Divergent Travel Patents (Class 209/480)
  • Patent number: 7866484
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sorting device and method for sorting granulated mass containing varied materials, such as granulated mass containing varied materials, such as granulated electronic scrap. According to the invention, the sorting device comprises a planar, elongated trough conveyor (1) having at least a first elongated and vertical edge (2, 3, 4); a feeding device (5) for feeding the mass into the first end (6) of the trough conveyor; a vibrator (9) provided with a motor (7) and an eccentric (8), whose rotation axis (10) is disposed in a plane deviating from the plane defined by the trough conveyor so that the mass proceeds obliquely forwards in the trough conveyor towards the first edge and second end (11); a first suction device (12) for removing the lightest surface portion of the mass near the edge, a guide (13) which is oblique with respect to the edge for bringing apart the mass flow from the edge; as well as a mechanical separator member (14) for dividing the mass flow into two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Rantasalmen Scel Oy
    Inventor: Tuomo Jaukkuri
  • Patent number: 7533775
    Abstract: This application concerns the separation of fine granular mixtures that may occur when the grains are suitably vibrated within fluid. In particular, the present invention provides a method of separating a particulate mixture comprising different particle types, comprising subjecting a supported particle bed comprising a fluid and said particulate mixture to a vibration thereby to effect separation of the particulate mixture into strata each of which is preferentially rich in substantially one particle type. Apparatus for effecting the above method also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The University of Nottingham
    Inventors: Peter John King, Michael Robert Swift, Nasreen Burtally
  • Patent number: 7448500
    Abstract: A method of separating particulate material of differing size or density including the steps of: tumbling the particulate material to produce continuous or discrete avalanches (19) in the surface of the particulate material to move particles of smaller size (14) or higher density (22) towards the centre of the particulate material and particles of larger size (16) or lower density (24) radially outward from the centre of the particulate material; and extracting particles at selected radial locations (8, 10). A device for separating particulate material of differing size or density is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Guy Parker Metcalfe, III, Kurt Liffman
  • Patent number: 6726026
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the separation of husks and other chaff material apart from bird seed includes a smaller diameter inner container that is placed inside of a larger diameter outer container. A plurality of feet elevate the inner container above a floor of the outer container. A lid is used to cover the outer container and also the inner container. A housing is attached to the inside center of the lid and it includes a motor disposed distally from the lid with a fan blade attached thereto to displace air. A plurality of vanes are attached to the housing from which they extend until they contact the inside surface of the inner container. The vanes prevent a cyclonic air current pattern from occurring and so help to displace the husks apart from the seed. An offset mass introduces vibration which tends to raise more of the husks to the surface where they are displaced out from the inner container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Lawrence Edwin Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 6460704
    Abstract: A rotary shaking separator for separating unhulled rice and unpolished rice from each other includes at least one separating vessel and a plurality of drives located at even intervals on the peripheral edge of the separating vessel, the plurality of drives being actuated to bring the whole of the separating vessel into a rotationally shaking motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Satake Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Satake, Akira Fukuhara, Kiminori Kono, Masahide Houri, Shigeki Kinoshita, Masashi Kageyama, Chozaburo Ikuta, Haruyoshi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6398036
    Abstract: A table separator is provided, wherein the table separator comprises a plurality of solid-bottom trays and a plurality of dimples for facilitating separation of degerminated corn into endosperm and germ fractions, the dimples being aligned in linear juxtaposition on the surface of the trays and having a center portion raised with respect to the perimeter of the dimples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: John Griebat, Alan Koechner
  • Patent number: 4978011
    Abstract: A sorting machine for grained products comprises at least one sorting board which is inclined relative to horizontal and vertical planes and reciprocatingly vibratable in a plane and direction suitable for sorting, a unit for supplying a product to be sorted and arranged in one region of the sorting board and a unit for separating and withdrawing a sorted product and located in another region of the sorting board, the sorting board with the supplying unit and the separating and withdrawing unit together forming a sorting unit, two imbalance drives which operate in opposite directions and cooperate with the sorting unit for driving the latter in vibration, a base frame, a unit forming at least three supporting points on which the sorting unit is supported in a vibration-damping manner freely movably so as to provide inclination of the sorting unit relative to horizontal and vertical planes, and a unit for additionally adjusting the inclination relative to the horizontal and vertical planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1990
    Assignee: Buhler GmbH
    Inventors: Frank-Otto Gorlitz, Friedrich-Wilheim Rusch
  • Patent number: 4860874
    Abstract: A sluice box has an open box frame formed from a plurality of welded beams. A trough having an arcuate transverse cross section is suspended in an inclined fashion within the frame by a plurality of chains. A low end of the trough has an end wall with a central aperture which serves as a sand drain. A transversely extending water overflow drain channel is disposed adjacent the low end trough wall. The bottom of the trough is provided with a series of spaced transverse ridges. A variable speed motor having a rotary output shaft with an eccentric weight and a cooling fan is secured to a bottom exterior surface of the trough, adjacent the low end wall, and serves to vibrate the trough. A second variable speed motor is utilized in conjunction with a pitman wheel and arm for reciprocating the trough from side to side. A pair of arcuate levers are pivotally mounted to the frame on opposite sides of the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Inventor: Stephen Winderl
  • Patent number: 4722446
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vibratory grain sorting machine which comprises an assembly to be vibrated at least including a frame and at least one stack of sorting plate members. The assembly to be vibrated is pivotally supported on a base structure by a plurality of strut units. At least one of the strut units has a top end pivotally connected to a side wall of the frame and a bottom end pivotally connected to the base structure. Each of the remaining strut units has a top end pivotally connected to a bottom wall of the frame and a bottom end pivotally connected to the base structure. A vibrating device is connected to the frame to apply a force substantially toward and away from the center of gravity of the assembly to be vibrated, thereby angularly reciprocating the assembly to be vibrated, around the bottom ends of the respective strut units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: Satake Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Satake
  • Patent number: 4316799
    Abstract: An oscillating grain separator comprised a grain separating plate provided with a rugged surface which oscillates in the angle direction of elevation for shaking up grain and mixed grain is separated at one at front side and/or rear side of the separating plate and flow out sideways from the plate, an oscillating grain separator having photoelectric means consisting of a light source and a light receiving element for detecting the flow conditions of the grain on the grain separating plate and automatically controlling the angle of elevation, mean oscillating angle, frequency or amplitude of the grain separating plate for normal control of the grain flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1982
    Assignee: Satake Engineering Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Satake
  • Patent number: 4260482
    Abstract: The two stage gravity method of concentration of fine dry materials makes use of the differences in the specific gravity of the materials by using principles fairly similar to those used in wet shaking table. The dry materials are loaded in a continuous series of troughs as they pass successively underneath a loading means as they travel conveyor belt like in a close circuit and, as they travel they are firstly submitted to a series of cyclic directed shaking motions transversal to the troughs and secondly, to a series of similar cyclic shaking motions parallel to the long axis of the troughs, the whole resulting in the production of a concentrate, and of middlings and waste which are unloaded in suitable receivers as the troughs turn downward in their conveyor belt like circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Inventor: Paul D'Aragon
  • Patent number: 4229288
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating non-magnetic metals to permit recovery, for example, of aluminium and other non-magnetic metals mixed with materials having other compositions. The mix of materials are vibrationally conveyed in a first direction by a vibration feeder and a deflecting force in a second perpendicular direction is exerted on the non-magnetic metals by moving magnetic fields produced by a plurality of linear motors. The apparatus includes means for controlling the longitudinal tilt and the transverse inclination to optimize the separations achieved with different mixes of materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1980
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaru Akama
  • Patent number: 4068759
    Abstract: Spherically-shaped rolling solids are separated from irregularly-shaped nonrolling solids on the upper surface of a conoidally-shaped rotating table whereon most of the spherically-shaped solids roll from the surface of the table and most of the nonrolling solids move circumferentially with the table until they contact a special scraper which deflects the nonrolling solids off the bottom edge of the table. The action of the table, the scraper, and the two combined, causes nonrolling solids to move downwardly, outwardly and circumferentially in a first path, then in a circumferential path, and then downwardly, outwardly and circumferentially in a second path, and off the bottom edge of the table. This movement of the irregularly-shaped solids frees trapped rolling solids and allows them to roll downwardly and outwardly off the table while the nonrolling solids continue to move circumferentially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventor: Yahia A. K. Abdul-Rahman
  • Patent number: 4059508
    Abstract: A conveyor for granular material includes an elongated hollow channel covered by a suitable cover and having a hollow interior along which the granular material is to be conveyed. A rotary screw extends along the hollow interior of the channel for conveying the granular material therein, this rotary screw including an elongated shaft and a screw carried thereby. Between the opposed ends of the elongated shaft there is situated within the channel at least on bearing which supports the shaft for rotary movement, and a transverse wall extends across the interior of the channel and is supported thereby, this transverse wall carrying the bearing, so that the bearing together with the transverse wall carrying the same block the travel of the granular material longitudinally along the interior of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1977
    Inventor: Jorma Metsa-Ketela
  • Patent number: 3945915
    Abstract: Particles flowing in a stream can be arranged in an order of classification extending transversely of the stream according to physical characteristics of the particles by self-screening and stratification which occur in response to a continuous vibratory feeding of the particles in a direction laterally of the direction of flow of the stream. Particles having similar physical characteristics will flow from a specific portion of the stream into a collecting receptacle having a plurality of compartments arranged in a line transversely of the stream for separately collecting as many stream portions as required to obtain the desired degrees of separation. Further particle assortment from each stream portion can be made in accordance with the particles trajectory of fall from the stream bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1976
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Donald C. Wilson