during transport, the method comprising: converting a part of the refuse object into the gaseous state; mass spectroscopically examining a part of the refuse object by a mass spectrometer; and sorting the refuse object in dependence of the result of the mass spectroscopic examination, wherein a gas line is automatically cleaned after a sample extraction by being flushed with an inert gas, whereby the gas line is released from its connection with the mass spectrometer during flushing.