Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for sorting articles

US4317521A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
5References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 14, 1980
Grant dateMar 2, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 14, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB07C2501/0036
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Apparatus and method for sorting scrap metal pieces dependent on the type of metal therein. The apparatus includes a conveyor and a feeding arrangement to feed the scrap metal pieces on to the conveyor, together with an X-ray fluorescence detector to examine each metal piece and determine the type of metal as a result of the characteristic X-rays emitted. A respective control signal is utilized to move pegs on the conveyor so as to permit the respective metal piece to exit from the conveyor along a respective path and to enter a bin for that particular type of metal. In this way scrap metal pieces of different metal are collected in different bins for subsequent processing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.