Electromagnetic material handling system utilizing offset pole spacing

Claim 2

A magnetic pole arrangement for giving motion to electrically conductive materials, comprising: a first row of a plurality of electrically excitable magnetic pole faces forming one side of an air gap, said first row pole faces being positioned with spaces therebetween along said first row, a second row of a plurality of electrically excitable magnetic pole faces forming an opposite side of said air gap, said second row pole faces being positioned with spaces therebetween along said second row, each pole face of the first row being positioned opposite a space of said second row and having a width substantially equal to that of said opposite space, and each pole face of the second row being positioned opposite a space of said first row and having a width substantially equal to that of said opposite space.

Claim 3

The magnetic pole arrangement of claim 1 which additionally comprises means for electrically exciting the magnetic pole faces with alternating current to provide magnetic flux of two distinct relative phases between each pole face and those pole faces adjacent a space opposite said pole face.

Claim 4

The magnetic pole arrangement of claim 1 which additionally comprises means connecting the electrically excitable magnetic pole faces to a poly-phase alternating electrical power source for producing a magnetic field therefrom having one of a plurality of relative alternating phases, each pole face of the second row generating a magnetic field having a relative phase different from that of two poles of the first row on either side of a pole space located opposite said each pole.

Claim 5

The magnetic pole arrangement of claim 1 wherein all of said spaces between pole faces are substantially equal in width along their respective rows and wherein said gap width between said first and second row of pole faces is substantially equal to the width of said spaces.

Claim 6

Apparatus for removing electrically conductive particles from a stream of waste material, comprising: means for forming waste material including electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive particles into a stream along a given path, a plurality of electromagnetic poles arranged in a first row extending across said stream given path with non-magnetic material spaces between said poles, a plurality of electromagnetic poles positioned in a second row extending across said stream given path on its side opposite to the location of the first row and having non-magnetic material spaces between said poles, the poles of each row being oriented directly opposite a space of the other row, and means for energizing said electromagnets of the first and second rows with alternating current of various relative phases in a manner to exert force upon electrically conductive particles positioned in said stream that is in a direction along said rows, whereby conductive particles are removed out of a stream of waste material.

Claim 7

Apparatus for removing electrically conductive particles from a stream of waste material, comprising: means for forming waste material including electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive particles into a stream along a given path, a plurality of electromagnetic poles arranged in a first row extending across said stream given path with non-magnetic material spaces between said poles, a plurality of electromagnetic poles positioned in a second row extending across said stream given path on its side opposite to the location of the first row and having non-magnetic material spaces between said poles, the poles of each row being oriented directly opposite a space of the other row, and means for energizing said electromagnets of the first and second rows with alternating current of various relative phases in a manner to exert force upon electrically conductive particles positioned in said stream that is in a direction along said rows, whereby conductive particles are removed out of a stream of waste material.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein each pole has a dimension along its row that is substantially equal to a space of the other row opposing said each pole.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said stream forming means includes a substantially horizontal conveyor belt with said first row of electromagnetic poles extending across the belt on its underside and said second row of electromagnetic poles extending across the belt a distance above its top side.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said first and second rows are oriented at a finite angle less than 90* with the conveyor belt.

Claim 11

Apparatus for giving motion to electrically conductive non-magnetic articles such as aluminum can lids, comprising: a first row of electromagnetic poles extending along a path over which said articles are to be conveyed, said poles being separated along the path by spaces of non-magnetic material, a second row of electromagnetic poles extending along said path and separated from said first row by an air gap through which saiD articles are given motion, the poles of the second row being separated along the path from each other by spaces of non-magnetic material, each of the poles of said first and second rows being positioned opposite a space of the opposing row of poles, and means for energizing the electromagnetic poles with alternating current of various relative phases in a manner to exert force on an article in the air gap in a direction along said path.

Claim 12

Apparatus for giving motion to electrically conductive non-magnetic articles such as aluminum can lids, comprising: a first row of electromagnetic poles extending along a path over which said articles are to be conveyed, said poles being separated along the path by spaces of non-magnetic material, a second row of electromagnetic poles extending along said path and separated from said first row by an air gap through which saiD articles are given motion, the poles of the second row being separated along the path from each other by spaces of non-magnetic material, each of the poles of said first and second rows being positioned opposite a space of the opposing row of poles, and means for energizing the electromagnetic poles with alternating current of various relative phases in a manner to exert force on an article in the air gap in a direction along said path.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said path includes a curved section.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 9 which additionally comprises: a third row of electromagnetic poles positioned alongside said first row, said third row of poles being separated by spaces of non-magnetic material and oriented with poles and spaces aligned with those of the first row, a fourth row of electromagnetic poles positioned alongside said second row, said fourth row of poles being separated by spaces of non-magnetic material and oriented with poles and spaces aligned with those of the second row, thereby to form a second path along which said articles may be conveyed in an air gap between said third and fourth rows, and wherein said energizing means includes means for energizing the electromagnetic poles of the first, second, third and fourth rows to simultaneously exert forces on an article along the lengths of said paths and between said paths, whereby an article may be given complex motion.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said energizing means provides magnetic flux of two distinct relative phases between each pole face and those pole faces adjacent a space opposite said pole face.

Claim 16

Apparatus for giving motion to an electrically conductive non-magnetic article, comprising: a first row of electromagnetic poles extending along a defined path over which said article is to be moved, said poles being separated along the path by spaces of non-magnetic a second row of electromagnetic poles extending along said path and separated from said first row by an air gap through which said article is to be moved, the poles of the second row being separated along the path from each other by spaces of non-magnetic material, each of the poles of said first and second rows being positioned opposite a space of the opposing row of poles, and means for energizing the electromagnetic poles with alternating current to provide magnetic flux of two distinct relative phases between each pole face and those pole faces adjacent a space opposite said each pole face.

Claim 17

Apparatus for giving motion to an electrically conductive non-magnetic article, comprising: a first row of electromagnetic poles extending along a defined path over which said article is to be moved, said poles being separated along the path by spaces of non-magnetic a second row of electromagnetic poles extending along said path and separated from said first row by an air gap through which said article is to be moved, the poles of the second row being separated along the path from each other by spaces of non-magnetic material, each of the poles of said first and second rows being positioned opposite a space of the opposing row of poles, and means for energizing the electromagnetic poles with alternating current to provide magnetic flux of two distinct relative phases between each pole face and those pole faces adjacent a space opposite said each pole face.