Patent ID: 8360247

Claim:
A magnetic separation apparatus for separating magnetic materials from non-magnetic materials in a material flow, the apparatus comprising a housing providing a materials flow section through which material passes, and at least one magnetic separator, each magnetic separator comprising: a cylinder, having a first end and a second end, the first end being closer to the material flow than the second end in use, a piston movably mounted within the cylinder, and a magnetic shaft having a longitudinal axis and extending from the piston and having an outer surface, a proximal end and a distal end, a rotation device operatable to incrementally rotate the magnetic shaft about the shaft longitudinal axis, the piston being adapted to move the magnetic shaft between a retracted position at which the magnetic shaft is substantially wholly disposed within the cylinder, and an extended position at which the magnetic shaft extends from the cylinder first end, wherein in the extended position, at least a portion of the magnetic shaft outer surface is exposed in said housing to the material flow.