Patent · US Expired

Process and apparatus for separating plastics from contaminants

US4944868A · kind A · utility

11Cited by
17References
6Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 28, 1988
Grant dateJul 31, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 28, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W30/62
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A process and apparatus for separating plastics from contaminants which includes a separation tank, a wash tank, a rinse tank, a lift conveyor, and a material dryer is disclosed. The separation tank is filled with a separation solution and includes a discharge auger for discharging material that sinks and a discharge chute for discharging materials that float. The separation tank may be rotated so that sink or float materials may be alternately deposited in the wash tank. The wash tank is filled with a wash solution and includes a discharge auger for discharging material from the wash tank into a rinse tank. The rinse tank is filled with a rinse solution and includes a discharge auger for discharging material to a lift conveyor. Both the wash and rinse tanks include adjustable front and rear legs, and a center support leg for adjusting the solution level in relation to their respective discharge augers for optimizing washing or rinsing of either float or sink materials. The lift conveyor transfers material from the rinse tank to a material dryer. Lift conveyor may be converted so as to provide an additional rinsing step, or an aspiration step.

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