US4141450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for sorting mixtures of materials by ballistic effect and differential adherence
Assignee: Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières
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Filing: 1977-03-23
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Granted: 1979-02-27
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Expires: 1997-03-23
Abstract
Abstract The sorting method includes moving materials at a certain horizontal speed such that on falling their points of impact are disbursed over a moving sorting belt in such a manner that the materials become located at points which are sufficiently different to enable effective sorting to be obtained by small adhesion differences so that the adhering materials are carried by the sorting belt to a discharge region and the non-adhering or weakly adhering materials are rejected by the belt. The apparatus includes a feed device located above a moving adhesion belt having an adjustable speed control and an arrangement for adjusting the position of the feed device relative to the adhesion sorting belt.
Inventors
- 👤 Francois H. Clin
- 👤 Jean-Noel M. Gony
- 👤 Francois O. Proust
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 07:48
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07B; B07B13/00; B07B13/10; B07B13/003; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/93; Y10S209/932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for sorting material in a heterogeneous mixture of materials of different types and forms and having a particle size and rigidity distribution extending over a wide range comprising conveying said heterogeneous mixture of materials at a predetermined speed along a substantially horizontal conveyor, discharging said material from the end of said conveyor onto an inclined conveyor having the higher end thereof disposed beneath said horizontal conveyor, collecting the materials which do not adhere to the inclined conveyor in a container adjacent the lower end of the inclined conveyor, conveying the materials which adhere to said inclined conveyor upwardly in a direction having a horizontal component of movement opposite to the horizontal component of movement of said substantially horizontal conveyor and having a vertical component of movement substantially opposite to the direction of fall of the materials discharged from the end of said horizontal conveyor and collecting the materials discharged from the higher end of said inclined conveyor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for sorting material in a heterogeneous mixture of materials of different types and forms and having a particle size and rigidity distribution extending over a wide range comprising conveying said heterogeneous mixture of materials at a predetermined speed along a substantially horizontal conveyor, discharging said material from the end of said conveyor onto an inclined conveyor having the higher end thereof disposed beneath said horizontal conveyor, collecting the materials which do not adhere to the inclined conveyor in a container adjacent the lower end of the inclined conveyor, conveying the materials which adhere to said inclined conveyor upwardly in a direction having a horizontal component of movement opposite to the horizontal component of movement of said substantially horizontal conveyor and having a vertical component of movement substantially opposite to the direction of fall of the materials discharged from the end of said horizontal conveyor and collecting the materials discharged from the higher end of said inclined conveyor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 comprising varying the inclination of said inclined conveyor to vary the degree of adhesion of materials to said inclined conveyor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising varying the tension of said inclined conveyor to vary the degree of adhesion of materials thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising varying the distance of the inclined conveyor below said horizontal conveyor to vary the degree of adhesion of materials thereto.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for sorting materials in a heterogeneous mixture of materials of different types and forms and having a particle size and rigidity distribution extending over a wide range comprising substantially horizontally disposed conveyor means for moving said heterogeneous mixture of materials horizontally at a predetermined speed, inclined conveyor means disposed beneath one end of said horizontal conveyor means for receiving material discharged from said one end of said horizontal conveyor means, said inclined conveyor means having the higher end thereof disposed beneath said horizontal conveyor means and operable to convey material falling thereon upwardly in a direction having a horizontal component opposite to the direction of movement of said horizontal conveyor, collector means disposed adjacent the lower end of said inclined conveyor for receiving material which does not adhere to said inclined conveyor and additional collector means disposed beneath the higher end of said inclined conveyor for receiving material adhering to said inclined conveyor.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus for sorting materials in a heterogeneous mixture of materials of different types and forms and having a particle size and rigidity distribution extending over a wide range comprising substantially horizontally disposed conveyor means for moving said heterogeneous mixture of materials horizontally at a predetermined speed, inclined conveyor means disposed beneath one end of said horizontal conveyor means for receiving material discharged from said one end of said horizontal conveyor means, said inclined conveyor means having the higher end thereof disposed beneath said horizontal conveyor means and operable to convey material falling thereon upwardly in a direction having a horizontal component opposite to the direction of movement of said horizontal conveyor, collector means disposed adjacent the lower end of said inclined conveyor for receiving material which does not adhere to said inclined conveyor and additional collector means disposed beneath the higher end of said inclined conveyor for receiving material adhering to said inclined conveyor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as set for in claim 5 further comprising means for varying the speed of said horizontal conveyor means to vary the trajectories of the material discharged therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising means for varying the distance of said inclined conveyor means beneath said horizontal conveyor means and for varying the angle of inclination of said inclined conveyor means relative to said horizontal conveyor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising rigid plate means disposed beneath that portion of said inclined conveyor means upon which said materials fall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising electrode means disposed adjacent said horizontal conveyor means for imparting an electric charge to said material being conveyed thereby.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further comprising friction means for increasing the triboelectric characteristics of said inclined conveyor means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-02-26 | 1982-08-28 | 1983-02-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-02-26 | 1986-08-28 | 1987-02-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-02-26 | 1990-08-28 | 1991-02-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |