Patent GB-294575-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the separation of solid materials
IPC: B03B1/00
Filed: 1928-07-20
Abstract: 294,575. Kolitsch, H. July 26, 1927, [Convention date]. Void [Published under Sect. 91 of the Acts]. Addition to 275,9'70. Separating by electrical apparatus operated by light reflected from the materials; feeding articles by moving surfaces coacting with stationary guicles.-Relates to the method of separating mixed materials bv the action of radiant energy reflected or radiated from the materials and caused to operate devices by which the different kinds of materials are separated as described in the parent Specification and consists in the provision of apparatus comprising devices for presenting the pieces separately to the inspection means and for separating them after inspection. One form of means for conveying the pieces to the inspection device, which may consist of any form of apparatus sensitive to radiations such as a photo-electric cell, is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a rotating disc 3 and stationary arms 5. The materials are charged centrally on the disc by a pipe 1, and are caused to travel with increasing speed to the outer ends of the arms, where a spring-controlled detent 7 delivers them one at a time. The arms are curved in the direction of rotation of the disc and are preferably stepped or provided with roughened parts or rollers. The horizontal disc may be replaced by a conveyer band, conical roller, or inclined cylinder, and the materials may be supplied thereto by a shaking trough, instead of a charging pipe. Means are described for turning the pieces so as to present an extended surface to the inspection device and consist of oppositely rotating rollers or cylinders, travelling bands, helical or reversely curved shoots, or simple shoots with a projection at the lower end causing the pieces to turn over. The devices for separating the materials comprise flaps 8, controlled by electromagnetic means energized by the currents developed in the inspection devices 10 and determining the passage of the pieces to the several receptacles 12, 13, 14. The various forms described comprise straight shoots with a succession of trap door, shoots that are movable to direct the pieces to various receptacles, or stationary shoots and movable guide plates. In another construction the materials after pasing the inspection device pass to the inner or outer surface of a rotating cylinder comprising a series of flaps selectively operated by electromagnetic devices. Fig 6 shows a device in which the pieces are supplied in succession to the bottom of stationary shoots 35 and the inspection device 40 rotates past them..Trap doors 36 held up by detents 37 are released either by electromagnets 41 or by a tappet device combined with a deflecting plate 44 so as to direct the materials to one side or the other of a partition 42. In a modification of this construction, the rotating platform has apertures through which the pieces drop on to a deflecting plate which is set in different position by the inspection device. Another construction is shown in Fig. 23 and comprises a cylinder formed of a series of double flaps 116, 117 which are selectively operated by two inspection devices 119, 120 so as to discharge the pieces to an internal shoot 118 or to one or other side of a plate 121, in the directions p, q. Fig. 27 shows a construction in which the pieces are sorted according to size or shape or composition by the degree or duration of obscuration produced by the passage of the piece between a source of light 133 and a receiver 134. The Specification also states that an arrangement of mirrors, prisms, shutters, &c. can be utilized for examining the opposite sides of the pieces, that the materials may receive preliminary treatment, physical or chemical, to facilitate or increase the reaction of the inspection device, and that the form of radiation used may be given some property such as polarization, dispersion, length of wave, &c. suitable for the materials under treatment.