System and method for sorting dissimilar materials using a dynamic sensor
OwnerThomas A. Valerioinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Processing metallic materials, such as copper, from waste materials. The systems and methods employ a dynamic sensor, which measures the rate of change of current generated by metallic objects that pass by the sensor to identify metallic objects in a waste stream. The dynamic sensor may be coupled to a computer system that controls a material diverter unit, which diverts the detected metallic objects for collection and possible further processing. The systems or methods may employ stages of sensors for sequential recovery of materials.
Claims20
A system for sorting objects in a waste material stream comprising:
- a dynamic sensor operable to measure the rate of change of a current generated as a result of a metallic object moving passed the dynamic sensor and further operable to generate an indication that the dynamic sensor senses the metallic object in the waste material stream based on the measured rate of change of the current;
- and
- a computer coupled to the dynamic sensor, operable to receive the indication that the dynamic sensor senses the metallic object.
A system for sorting objects in a waste material stream comprising:
- a plurality of dynamic sensors, each sensor operable to measure the rate of change of a current generated as a result of a metallic object moving passed the dynamic sensor and to generate an indication that the dynamic sensor senses the metallic object in the waste material stream based on the measured rate of change of the current;
- a conveyance system, operable to carry the waste material passed each of the plurality of dynamic sensors;
- a computer coupled to the plurality of dynamic sensors, operable to receive the indication that one of the dynamic sensors senses the metallic object;
- and
- a material diverter unit associated with each of the dynamic sensors, operable to receive a control signal from the computer, wherein the control signal activates the material diverter to divert a metal object sensed by the dynamic sensor associated with the material diverter unit.
A method for sorting objects in a waste material stream, comprising the steps of:
- (a) introducing the waste material on a conveyance system;
- (b) passing the waste material by a dynamic sensor operable to measure the rate of change of a current generated as a result of a metallic object in the waste material stream on the conveyance system;
- (c) generating an indication of the presence of a metallic object in the waste material by the dynamic sensor based on the measured rate of change of the current generated in the dynamic sensor by the metallic object;
- (d) diverting the metallic object within the waste material indicated by the dynamic sensor;
- and
- (e) collecting the diverted metallic object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.