Classifying – separating – and assorting solids – Sorting special items – and certain methods and apparatus for... – Separating means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-21
2002-05-28
Mansen, Michael R. (Department: 3653)
Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
Sorting special items, and certain methods and apparatus for...
Separating means
C209S615000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06394280
ABSTRACT:
A number of different devices for separating mixtures of valuable substances are known. It frequently is the case that certain valuable substances are to be separated from a mixture of valuable substances so that they can be subjected to further processing. However, there are also cases in which certain substances which render the further processing of the mixture difficult or even impossible are to be removed from the substance mixture.
When valuable substances are collected in bags or cardboard boxes and are automatically further processed by means of machines, the bags or cardboard boxes first have to be opened and, in most cases, then have to be removed from the substance mixture. Particularly in the case of plastic bags, recycling is often desired. Also larger foil portions in the substance mixture can be subjected to recycling. Thus, the problem presents itself that the packaging of the substance mixture, normally bags or cardboard boxes, is to be removed from the substance mixture. In this process, other substances, such as larger foil portions, should also be removed and cardboard boxes should be separated from the delivered paper.
The WO 95/07769 discloses a device for removing flat, light substances, such as plastic foils, comprising an air sifting. The substance mixture is conveyed by a conveyor belt to a discharge point and, when falling down, air is applied thereto by a blower. The air flow generated by the blower is dimensioned such that only light, flat materials are swept along by it, whereas heavier, more compact materials drop off the discharge point onto a second conveyor belt and are conveyed away by the same. The light, flat materials are swept along by the air flow to a discharge zone in which the materials descend with increasing distance from the blower and fall onto another conveyor belt by which they are conveyed away. Foils which do not contain any further substances and lie on top of the substance mixture can sufficiently be separated in this way. However, this device is not suitable for conveying away bag-like foils which still contain heavier substances, or foils which are at least partly buried by other substances.
It is the object of the invention to provide a device by means of which foils or cardboard boxes as well as similar substances and, if required, also other substances can specifically be removed from a mixture of valuable substances.
This object is achieved by the features of claim
1
. According to the invention, a device for removing flat materials from a mixture of valuable substances comprises a conveying means by which the substance mixture is conveyed, and an extraction means for extracting the flat materials from the substance mixture in an extraction zone, with the extraction means comprising extracting prongs which are provided on a revolving transport means deflected at two points of deflection. The materials which have been picked up are discharged in a discharge zone.
Advantageously, the device can also remove smaller portions of foils or the like. The construction and setting-up of the device determines which material of which size is to be removed.
For discharging the materials, the transport means can be deflected at the two deflection points having a different deflection radius. The effect of this is that the extracting prongs are differently spread. This different spreading enables or facilitates the discharge of materials which have been picked up. Once the materials have been picked up by the prongs, they are, to a certain extent, stuck in the prongs. When the prongs move relative to each other, for example due to a spreading in the deflection point, the materials come off the prongs more easily, in particular, if the prongs are moved back again after the spreading, as is the case when they pass through the deflection point. It has proved to be of advantage to apply different deflection radii. When describing the Concrete embodiment, this will still be discussed in greater detail.
The dimensioning of the deflection radii has a considerable influence on the mode of operation of the device. The deflection radii do not only influence the spreading of the prongs but also the guiding of the prongs in the extraction zone. In the case of a large radius in the extraction zone, the extracting prongs are in contact with the substance mixture for a greater length of travel before being further transported. Of course, also the alignment of the prongs with respect to the substance mixture is influenced by the deflection radius and the arrangement of the deflection means Furthermore, if the deflection radius of the lower deflection means is large, the extracting prongs are deflected more slowly so that a smaller number of unwanted substances is picked up along with the materials to be extracted, since the materials are held for quite some time in a position in which the substances can drop. Bags, in particular, are held or transported for quite some time in a position which enables them to be emptied. On the other hand, by a fast deflection of the extracting prongs, the extracted materials, when being transported upwards, would quickly reach a position in which unwanted substances that have been picked up can no longer fall down.
The same effect can, of course, be achieved when the prongs are moved appropriately by some means. For instance, the prongs can be tilted by a tilting means or shifted by a shifting means.
Furthermore, for the discharge, a blower may be provided which is capable of blowing on the extracted materials through nozzles. These measures can also be combined with other described measures for discharging the materials. A plurality of nozzles may be provided at different positions. It has proved successful to arrange them in the area of the extracting prongs. A plurality of nozzles may be provided over the width of the transport means.
A plurality of nozzles may also be arranged in the transport direction. A whole array of nozzles may be provided so as to blow away the materials in the discharge zone. For realizing the nozzle arrangement, hollow bars having blow-out openings may be provided. These hollow bars extend over the width of the transport means or also alongside the transport direction, with an arrangement of the blow-out openings in the area of the prongs being basically advantageous, since the materials have to be separated from the prongs. Of course, such bars may also be arranged at an angle to the transport means.
The blow-out direction of the nozzles can be made to be adjustable. This adjustment may be provided individually for each nozzle or for a whole group of nozzles, e.g. by pivoting a nozzle bar.
For further conveying the discharged materials, it has proved successful to first guide them to a baffle plate so that they slide down this plate and are then conveyed on by a suction means or another conveying means, such as a conveyor belt.
A conveyor belt provided for the further conveyance may be inclined upwards in the transport direction so that materials which have been taken up but shall not be conveyed on slide down and are, for example, again supplied to the substance mixture. For further conveying the flat substances or materials to be conveyed away, the conveyor belt can be provided with knobs which may have a tapered tip.
For cleaning the extracted materials, a blower can be provided which blows on the materials through nozzles. For reasons of expediency, the nozzles are arranged behind the extraction zone. The nozzles can be arranged at different positions, and the blow-out direction of the nozzles can be adjustable so that blowing on the extracted materials can be effected as optimally and completely as possible.
The substances which have been blown off can fall down back onto the conveying means by gravity or can be sucked off by a suction means. However, these measures can also be combined and the substances can be separated in this manner. Then, the heavier substances fall down and the lighter substances, e.g. small rests of foils which initially adhere to the extracted materials, c
Gassner Benno
Gassner, Jr. Benno
Jones William W.
Mansen Michael R.
Rodriguez Joseph C
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