US 12,544,796 B1Granted

Device to sort a mixed solid waste stream

AssigneeCP Manufacturing, Inc.

InventorNicholas Davis

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A system for sorting mixed solid waste includes a rotating auger disc screen, air stream generator, and optionally adjustable tilt and motor speed. Waste is conveyed across a screen bed defined by spaced discs mounted to rotatable shafts, which are configured to create both axial and transverse movement, producing diagonal flow paths. An air stream is directed across the screen to propel light or flexible materials toward a proximal edge, while heavier, bouncing, or rigid items may exit along different edges or fall through the screen. The device is tunable to separate material into multiple output fractions based on mass, shape, and flow behavior. Discs and shafts may have non-round profiles and elastomeric surfaces to increase agitation and reduce wrapping. In some embodiments, airflow and tilt angle may be dynamically adjusted. The system concentrates maintenance-risk materials such as long, sharp, or wrapping items to improve downstream equipment protection.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A mixed solid waste sorting device comprising:

an auger disc screen including a plurality of rotatable shafts, each supporting a plurality of mounted discs, the plurality of discs collectively defining a screen bed with a top edge, a bottom edge, a proximal edge, and a distal edge;
a motor configured to rotate the plurality of rotatable shafts at an adjustable rotation speed, wherein such rotation imparts:
a first lateral force on the mixed solid waste toward the distal edge;
and
a second lateral force on the mixed solid waste toward the top edge;
and
an air stream generator positioned adjacent to the distal edge of the screen bed, configured to generate an air stream across the screen bed from the distal edge toward the proximal edge;
wherein the air stream is of sufficient strength to counteract at least a portion of the first lateral force acting on a first fraction of the mixed solid waste, thereby increasing the dwell time of said first fraction on the screen bed and enabling the second lateral force to propel the first fraction over the top edge.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.