Systems for separating copper from shredder residue

A separator system for separating copper from shredded waste, comprising:

• a macro separator configured to perform an initial segregation of lighter material from heavier material in a stream of shredded waste, the macro separator comprising a rotating conveyor belt inclined at an upward angle and having a source of water at an upper end of the conveyor belt to cause a downward flow of water over the top of the conveyor belt;
• a copper recovery conveyor associated with and disposed below the macro separator and positioned to receive material dropped from an upper end of the macro separator, the copper recovery conveyor including a recovery conveyor belt inclined at an upward angle, wherein the recovery conveyor belt is rotated by a motor so that a top surface moves upward along the upward angle, the recovery conveyor belt being formed of an elastomeric material having a planar base and a series of distributed wedge-shaped cleats projecting upward therefrom, wherein the wedge-shaped elements project upward from the planar base with a tall leading end tapering downward to a trailing end at the level of the planar base, and a second source of water at an upper end of the recovery conveyor belt to cause a constant flow of water downward over the top of the recovery conveyor belt.

A separator system for separating copper from shredded waste, comprising:

• a macro separator configured to perform an initial segregation of lighter material from heavier material in a stream of shredded waste;
• at least two copper recovery conveyors disposed below the macro separator, each copper recovery conveyor including a recovery conveyor belt inclined at an upward angle of between 0-15°, wherein the recovery conveyor belt is rotated by a motor so that a top surface moves upward along the upward angle, the recovery conveyor belt being formed of an elastomeric material having a planar base and a series of distributed wedge-shaped cleats projecting upward therefrom that carry heavier material including copper over an upper end of the recovery conveyor belt, wherein the cleats comprise wedge-shaped elements that project upward from the planar base with a tall leading end tapering downward to a trailing end at the level of the planar base, and a source of water at an upper end of the recovery conveyor belt to cause a constant flow of water downward over the top of the recovery conveyor belt so as to wash lighter material over a lower end of the recovery conveyor belt.

A separator system for separating copper from shredded waste, comprising:

• a macro separator configured to perform an initial segregation of lighter material from heavier material in a stream of shredded waste;
• at least two copper recovery conveyors disposed below the macro separator, each copper recovery conveyor including a recovery conveyor belt inclined at an upward angle of between 0-15°, wherein the recovery conveyor belt is rotated by a motor so that a top surface moves upward along the upward angle, the recovery conveyor belt being formed of an elastomeric material having a planar base and a series of distributed wedge-shaped cleats projecting upward therefrom that carry heavier material including copper over an upper end of the recovery conveyor belt, the elastomeric material being 2-ply PVC with a durometer of 50 as measured on the A-scale, and a source of water at an upper end of the recovery conveyor belt to cause a constant flow of water downward over the top of the recovery conveyor belt so as to wash lighter material over a lower end of the recovery conveyor belt.

A separator system for separating copper from shredded waste, comprising:

• a macro separator configured to perform an initial segregation of lighter material from heavier material in a stream of shredded waste;
• at least two copper recovery conveyors disposed below the macro separator, each copper recovery conveyor including a recovery conveyor belt inclined at an upward angle of between 0-15°, wherein the recovery conveyor belt is rotated by a motor so that a top surface moves upward along the upward angle, the recovery conveyor belt being formed of an elastomeric material having a planar base and a series of distributed wedge-shaped cleats projecting upward therefrom that carry heavier material including copper over an upper end of the recovery conveyor belt, and a source of water at an upper end of the recovery conveyor belt to cause a constant flow of water downward over the top of the recovery conveyor belt so as to wash lighter material over a lower end of the recovery conveyor belt, wherein the source of water comprises a plurality of jets distributed laterally across the recovery conveyor belt and configured to supply a water flow through of between about 50-500 gpm.