Patent ID: 6726021
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B07B

Abstract:
A stopper debris separator, comprising:a) a stopper injection hopper of suitable volume for receiving a plurality of debris-containing stoppers; b) a stopper inlet duct having first and second ends, the first end for receiving stoppers from the stopper injection hopper; c) a vertically-positioned, cyclone separator tube having first and second ends, and a stopper receiving duct positioned proximate and adjacent to the first end of the cyclone separator, the second end of the stopper inlet duct being connected to the stopper receiving duct, the cyclone separator tube being of sufficient diameter for receiving stoppers from the inlet duct; d) a stopper receiving vessel, positioned beneath and connected to the first end of the cyclone separator tube, the vessel being of sufficient capacity to receive a plurality of stoppers from the separator tube; e) an air bleeding valve located on the stopper receiving vessel; f) a vacuum pump having an inlet and outlet for transferring air, a filter for collecting debris, and a vacuum inlet; g) a vacuum duct having first and second ends, the first end connected to the second end of the cyclone separator tube, and the second end connected to the vacuum inlet of the vacuum pump; and h) means for transferring air through the inlet and outlet of the vacuum pump to create a vacuum within the separator, wherein, debris-containing stoppers in the stopper injection hopper are drawn through the stopper duct into the cyclone separator tube by the vacuum, wherein the debris on the stoppers is separated therefrom and drawn through the vacuum duct into the vacuum filter, and wherein the debris-free stoppers drop through the cyclone separator tube into the stopper receiving vessel.