Patent Publication Number: US-6902066-B2

Title: Removal unit for metal alien material removal apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to a removal unit for removing metallic alien material which is adapted to remove metallic alien materials such as metal fragments contained in powder or liquid raw materials. 
   BACKGROUND ART 
   Generally, removing apparatus for alien material used in chemical factories and plastic powder manufacturing factories serve to remove metallic alien materials contained in raw materials in order to achieve an improvement in the quality of those raw materials. 
   An example of a metal separation device was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,188,239 of Stowe et al. This metal separation device will be described with reference to FIG.  6 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 6 , the metal separation device includes a housing  12 , into which a raw material is introduced, and a bracket  30  mounted in the housing  12 . The bracket  30  includes a base plate  36 , leg members  40  extending from the base plate  36 , and a face plate  26  coupled to the leg members  40  in such a fashion that it is integral with those leg members  40 . The base plate  36  and leg members  40  are disposed in the interior of the housing  12  whereas the face plate  26  is coupled to one side wall of the housing  12 . The base plate  36  and faceplate  26  are provided with holes  38  and  28 , respectively. Cylindrical magnets  23  are separable inserted into the holes  38  and  28  at respective one-side ends thereof. A drawer plate  25  is coupled to the other-side ends of the magnets  23 . A handle  58  is provided at the drawer plate  25 . 
   As a raw material passes through the housing  12  under the condition in which the magnets  23  are inserted in the holes  28  and  38  of the face plate  26  and base plate  36  included in the bracket  30  fitted in the housing  12 , metallic alien materials contained in the raw material are attached to outer surfaces of the magnets  23 . When the operator pulls the handle  58  to draw the magnets  23  from the housing  12 , the magnets  23  slide with respect to the holes  28  of the faceplate  26 . Since the outer surface of each magnet  23  is in contact with the peripheral surface of an associated one of the holes  28 , the metallic alien materials attached to the outer surfaces of the magnets are wiped by the peripheral surfaces of the holes  28 . Thus, the metallic alien materials are removed from the outer surfaces of the magnets  23 . 
   However, the metal separation device of Stowe et al. has the following drawbacks. 
   First, fine metallic alien materials attached to the magnets  23  are left without being completely removed. For this reason, a separate manual process using an adhesive tape or the like should be conducted in order to remove such fine metallic alien materials. 
   In addition, a lot of time is taken for the manual process, thereby resulting in degradation in productivity. 
   After the magnets  23  are separated from the bracket  30 , they should be inserted again into the bracket  30 . However, it is difficult to insert the magnets  23  into the holes  28  and  38  of the bracket  30  by virtue of the magnetic force of the magnets  23 . In other words, the free end of each magnet  23  cannot be easily inserted into the hole  28  or  38  of the bracket  30  because the fundamental magnet characteristics, that is, an attraction exhibited between magnets having the same polarity and a repulsion exhibited between magnets having different polarities. 
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention has been invented in view of solving the above mentioned drawbacks involved in the related art, and the object of the invention is to provide a removal apparatus for removing metallic alien material which is installed around a magnet to wipe metallic alien materials attached to the surface of the magnet toward an end of the magnet while sliding along the magnet, thereby allowing the metallic alien materials to be automatically separated from the magnet, so that it is possible to easily and conveniently remove the metallic alien materials from the magnet. 
   In accordance with the present invention, this object is accomplished by providing removing metallic alien material comprising a body into which a raw material containing metallic alien materials are introduced and from which the raw material is discharged. The removal unit including an outer plate provided with handles, an inner plate spaced apart from the outer plate by a desired distance, and magnet members coupled between the inner plate and the outer plate, so that the metallic alien materials are attached to outer peripheral surfaces of the magnetic members, and then removed,. 
   Wherein each of the magnet members included in the removal unit includes a cylindrical stainless steel rod, a magnet received in the stainless steel rod to extend from one end of the stainless steel rod to at least an intermediate portion of the stainless steel rod, the magnet being coupled to the inner plate, a non-magnetic piece received in the other end of the stainless steel rod and coupled to the outer plate, and a fluorine resin coating formed over an outer peripheral surface of the stainless steel rod; and
         further comprising:
           a removal member arranged to be slidable in a longitudinal direction along the magnet members while being in contact with the outer peripheral surfaces of the magnet members, the removal member serving to wipe the metallic alien materials attached to the outer peripheral surface of the stainless steel rod at a portion of the stainless steel rod, in which the magnet is received, toward the end of the stainless steel rod in which the non-magnetic piece is received.   
               

   The removal member comprises removal rings each fitted around the stainless steel rod of an associated one of the magnet members and adapted to wipe metallic alien materials attached to the outer peripheral surface of the stainless steel rod while moving in a longitudinal direction along the stainless steel rod, a fixed plate provided with insertion holes for receiving the removal rings, respectively, the fixed plate serving to prevent the removal rings from moving radial of the associated stainless steel rods, and support plates coupled to both surfaces of the fixed plate, respectively, while covering the removal rings, the support plates firmly supporting the removal rings so that the removal rings are firmly held on the fixed plate. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a removal unit for removing metallic alien material according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view corresponding to  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V—V of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged view corresponding to a portion “P” of  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B, and  5 C are views illustrating the using states of the removal unit according to the present invention which is installed in removing metallic alien materials, respectively; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a conventional metal separation device. 
   

   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
   Now, a removal unit for removing metallic alien materials according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in conjunction with the annexed drawings. 
     FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a removal unit for removing metallic alien materials according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is an assembled perspective view corresponding to FIG.  1 .  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V—V of FIG.  2 .  FIG. 4  is an enlarged view corresponding to a portion “P” of FIG.  3 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1  to  4 , the removal unit of the present invention, which is denoted by the reference numeral  100 , serves to remove metallic alien materials contained in a raw material passing through the body  210  of a metallic alien material removal device  200  (FIG.  5 A). The removal unit  100  has an inner plate  110 , an outer plate  120 , a magnet member,  130 , and a removal member  140 . 
   The inner and outer plates  110  and  120  are spaced apart from each other by a desired distance. Magnet members  130  are coupled between the inner and outer plates  110  and  120  in such a fashion that each of them is coupled at one end thereof to the inner plate  110  and at the other end thereof to the outer plate  120  by bolts  151  and  153 , respectively. 
   Each magnet member  130  includes a cylindrical stainless steel rod  131 , a magnet  133  received in the stainless steel rod  131  to extend from one end of the stainless steel rod  131  to at least an intermediate portion of the stainless steel rod  131 , a non-magnetic piece  135  received in the other end of the stainless steel rod  131 , and a fluorine resin coating  137  formed over the outer peripheral surface of the stainless steel rod  131 . The magnet  133  is coupled to the inner plate  110  whereas the non-magnetic piece  135  is coupled to the outer plate  120 . 
   The removal member  140  is slidable along the length of the magnet members  130  while being in contact with the outer peripheral surface of each magnet member  130 . The fluorine resin coating  137  serves to reduce a friction generated between the associated magnet member  130  and the removal member  140 , thereby allowing the removal member  140  to easily slide along the length of the magnet member  130  while achieving an improvement in durability for the magnet member  130  and removal member  140 . 
   The removal member  140  includes removal rings  141 , a fixed plate  143 , and a pair of support plates  145 . The inner peripheral surface of each removal ring  141  is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of an associated one of the magnet members  130 . Accordingly, the removal ring  141  serves to wipe metallic alien materials attached to the outer peripheral surface of the associated magnet member  130 . Insertion holes  143   a  having the same diameter as the outer diameter of the removal rings  141  is formed at the fixed plate  143 . Each removal ring  141  is fitted in an associated one of the insertion holes  143   a . Accordingly, each removal ring  141  is prevented from moving radial of the associated magnet member  130 , by the fixed plate  143 . 
   The support plates  145  are coupled to both surfaces of the fixed plate  143 , respectively, while covering the removal rings  141 . Accordingly, the support plates  145  firmly support the removal rings  141  so that the removal rings  141  are firmly held on the fixed plate  143 . Each support plate  145  has holes  145   a  corresponding to respective insertion holes  143   a . The holes  145   a  have a diameter larger than the inner diameter of the removal rings  141 , but smaller than the outer diameter of the removal rings  141 . 
   By virtue of the above mentioned configuration, when the removal member  140  slides along the length of the magnet members  130 , wipes metallic alien materials attached to the outer peripheral surface of each stainless steel rod  131  toward the end of the stainless steel rod  131  in which the non-magnetic piece  135  is received. When the metallic alien materials reaching the end of the stainless steel rod  131 , in which the nonmagnetic piece  135  is received, they are automatically separated from the magnet member  130  by virtue of the non-magnetic piece  135 . 
   In the drawings, the reference numerals  115  and  125  denote grooves formed at the inner plate  110  and handles provided at the outer plate  120 , respectively. The reference numerals  155  and  157  denote bolts and nuts for coupling the fixed plate  143  and support plates  145  together. 
   Now, the operation of the removal unit according to the present invention will be described in conjunction with  FIGS. 3  to  5 C.  FIGS. 5A and 5C  are views illustrating the using states of the removal unit according to the present invention which is installed in removing metallic alien materials, respectively. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5A , the removal unit  100  is first inserted into the body  210  of the removing device  200 . In this state, a raw material is introduced into the body  210 , and allowed to pass through the body  210 . As the raw material passes through the body  210 , metallic alien materials contained in the raw material are attached to the outer peripheral surface of each magnet member  130  by virtue of the magnetic force of the magnet  133  received in the magnet member  130 . 
   Thereafter, the operator pulls the handles  115  to separate the removal unit  100  from the body  210 , as shown in FIG.  5 B. The operator then slides the removal member  140  toward the outer plate  120 . As the removal member  140  slides, it wipes the metallic alien materials attached to the outer peripheral surface of each stainless steel rod  131  toward the end of the stainless steel rod  131  in which the non-magnetic piece  135  is received, as shown in FIG.  5 C. When the metallic alien materials reaching the end of the stainless steel rod  131 , in which the non-magnetic piece  135  is received, they are automatically separated from the magnet member  130  by virtue of the non-magnetic piece  135 . 
   The removal unit for removing metallic alien materials according to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention may be automatically operated. That is, where an air cylinder (not shown) is installed to move the removal unit  100  accessible to the body  210  and the removal member  140  slidable in a longitudinal direction with respect to the magnet members  130 , it is possible to automatically remove metallic alien materials. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 
   Industrial Applicability 
   As apparent from the above description, in the removal unit for removing metallic alien materials according to the present invention, once metallic alien materials attached to the outer peripheral surface of each stainless steel rod at a portion of the stainless steel rod, in which a magnet is received, are wiped toward the end of the stainless steel rod, in which a non-magnetic piece is received, they are automatically separated from the magnet member by virtue of the non-magnetic piece. Thus, it is possible to rapidly and conveniently remove metallic alien materials. As a result, it is possible to achieve a reduction in processing time and an improvement in productivity.