Woodwaste recycling apparatus and method

• US 7,383,956 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jimmy L. Freeman
• Original Assignee: Jimmy L. Freeman
• Inventors: Freeman, Jimmy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, TERRELL HOWARD
• Application Number:
  US11/286,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 209/284, 209/12.1, 209/12.2, 209/129, 241/26, 241/299
• US Class Current: 209/284
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 3/80 by gas or solid particle blasting
• CPC Class Codes: B03C 7/06 with cylindrical material carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/005 Transportable screening plants
• CPC Class Codes: B07B 1/22 Revolving drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 17/02 Separating plastics from other materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2017/0094 Mobile recycling devices, e.g. devices installed in truck trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2017/0224 Screens, sieves
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 2017/0265 Electrostatic separation
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2711/14 Wood, e.g. woodboard or fibreboard
• 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 30/62 Plastics recycling; Rubber recycling

Abstract

A woodwaste processing trommel apparatus has a rotating trommel for receiving and separating woodwaste by size. An elongated electrode is mounted within the trommel and has a polarized electric charge thereon for attracting plastic pieces having a static electric charge thereon. An elongated vacuum pipe is mounted in the trommel adjacent the electrode for removing plastic pieces clinging to the elongated electrode. An electrode and vacuum nozzle is also placed adjacent the end of the discharge conveyor to further remove plastic particles. A method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in the trommel in accordance with the apparatus is also provided.

Claims

1. A woodwaste and plastic processing trommel comprising:

a rotating trommel for receiving and separating woodwaste by size, said trommel having an input for receiving woodwaste thereinto and an output therefrom for discharging woodwaste therefrom;

an elongated electrode mounted in said trommel for placing a polarized electric charge thereon during operation of said trommel for attracting plastic pieces having a static electric charge thereon mixed in said woodwaste;

an elongated vacuum pipe mounted in said trommel adjacent said electrode, said vacuum pipe having a plurality of openings positioned to remove plastic pieces clinging to said elongated electrode;

whereby plastic waste is removed during the operation of a trommel.

2. The woodwaste and plastic processing trommel in accordance with claim 1 having a plurality of elongated electrodes mounted in said trommel.

3. The woodwaste and plastic processing trommel in accordance with claim 2 having a plurality of vacuum pipes mounted in said trommel, each of said plurality of vacuum tubes being mounted adjacent one said electrode.

4. The woodwaste and plastic processing trommel in accordance with claim 3 in which each said electrode and each said vacuum pipe is mounted adjacent the inside edge of said trommel screen and having said trommel screen rotating therearound.

5. The woodwaste and plastic processing trommel in accordance with claim 4 in which each said electrode forms the vacuum pipe for removing collected plastic pieces.

6. The woodwaste and plastic processing trommel in accordance with claim 1 having a discharge conveyor having a woodwaste discharge and discharging woodwaste and having a discharge end electrode mounted on the discharge end of said discharge conveyor for attracting plastic pieces in woodwaste passing thereby.

7. The woodwaste and plastic processing trommel in accordance with claim 6 having a suction nozzle mounted adjacent said discharge end electrode for removing plastic pieces clinging to said discharge end electrode.

8. A method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in a woodwaste processing trommel comprising the steps of:

selecting a rotating trommel for receiving and separating woodwaste by size, having an elongated electrode mounted therein for placing a polarized electric charge thereon during operation of said trommel and an elongated vacuum pipe mounted adjacent said electrode, and having a plurality of openings positioned adjacent said elongated electrode;

receiving woodwaste having plastic pieces therein in an input to said selected rotating trommel;

placing a static electric charge on said electrode;

capturing plastic pieces from said woodwaste onto said electrode; and

vacuum removing of said captured plastic pieces through said vacuum pipe;

whereby intermixed plastic pieces are removed from woodwaste during the processing of woodwaste in a trommel.

9. The method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in a woodwaste processing trommel in accordance with claim 8 in which the step of selecting a rotating trommel includes selecting a rotating trommel having a plurality of elongated electrodes therein.

10. The method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in a woodwaste processing trommel in accordance with claim 9 in which the step of selecting a rotating trommel includes selecting a rotating trommel having a plurality of vacuum pipes therein.

11. The method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in a woodwaste processing trommel in accordance with claim 10 in which the step of selecting a rotating trommel includes having each said elongated electrode and each said vacuum pipe positioned adjacent said inner walls of said trommel.

12. The method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in a woodwaste processing trommel in accordance with claim 11 in which the step of selecting a vacuum tube includes selecting a conductive tube connected to form an electrode.

13. The method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in a woodwaste processing trommel in accordance with claim 8 including selecting a rotating trommel having a discharge conveyor having a woodwaste discharge end and having a discharge end electrode attached to the discharge end of said discharge conveyor for attracting plastic pieces in woodwaste passing thereby.

14. The method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in a woodwaste processing trommel in accordance with claim 13 including selecting a rotating trommel having a discharge conveyor having a suction nozzle mounted adjacent said discharge end electrode for removing plastic pieces clinging to said discharge end electrode.