Method and apparatus for the separation and sorting of non-ferrous materials

Abstract

An apparatus for separating and sorting non-ferrous metals from other materials is provided which has a ferromagnetic core, an infeed conveyor for positioning materials to be separated and sorted, and a collecting bin or container located at a selected distance from the infeed conveyor for collecting separated and sorted non-ferrous metals, and which produces an electromagnetic field which provides a non-steady state, non-uniform magnetic field, and a sharp skin effect in the non-ferrous metal piece. Also provided is a method for separating and sorting non-ferrous metal pieces from other materials wherein non-ferrous metal pieces are subjected to a non-steady state, non-uniform magnetic field so that a sharp skin effect is produced in the non-ferrous metal piece so that the non-ferrous metal piece is separated and sorted according to its density and independent of its conductivity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.