Sorting recycle materials with automatically adjustable separator using upstream feedback

• US 20060081513A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: MSS Incorporated (The CP Group (United States))
• Original Assignee: MSS Incorporated (The CP Group (United States))
• Inventors: Kenny, Garry R.
• Application Number:
  US11/194,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20060081513A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/672
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 9/06 specially adapted for refuse
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/15 using corrugated, grooved or ribbed rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 11/04 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/00 Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided for; Sorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices grading eggs A01K43/04
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/08 according to weight B07B13/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/18 Control
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 4/08 while the mixtures are supported by sieves, screens, or like mechanical elements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 9/02 Combinations of similar or different apparatus for separating solids from solids using gas currents
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/00 Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches sorting by hand only B07C7/00; separating solids from solids by sieving, screening, or sifting or by using gas currents or other separating by dry methods applicable to bulk material B07B
• CPC Class Codes: D21B 1/028 by dry methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/30 Administration of product recycling or disposal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/52 Mechanical processing of waste for the recovery of materials, e.g. crushing, shredding, separation or disassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 90/00 Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/93 Municipal solid waste sorting

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for controlling an automatic separator apparatus of a Materials Recovery Facility. An input stream of recycled materials is provided, wherein the composition of the input stream is subject to variation during a time interval. At least one characteristic of the input waste material stream is measured. An initial value is selected for an adjustable parameter of the automatic separator apparatus based upon the measured characteristic of the input stream.

Claims

1. A method of separating an input waste material stream, the method comprising:

(a) measuring at least one characteristic of said input waste material stream correlating to a density of said input waste material stream;

(b) selecting an initial value for an adjustable parameter of an adjustable material separator based upon the at least one characteristic measured in step (a); and

(c) separating said input waste material stream, with said adjustable material separator, into a first output stream containing a majority of a first material and some of a second material, and a second output stream containing a majority of the second material and some of the first material.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a composition of the input waste material stream in terms of relative portions of said first and second materials, based upon the at least one characteristic measured in step (a); and

wherein step (b) includes selecting said initial value for said adjustable parameter based upon said estimated composition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prior to step (a), taking a plurality of samples of a sample waste material stream, determining both the density and composition of each sample, and compiling a historical database of density versus composition; and

wherein said estimating step is based upon said historical database.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to step (a), taking a plurality of samples of a sample waste material stream, determining both the density and composition of each sample, and compiling a historical database of density versus composition; and

wherein said selecting step is based upon said historical database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises:

(a)(1) weighing a portion of said input material stream; and

(a)(2) sensing a height of said portion of said input material stream.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjustable material separator is an inclined screen, and wherein:

in step (b), said adjustable parameter is an angle of inclination of said inclined screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

in step (b), said adjustable parameter is a flow of air against a face of the screen.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said inclined screen includes a V-shape trough having an adjustable V-angle, and wherein:

in step (b), said adjustable parameter is said V-angle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjustable material separator is a screen having spaced rotating discs, and wherein:

in step (b), said adjustable parameter is a rotational speed of said discs.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (b) said adjustable material separator is a flat bed inclined screen.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after said selecting of said initial value:

monitoring an amount of contaminant second material in said first output stream and an amount of contaminant first material in said second output stream;

then adjusting said adjustable parameter from said initial value;

then again monitoring the amount of contaminant second material in said first output stream and the amount of contaminant first material in said second output stream;

then further adjusting said adjustable parameter in a direction indicated as being favorable to decreasing a combined amount of contaminant material in said first and second output streams.

12. A method of sorting recycled materials, comprising:

(a) providing an input stream of recycled materials, wherein a composition of the input stream is subject to variation during a time interval;

(b) moving the input stream through a separator machine having a plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters;

(c) providing stored historical data representative of a set of historical values of the operating parameters corresponding to improved quality of separation for given values of a characteristic of said input stream;

(d) sensing a present value of said characteristic of said input stream; and

(e) adjusting said plurality of adjustable machine operating parameters, via a computerized control system, in response to said sensed present value of said characteristic of said input stream so that said adjustable machine operating parameters approach said historical values of the adjustable machine operating parameters corresponding to improved quality of separation for said sensed present value of said characteristic of said input stream.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the input stream is density.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the density of the input stream is estimated by measuring a height of a portion of said input stream and a weight of said portion of said input stream.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the characteristic of the input stream is moisture content.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein:

in step (a) the input stream is comprised primarily of paper and containers, the paper being primarily newspaper; and

in step (b) the separator machine separates the input stream into a paper stream made up primarily of paper, and a container stream made up primarily of containers.

17. An automated separator apparatus for separating an input material stream into first and second output streams, comprising:

a plurality of spaced rotating discs defining a screen having a length;

a first actuator for adjusting an angle of inclination of said length;

a second actuator for adjusting a rotational speed of said rotating discs;

a sensing unit for sensing at least one characteristic of said input material stream; and

a control system responsive to said sensing unit and operably connected to said actuators, so that said screen automatically adjusts to changes in the sensed characteristic of said input material stream.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one sensed characteristic includes density.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said at least one sensed characteristic includes moisture content.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one sensed characteristic includes moisture content.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said at least one sensed characteristic includes weight and a profile height.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a first separator for further separating the first output stream;

a first optical sensor for identifying and measuring individual items of the first output stream and thereby determining a composition of the first output stream;

a second separator for further separating the second output stream; and

a second optical sensor for identifying and measuring individual items of the second output stream and thereby determining a composition of the second output stream.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

said plurality of spaced rotating discs define said screen in a trough shape having inclined sidewalls; and

said apparatus further comprises a third actuator for adjusting an angle of lateral inclination of said side walls.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein:

said screen is a flat bed screen.

25. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a third actuator for adjusting a flow of air against a face of the screen.