Abstract:
A splitter that physically delineates the travel path between material steams having different trajectories mounted on a metal sorting system. The splitter has an outer edge and comprising an automatic mechanism located at the outer edge for removing accumulated debris from the splitter. The automatic mechanism may be a sliding body that moves across said outer edge or a retractable blade extends and retracts to remove debris from the splitter.

Description:
[0001]    This application takes priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/153,301, incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Metal sorting systems are used to separate materials that have a mixture of magnetic ferrous materials from non-magnetic waste materials. Other sorting systems sort nonferrous metals from nonmetallic waste. In either case, the streams of material to be sorted are placed on conveyor belts and are exposed to magnetic fields that affect different kinds of material in the material streams different such that as the material stream is expelled from the end of the conveyor belt, the expulsion trajectory of different material types is different based on how they interact with the magnetic field at the end of the conveyor belt. It has been found that in any type of sorting system described above, that incorporating a splitter to physically delineate the travel path between the magnetic ferrous materials and the non-magnetic material significantly improves the quality of the separation. However, debris tends to accumulate on the splitters which obstructs the flow of materials on either side of the splitter. The typical solution to this is that the splitters have to be periodically cleaned of debris which often times requires a shutdown of the processing equipment and is labor intensive. What is presented are several embodiments of self-cleaning splitters that operate while the equipment is in use and requires little labor to operate. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    All embodiments of splitters disclosed, physically delineate the travel path between material steams having different trajectories on a metal sorting system. The splitters have an outer edge and comprises an automatic mechanism located at the outer edge for removing accumulated debris from the splitter. The automatic mechanism may be actuated at set time intervals, by remote signal from an operator, or by an operator at the splitter itself. In some embodiments, the automatic mechanism is actuated by a signal caused by debris accumulation on the splitter disrupting the path of a light source to an optical sensor. 
         [0004]    In some embodiments, the automatic mechanism is a rotating tip that revolves to dislodge accumulated debris. In some embodiments, the rotating tip has a diamond shape and in others the rotating tip has a triangular shape. 
         [0005]    In some embodiments, the automatic mechanism is a retractable blade embedded within the splitter. Removal of accumulated debris from the splitter is achieved by extending and then retracting the retractable blade from the splitter or by retracting and then extending the retractable blade from the splitter. 
         [0006]    In other embodiments, the automatic mechanism is a sliding body that moves across the outer edge of the splitter. The sliding body may be pneumatically activated or electrically driven. In some embodiments, the sliding body is mounted to a ball screw. 
         [0007]    Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is capable of embodiments that are different from those shown and that details of the apparatus and methods can be changed in various manners without departing from the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as including such equivalent embodiments as do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this invention, and its many advantages, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a stylized view of a metal sorting system with a prior art splitter; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an embodiment of splitter having an automatic mechanism for removing debris from the splitter that is a rotating tip in a triangular shape; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows an embodiment of splitter having an automatic mechanism for removing debris from the splitter that is a rotating tip in a diamond shape; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an embodiment of a splitter having an automatic mechanism for removing debris from the splitter that is a blade embedded within the splitter body; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side profile view of the splitter of  FIG. 4  with the blade in the retracted position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side profile view of the splitter of  FIG. 4  with the blade in the extended position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the splitter of  FIG. 4  with the blade in the extended position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the splitter of  FIG. 4  with the blade in the retracted position with one side of the splitter body removed showing the positioning of the blade within the splitter body; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the splitter of  FIG. 4  with the blade in the extended position with one side of the splitter body removed showing the positioning of the blade within the splitter body; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of splitter shown in  FIG. 4  within an enclosure and with adjustment mechanisms; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of splitter shown in  FIG. 4  within an enclosure and with different adjustment mechanisms; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  shows an embodiment of a splitter having an automatic mechanism for removing debris from the splitter that is a sliding body that moves across the outer edge of the splitter body; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  shows a pneumatically driven embodiment of the splitter of  FIG. 12  installed on a metal sorting system; 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  shows the splitter of  FIG. 13  with debris accumulated on the outer edge of the splitter body; 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  shows the splitter of  FIG. 13  with the automatic mechanism activated and sliding across the outer edge of the splitter body; 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  shows the splitter body of  FIG. 13  with the automatic mechanism fully across the outer edge of the splitter body; 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  shows an embodiment of the splitter of  FIG. 12  that is electrically driven; 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  shows an embodiment of splitter in which the automatic mechanism is mounted to a ball screw; 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  is a close up of the splitter of  FIG. 18 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  shows a splitter with a light source and sensor mounted to a splitter body for activating any of the automatic mechanisms described herein; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  shows a graph of a light source and sensor reading using the setup shown in  FIG. 20 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    Referring to the drawings, some of the reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding parts through several of the embodiments and figures shown and described. Corresponding parts are denoted in different embodiments with the addition of lowercase letters. Variations of corresponding parts in form or function that are depicted in the figures are described. It will be understood that variations in the embodiments can generally be interchanged without deviating from the invention. 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  shows a metal sorting system  10  are used to separate materials  12  that have a mixture of magnetic ferrous materials from non-magnetic waste materials. Other sorting systems sort nonferrous metals from nonmetallic waste. In either case, the stream of material  12  to be sorted are placed on a conveyor belt  14  and are exposed to magnetic fields that are generated using magnets  16  located at the end of the conveyor belt  14 . The magnets  16  in different metal sorting systems  10  may permanent magnets or electro magnets, may be rotating or stationary, and may be arranged in a variety of ways in a variety of combinations that generate magnetic fields that affect different kinds of material in the material stream  12  in slightly different ways depending on the application. In any case, the conveyor belt  14  imparts forward momentum on the material  12  as it is expelled from the end of the conveyor belt  14 . The expulsion trajectory of different material  12  types is different based on how they interact with the magnetic field at the end of the conveyor belt. Differently magnetic materials will have their exit trajectory influenced by the type and combination of magnets  16  in the metal sorting system  10 . This allows mixtures of material  12  to be sorted based on how the material components interact with the magnetic fields. It has been found that in any type of sorting system  10  described above, that incorporating a splitter  18  to physically delineate the travel path between the differently affected materials significantly improves the quality of the separation. However, debris tends to accumulate on the outer edge of the splitter  18 . This obstructs the flow of materials  12  on either side of the splitter  18 . The typical solution to this is that the splitters have to be periodically cleaned of debris which often times requires a shutdown of the processing equipment and is labor intensive. What is presented are several embodiments of self-cleaning splitters that operate while the equipment is in use and requires little labor to operate. 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows one embodiment of a self-cleaning splitter  18   a.  In this embodiment, the splitter  18   a  comprises an automatic mechanism  20   a  located on the outer edge of the splitter body  22   a.  In this embodiment, the automatic mechanism  20   a  is a rotatable head mounted to a motor (not shown). In this embodiment, the rotatable head of the automatic mechanism  20   a  has a triangular shape. A divider  24   a  is interposed between the automatic mechanism  20   a  and the splitter body  22   a  to eliminate any gap between them. When the splitter  18   a  is installed on a separating system, separated material flows on either side of the splitter  18   a  and, on occasion, some material will collect on the splitter  18   a.  In order to remove this material, the motor is actuated to rotatable head of the automatic mechanism  20   a  and drop the accumulated material from the splitter  18   a.  Removal of material may be accomplished by activating the automatic mechanism  20   a  periodically at some set time interval or as needed by an operator, either by a remote signal or direct actuation. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of a self-cleaning splitter  18   b.  Similar to the embodiment in  FIG. 2 , the splitter  18   b  comprises an automatic mechanism  20   b  located on the outer edge of the splitter body  22   b.  In this embodiment, the automatic mechanism  20   b  is a rotatable head in a diamond shape mounted to a motor (not shown). A divider  24   b  is interposed between the automatic mechanism  20   b  and the splitter body  22   b  to eliminate any gap between them. The operation of this embodiment is identical to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of self-cleaning splitter  18   c  installed in a metal sorting system  10   c.  As with the prior art systems discussed earlier, the splitter  18   c  physically delineates the travel path between the differently affected materials  12   c  significantly improves the quality of the separation. As with prior art systems, some material  12   c  will accumulate on the outer edge of the splitter body  22   c.  In this embodiment, the automatic mechanism  20   c  is the blade embedded within the splitter body  22   c.  As best understood by reviewing  FIGS. 5-9 , the blade of the automatic mechanism  20   c  is mounted to a set of pistons  26   c  that are able to move the blade into and out of the splitter body  22   c.  This movement dislodges any accumulated material from the splitter  18   c.    
         [0035]    This embodiment of self-cleaning splitter  18   c  works in one of two ways. In the normal operation, the blade of the automatic mechanism  20   c  is either primarily in the extended position with accumulated material dislodged by retracting the blade in to the splitter body  22   c  or primarily in the retracted position with accumulated material dislodged by extending the blade out of the splitter body  22   c.  Removal of material may be accomplished by activating the automatic mechanism  20   c  periodically at some set time interval or as needed by an operator, either by a remote signal or direct actuation. 
         [0036]      FIG. 10  shows an embodiment of self-cleaning splitter  18   d  similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . This embodiment is housed within an enclosure  28   d  that protects the equipment from the elements. In  FIG. 10 , part of the enclosure  28   d  is removed to show the equipment within. Adjustments to angle and location of the splitter  18   d  can the made with the adjustment mechanisms  30   d  shown. 
         [0037]      FIG. 11  shows another embodiment of self-cleaning splitter  18   e  similar to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . This embodiment is housed within an enclosure  28   e  that protects the equipment from the elements. Adjustments to angle and location of the splitter  18   e  can the made with the adjustment mechanisms  30   e  shown. 
         [0038]      FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of self-cleaning splitter  18   f  in which debris accumulated on the outer edge of the splitter  18   f  is removed with an automatic mechanism  20   f  that is a sliding body that moves across the outer edge. In this embodiment, the sliding body is a wiper  32   f  that is mounted to a rail  34   f.    FIGS. 13-16 , show the splitter  18   f  in operation on a metal sorting system  14   f.  As material  12   f  accumulates on the outer edge of the splitter body  22   f,  the automatic mechanism  20   f  is actuated periodically at some set time interval or as needed by an operator, either by a remote signal or direct actuation. When triggered, the wiper  32   f  is drawn along the outer edge of the splitter body  22   f  to push accumulated debris  12   f  off of the splitter  18   f.  In these figures, it is apparent from the pneumatic lines  36   f  that the automatic mechanism  20   f  in this embodiment is pneumatically driven. 
         [0039]      FIG. 17  shown an embodiment of self-cleaning splitter  18   g  that&#39;s similar to the embodiments shown and described in  FIGS. 12-16 . In this embodiment, the automatic mechanism  20   g  is driven by an electrical motor  38   g  that propels the wiper  32   g  along the rail  34   g  and across the outer edge of the splitter body  22   g.    
         [0040]      FIGS. 18 and 19  show another embodiment of self-cleaning splitter  18   h  that incorporates an automatic mechanism  20   h  that is mounted directly to the underside of the splitter body  22   h.  In this embodiment, the wiper  32   h  is mounted to a ball screw mechanism  40   h  that is powered by an electrical motor  38   h.  This embodiment works identically to the embodiments shown and described in  FIGS. 12-16 . When then automatic mechanism  20   h  is activated, the ball screw mechanism  20   h  moves the wiper  32   h  across the outer edge of splitter body  22   h  to remove accumulated debris from the splitter  18   h.    
         [0041]      FIG. 20  shows one means by which any of the self-cleaning splitters described herein may be activated. A light source  42   i  and sensor  44   i  are mounted on the outer edge of the splitter body  22   i.  The graph in  FIG. 21  shows that as debris accumulates on the splitter, it begins to the block light from the source  42   i  from reaching the sensor  44   i.  As more debris accumulates, the greater the reduction in the amount of light read by the sensor  44   i.  When the reading reaches a pre-set amount, the automatic mechanism is triggered and the debris is removed from the splitter body. 
         [0042]    This invention has been described with reference to several preferred embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such alterations and modifications in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents of these claims.