Electrostatic separation of plastic materials
AssigneeDevtech Labs, Inc.
InventorsMartin H. Beck, George F. Rollend, Richard C. Nichols, John Muszynski
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Abstract
An apparatus and associated method of separating mixed fragments of different plastic materials, in which the materials to be separated are capable of carrying electrostatic charges of opposite polarities. The mixed charged fragments are given an induced electrostatic charge and are then exposed to electrostatic field of opposite polarities where they are separated by being allowed to migrate toward their respectively oppositely charged fields. The separated material fragments are then collected.
Claims10
A method of separating mixed fragments of different plastic materials, the materials to be separated being capable of carrying electrostatic charges of opposite polarities, comprising the steps of:
- a) inducing said electrostatic charges in said materials;
- b) exposing the charged materials to electrostatic fields of opposite polarities;
- c) allowing said charged materials to migrate toward their respectively oppositely charged fields thereby to separate said materials;
- and
- d) collecting the separated material fragments;
- wherein the induced electrostatic charges in said materials are sufficient to facilitate said migration while being insufficient for the fragments of said materials to be attracted to each other sufficiently to prevent said migration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.