Abstract:
A system and method for separating mixed materials employing a primary material separation deck and a secondary modular separation pathway for further separation of a portion, e.g. a three-dimensional portion, of the mix materials.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/954,504 filed Mar. 17, 2014, entitled Material Separator, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to systems and methods for the separation of mixed materials. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The ability to efficiently separate mixed materials, such as household recycling and construction waste, is of increasing importance and economic significance. For example, efficiently extracting and separating various types of recyclable materials from variable mixed waste streams is a critical factor when considering the economic viability of a recycling program. Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) must be able to separate or sort mixed recyclable materials to a significantly high purity, for example 10 percent. If the final sorted and bailed product, for example similar plastic materials, does not achieve the purity required for purchase on the commodity market at a desired price, the product represents wasted resources and a financial loss for the MFR. 
         [0004]    A critical step in the sorting or separation process is the dimensional sorting of materials. Several types of dimensional sorting equipment or separators have been developed, however, each of these known types of separators continues to suffer from significant shortcomings. Ballistic-type separators function by rotating an angled surface in a relatively small vertical circle, thereby projecting the mixed materials deposited upon the surface into the air. The materials are separated according to each materials ballistic properties and trajectory created by the movement of the surface. 
         [0005]    These types of separators may employ a surface that is unitary or one that is divided into various portions or sections that may move in unison or separately relative to one another. However, in order to achieve the desired motion of the surface, known separators employ a plurality of different motors. For example, different motors may be associated with each of the sides or corners of the unitary surface or with each of the various portions or sections of the surface. An obvious shortcoming of these separators is the increased maintenance associated with the calibration of the multiple motors to achieve the desired movement of the surface. 
         [0006]    Another type of dimensional separator employs an angled surface formed of a bank of vertically rotating discs. The discs may have a roughly triangular or irregular shape and may be oriented non-symmetrically along axles or shafts. The axles rotate the discs towards an elevated side of the surface, thereby carrying certain materials up the surface while other materials fall towards the lower side of the surface. One obvious shortcoming of disc-type separators is the increased maintenance resulting from the wear associated with a surface formed of entirely moving parts, e.g. discs, axles, bearings. 
         [0007]    Another disadvantage with disc-type separators is a propensity for materials to wrap themselves around and attach themselves to the discs and rotating spaces between the discs. These wrapped materials can lead to decreased throughput and efficiency due to the equipment&#39;s down-time required to remove the materials and increased impurities due to the effect of the wrapped materials on the migration of other materials. On disc-type systems employing multiple drive motors, required maintenance may also be undesirably high due to the need to calibrate the efforts of the different motors. 
         [0008]    Finally, both of the above types of separator sort small materials or fines by providing voids or holes in the surface through which the fines can pass. The fines pass through the surface and ultimately into a vessel or onto a conveyor belt for transfer. However, known separators suffer from the fact that the fines must fall over equipment structure residing under the surface and above the output vessel or conveyor belt. These structures include drive motors and other moving and often sensitive attachment points of the equipment. This separation technique has the shortcoming of resulting in increased maintenance and repair due to the falling fines contaminating or damaging the components of the separator residing under the surface and above the output. 
         [0009]    In view of the above described failures of the known dimensional separators, there exists a significant need in the art for more robust separators having increased efficiency and decreased maintenance and repair costs. 
         [0010]    After the initial dimensional sorting of mixed materials, the MRFs typically must further sort each of the dimensionally sorted portions of the mixed materials. This secondary sorting often takes place through various separate sorting machines that each function to further sort materials based upon a different material characteristic. In order to achieve the desired level and purity of sorted materials, an MRF may have to resort to employing a variety of machines from different manufactures. This often leads to a sorting line having a relatively large foot print and a relatively complex custom sorting line design. 
         [0011]    What is further needed in the art is a separator having a modular design that incorporates various sorting or separation points or stations for achieving secondary sorting of previously dimensionally sorted mixed materials. 
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The present invention provides a robust mixed material separator having increased efficiency and decreased maintenance and repair costs. These objectives are achieved in one embodiment of the present invention by providing a separator having a drive element coupled to a drive shaft, a pair of link arms coupling the drive shaft to a follower shaft, and a deck coupled to the drive shaft and the follower shaft at a point offset from an axis of rotation of the drive shaft and an axis of rotation of the follower shaft. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the present invention, these objectives are achieved by providing a mixed material separator having a single drive element that is coupled to a drive shaft; and a deck that unitarily rotates vertically about an axis of rotation of the drive shaft. 
         [0014]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the deck may employ a screen that is statically elevated above a tray. 
         [0015]    These objectives are also achieved by a method of the present invention including the steps of rotating a drive shaft with a drive element; transferring the rotation of the drive shaft to a follower shaft; rotating a deck about an axis of rotation of the drive shaft and an axis of rotation of the follower shaft; depositing mixed materials upon the deck; and separating the mixed materials. 
         [0016]    The present invention further provides a separator having a modular design that incorporates various sorting or separation points or stations for achieving secondary sorting of previously dimensionally sorted mixed materials. These objectives are achieved, in part, by providing a separator for separating mixed materials comprising: a vertically rotating horizontally oriented screen; a three-dimensional material output positioned at a first end of the screen; and a three-dimensional material separation pathway extending from the three-dimensional material output, the pathway having a plurality of different three-dimensional material separation points. 
         [0017]    These objectives are also achieved, in part, by providing a separator for separating mixed materials comprising: a horizontally oriented deck having a plurality of material outputs; and a modular material separation pathway comprising: an extension from one of the plurality of material outputs; at least one material separation point; and a return to a material input of the separator or one of the plurality of material outputs of the deck. 
         [0018]    These objectives are further achieved, in part, by a method for separating mixed materials comprising; separating a quantity of mixed materials through a vertical rotation of a horizontally oriented screen; collecting a three-dimensional portion of the mixed materials in a first output of the screen; transferring the three-dimensional portion of mixed materials to a three-dimensional material separation pathway; and separating different three-dimensional materials of the three-dimensional portion of the mixed materials from one another based upon different material characteristics at at least one separation point on the three-dimensional material separation pathway. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    These and other aspects, features and advantages of which embodiments of the invention are capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a portion of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a drive system of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a portion of a drive system of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a base and a drive system of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a portion of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a portion of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a portion of a separator according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. The terminology used in the detailed description of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements. 
         [0031]    Broadly speaking, the present invention provides a robust, economic to operate, and economic to maintain ballistic approach for the separation of mixed materials. An angled, unitary deck is connected to a system of statically interconnected counter weights driven by a single drive element. The deck is connected to the system of interconnected counter weights at connection points that are offset from the axes of rotation of the counter weights. Rotation of the system of counter weights results in a vertically circular oscillation of the deck. Oscillation of the deck, serves to separate mixed materials deposited upon the deck according to each material&#39;s ballistic properties and trajectory. 
         [0032]    More particularly, with reference to  FIG. 1 , a separator  10  according to the present invention includes a cover  12 , a housing  14 , a first output port  16 , a second output port  18 , a third output port  20 , and an input port  22 . The input port  22  functions to receive materials for separation into the separator  10  and is located over an approximate midpoint of a deck  26  that is visible through the partially opened input port  22  shown in  FIG. 1 . The housing  14  may further employ one or more access ports  24  that function to allow access to various locations within the housing  14 . 
         [0033]    At a first end  96  of the separator  10  are air ducts  90  that span between the cover  12  and the housing  14 . Similarly, at a second end  98  of the separator  10  are air ducts  92  that span between the cover  12  and the housing  14 . 
         [0034]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are perspective views of the separator  10  with the cover  12  and certain side panels of the housing  14  and deck  26  removed for the sake of observation. The housing  14  is formed around a base  88 . A drive system  42  couples the deck  26  to the base  88 . The housing  14  includes, in part, a first output  28 , a second output  30 , and a third output  32 . Located within the housing  14  below the first output  28  is a first air chamber  100 . At an opposite end of the housing  14 , below the second output  30  and the third output  32  is a second air chamber  102 . A pair of air ducts  94  pass along opposite longitudinal sides of the base  88  below the deck  26 . The air ducts  94  connect the first air chamber  100  to the second air chamber  102 , thereby forming an air passage between the first air chamber  100  and the second air chamber  102 . 
         [0035]    The second air chamber  102  includes one or more ports  104 . The air ducts  90  are connected to the ports  104  at a first end and to the similar ports formed in the cover  12  at a second end, thereby forming an air passage between the second air chamber  102  and the cover  12  at the first end  96  of the separator  10 . Likewise, the first air chamber  100  includes one or more ports  104 . One end of the air ducts  92  is connected to the ports  104  of the first air chamber  100 , and a second end of the air ducts  92  is connected to the cover  12  at the second end  98  of the separator  10 . 
         [0036]    Accordingly, a closed-loop air flow path is formed from the first air chamber  100 ; through air ducts  94  to the second air chamber  102 ; through the air ducts  90  to the cover  12 ; through the cover  12  over the deck  26 ; and through the air ducts  92  back to the first air chamber  100 . Within the air flow path, for example within the first air chamber  100 , one or more blowers may be employed to force air through the air flow path. The direction of flow of air within the air flow path can be either as described above, i.e. in the direction of arrow  86  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , or in the reverse direction. However, air flow in the direction of arrow  86  functions to assist in the efficient separation of certain mixed materials. 
         [0037]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the blower or blowers are operable to generate an air flow of approximately 8,800 cubic feet per minute. The rate of air flow may be adjusted by employing one or more adjustable blowers or by incorporating adjustable air constrictions, for example within air ducts  94 . In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the air flow path, for example within the first air chamber  100 , incorporates one or more air filtration systems. 
         [0038]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 10 , an adjustable limiting panel  15  is employed in order to focus the air flow over the deck  26 . The limiting panel  15  is attached to the cover  12  over or nearly over a side  50  of the screen  36  of the deck  26 . The limiting panel  15  extends down from the cover  26  towards the screen  36  and angles generally toward a side  52  of the screen  36  of the deck  26 . The limiting panel  15  may be attached to the cover  12  by hinges or other adjustable connectors such that the angle of the limiting panel  15  in the general direction of side  52  of the screen can be adjusted to account for a height of the deck  26  and/or adjust the extent to which the air flow is focused over the deck. 
         [0039]    The deck  26  includes, in part, side walls  34  that extend upward longitudinally along a side  46  and a side  48  of the screen  36 . The side  50  and a side  52  of the screen  36  are not bordered by side walls. The screen  36  has a plurality of holes or apertures  44  dispersed across the screen  36 . The screen  36  may employ a textured upper surface having gripping elements, for example, spikes or other protrusions extending upward. The screen  36  is statically elevated above a tray  38  having a similar or identical length and width as that of the screen  36 . Connected to the tray  38  is a hollow tray manifold  40  having an opening oriented above the output  32 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 4-5  are perspective views of the drive system  42  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The drive system  42  employs a drive shaft  56  and a follower shaft  58  that pass through and are attached to a frame  54  by bearing assemblies  60  at end  106  and an end  108  of the frame  54 , respectively. The end  108  of the frame  54  is pivotally attached to an end  110  of the base  88 . An opposite end  106  of the frame  54  is attached to an end  112  of the base  88  by one or more adjusting elements  114 . The adjusting element  114  may, for example be a hydraulic cylinder or threaded shaft. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the adjusting element  114  functions to allow for adjustment of an angle of the screen  36  of the deck  26  while the deck  26  is in operation or oscillating. 
         [0041]    In other words, during operation of the separator  10 , the adjustment element  114  allows the operator to elevate or lower the end  106  of the frame  54  relative to the fixed location or elevation of the end  108  of the frame  54 . Hence, the side  52  of the screen  36 , which is statically coupled to the end  106  of the frame  54 , is elevated or lowered relative to the side  50  of the screen  36 , which is statically coupled to the end  108  of the frame  54 . 
         [0042]    A counter weight  62  is attached to each end  64  of the drive shaft  54  and to each end  66  of the follower shaft  58 . For clarity, only one end  64  of the drive shaft  54  and only one end  66  of the follower shaft  58  are shown in  FIG. 5 . The second, opposite end  64  of the drive shaft  54  and the second, opposite end  66  of the follower shaft  58  are obscured within the counter weights  62  shown in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0043]    A link shaft  70  is attached to the counter weight  62  a hole  78  and projects from the counter weight  62  in a direction away from the frame  54 . A first end of a link arm  68  is attached via a bearing assembly to the link shaft  70  of counter weight  62  of the drive shaft  56  and a second end of the link arm  68  is attached via a bearing assembly to the link shaft  70  of the counter weights  62  of the follower shaft  58  that is positioned on the same side of the frame  54 . Similarly, a second link arm  68  is attached to the link shafts  58  of the counter balances  62  and the link shaft  70  of the counter weights  62  of the follower shaft  58  positioned on the opposite side of the frame  54 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the holes  78  are formed into or through the respective count weight  62  so as to be offset from the axes of rotation of the counter weights  62  about the drive shaft  56  and follower shaft  58 . 
         [0044]    To each of the link shafts  70  projecting from each of the counter weights  62  is attached, via a bearing assembly, a cam arm  72 . Opposite the ends of the cam arms  72  attached to the link shafts  70  are output shafts  74 . The output shafts  74  protrude from the cam arms  72  in a direction away from the frame  52 . For clarity, the opposite side&#39;s drive assembly including the counter weights  62  and the associated link shafts  70 , cam arms  72 , output shaft  74 , and link arm  68 , have been omitted from  FIG. 5 . 
         [0045]    Each of the output shafts  74  are, in turn, connected to the deck  26  by bearing assemblies incorporated into or otherwise attached to a deck bracket  76 , shown in  FIG. 3 . The deck  26  employs one deck bracket  76  on each longitudinal side of the deck  26 . One end of each deck bracket  76  is attached to the output shaft  74  associated with the drive shaft  56  and an opposite end of each deck bracket  76  is attached to the output shafts  74  associated with the follower shaft  58 . 
         [0046]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, a dimension of the travel or a diameter of the oscillation of the deck  26  is adjustable through adjustment or rotation of the individual cam arms  72  about the link shaft  74  and/or through interchanging cam arms  72  having different lengths. The dimension of travel or the diameter of the rotation of the deck  26  is up to eight inches or greater, for example 12 inches. The dimension of travel or diameter of rotation of the deck  26  is a function of a dimension of the offset of the axes of the output shafts  74  coupled to the drive shaft  56  from the axis of rotation of the drive shaft  56 , and similarly, is a function of a dimension of offset of the axes of the output shafts  74  coupled to the follower shaft  58  from the axis of rotation of the follower shaft  58 . This dimension of offset is directly proportional to the dimension of travel or a diameter of the rotation of the deck  26 , however, as rotational speed of the deck increases, this proportional relationship may vary due to inherent flex in the system. 
         [0047]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, adjustment of the dimension of travel or the diameter of the rotation of the deck  26  is possible through adjustment members, for example hydraulic cylinders, that link ends of the cam arms  72  attached to the deck brackets  72  to a point on the counter weights  62  apart from the link shafts  70 . Such adjustment members are operated in unison and allow for adjustment of the dimension of travel or the diameter of the rotation of the deck  26  during operation of the separator  10 . 
         [0048]    The drive system  42  further includes a drive element  80 . The drive element  80  may, for example, be a combustion, a hydraulic, an electric or other form of motor or a combination thereof. The drive element  80  is associated with a drive gear  84  which, in turn, is associated with the drive shaft  56 . The drive element  80  may, for example, directly engage and drive the rotation of the drive gear  84  through rotation of a gear that is in direct contact with the drive gear  84 . Alternatively, a chain or drive belt may be employed to communicate an output rotation from the drive element  80  to the drive gear  84 . 
         [0049]    While the present figures and disclosure shows and describes only one drive element  80  that drives or is otherwise associated with the drive gear  84  and the drive shaft  56 , it is contemplated that a plurality of drive elements  80  may drive or otherwise be associated with the drive gear  84  and the drive shaft  56 . 
         [0050]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, a gear box  82  may be employed between the drive element  80  and the drive gear  84 . The gear box  82  may but need not necessarily employ a clutch system. The gear box  82  may be associated with the drive element  80  and the drive gear  84  through, for example, direct engagement or through a drive belt or a chain. 
         [0051]    In operation, activation of the drive element  80  functions to rotate the drive gear  84  which, in turn, rotates the drive shaft  56  and the counter weights  62  attached to each end of the drive shaft  56 . The rotation of the counter weights  62  associated with the drive shaft  56  is communicated through the link arms  68  to the counter weights  62  associated with the follower shaft  58 , thereby resulting in a synchronized rotation of all of the counter weights  62 . The synchronized rotation of the counter weights  62  is, in turn, communicated to the deck  26  through the rotation of the link shafts  70 , the cam shafts  72 , and the output shafts  74  and through the coupling of the output shafts  74  to the deck brackets  76 . A vertically circular rotation of the deck  26  is achieved due to the offset orientation of the link shafts  70  relative to the axes of rotation of the drive shaft  56  and the follower shaft  58 . 
         [0052]    As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the screen  36  of the deck  26  is angled relative to the housing  14 . The side  52  of the screen  36  is elevated higher than the side  50  of the screen  36 . While the figure show the screen  36  of the deck  26  as angled in only one axis it is contemplated that the screen  36  may, in certain embodiments, be angled in a second axis, for example, such that one of the sides  46  and  48  is elevated above the other. From the perspective of  FIGS. 1-3 , the direction of rotation of the deck  26  is clockwise, as indicated by arrow  86 . 
         [0053]    As mixed materials are deposited through the input  22  onto the screen  36  of the deck  26 , the oscillating motion of the deck  26  functions to separate the mixed materials into at least three distinct types. Relatively light materials, for example, two-dimensional materials such as fibers, films, and certain flattened materials migrate towards the side  52  of the screen  36  and into the first output  28 . Relatively heavy materials, for example, three-dimensional materials such as plastic, metal and certain large dimensional fibers migrate towards the side  50  of the screen  36  and into the second output  30 . Finally, materials of a relatively small dimension or fines, for example, crushed glass, shredded paper, and certain organic materials fall through the apertures  44  of the screen, onto the tray  38 . Due to the orientation and motion of the tray  38 , the small dimensional materials migrate towards and through the tray manifold  40  and into the third output  32 . 
         [0054]    The separated materials are transferred out from the first output  28 , the second output  30 , and the third output  32  through the first output port  16 , the second output port  18 , and the third output port  20 , respectively. In certain embodiments, the transfer is facilitated by conveyor systems or other similar transfer systems. 
         [0055]    The separator  10  of the present invention provides numerous advantages over existing separators. For example, the separator  10  of the present invention is operable to achieve an adjustable oscillation or travel of up to approximately ten inches or greater, for example 12 inches; roughly twice the travel achieved by known separators. This increased travel, in turn, provides increased throughput capacity over known separators. Furthermore, the lower profile of the separator  10  relative to known separators allows for operation of the separator  10  in building having relatively low ceilings. Due to the presence of fewer components that are prone to wear, that are exposed to falling fines, and that require calibration, the separator of the present invention also requires less maintenance and thereby achieves lower operating cost relative to known separators that employ discs or multiple motors or drive elements. 
         [0056]    The separator  10  according to the present invention also advantageously incorporates an adjustable, closed or semi-closed air flow path over the materials being sorted. When the air flow is in the direction of arrow  83  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the air flow enhances the migration of two-dimensional materials, such as certain fibers, up the deck  26  towards the output  28 . In other words, the air flow through the closed or semi-closed air flow path enhances the separation efficiency of the separator  10 . Additionally, when an air filtration system is employed within the air flow path of the separator  10 , the resulting sorted materials contain reduced contaminates, thereby increasing efficiency of the separation process. Furthermore, due to the air filtration system within the air flow path, the separator  10  experiences reduced contamination and wear from airborne particulates, thereby decreasing maintenance and repair costs. 
         [0057]    Finally, the separator  10  according to the present invention advantageously allows an operator to adjust the angle of the screen  36  of the deck  26  without stopping operation of the separator  10 . The separator  10  allows for fine or infinite adjustment of the screen  26  so as to optimize separation of varying streams of mixed materials. Known separators, if operable for adjustment of the screen or separation surface angle, must be stopped in order to facilitate such adjustment. Accordingly, the present invention provides increased separation efficiency by allowing for adjustment of the separator  10  without having to actually stop the separation process. 
         [0058]    In another embodiment of the present invention, generally speaking, a separator employs additional separation mechanisms and material pathways that facilitate further or secondary separation of previously dimensionally separated materials, for example, three-dimensional materials such as plastic, metal and certain large dimensional fibers. 
         [0059]    More particularly, with reference to  FIGS. 7-9 , a separator  200  is similar to the above described separator  10  with the exception that the separator  200  further employs a three-dimensional material pathway  202 , shown generally in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . For the sake of observation, certain side panels of the housing  14  and the deck  26  of the separator  200  shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  are removed. 
         [0060]    In operation, as mixed materials are deposited through the input  22  onto the screen  36  of the deck  26 , the oscillating motion of the deck  26  functions to separate the mixed materials into at least three distinct types. Relatively heavy materials, for example, three-dimensional materials such as plastic, metal and certain large dimensional fibers migrate towards the side  50  of the screen  36  and into the second output  30 . From second output  30  the materials enter the material pathway  202 . The arrows on the line  202  indicated as the materials pathway  202  show the flow of the various types of three-dimensional materials. 
         [0061]    For example, at a first separation point  204  ferrous materials are removed from the mixed, three-dimensional materials by employing, for example, a magnet. The ferrous materials are captured and removed from the stream of mixed, three-dimensional materials at an output  206 . The remaining mixed, three-dimensional materials are transferred along portion  208  of the pathway  202  to second separation point  210 . The second separation point  210  employs, for example, an eddy current for removal or capture of materials such as aluminum. The aluminum materials removed from the stream of mixed, three-dimensional materials at an output  212 . 
         [0062]    The remaining mixed, three-dimensional materials are transferred along portion  214  of the pathway  202  to a third separation point  216 . The third separation point  216  employs, for example, an optical recognition system and/or a three-dimensional laser scanning technique in cooperation with robotics for the identification and capture of materials such as plastics. The plastics are removed from the stream of three-dimensional materials at an output  218 . Any remaining materials that were not removed via separation points  204 ,  210 , and  216  enter portion  220  of pathway  202  and are recirculated back into the input  22  and/or into output  30 . Accordingly, any unsorted three-dimensional materials will continue to pass through the separation points  204 ,  210 , and  216  of pathway  202  until identified and removed from the material pathway  202  at separation points  204 ,  210 , and  216  or are otherwise manually removed. 
         [0063]    The portions  208 ,  214 , and  220  of the materials pathway  202  may, for example, employ conveyor systems or other similar transfer systems in order to transfer the three-dimensional materials to separation points  204 ,  210 , and  216 . The separator  200  may be employed in a modular fashion. In other words, the separator  200  need not include each of separation points  204 ,  210 , and  216  but rather only those separation points desired by the separation facility. 
         [0064]    The separator  200  is advantageous in that it provides for increased separation of materials in a single piece of equipment or separator. The separator  200  is also advantageous in that the modular design of the separator provides the separation facility with the flexibility of adding or subtracting various types of material separation techniques. 
         [0065]    Although the invention has been described in terms of particular embodiments and applications, one of ordinary skill in the art, in light of this teaching, can generate additional embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of or exceeding the scope of the claimed invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the drawings and descriptions herein are proffered by way of example to facilitate comprehension of the invention and should not be construed to limit the scope thereof.