Method and apparatus for the separation of materials using penetrating electromagnetic radiation

An automated interrupt driven system which employs a circular buffer is used to sort materials based on differing electromagnetic radiation absorption and penetration characteristics. The system has a conveyor and a source of electromagnetic radiation which radiates materials travelling along the conveyor. A controller samples detector outputs at various times to evaluate the absorption and penetration characteristics of the materials to be sorted, based on a plurality of samples. Portions of the materials are ignored to obtain accurate readings from the detectors. Based on the detected penetration and absorption characteristics, the controller activates ejection mechanisms causing materials of different compositions to be deposited into different bins. The controller executes interrupts to cause detection, ejection, testing, and system history maintenance at required times. The circular buffer contains indices which point to various locations which are programmed in memory to trigger and perform specific events. The location of the indices in the circular buffer is used to control event timing, such as activating and deactivating the ejection mechanisms. This configuration allows several events to be executed simultaneously by moving to the next location in the circular buffer while the event indicated by the index in the previous location continues in progress.