Patent ID: 7438244

Claim:
An apparatus for separating plastic material from various types of contaminants, including paper, said apparatus comprising: (a) grinding means for reducing the size of said contaminated plastic material to a reduced size of pieces; (b) mixing means for receiving said pieces of contaminated plastic material from said grinding means, said mixing means comprising; (1) a nozzle portion at one end having a first inlet port for receiving compressed air and an outlet port that has an outlet orifice for producing a turbulent flow of compressed air downstream of said orifice; (2) an intermediate portion having a mixing chamber for receiving said flow of turbulent air from said outlet orifice and a second inlet port for receiving said contaminated plastic pieces whereby said pieces are pulled into said mixing means by said turbulent air flow and said contaminants are separated from said pieces to produce essentially a mixture of uncontaminated plastic pieces and contaminants; (3) an outlet end through which said separated contaminants and said plastic pieces exit the mixing means; (c) air compression means for supplying compressed air to said mixing means; and; (d) means for removing said separated contaminants from said plastic pieces.