Patent ID: 6359246
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B03C

Abstract:
A process for separating broken goods consisting of beans and shells comprising:A) providing the beans and shells in fractionated condition; B) electrostatically charging the fractionated beans and shells between two differently charged electrodes in a charging area; C) directing the electrostatically charged fractionated beans and shells into a downfall in a homogeneous electrical field generated by two additional electrodes defining a downfall section, wherein the fractionated beans are at least partly separated from the fractionated shells by different deflection of the fractionated beans and shells in the downfall section, and wherein one of the two additional electrodes is a cathode connected to ground and provided with collection apertures having flaps, whereby lighter and smaller particles of the broken goods are so extremely deflected within the downfall section that they pass through the apertures, are prevented by the flaps from rebounding into the downfall section and are directed behind the apertures into a channel; and D) collecting the differently deflected fractionated beans and shells in a separating area providing two product streams consisting essentially of a stream of fractionated beans and a stream of fractionated shells and collecting the fractionated shells directed into the channel behind the apertures.