US 5,351,895 AGranted

Separating device for cellulosic and thin plastic materials

AssigneeAdvanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.

InventorsJoe G. Brooks, Billy D. Goforth, Charles Goforth, J. Douglas Brooks

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method for recycling waste plastic material, from polymeric film or hydropulper waste, including plastic and cellulosic fiber or organic contaminants. The method includes the steps of introducing the waste plastic material into a size reduction unit, and reducing the size of the waste plastic material to particles having a maximum dimension ranging between about 1 inch and about 8 inches; mechanically hammering and rubbing the plastic material for separating a portion of the cellulosic fiber from the plastic; separating another portion of the cellulosic fiber from the plastic by flotation with agitation; further reducing the particle size of the plastic to a maximum dimension of about 1/2inch; dewatering the plastic; drying the plastic to a moisture content of less than about 10 weight percent; and rolling the plastic into pellets.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A device for use in partially separating cellulosic materials and adhesives from thin plastic materials, comprising:

(a) a casing having an inlet and an outlet;
(b) a rotor shaft driven for rotation in said casing;
(c) a plurality of hammer shafts attached parallel to and spaced apart from said rotor shaft or rotation therewith;
(d) a plurality of hammers pivotably mounted axially spaced apart on said parallel hammer shafts, such that said hammers sling outward during rotation of said rotor shaft to define a predetermined maximum diameter circle within the said casing;
(e) a plurality of shear bars within said casing projecting inwardly between said hammers and spaced a distance between about 1/8 inch and about 3/16 inch from said hammers
(f) a tub base having an opening communicating with the casing inlet;
(g) a cylindrical tub rotatably connected about the tub base enclosing the opening;
(h) a plurality of vanes projecting inwardly from the cylindrical tub for rotation therewith;
and
(i) water spray means disposed outside the casing.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/912,866Filed 13 Jul 1992 · division
Priority: 27 Mar 1990
Granted: 4 Oct 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

D21B 1/322
Of waste paper: coated with synthetic materials
B03B 1/04
Conditioning for facilitating separation by altering physical properties of the matter to be treated: by additives
B03B 5/28
Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating: by sink-float separation
B03B 9/061
Specially adapted for refuse: the refuse being industrial

Family

Serial499,718Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Mar 1990
Serial672,832Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Mar 1991
Serial854,231Parent of this division · filed 29 Mar 1992
US 5,277,758 AParent of this division
US 5,268,074 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,084,135 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,351,895 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.