# US 2016/0354789 A1 · Sifting apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0354789 A1 - Document ID: US20160354789A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/855,418 - Filed: 2015-09-16 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-16 - Assignees: Snoby Separation Systems, LLC - Inventors: Richard Snoby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160354789A1 ## CPC - B03B 4/005: {the currents being pulsating, e.g. pneumatic jigs; combination of continuous and pulsating currents} - B03B 4/065: {having inclined portions} - B07B 4/08: while the mixtures are supported by sieves, screens, or like mechanical elements - B07B 11/02: Arrangement of air or material conditioning accessories - B07B 11/04: Control arrangements - B07B 11/06: Feeding or discharging arrangements - B03B: SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS - B07B: SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL (wet separating processes, sorting by processes using fluent material in the same way as liquid B03; combinations of dry separating apparatus with wet separating apparatus B03B; using liquids B03B, B03D; sorting by magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges or vortex apparatus for carrying out physical processes B04; hand sorting, postal sorting, sorting by switching or other devices actuated in response to detection or measurement of some feature of articles or samples of material B07C) ## Abstract A sifting apparatus for stratifying raw material includes a material feed-in device, a material support unit, a gas plenum, and a discharge control device. The material support unit receives material from the material feed-in device and has a surface having a plurality of openings for a gaseous medium introduced from underneath the material support unit, thereby effecting loosening and stratification of the material into a layer of relatively heavier material, and a layer of relatively lighter material atop the heavier material. The introduced gaseous medium originates in a pump, is collected in a pressurized reservoir and is controlled by a metered valve prior to introduction to the material support unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sifting apparatus, comprising: a material support unit having a base with one or more apertures located therethrough; a plenum attached to an underside of the material support unit; a gas or air dispenser that is attached to the plenum and in communication with the material support unit, and that provides a pulsating gaseous medium flow to the material support unit; a pump in communication with the dispenser, wherein the pump provides a pressurized medium; a reservoir that maintains a threshold pressure and that is positioned between the pump and the dispenser; and a discharge control in communication with the material support unit and operable to control discharge of a relatively heavier material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes an adjustable orifice for adjusting the volume and frequency of the medium flow, so that pulses of gas or air may be generated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a meter for adjusting the frequency of the generation of pulses in the medium. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulsating gaseous medium flow has a pressure determined by a pressure capacity of the reservoir. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The sifting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reservoir is configured to minimize a pressure drop resulting from periodic opening and closing of the adjustable orifice. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is made of a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, metal alloy, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base is a screen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, further including a material feed-in operable to feed material to the material support unit at a substantially uniform feed dosage. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge control includes means for determining the threshold between the layer of relatively heavier material and the layer of relatively lighter material. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the discharge control device includes a device for automatically controlling the discharge of the relatively lighter material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The sifting apparatus of claim 8, wherein the material feed-in has a volume adjustment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sifting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a dust collection housing in communication with the material support unit device to prevent release of dust. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The sifting apparatus of claim 12 wherein the dust collection housing is coupled to the material support unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The sifting apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a light product discharge channel coupled to the discharge control. ### Claim 15 A sifting apparatus, comprising: a gravity separator having a material support unit; a plenum attached to an underside of the material support unit; a gas or air dispenser that is attached to the plenum and in communication with the material support unit, and that provides a pulsating gaseous medium flow to the material support unit; a pump in communication with the dispenser, wherein the pump provides a pressurized medium; a reservoir that maintains a threshold pressure and that is positioned between the pump and the dispenser; and a discharge control in communication with the material support unit and operable to control discharge of a relatively heavier material. ### Claim 16 A method of using a sifting apparatus comprising: supplying to a material support unit a mixture of a relatively heavier material and a relatively lighter material; generating a pressure in a reservoir; stratifying the mixture of the relatively heavier material and the relatively lighter material into individual layers through movement of the material support unit; and releasing pressure from the reservoir to the mixture of the relatively heavier material and the relatively lighter material through apertures located in the material support unit device, the released pressure including a constant gas flow and a pulsating air or gas flow overlaid on the constant gas flow. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the supplying step includes supplying the material at a substantially uniform feed dosage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the generating step includes generating a pressure in the reservoir using a constant flow rate from a pump. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the generating step includes generating a pressure in the reservoir using a variable flow rate from a pump. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the releasing step includes automatically releasing the constant gas flow and the pulsating gas flow using an adjustable orifice and a metering device.