Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.

Hideshi Ueda

Tamao Kojima

Masatoshi Miyasaka

Shinji Yoshino

Kenichiro Hatta

A separation method includes: conveying a separation subject comprising a group of pieces placed on a conveyor in one direction; detecting, by a detecting device, compositions of pieces in the group of pieces placed on the conveyor; generating, by a blower, airflow at an end portion of the conveyor in a conveying direction in which the conveyor conveys the separation subject, the airflow having a velocity matching or substantially matching a conveying speed of the conveyor; stabilizing the airflow by a current plate placed along a trajectory of the group of pieces; and by a jetting device, obtaining position information of a piece of a particular material detected, and jetting pulse air toward the piece of the particular material when the piece of the particular material, which is travelling through air from the conveyor and whose travel is assisted by the airflow, passes by the jetting device.

Apparatus and method for separating material

A separation apparatus includes: a conveyor that conveys a group of pieces; a material distinguishing unit that distinguishes between first pieces and second pieces that are placed on the conveyor, according to material; a blower that generates airflow supplied from a middle of the conveyor toward a conveying end along a conveying surface; a first separation unit that blows off the first pieces thrown forward from the conveying end, based on a differentiation result obtained by the material distinguishing unit; a second separation unit that blows off the second pieces toward a different place; and a current plate provided below the group of pieces thrown forward and protruding from the conveyor.

Growing community of inventors

Osaka, Japan

Hideshi Ueda