Air classifier for light reusable materials separation from a stream of non-shredded solid waste

An apparatus for separating a light fraction from solid, non-shredded waste material, comprising:

• first conveying means for conveying waste material along a first conveyance path;
• first inlet means for delivering waste to be separated to said first conveying means;
• means for directing a first air stream to and along said first conveyance path so that light fraction materials in said delivered waste are entrained in said air stream and carried along said conveyance path vertically above a heavier fraction of said delivered waste;
• second conveying means for conveying waste material along a second conveyance path, said second conveying means receiving delivered waste material from the said first conveying means so that the delivered waste material falls down and is stratified on said second conveying means with said heavier fraction thereof disposed substantially adjacent said second conveying means and said light fraction thereof is disposed substantially vertically above said heavier fraction;
• a housing surrounding and enclosing at least said second conveying means and the delivered waste material thereon, said housing receiving said first air stream, so that said first air stream flows longitudinally therethrough, said housing having a heavier waste material outlet and an air outlet for air and light fraction waste material entrained therein;
• second air inlet means defined adjacent a first end of said second conveying means for picking up and entraining light fraction materials from the heavier fraction conveyed from said first conveying means to said second conveying means;
• and
• a third air inlet means defined in said housing adjacent a second end of said second conveying means for further enhancing the entrainment of light fraction materials and removal thereof through the air flow outlet.

An apparatus for separating a light fraction from solid, non-shredded waste material, comprising:

• first conveying means for conveying waste material along a first conveyance path;
• first inlet mans for delivering waste to be separated to said first conveying means;
• means for directing a first air stream to and along said first conveyance path so that light fraction materials in said delivered waste are entrained in said air stream and carried along said conveyance path vertically above a heavier fraction of said delivered waste;
• second conveying means for conveying waste material along a second conveyance path, said second conveying means receiving delivered waste material from the said first conveying means so that the delivered waste material falls down and is stratified on said second conveying means with said heavier fraction thereof disposed substantially adjacent said second conveying means and said light fraction thereof is disposed substantially vertically above said heavier fraction;
• and
• a housing surrounding and enclosing at least said second conveying means and the delivered waste material thereon, said housing receiving said first air stream, so that said first air stream flows longitudinally therethrough, said housing having a heavier waste material outlet and an air outlet for air and light fraction waste material entrained therein,
• said first conveying means comprising a drum mounted for rotation relative to said housing, said rotatable drum being inclined so that delivered waste will flow therethrough under the influence of gravity, the waste being delivered to said rotating drum adjacent a first upper end thereof so that the waste material tumbles through said rotating drum from said upper end to a second, lower end thereof, said second conveying means receiving waste material adjacent said second, lower end of said rotating drum.

An apparatus for separating a light fraction from solid, non-shredded waste material, comprising:

• first conveying means for conveying waste material along a first conveyance path;
• first inlet means for delivering waste to be separated to said first conveying means;
• means for directing a first air stream to and along said first conveyance path so that light fraction materials in said delivered waste are entrained in said air stream and carried along said conveyance path vertically above a heavier fraction of said delivered waste;
• second conveying means for conveying waste material along a second conveyance path, said second conveying means receiving delivered waste material from the said first conveying means so that the delivered waste material falls down and is stratified on said second conveying means with said heavier fraction thereof disposed substantially adjacent said second conveying means and said light fraction thereof is disposed substantially vertically above said heavier fraction;
• a housing surrounding and enclosing at least said second conveying means and the delivered waste material thereon, said housing receiving said first air stream, so that said first air stream flows longitudinally therethrough, said housing having a heavier waste material outlet and an air outlet for air and light fraction waste material entrained therein;
• a second air inlet means defined adjacent a first end of said second conveying means for picking up and entraining light fraction materials from the heavier fraction conveyed from said first conveying means to said second conveying means;
• cyclone means for separating said light fraction of the waste form the air flow, said cyclone means including a light fraction outlet and an air outlet;
• an air-tight valve means mounted to said light fraction outlet for removing said light fraction from said cyclone;
• first fan means for withdrawing a first portion of the air from the air outlet of said cyclone and conveying the first portion to said first air inlet means;
• and
• a second fan means for withdrawing a second portion of the air from the air outlet of said cyclone and conveying the second portion to at least said second air inlet means.