System for segregating trash

Claim 1

A system for segregating trash containing thermoplastic material and non-thermoplastic material into collectable fractions comprising a plastic segregator assemblage having a vertical frame member, a plurality of horizontal frame members mounted to said vertical frame member in spaced generally parallel relationship to each other, and a plurality of heated conveyor units, one of said heated conveyor units being mounted between and to each pair of adjacent ones of said horizontal frame members in staggered relationship to each other, each of said conveyor units having a driving roller, a driven roller disposed in rigid spaced operative relationship to said driving roller, and an endless conveyor belt reeved around said driven roller and said driving roller said belt being operable in response to said driven roller to transport trash placed thereupon to the end of thereof to provide a continuous flow of trash therealong with gradual heating until substantially all of said thermoplastic contained therein adheres to one of said belts while non thermoplastic material pass therefrom; said heated conveyor unit having a heater unit operatively disposed between said rollers and between the upper and lower run of each said endless conveyor belt, said heater unit having a main frame an upper grid support superposed to said main frame and having a surface facing said conveyor belt and a plurality of leg members depending therefrom into supportive engagement with said main frame, a lower grid support subposed to said main frame and having a surface facing said conveyor belt and a plurality of leg members extending upwardly therefrom into supportive engagement with said main frame, a first and second heat plate, said first plate being secured to said facing surface of said upper grid support and said second plate being secured to said facing surface of said lower grid support, and means for removing said adherent thermoplastic material from each said belt.

Claim 2

A system for segregating trash containing thermoplastic material and non-thermoplastic material into collectable fractions comprising a plastic segregator assemblage having a vertical frame member, a plurality of horizontal frame members mounted to said vertical frame member in spaced generally parallel relationship to each other, and a plurality of heated conveyor units, one of said heated conveyor units being mounted between and to each pair of adjacent ones of said horizontal frame members in staggered relationship to each other, each of said conveyor units having a driving roller, a driven roller disposed in rigid spaced operative relationship to said driving roller, and an endless conveyor belt reeved around said driven roller and said driving roller said belt being operable in response to said driven roller to transport trash placed thereupon to the end of thereof to provide a continuous flow of trash therealong with gradual heating until substantially all of said thermoplastic contained therein adheres to one of said belts while non thermoplastic material pass therefrom; said heated conveyor unit having a heater unit operatively disposed between said rollers and between the upper and lower run of each said endless conveyor belt, said heater unit having a main frame an upper grid support superposed to said main frame and having a surface facing said conveyor belt and a plurality of leg members depending therefrom into supportive engagement with said main frame, a lower grid support subposed to said main frame and having a surface facing said conveyor belt and a plurality of leg members extending upwardly therefrom into supportive engagement with said main frame, a first and second heat plate, said first plate being secured to said facing surface of said upper grid support and said second plate being secured to said facing surface of said lower grid support, and means for removing said adherent thermoplastic material from each said belt.