Machine and method for separating recyclable matter
AssigneeCP Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorRobert M. Davis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for sorting recyclable matter includes a trommel for conducting and screening an input flow of recyclable matter and a magnetic mechanism coupled to the trommel for extracting magnetic material from the input flow while the trommel rotates. The input flow is dropped vertically from the trommel into a positive-pressure air separator which separates the flow into a first material stream including lightweight articles and a second material stream including relatively heavy articles. The heavy articles of the second material stream drop downwardly in the air separator. Padded baffles are provided in the air separator for reducing the downward velocity of the second material stream, which substantially lowers breakage of glass articles.
Claims12
A machine for separating recyclable matter, comprising:
- a frame;
- a trommel means mounted to rotate on the frame, the trommel means having an input opening and an output opening for conducting a flow of recyclable matter from the input to the output opening;
- an annulus on the trommel means substantially at the output opening;
- a rotatable magnetic means coupled to the annulus to rotate with the trommel means for extracting magnetic material from the flow of recyclable matter in the trommel means in response to rotation of the trommel means;
- a means for generating a high-velocity stream of air;
- air separator means coupled to the means and mounted on the frame adjacent the output opening of the trommel means for:
- receiving the flow of recyclable matter;
- and
- in response to the high-velocity stream of air, separating the flow of recyclable matter into a first material stream including relatively lightweight articles and a second material stream including relatively heavier articles;
- the air separator means providing the second material stream in a substantially downward direction;
- a baffle means in the air separator means for;
- directing the high-velocity stream of air upwardly into the air separator means;
- and
- reducing the downward velocity of the second material stream;
- a first collection area;
- a first conveyor means mounted on the frame adjacent the air separator to receive the first material stream for conveying the relatively lightweight articles to the first collection area;
- a second collection area;
- and
- a second conveyor means mounted on the frame adjacent the baffle means to receive the second material stream for conveying the relatively heavier articles to the second collection area.
A method for separating articles in a stream of recyclable matter, comprising:
- providing a flow of recyclable matter;
- loosening the recyclable matter by agitating the flow;
- substantially concurrently with the loosening step, removing magneto-responsive articles from the flow of recyclable matter;
- substantially simultaneously with the steps of loosening the flow of recyclable matter and removing magneto-responsive articles, screening waste material of a relatively small size from the flow of recyclable matter;
- applying an upwardly-directed high-velocity stream of air to the flow of recyclable matter;
- in response to the high-velocity stream of air, providing from the flow of recyclable matter a first material stream of relatively light-weight articles in a substantially vertically upward direction;
- substantially simultaneously with the step of applying a high-velocity stream of air, providing from the flow of recyclable matter a second material stream of relatively heavier articles in a substantially vertically downward direction;
- reducing the downward velocity of the second material stream by deflecting the relatively heavy articles from the vertically downward direction to a substantially horizontal direction;
- collecting articles in the first material stream at a first collection area;
- and
- collecting articles from the second material stream at a second collection area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.