Huron Valley Steel Corporation

Fritz Enterprises, Inc.

Richard B Wolanski

Richard R Osterberg

Pradeep Kumar

Leonard Fritz

Mark S Wolanski

Joseph E Arvay

Paul Torek

Kalyani Chaganti

Michael A Hawkins

Benjamin H Aubuchon

Kerry Lang

A system has a conveyor for carrying at least two categories of scrap particles positioned at random on a surface of the conveyor, with at least some of the particles comprising metal. The system has a sensor array with a series of analog inductive proximity sensors arranged transversely across the conveyor. An active sensing end face of each sensor lies in a sensing plane, and the sensing plane is generally parallel with the surface of the conveyor. A control system of is configured to sample and quantize analog signals from the series of sensors in the array, and locate and classify a scrap particle on the conveyor passing over the array into one of at least two categories of material based on the quantized signals. A method for sorting the particles is also provided.

System and method for sorting scrap materials

A scrap particle sorting system and attendant sorting process employs a conveyor for conveying the randomly shaped particles in a random orientation, a position sensor for determining the advancement of the scrap particles in the direction of conveyance by determining the position of the conveyor belt, an image detector for periodically recording the image of a predefined viewing area through which the scrap particles are conveyed, and an image processor for periodic acquisition and processing of the images. The image processor includes logic for defining each image of the viewing area into a matrix of cells, and for each acquired image, analyzing the digital data corresponding to the image to determine for each cell in the matrix whether the pixels in that cell satisfy a predetermined criteria, and establishing a discriminator signal for each cell in the matrix as a function of that analysis. The system employs an image detector controller for receiving a signal from the conveyor position sensor and sending an activation signal to the image processor at timed intervals to acquire sequential image frames which include each of the scrap particles as they are conveyed past the viewing area, and a separator controller for receiving the discriminator signals from the image processor and for sending a control signal to selectively activate the appropriate portion of the separator to eject desired from undesired particles.

Scrap sorting system

A drum-like rotor having numerous, closely spaced, elongated rows formed of permanent magnets arranged end-to-end and secured to the outer surface of the rotor, produces a high-density, rapidly reversing magnetic field in a band-like zone which is spaced a short distance from, and extends along the length of, the rotor outer surface. The magnetic field induces eddy currents in pieces of different metals passed through the zone which produces repulsive magnetic forces of different intensities in different metal pieces, and thus, magnetically separates such pieces. The rows of magnets, in their radial direction, are alternatingly thicker and thinner, so that the outer surface of the thinner rows are depressed relative to their adjacent thicker rows. The outer surface of the magnets of each thicker row have a polarity which is opposite to the polarity of their next adjacent thicker row magnets, and the direction of the magnetic polarity of the magnets of the thicker rows are radial relative to the rotor. The side edges of the magnets of the thinner rows have the same polarity as the polarity of the outer surfaces of their adjacent thicker row magnets. The directions of the magnetic polarity of the thinner row magnets are generally circumferential, relative to the rotor. Thus, magnetic flux flows transversely through each of the thinner row magnets and then radially outwardly through their adjacent thicker row magnets, returning over the exposed surfaces of the thinner row magnets to the next adjacent row of thicker magnets and, thereafter, radially inwardly of the rotor and transversely of the thinner row. Thus, the direction of the magnetic flux flow through the zone changes as the successive thicker and thinner rows pass alongside of the zone as the rotor rotates.

Rotor for magnetically sorting different metals

Mixed pieces of different non-ferrous metals are sorted by initially moving the pieces through a high density, rapidly changing magnetic flux field, and immediately thereafter, freely moving the pieces along unsupported forwardly and downwardly directed trajectories resulting from the momentum of the pieces, the force of gravity and the magnetically induced repulsive forces developed in the pieces by the flux field. The magnitude of the magnetically induced repulsive forces differ for different non-ferrous metals so that the lengths of the trajectories of generally similar size and shape pieces vary accordingly for separating pieces formed of different metals. The magnetic field is provided by a horizontally axised, rapidly rotating, hollow, liquid cooled, iron wall drum having magnets affixed to its outer surface. The magnets are arranged in rows that are formed of numerous, tile-like, small, permanent magnets which are positioned end to end, with their like polarity ends adjacent. A belt conveyor, which moves the pieces across the top of the drum, has its discharge end pulley coaxially surrounding the drum so that the pieces freely move off the end of the conveyor belt after passing through the magnetic field. Hence, the lengths of the trajectories may be controlled by adjusting the speed of the conveyor, which adjusts the momentum of the pieces, and by adjusting the rotational speed of the drum for adjusting the frequency of the changes in the magnetic field and, consequently, the magnitude of the induced repulsive forces.

Method and apparatus for sorting non-ferrous metal pieces

A method and apparatus for simultaneously separating volatile metals, including zinc and lead, and non-volatile metals, including copper, from mixtures of metallic and metallic oxide. Finely pulverized metal containing material, is continuously fed into the reactor chamber along with pulverized carbonaceous material, such as coke, and also oxygen or air. The reactor chamber is intensely heated by a transferred arc plasma generator to provide sufficient heat energy which together with the reducing gases cause a reducing reaction and melt the non-volatile copper and other metals which form a puddle upon the floor of the reaction chamber and to form a layer of slag covering the puddle, and simultaneously to vaporize the volatile zinc, lead and the like metals.

Apparatus for simultaneously separating volatile and non-volatile metals

A method and apparatus for simultaneously separating volatile metals, including zinc and lead, and non-volatile metals, including copper, from mixtures of metallic and metallic oxide and the like materials, includes a reactor having a lower, reactor, chamber, an upper, reflux, chamber and a vertically arranged, hollow shaft interconnecting the two chambers. The shaft is substantially filled with a mixture of pieces of metallic material, having minimal oxide content, and carbonaceous material, such as coke. The reactor chamber is intensely heated by a transferred arc plasma generator to provide sufficient heat energy which together with reducing gases cause a reducing reaction and melt the non-volatile copper and other metals which form a puddle upon the floor of the reaction chamber and to form a layer of slag covering the puddle, and simultaneously to vaporize the volatile zinc, lead and the like metals. The reflux chamber is maintained at a temperature and vapor pressure suitable to condense the lead vapor, but insufficient to condense zinc vapor. Thus, condensed lead gravity flows back down the shaft through the filling for deposit in the puddle. The zinc and any other uncondensed metal vapors are removed from the upper, reflux, chamber and are condensed in an external condenser to form a commercial grade zinc product.

Growing community of inventors

Dexter, MI, United States of America

Richard B Wolanski