Magnetic sheet classifier

Claim 1

Apparatus for classifying flat ferrous sheets according to desired magnetic characteristics, comprising cooperating upper and lower conveyors, said lower conveyor having a sheet-receiving portion and a sheet-exiting portion, each of said conveyors including an endless belt trained over spaced rolls and disposed so that one end of the lower reach of said upper conveyor belt is closely spaced with respect to the upper reach of said lower conveyor belt at a portion of said lower conveyor intermediate said sheet-receiving and sheet-exiting portions to form a throat therewith through which a sheet passes, said reaches diverging in a direction toward said sheet-exiting portion of said lower conveyor so that said throat enlarges in this direction, a first plurality of electromagnets supported along a path longitudinally of said lower reach and inwardly of said throat, and second plurality of magnets supported along and establishing a curved path longitudinally of said upper reach and inwardly of said throat, said curved path being in juxtaposition to said upper reach and the latter following said curved path, means for selectively energizing said first and second plurality of magnets, said sheet being attracted to said lower reach when said first plurality of magnets are energized and carried thereby to a desired location, and said sheet being attracted to said upper reach when said second plurality of magnets are energized and longitudinally curved to correspond to the curvature of said path.