Magnetic article sorting apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated, hollow, cylindrical casing of nonmagnetic material, said casing having a continuous, uninterrupted outer surface throughout its length; an elongated magnetic core assmbly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly and a ramp of non-magnetic material wound spirally around the outside of said casing and extending radially outwardly from said casing, said core assembly being operable upon rotation relative to said casing to attract articles to the outer surface of said casing and cause the articles to rotate about the axis of said casing while remaining on said outer surface, said ramp causing said articles to advance along the length of said casing in response to rotation of said core assembly.

Claim 3

Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pitch of said ramp varies such that the distance between adjacent coils of said ramp progressively decreases at one end of said ramp.

Claim 4

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including a collection tray formed on said one end of said ramp for receiving articles from said ramp.

Claim 5

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including at least one divider projecting from said tray for grouping articles on opposite sides thereof on said tray.

Claim 6

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further including a discharge chute on said tray.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 further including demagnetizing means on said discharge ramp.

Claim 8

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollow casing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly a ramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around said casing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance along the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relative to said casing; the pitch of said ramp varying such that the distance between adjacent coils of said ramp progressively decreases at one end of said ramp, said casing being cylindrical and said ramp extending radially outwardly from said casing; and a plurality of rollers mounted on said core assembly and engaging the inner surface of said casing to provide support for said core assembly in a direction transverse to the axis of said casing.

Claim 9

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollow casing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly a ramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around said casing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance along the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relative to said casing; the pitch of said ramp varying such that the distance between adjacent coils of said ramp progressively decreases at one end of said ramp, said casing being cylindrical and said ramp extending radially outwardly from said casing; and a plurality of rollers mounted on said core assembly and engaging the inner surface of said casing to provide support for said core assembly in a direction transverse to the axis of said casing.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said plurality of rollers comprises a plurality of sets of rollers spaced axially along the length of said core assembly.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of said sets of rollers comprises a plurality of rollers spaced angularly from each other about the rotary axis of said core assembly.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said core assembly comprises a shaft of nonmagnetic material, and magnetic means secured to said shaft.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said core assembly comprises a shaft; a pair of elongated support bars mounted on diametrically opposed sides of the axis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing; and a pair of elongated magnetic bars mounted between said support bars on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pitch of said ramp varies such that the distance between adjacent Coils of said ramp progressively decreases at one end of said ramp.

Claim 15

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said core assembly comprises: a shaft; a plurality of axially spaced sets of magnet support arms on said shaft; and at least one magnet carried by each of said magnet support arms.

Claim 16

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein each set of magnet support arms comprises a plurality of magnet support arms spaced angularly from each other about the rotary axis of said core assembly.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the pitch of said ramp varies such that the distance between adjacent coils of said ramp progressively decreases at one end of said ramp.

Claim 18

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollow casing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly a ramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around said casing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance along the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relative to said casing, said core assembly comprising a shaft; a pair of elongated support bars mounted on diametrically opposed sides of the axis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing; and a pair of elongated magnetic bars mounted between said support bars on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing.

Claim 19

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollow casing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly a ramp of nonmagnetic material wound spirally around said casing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance along the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relative to said casing, said core assembly comprising a shaft; a pair of elongated support bars mounted on diametrically opposed sides of the axis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing; and a pair of elongated magnetic bars mounted between said support bars on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of said shaft and extending along the length of said casing.

Claim 20

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollow casing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly and a ramp of non-magnetic material wound spirally around the outside of said casing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance along the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relative to said casing, said core assembly comprising: a shaft; a plurality of axially spaced sets of magnet support arms on said shaft; and at least one magnet carried by each of said magnet support arms.

Claim 21

Apparatus for handling articles by magnetic attraction comprising: an elongated hollow casing of non-magnetic material; an elongated magnetic core assembly rotatably received in said casing; means for rotating said assembly and a ramp of non-magnetic material wound spirally around the outside of said casing for causing articles attracted by said core assembly to advance along the length of said casing upon rotation of said core assembly relative to said casing, said core assembly comprising: a shaft; a plurality of axially spaced sets of magnet support arms on said shaft; and at least one magnet carried by each of said magnet support arms.

Claim 22

Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein each set of magnet support arms comprises a plurality of magnet support arms spaced angularly from each other about the rotary axis of said core assembly.