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US 12,043,526 B2Granted
Tie plate separator and method
AssigneeB & B Metals, Inc.
InventorsWilliam R. Coots, III, Coty T. Coots
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Present embodiments relate to an apparatus and method which separates tie plates. More specifically, and without limitation, present embodiments relate to a tie plate separator which can retrieve tie plates from a pile and separates such for placement on a feeder, such as a conveyor for sequential feeding of the tie plates.
Claims22
A method of sorting tie plates, comprising:
- grasping, with a grappler, a bar having a support structure, said grappler mounted on a utility vehicle, and said grappler and said support structure precluding rotation of said bar;
- activating a plurality of magnets depending from said bar, said bar comprising a plurality of chains depending from said bar, and each magnet of said plurality of magnets disposed at a lower end of each chain of said plurality of chains;
- picking a plurality of tie plates with at least some of said plurality of magnets, said plurality of tie plates being spaced apart by said picking;
- moving said bar over a conveyor wherein said bar is aligned with said conveyor;
- releasing said plurality of tie plates from said at least some of said plurality of magnets on to said conveyor.
2 more elements
A method of separating tie plates, comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle with a boom or arm configured to retain a tie plate bar and preclude rotation of said tie plate bar relative to said boom or arm;
- moving said tie plate bar with said boom or arm;
- lowering said tie plate bar into a tie plate storage container, said tie plate bar having a plurality of chains and a plurality of magnets each disposed at lower ends of said plurality of chains, respectively;
- powering on a magnet circuit to power on said plurality of magnets and retaining a plurality of tie plates in a spaced apart manner;
- moving, with said boom or arm, said tie plate bar over a conveyor;
- un-powering the magnet circuit and releasing said plurality of spaced apart tie plates on to the conveyor.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.