Dissimilar materials sorting process, system and apparata

Abstract

An automated system for sorting dissimilar materials, and in particular for sorting plastics from other materials and for sorting different types of plastics from one another comprises, depending upon the embodiment, combinations of a sizing mechanism, a friction separation, an air separator, a magnetic separator, a dielectric sensor sortation bed, shaker screening, a ballistic separator, an inductive sensor sortation system and a float / sink tank. The dielectric sensor sortation system may be either analog or digital, depending upon the particular implementation. One or more float / sink tanks can be used, depending upon the embodiment, each with a media of a different specific gravity. The media may be water, or water plus a compound such as calcium chloride. In addition, multiples of the same general type of module can be used for particular configurations. A heavy media system or a sand float process can be used either alternatively or additionally.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 777,868, filed Mar. 1, 2006, as well as Provisional Application No. 60 / 729,966 filed Oct. 24, 2005. The application also claims the benefit of and priority based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 255,850 filed Oct. 21, 2005, which in turn claims the benefit of and priority based on U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 621,125 for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING METAL PIECES filed on Oct. 21, 2004. The application also claims the benefit of and priority based on U.S. patent application Ser. No. ________ [not assigned yet], filed Oct. 20, 2006, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CONTAMINATED GLASS, and its prior U.S. Provisional Application 60 / 728,581,for METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING CONTAMINATED GLASS filed on Oct. 20, 2005. All of these U.S. Patent Applications are hereby incorporated by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] In addition, where the sorting process may be aided by ensuring a suitable moisture content, a mister or humidifier may be included in the appropriate module. While adding moisture can be helpful in some steps of the sorting process, particularly with regard to increasing the dielectric constant of absorbent materials, in other sorting steps of some embodiments an IR heat source of sufficient BTU's to ‘flash’ dry the materials can provide better uniformity of operation, the details of which are discussed hereinafter. Still further, in some sorting steps for certain embodiments, for example where dielectric sensors are used, the use of temperature and humidity control around the sensors can provide improved uniformity of operation.

Problems solved by technology

However, in many instances there has been no cost-effective method for achieving the necessary sorting.

This approach is not sustainable in most economics since the labor component is too high.

While ferrous recycling has been automated for some time, mainly through the use of magnets, this technique plainly is ineffective for sorting non-ferrous materials.

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