System and method for singulating inhomogeneous materials

• US 5,460,271 A
• Filed: 01/18/1995
• Issued: 10/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Magnetic Separation Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Magnetic Separation Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Skeen, Michael A., Kenny, Garry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bollinger, David H.
• Application Number:
  US08/375,189
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 198/397, 198/433, 198/443, 198/453, 198/457, 198/461, 198/587, 198/690.2, 198/698, 198/699, 209/522-525, 209/576, 209/577, 209/587, 209/588, 209/644, 209/930
• US Class Current: 209/576
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/02 Measures preceding sorting, e.g. arranging articles in a stream orientating sorting and transport of caps B67B3/06
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/365 using a single separation means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2203/042 Sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/1492 the articles being fed from a feeding conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 47/31 by varying the relative speeds of the conveyors forming the series

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for singulating inhomogeneous materials. The pieces of materials are first deposited onto a cleat conveyor which is set at an incline so that the pieces of material not residing on a cleat will fall backwards. The cleat conveyor deposits the materials onto a cross conveyor which has a cross conveyor path perpendicular to the cleat conveyor path. There is a slight drop and slide between the cleat conveyor and cross conveyor. The cross conveyor then deposits materials onto a diverter system having a diverter conveyor moving material along a path. The path is interrupted by diverters extending at obtuse angles across the path of the materials. The diverter system works the materials into a single file order and performs some spacing. The diverter conveyor then deposits the materials onto an acceleration conveyor having a velocity greater then the diverter conveyor. The acceleration conveyor then transports the materials to a sensor conveyor while expanding the distance between the materials. The sensor conveyor then transports the materials through a sensor. The combination of changes in direction and velocity singulate the material and space the materials apart for sensing and separation.

Claims

1. A system for singulating pieces of material having different sizes and shapes comprising:

a. means for transporting said pieces along a diverter path having a fight side and a left side arid a receiving end and a discharge end;

b. a first diverter extending across said diverter path from said right side intersecting said diverter path at an obtuse angle to said diverter path;

c. a second diverter extending across said diverter path from said left side intersecting said diverter path at an obtuse angle to said diverter path such that first and second diverters do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to said diverter path; and

d. an acceleration conveyor having an acceleration path receiving said material from said discharge end of said path wherein said velocity of said means for transporting said pieces along a path is less than the velocity of said acceleration conveyor.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein:

a. said means for transporting said pieces along a path has a width and a middle point; and

b. said first diverter and said second diverter extend across said middle point.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for transporting said pieces along a path comprises a first conveyor belt.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a right wall attached to said system proximate said right side; and

b. a left wall attached to said system proximate said left side.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said acceleration conveyor is aligned such that said acceleration path is approximately aligned with said path.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a cross conveyor delivering said pieces to said receiving end, said cross conveyor having a cross conveyor velocity and an input end; and

b. a cleat conveyor having an output end, said cleat conveyor for delivering said pieces to said input end of said cross conveyor, said cleat conveyor having a cleat conveyor velocity and plural cleats having a width.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said cross conveyor velocity is between 50 to 200 feet per minute.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said output end lies vertically above said input end.

9. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a. a sensor conveyor having a sensor path in line with said acceleration conveyor path for receiving said pieces from said acceleration conveyor, said sensor conveyor having a sensor conveyor path; and

b. a sensor for reviewing said pieces passing along said sensor conveyor path.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a separation system communicating with said sensor to separate said material by type.

11. A method of separating inhomogeneous materials comprising the steps of:

a. transporting said materials along a diverter path on a diverting system; and

b. diverting said transported materials at angles obtuse to said diverter path

c. depositing said materials on a cleated conveyor;

d. delivering said materials from said cleated conveyor to a cross conveyor; and

e. providing said materials from said cross conveyor to said diverter system.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein;

a. said materials are inhomogeneous; and

b. said step of diverting said materials being achieved by plural diverters arranged in sequence which do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to said diverter path.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of accelerating said diverted materials.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of sensing said accelerated materials.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of separating said sensed materials by type.

16. A system for singulating pieces of inhomogeneous material comprising:

a. a bin for housing said pieces having an opening for expelling said pieces;

b. a cleated conveyor having cleats for transporting said pieces along a cleated conveyor path, said cleated conveyor oriented below said opening to receive said pieces, said cleated conveyor having a cleated conveyor velocity;

c. a slide attached to said cleated conveyor to receive said pieces as they travel off said cleated conveyor;

d. a cross conveyor having a cross conveyor path oriented to receive said pieces from said slide and aligned such that said cross conveyor path is perpendicular to said cleated conveyor path, said cross conveyor having a cross conveyor velocity sufficient to receive all materials in a single file order;

e. a diverter system for transporting said pieces along a diverter path having a right side and a left side and a receiving end and a discharge end, said diverter system having a first diverter extending across said diverter path from said right side intersecting said path at an obtuse angle to said diverter path, said diverter system having a second diverter extending across said diverter path from said left side intersecting said diverter path at an obtuse angle to said diverter path, said diverter system having a width and a middle point, said first diverter and said second diverter extend across said middle point, said diverter system having a diverter conveyor belt, a right wall attached to said system proximate said right side, a left wall attached to said system proximate said left side;

f. an acceleration conveyor having an acceleration path receiving said material from said discharge end of said diverter path wherein said velocity of said diverter system is less than the velocity of said acceleration conveyor aligned such that said acceleration path is approximately aligned with said diverter path;

g. a sensor conveyor having a sensor path in line with an acceleration conveyor path for receiving said pieces from said acceleration conveyor, said sensor conveyor having a sensor conveyor path; and

h. a sensor attached proximate said sensor slide for reviewing said pieces passing along said sensor conveyor path; and

i. a separation system communicating with said sensor to separate said material by type.

17. A system for singulating pieces of material comprising:

a. said pieces of said materials having varying sizes and shapes;

b. means for transporting said pieces along a diverter path having a right side and a left side and a receiving end and a discharge end;

b. a first diverter extending across said diverter path from said right side intersecting said diverter path at an obtuse angle to said diverter path;

c. a second diverter extending across said diverter path from said left side intersecting said diverter path at an obtuse angle to said diverter path such that first and second diverters do not overlap in a direction perpendicular to said diverter path; and

d. an acceleration conveyor having an acceleration path receiving said material from said discharge end of said path wherein said velocity of said means for transporting said pieces along a path is less than the velocity of said acceleration conveyor.