High capacity cascade-type mineral sorting machine and method
First Claim
1. A method of separating material, comprising:
- receiving material into a first sorting cell, wherein the first sorting cell comprises a first sensor and a first diverter;
sorting, using the first sensor, the material into a first accept group and a first reject group based on a content of the received material;
receiving the first accept group into a second sorting cell, wherein the second sorting cell comprises a second sensor and a second diverter;
sorting, using the second sensor, the first accept group into a second accept group and a second reject group based on the content;
receiving the first reject group into a third sorting cell, wherein the third sorting cell has a third sensor and a third diverter;
sorting, using the third sensor, the first reject group into a third accept group and a third reject group based on the content;
wherein at least two of the first sorting cell, the second sorting cell, and the third sorting cell are configured to sort the content differently;
combining the third accept group and the second reject group;
receiving the third accept group and the second reject group into a fourth sorting cell, wherein the fourth sorting cell comprises a fourth sensor and a fourth diverter; and
sorting, using the fourth sensor, the third accept group and the second reject group into a fourth accept group and a fourth reject group based on the content.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for achieving higher efficiencies and capacities in sorting feed material are described herein, such as for separating desirable “good” rock or ore from undesirable “bad” rock or ore in an unsegregated, unseparated stream of feed material. In the disclosure, higher efficiencies are achieved with combinations of multiple sensor/diverter cells in stages in a cascade arrangement. The number and combination of cells in the cascade may be determined through a priori characterization of probabilities involved in sensor/rock and rock/diverter interactions, and mathematical determinations of the optimal number and combination of stages based on this probability. Further, as disclosed herein, desired sorting capacities are achieved through addition of multiple cascades in parallel until the desired sorting capacity is reached.
91 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of separating material, comprising:
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receiving material into a first sorting cell, wherein the first sorting cell comprises a first sensor and a first diverter; sorting, using the first sensor, the material into a first accept group and a first reject group based on a content of the received material; receiving the first accept group into a second sorting cell, wherein the second sorting cell comprises a second sensor and a second diverter; sorting, using the second sensor, the first accept group into a second accept group and a second reject group based on the content; receiving the first reject group into a third sorting cell, wherein the third sorting cell has a third sensor and a third diverter; sorting, using the third sensor, the first reject group into a third accept group and a third reject group based on the content; wherein at least two of the first sorting cell, the second sorting cell, and the third sorting cell are configured to sort the content differently; combining the third accept group and the second reject group; receiving the third accept group and the second reject group into a fourth sorting cell, wherein the fourth sorting cell comprises a fourth sensor and a fourth diverter; and sorting, using the fourth sensor, the third accept group and the second reject group into a fourth accept group and a fourth reject group based on the content. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of separating ore, comprising:
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receiving ore into a first sorting cell, wherein the first sorting cell comprises a first sensor and a first diverter; sorting, using the first sensor, the ore into a first accept group and a first reject group based on a content of the received ore by; exposing the first sensor to a mineral sample of the ore; and measuring a spectral response of the mineral sample; receiving the first accept group into a second sorting cell, wherein the second sorting cell comprises a second sensor and a second diverter; sorting, using the second sensor, the first accept group into a second accept group and a second reject group based on the content; receiving the first reject group into a third sorting cell, wherein the third sorting cell has a third sensor and a third diverter; and sorting, using the third sensor, the first reject group into a third accept group and a third reject group based on the content; wherein at least two of the first sorting cell, the second sorting cell, and the third sorting cell are configured to sort the content differently. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification