Sorting Recycled Materials With Automatically Adjustable Separator Using Upstream Feedback

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an automatic separator apparatus of a Materials Recovery Facility. The separator apparatus has a plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters. An input stream of recycled materials is provided, wherein the composition of the input stream is subject to variation during a time interval. Historical data is provided representative of a set of historical values of the operating parameters corresponding to improved quality of separation for given values of a characteristic of the input stream. A present value of the characteristic of the input stream is sensed. A plurality of machine operating parameters is automatically adjusted in response to the sensed present value of the characteristic.

Description

[0001]This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 194,708, filed Aug. 1, 2005, entitled “Sorting Recycled Materials With Automatically Adjustable Separator Using Upstream Feedback”, which parent application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 600,206, filed Aug. 10, 2004, entitled “Materials Recovery Facility Process Optimization Via Unit Operation Feedback”, the details of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.[0002]This is a Utility Patent Application filed by Garry R. Kenny, a citizen of the United States, residing in West Linn, OR 97068, in an invention entitled “Sorting Recycled Materials With Automatically Adjustable Separator Using Upstream Feedback”BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention[0004]The present invention relates generally to the field of sorting of recycled materials, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to methods and apparatus for optimizing the operat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides methods and systems for separating and sorting recycled materials using an adjustable material separator. The methods and systems use upstream feedback to automatically adjust the operation of the separator based on the density of the incoming material stream, resulting in improved efficiency and accuracy of separation. The technical effects include improved quality of separation, reduced waste, and increased recycling rates."

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, however, very few MRF operators are capable of determining the optimum operating parameters for these new screens.

Experience in MRFs also shows that even when the screens are properly set for a certain mixture of recyclables and moisture content, that setting is only good for a matter of a few minutes as the composition and moisture content changes.

Even when set optimally the screens are not 100% effective.

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