Method and means for gravity table automation

• US 5,024,334 A
• Filed: 06/09/1989
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Incorporated (Iowa State University)
• Original Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Incorporated (Iowa State University)
• Inventors: Misra, Manjit K., Shyy, Yuh-Yuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald T.
• Application Number:
  US07/363,727
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 209/557, 209/567, 209/571, 209/576, 209/577, 209/580, 209/586, 209/587, 209/589, 209/592, 209/598, 209/552, 209/484, 209/489, 209/491, 209/496, 209/502, 209/499, 209/422 , 209/691, 209/694, 209/695, 209/471, 209/472, 209/458, 209/459, 209/490, 209/479, 209/477, 209/503, 209/474-476, 209/467
• US Class Current: 209/557
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 13/00 Control arrangements specially adapted for wet-separating apparatus or for dressing plant, using physical effects
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 4/00 Separating by pneumatic tables or by pneumatic jigs
• CPC Class Codes: B03B 4/02 using swinging or shaking tables
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 11/04 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 13/18 Control
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 5/06 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

A system for gravity table separation including a gravity table for separating materials and a detector operatively associated with the gravity table for detecting the movement of control particles with respect to the gravity table during its operation. The control particles are of a known characteristic. By calibrating the desired movement of the control particles through the table, any misalignment or deviance of that movement during operation is detected, and adjustments can be made to the operation of the table to bring the control particles back to the desired movement. The separation process can then be controlled to bring about optimum efficiency. Also, the detector can be interfaced with a control component which can automatically adjust the operation of the table in response to whether the control particles are following the desired movement through the table.

Claims

1. A gravity separation table automation means comprising:

a gravity separation table for separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, and specific gravity, and following a generally similar predictable movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity separation table for detecting the predictable movement of the control particles during operation of the gravity table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated; and

the detector means further comprising a timing means for the control particles movement through at least a portion of the gravity separation table.

2. A method of automating a gravity separation table comprising:

feeding a mixture of granular material to be separated and at least one control particle to the table;

detecting whether each control particle generally follows a desired movement between entrance and discharge from the table;

adjusting operation of the table to cause each control particle to generally follow the desired movement between entrance and discharge of the table; and

adjusting operation of the table to cause each control particle to generally follow the desired movement comprising a desired time between entrance and discharge of each control particle on the table.

3. A means for gravity table automation comprising:

a gravity table for separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, and specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable desired movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity table for detecting the general movement of control particles between entrance and discharge during operation of the gravity table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated, the detector means including signal means for producing a signal indicating whether the control particles are generally following the desired movement;

the detector means further comprising a discrimination means for identifying and discriminating between control particles, the material being separated, and any other part of the environment of the gravity table, the discrimination means comprising a magnetic sensor, and the control particles being magnetized; and

control means for adjusting operation of one or more of the adjustment means of the gravity table in response to the control signal.

4. A means for gravity table automation comprising:

a gravity table for separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, and specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable desired movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity table for detecting the general movement of control particles between entrance and discharge during operation of the gravity table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated, the detector means including signal means for producing a signal indicating whether the control particles are generally following the desired movement;

the detector means further comprising a discrimination means for identifying and discriminating between control particles, the material being separated, and any other part of the environment of the gravity table, the discrimination means including means to discrimination size differences between control particles and other particles; and

control means for adjusting operation of one or more of the adjustment means of the gravity table in response to the control signal.

5. A means for gravity table automation comprising:

a gravity table for separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, and specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable desired movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity table for detecting the general movement of control particles between entrance and discharge during operation of the gravity table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated, the detector means including signal means for producing a signal indicating whether the control particles are generally following the desired movement;

the detector means including timing means for timing movement of the control particles over at least a portion of the gravity table; and

control means for adjusting operation of one or more of the adjustment means of the gravity table in response to the control signal.

6. The means of claim 5 wherein the means for timing and the detector means are operatively connected to the control means.

7. A gravity separation table automation means comprising:

a gravity separation table for separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

the control particles are of at least one known characteristic taken from the set of color, size, weight, density, and specific gravity having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity separation table for detecting the movement of the control particles during operation of the gravity separation table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated, and for generating a signal indicating substantial variance of the control particles from the predictable movement;

the predictable movement of the control particles relating to at least one of the set of path of travel and time of travel through the gravity separation table; and

control means for monitoring the detector means and automatically altering one or more adjustment means upon receipt of the signal.

8. A means for gravity table automation comprising:

a gravity table from separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity table for detecting the general movement of control particles between entrance and discharge during operation of the gravity table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the material being separated, the detector means including signal means for producing a signal indicating whether the control particles are generally following the desired movement, the detector means including a discrimination means for identifying and discriminating between control particles, the material being operated, and any other part of the environment of the gravity table, the discrimination means comprising a video system adapted to identify and discriminate the control particles; and

control means for adjusting operation of one or more of the adjustable means of the gravity table in response to the control signal.

9. The means of claim 8 wherein the control particles are discriminated and identified by contrast.

10. A means for gravity table automation comprising:

a gravity table from separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity table for detecting the general movement of control particles between entrance and discharge during operation of the gravity table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated, the detector means including signal means for producing a signal indicating whether the control particles are generally following the desired movement, of at least one known characteristic taken from the set of color, size, weight, density, and specific gravity, where the control particles are discriminated and identified by the reflectance of the control particles; and

control means for adjusting operation of one or more of the adjustable means of the gravity table in response to the control signal.

11. A means for gravity table automation comprising:

a gravity table from separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity table for detecting the general movement of control particles between entrance and discharge during operation of the gravity table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated, the detector means including signal means for producing a signal indicating whether the control particles are generally following the desired movement of at least one known characteristic taken from the set of color, size, weight, density, and specific gravity, where in the discriminator means comprises of photo-electric means; and

control means for adjusting operation of one or more of the adjustable means of the gravity table in response to the control signal.

12. A gravity separation table automation means comprising:

a gravity separation table for separating materials including one or more adjustment means for controlling separation operation of the table;

control particles having generally uniform movement characteristics relating to one or more of the set comprising size, weight, density, specific gravity, and following generally similar predictable movement through the table during operation;

detector means operatively associated with the gravity separation table for detecting the movement of the control particles during operation of the gravity separation table, the control particles having at least one known detectability characteristic which is detectable by the detector means and which differentiates the control particles from the materials being separated, and for generating a signal indicating substantial variance of the control particles from the predictable movement, the detector means comprising a timing means for the control particles'"'"' movement through at least a portion of the gravity separation table;

the predictable movement of the control particles relating to at least one of the set of path of travel and time of travel through the gravity separation table; and

control means for monitoring the detector means and automatically altering one or more adjustment means upon receipt of the signal.

13. A method of automating a gravity separation table comprising:

feeding a mixture of granular material to be separated and at least one control particle to the table;

detecting whether each control particle generally follows a predicted desired path between entrance and discharge from the table; and

adjusting operation of the table to cause each control particle to generally follow the desired path between entrance and discharge of the table, the adjustments to operation of the table including at least one of adjusting feed rate of the mixture to the table, adjusting fluidization of the mixture with respect to the table, adjusting slope in a least one direction of the table, adjusting vibration speed of the table, adjusting magnitude of vibration of the table, and the adjustments to operation of the table are made in response to detecting that the control particles are not generally following the desired path between entrance and discharge of the table;

detecting whether each control particle generally takes the desired time between the entrance and discharge from the table; and

adjusting operation of the table to cause each control particle to generally follow the desired time between entrance and discharge of the table.