Patent · US Active

Electrostatic material separator

US8307987B2 · kind B2 · utility

13Cited by
126References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 18, 2010
Grant dateNov 13, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 13, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02W30/62
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A separation system includes an air separator that, in one embodiment, primarily receives Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) containing a mixture of relatively light MSW recyclable materials such as plastic, paper, cardboard, plastic containers, and/or metal containers and relatively heavy MSW such as textiles, food waste, yard debris, etc. The air separator blows the relatively light MSW recyclable materials up though a chamber and onto a first conveyor while the other relatively heavy MSW material drops down a chute onto a second conveyor. A separation screen receives the relatively light MSW recyclable materials from the air separator and separates the relatively flat fiber and plastic film materials from the other paper, plastic and metal containers. In another separation stage, an electrostatic emitter is positioned adjacent to a conveyor for applying an electrostatic charge to faciliate separation of the MSW recyclable materials. An optical identification system is configured to distinguish different types of recyclable materials.

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