Process and device for separating plastics of different chemical composition by flotation
OwnerAlexander Koslowinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and a device for separating plastic materials in accordance with their chemical composition, which is based on the difference in density of such materials. For this purpose, a flotation process which works with a flotation liquid that is put into vibration is used, the frequency of which is controlled in accordance with the density of the particles to settle. Heavier plastic particles settle on a perforated plate bottom and are removed to a collecting container filled with the same liquid to the same level as the flotation tank. Lighter plastic particles float to the surface and are fed into a follow-up flotation tank for further separation.
Claims10
A method for separating plastic materials of different chemical composition by a flotation process, comprising the steps of:
- feeding shredded plastic materials into a flotation tank filled with water where the materials sink down slower or faster depending on their density;
- vibrating the water in the flotation tank to prevent lighter plastic particles from sinking down and to make the lighter plastic particles float upward to the surface of the water and into a container, and to cause heavier plastic particles to sink down and settle on a perforated plate bottom in the flotation tank forming a sediment which is extracted by a discharging device into a collection container;
- transporting the plastic particles collected in the collection container by a conveyer into a checking containment for a quality check;
- measuring the thickness of the sediment using at least one sensor;
- and
- regulating the thickness of the sediment layer on the perforated plate bottom using at least one control device that controls swiveling flaps underneath the perforated plate bottom and which receives commands from the at least one sensor.
A separation device for separating plastic materials of different chemical composition, comprising:
- a flotation tank filled with flotation liquid that is loaded, without creating whirls in the flotation liquid, by a filling tube with a conglomerate of plastic particles of various chemical composition pre-prepared in a shredder;
- a device for producing a pulsation, which includes a vibration distributor located in the flotation liquid underneath a perforated plate bottom that separates the flotation liquid;
- a continuously operating discharging device which scratches settled plastic particles and removes them into a collection container that contains liquid to the same level as the flotation tank;
- a conveyer to transport the settled plastic particles into a checking containment;
- and
- swiveling flaps on the lower side of the perforated plate bottom that control equalizing of the surface and the thickness of the sediment layer on the perforated plate bottom and which are controlled by a control device that receives its commands from a plurality of sensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.