METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING PLASTICS FROM COMPOST AND OTHER RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for separating plastics from compost material, comprising:
- an inclined trough having a feed entry at a top end and a materials discharge end at a bottom end, the inclined trough including a plurality of riffles positioned substantially perpendicularly to a direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough;
one or more vibratory motors configured to induce a vibration in the inclined trough;
a longitudinal dam provided to at least one side of the inclined trough; and
one or more blowers or vacuums configured to generate an air flow over a substantial length of the inclined trough perpendicular to the direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a method and apparatus for separating plastics from compost material. In an embodiment, the method comprises: providing an inclined trough having a feed entry at a top end and a materials discharge end at a bottom end, the inclined trough including a plurality of riffles positioned substantially perpendicularly to a direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough; inducing a vibration in the inclined trough to induce a prolonged period of hindered unsettling in the compost material; providing a longitudinal dam to at least one side of the inclined trough; and generating an air flow over a substantial length of the inclined trough perpendicular to the direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough, thereby to blow plastics separated from the compost material over the longitudinal dam.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for separating plastics from compost material, comprising:
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an inclined trough having a feed entry at a top end and a materials discharge end at a bottom end, the inclined trough including a plurality of riffles positioned substantially perpendicularly to a direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough; one or more vibratory motors configured to induce a vibration in the inclined trough; a longitudinal dam provided to at least one side of the inclined trough; and one or more blowers or vacuums configured to generate an air flow over a substantial length of the inclined trough perpendicular to the direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An method for separating plastics from compost material, comprising:
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providing an inclined trough having a feed entry at a top end and a materials discharge end at a bottom end, the inclined trough including a plurality of riffles positioned substantially perpendicularly to a direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough; inducing a vibration in the inclined trough to induce a prolonged period of hindered unsettling in the compost material; providing a longitudinal dam to at least one side of the inclined trough; and generating an air flow over a substantial length of the inclined trough perpendicular to the direction of flow of compost material down the inclined trough, thereby to blow plastics separated from the compost material over the longitudinal dam. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification