Magnetic separator apparatus and methods of fabricating, disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling same

A method of operating a magnetic separator, comprising:

• providing a housing that defines a flow path and a magnet positioned within the flow path, the magnet having a shoulder;
• affixing a stripper plate within a stripper plate frame of the magnetic separator, wherein the stripper plate having an aperture that conforms with the magnet such that the magnet passes through the aperture as a drawer is moved between first and second positions;
• positioning an anti-rotation mechanism over the shoulder such that, when the anti-rotation mechanism is positioned having a slot over the shoulder, the magnet is prevented from moving from the axially locked position;
• wherein the shoulder extends beyond an outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism;
• further comprising passing the shoulder of the magnet through a keyed opening of the drawer, and rotating the shoulder with respect to the keyed opening to axially lock the magnet with respect to the drawer;
• wherein positioning the anti-rotation mechanism further comprises positioning the anti-rotation mechanism to engage along a length of the shoulder such that, when the anti-rotation mechanism is positioned having the slot over the shoulder, the magnet is prevented from moving from the axially locked position;
• wherein positioning the anti-rotation mechanism further comprises positioning the anti-rotation mechanism such that a hole in the shoulder passes therethrough, the hole positioned beyond the outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism;
• further comprising passing a fastener through the hole;
• and
• engaging the fastener against the outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism;
• wherein the fastener is a bolt, further comprising passing the bolt through the hole and attaching a nut to the bolt.

A magnetic separator comprising:

• a housing defining a product flow path;
• a drawer moveable between a first position and a second position;
• a magnet operatively connected to the drawer, the magnet positioned within the product flow path when in the first position and the magnet withdrawn from the flow path when in the second position;
• a stripper plate frame coupled to the housing;
• a first stripper plate, contained within the stripper plate frame, having an aperture through which the magnet passes as the drawer is moved between the first and second positions;
• and
• an anti-rotation mechanism having a slot that engages along a length of a shoulder such that, when the anti-rotation mechanism is positioned having the slot over the shoulder, the magnet is prevented from moving from an axially locked position;
• wherein the shoulder extends beyond an outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism;
• wherein the shoulder includes a hole passing therethrough, and the hole is positioned beyond the outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism;
• further comprising a fastener passing through the hole, wherein the fastener is engaged against the outer surface of the anti-rotation mechanism, and wherein the fastener includes a bolt passing through the hole, and a nut attached to the bolt, which fastens the bolt to the shoulder.