Air separator
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsLars Vedsted, Søren Vedsted
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for separating lightweight waste from product with cyclic pulses of air. An air separator includes a blower duct directing air upward through product conveyed on a foraminous conveyor. A pair of counter-rotating vanes in the blower duct cyclically open and close to establish a pulsating air flow in the center of the duct across the width of the conveyor. The pulsating air flow lifts lightweight waste from the product and blows it through a vertical duct above the conveyor to waste separation chambers for separation and disposal.
Claims27
An air separator for separating lightweight waste from product conveyed on a conveyor, the air separator comprising:
- a first duct having an exit proximate the underside of a conveyor conveying product in a conveying direction;
- a pair of vanes spanning the first duct and counter-rotating back and forth on parallel axes between a closed position blocking air flow through the first duct and an open position forming between the vanes a centrally disposed gap across the first duct to direct a pulsating air flow centrally through the first duct and the conveyor to blow lightweight waste upward from the product.
An air separator for separating lightweight waste from product conveyed on a foraminous conveyor belt, the air separator comprising:
- a blower assembly disposed below the carryway of a foraminous conveyor belt conveying product in a conveying direction, the blower assembly including:
- a blower;
- a blower duct directing air from the blower upward through the foraminous conveyor belt;
- a pair of vanes extending laterally across the width of the blower duct on laterally disposed axes of rotation perpendicular to the conveying direction;
- means for cyclically rotating the vanes on the axes of rotation between a closed position blocking the blower duct and an open position directing air in the blower duct between the vanes to produce a pulsating air flow through the foraminous conveyor belt.
A method for separating lightweight waste from product conveyed on a foraminous conveyor belt, comprising:
- (a) directing an air flow through a duct and the underside of a foraminous conveyor belt conveying product in a conveying direction;
- (b) confining the majority of the air flow to a central portion of the duct uniformly across the width of the foraminous conveyor belt;
- (c) cyclically pulsing the air flow between a maximum speed and a minimum speed to blow lightweight waste upward away from the product conveyed on the foraminous conveyor belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.