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Method and apparatus for sorting metal

  • US 7,674,994 B1
  • Filed: 10/21/2005
  • Issued: 03/09/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for separating metal pieces from a plurality of mixed material pieces, comprising the steps:

  • placing a plurality of mixed material pieces comprising a plurality of metal pieces of varying size on an upper surface of a conveyor belt;

    moving the conveyor belt and the mixed material pieces passed a plurality of shielded inductive proximity sensors and a plurality of unshielded inductive proximity sensors;

    transmitting the outputs of the shielded inductive proximity sensors and the plurality of unshielded inductive proximity sensors to a computer to determine the locations of a plurality of metal pieces, wherein the outputs correspond to an indication of the location of one or more of the plurality of metal pieces;

    actuating one or more air jets to separate the metal pieces from the mixed material pieces;

    based on the outputs from the sensor andplacing the metal pieces in a first bin and placing the non-metal pieces in a second bin.

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