Sortex Limited

Robert John Harris

Benedict M Deefholts

In an apparatus for sorting material into desired and undesired pieces or portions according to their optical characteristics, comprising a background, and a viewing means for viewing the material against the background; a method for removing debris from the background is proposed which comprises providing a jet of air or water which is moved relative to and across the background, and directed towards the background so as to remove debris and thereby clean the background. The jet is positioned out of the field of view of the viewing means so that debris removal can take place without interruption of the sorting process. A magnetic type air-cylinder, in which exhaust gas is fed back as the debris-removing air-jet, is preferably used.

Sorting apparatus

A stabilizer unit for material on a moving conveyer surface comprises a framework mounted over the surface with a drive pulley making driving engagement therewith. A drum is rotatably supported in the framework and carries a stabilizer surface thereon. The drive pulley is coupled to the drum to rotate the drum with its peripheral velocity substantially equal to that of the drive pulley, thus imparting the corresponding velocity to the stabilizer surface. The stabilizer surface can be a belt loosely carried on the drum, which follows a path with a first section overlaying the conveyer surface, a second section in engagement with a segment of the drum surface, and third and fourth sections extending between the drum surface and the respective points of separation of the stabilizer belt from the conveyer surface. Movement of the conveyer surface rotates the drive pulley and thereby the drum to advance the stabilizer belt around its path at a speed equal to the speed of the conveyer surface. With no substantial relative movement therebetween, the stabilizer belt and the conveyer surface stabilize material held therebetween along the first section of the stabilizer belt path.

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Essex, United Kingdom

Robert John Harris