Material separation system

Abstract

A material separator system (1) comprising a separation device (10) for separating at least a first group of materials (12) and a second group of materials (13) from an incoming material flow (14); the material flow is placed on a conveyor belt (110) and is transported along a longitudinal axis (X) to the separation device (10); the material separator system (1) comprises at least one air nozzle (20-29) adapted to blow air between the conveyor belt (110) and a support table (111) so as to form an air cushion (30) between the conveyor belt and the support table.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of material separation, such as waste treatment. Background Technology

[0002] Millions of tons of ash are generated annually through the incineration of municipal solid waste. Incineration bottom ash (also known as IBA) specifically contains approximately 90% minerals, 4% to 8% ferrous metals, and approximately 2% to 6% non-ferrous metals. For optimal recycling of incineration bottom ash, complete separation of the metallic components is crucial, as the high proportion of minerals can be further recycled into alternative building materials.

[0003] Dry and wet processes used for ash removal offer high metal separation efficiencies, particularly in the fine particle region (e.g., up to 50% for particles smaller than 10 mm and up to 30% for particles smaller than 4 mm). These fine particles typically contain a particularly high proportion of recyclable heavy metals, such as copper. With the incineration of electronic components and the decreasing size of components in municipal solid waste, a significant proportion of precious metals, such as gold and silver, is now present in particles smaller than 2 mm. These particles also contain valuable metals, such as aluminum.

[0004] Metallurgical slag and used foundry sand also have high contents of recyclable metals. Slag is waste generated during the metallurgical smelting process. When in a solid state, slag typically consists of large chunks of metal or encapsulated metal particles.

[0005] Depending on the type of material to be separated, many types of separators are known in the prior art.

[0006] Mechanical processing using eddy current separators, following proper grinding and classification, is particularly suitable for sorting this non-ferrous metal contained in IBA, slag, and sand. For example, the salt slag produced during the production of recycled aluminum contains approximately 5% to 10% aluminum, which can be well recovered using suitable processes.

[0007] For example, when it is necessary to separate a mixture of non-ferrous metals and mineral-rich particles, an eddy current separator is known to be used, which includes: a conveyor belt mounted on a support platform for conveying particles for sorting; and a device for generating an electromagnetic field having magnetic field lines arranged along the direction passing through the conveyor belt to the particles, as disclosed, for example, in patent publication US3,448,857A.

[0008] This electromagnetic field can be generated, for example, by a rotating component of a permanent magnet or a driven electromagnetic device.

[0009] An electromagnetic field generates a repulsive force at the end of the conveyor, which is applied to non-ferrous metals. The separator is installed at the end of the conveyor, and the repulsive force applied to the non-ferrous metals pushes them above the separator, while other materials (such as minerals) fall below the separator due to gravity.

[0010] In such eddy current separators, sorting is effective when a good balance is found between the conveyor speed, the electromagnetic force applied to the particles, and the separator position. For this purpose, the separator position is typically determined as a function of the particle size of the material to be separated, the generated electromagnetic field, and the speed of the conveyor. If any of these parameters changes during processing, the material may be incorrectly separated, and sorting output will be reduced.

[0011] Therefore, the control of the conveying speed and the electromagnetic generator equipment are the key points of the eddy current separator.

[0012] However, friction can occur due to changes in temperature and humidity, or simply due to wear. Furthermore, when sorting non-ferrous metals from a stream of small particles, these particles tend to accumulate under the conveyor belt, generating friction and reducing conveyor speed. This change in speed alters system parameters and reduces sorting output and quality.

[0013] More generally, and for any type of material separator (such as sensor sorters, X-ray sorters), irregular conveyor speeds have a significant impact on sorting output and quality.

[0014] Therefore, an improved material separator system is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0015] Therefore, a material separator system is proposed, which includes a separation device for separating at least a first group of materials and a second group of materials from an incoming material stream. The material separator system includes a conveying device for conveying the incoming material stream to the separation device, the conveying device including a motorized conveyor belt that translates on a support platform, the material stream being placed on the conveyor belt and transported to the separation device along a longitudinal axis.

[0016] The material separator system includes at least one air nozzle adapted to blow air between the conveyor belt and the support platform to form an air cushion between the conveyor belt and the support platform.

[0017] In this case, the air cushion is a physically separated volume of air formed between the conveyor belt and the support platform.

[0018] Therefore, this material separation system avoids friction between the conveyor belt and its supports, thus ensuring a constant translational speed of the conveyor belt on the support platform. Consequently, sorting output and quality are improved and remain constant over time.

[0019] Advantageously, the at least one air nozzle is mounted on a side of the conveyor belt oriented in a transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, parallel to the plane of the support platform. Therefore, the nozzle can be easily installed, especially on existing systems, and this nozzle orientation helps to clean up material that leaks under the conveyor belt.

[0020] Advantageously, the material separation system includes multiple air nozzles that are regularly mounted along the longitudinal axis on the side of the conveyor belt. Therefore, even on long and / or heavy conveyor belts, a constant and efficient air cushion can be generated.

[0021] Advantageously, the at least one air nozzle is mounted on the conveyor belt, in the support platform, and oriented perpendicularly to or inclined to the plane of the support platform. This arrangement generates a regular, constant, and powerful air cushion.

[0022] Advantageously, the multiple air nozzles are distributed below the conveyor belt and in the area of ​​the support platform. This regular distribution creates a regular air cushion across the entire surface of the support platform.

[0023] Specifically, these air nozzles are aligned to form a nozzle matrix distributed beneath the conveyor belt. This matrix-shaped distribution is easy to design and highly efficient, resulting in a regular air cushion beneath the conveyor belt.

[0024] In particular, the separation equipment includes eddy current separators, which are very relevant devices for separating non-ferrous metals from a material stream.

[0025] The present invention also relates to a control method for a material separator system as described above, wherein the control method includes the following steps:

[0026] - Detect instability in conveyor belt speed;

[0027] - When the instability is detected, activate at least one air nozzle.

[0028] This method is an energy-efficient way to drive air nozzles by blowing air and forming an air cushion only when instability in the conveyor belt is detected.

[0029] Advantageously, instability can be detected by tracking changes in the current of the motor driving the conveyor belt and / or by tracking the instantaneous speed of the conveyor belt (e.g., using a tachometer).

[0030] Advantageously, the method includes the step of stopping the at least one air nozzle after a predetermined time limit. Therefore, the at least one air nozzle operates for only a limited period of time, thereby optimizing the power consumption of the system.

[0031] Specifically, the time limit can be a fixed period of time following the activation of the at least one air nozzle, or a continuous period of time following the activation during which no instability in the conveyor belt speed is detected. These two options provide some easily implementable and relevant time-based criteria for stopping the air nozzle.

[0032] The present invention also relates to another control method for the described material separator system, wherein the control method includes the following steps:

[0033] - Detect the activation of the conveyor belt or the activation of the separation equipment or the power supply of the material separation system; and

[0034] - When activation or power supply is detected, activate at least one air nozzle.

[0035] When the material separation system is effective, this will generate a durable air cushion.

[0036] Advantageously, the other control method includes a step of stopping the at least one air nozzle after a fixed time period following the activation of the at least one air nozzle. This provides an easily implementable and relevant time-based standard for stopping the air nozzle.

[0037] The present invention also relates to a method for separating an incoming material stream in a material separator system as described above, the method comprising the following steps:

[0038] -Start the conveyor belt;

[0039] -Start the separation equipment;

[0040] - Provides access to the material flow for separation on the conveyor belt; and

[0041] -While the separation device is operating, implement the steps of the previously disclosed method for controlling the material separation system.

[0042] Specifically, the incoming material stream includes or consists of incinerator bottom ash.

[0043] Other aspects, advantages, and distinctive features of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of various embodiments of this disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0044] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of this disclosure will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045] Figure 1 This is a schematic side view of a material separation system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic top view of the material separation system;

[0047] Figure 3 This is a schematic top view of a material separation system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the first control method according to the present invention;

[0049] Figure 5 This is a flowchart of the second control method according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0050] according to Figure 1 In a first embodiment of the present invention, the material separator system 1 includes a separation device 10 for separating materials from a material stream.

[0051] In this first embodiment, the separator is an eddy current separator used to separate non-ferrous metals from other materials.

[0052] This embodiment is given for small particulate materials (hereinafter referred to as ground and graded materials) in a partially wet or dry mixture, for example, up to 50% of particles with a diameter of less than 10 mm and up to 30% of particles with a diameter of less than 4 mm.

[0053] The material is conveyed from the conveyor 11 to the separation device 10.

[0054] The conveying device 11 includes a support platform 111 on which a conveyor belt 110 (also referred to as belt 110) is slidably mounted.

[0055] The conveyor belt 110 is driven by the motor 19, which drives the conveyor belt to move horizontally.

[0056] The conveyor belt forms a loop around the support platform 111, moves along the longitudinal axis X on the support platform 111 from the first end 112 to the second end 113, conveys the material flow 14 to be separated on this side, and returns from the second end 113 to the first end 112 under the support platform 111.

[0057] This conveyor belt is laterally transported along the entire length of the support platform 111 (a length that includes a support platform 111 that is 4 meters long in this embodiment, even though this length is given for illustrative purposes only).

[0058] Conveyor belts are typically made of semi-flexible materials, such as polyurethane (PU) or PVC, which may be layered or unlayered with other synthetic fabrics.

[0059] For the purposes of this embodiment, the conveyor belt 110 is typically 0.5 to 3 meters wide, for example, 1.5 meters wide in this case.

[0060] The thickness of the conveyor belt 110 is typically between 0.5 mm and 10 mm.

[0061] Conveyor belt 110 transports materials at a speed ranging from 0.1 m / s to a maximum of 3.5 m / s (3 m / s in this example). The selected speed must remain constant throughout the sorting process.

[0062] In fact, the eddy current separator 10 is installed near the second end 113 and generates eddies, thereby exerting a repulsive force on the non-ferrous metal material in the material flow 14.

[0063] Therefore, when the material flow 14 reaches the second end 113 of the conveyor belt 11, non-ferrous materials are projected onto the separator 15, while other materials fall below the separator 15.

[0064] Therefore, in order to achieve optimal separation of these two types of materials, the separator 15 is positioned next to the second end 113 of the conveyor belt 11, depending on the type of material (especially the particle size) and the speed of the conveyor belt, since the projection of non-ferrous material particles is a direct function of the particle weight and the speed of the conveyor belt.

[0065] This is why the conveyor belt speed is required to ensure the highest separation rate.

[0066] However, when the conveyor belt receives small particles for sorting, it is very common for particles to fall under the conveyor belt 110, between the conveyor belt 110 and the support platform 111. This generates unexpected friction, as well as wear, humidity, and temperature variations, which alter the instantaneous speed of the conveyor belt 110 and create instabilities, thereby reducing the quality of the sorting process. In particular, speed variations cause some non-ferrous metals to fall under the separator 15 as they are intended to pass through it.

[0067] To measure the speed change of conveyor belt 110, different types of sensors can be implemented.

[0068] In this embodiment of the invention, speed changes are detected by tracking the current consumed by the motor 19 driving the transmission device 11.

[0069] However, the present invention can alternatively implement a tachometer to directly measure belt speed (also known as instantaneous speed) and an incremental measuring wheel encoder to directly measure the speed of conveyor belt 110. The present invention is not limited to these specific sensors or measurement methods, and can be adapted to all other related sensors and methods for measuring changes in the speed of conveyor belt 110.

[0070] To avoid speed variations in the conveyor belt 110, an airflow is blown between the conveyor belt 110 and the support platform 111 to form an air cushion 30, thereby eliminating friction between the conveyor belt 110 and the small particles that fall underneath it.

[0071] Therefore, in this embodiment, as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As indicated, multiple air nozzles 21-29 (also referred to simply as nozzles 21-29) are mounted in the support platform 111 such that the ends of these nozzles protrude from the surface of the support platform, thus facing the inner side 1101 of the conveyor belt. The inner side 1101 of the conveyor belt 110 is the side of the conveyor belt opposite to the outer side 1100 on which the material to be sorted is placed.

[0072] The nozzle protrudes from the surface of the platform, but remains aligned with the same design. Therefore, even in this possible implementation of the invention, the nozzle does not protrude from the plane of the supporting platform surface.

[0073] In this arrangement, the nozzle is clearly exposed from the surface of the support platform in the vertical direction Z. However, the invention is not limited to vertically oriented nozzles. For example, the nozzle may be oriented at an angle relative to the plane of the support platform 111.

[0074] In this arrangement, the open end of each nozzle rises from the surface of the support platform 111.

[0075] Each air nozzle 21-29 includes an open end that blows air in the form of a spray suitable for diffusion over approximately 360° when the airflow impacts the inner surface of the conveyor belt.

[0076] For this air outlet, the size should be between 2mm and 20mm, and it should be circular.

[0077] However, any nozzle shape can be achieved, such as a square nozzle.

[0078] The nozzles are arranged in a matrix shape (e.g., a matrix of nine nozzles 21-29 regularly distributed under the conveyor belt 110).

[0079] It should be understood that the matrix shape is configured such that the nozzles are divided into multiple groups, and for each group, the nozzles form rows in the transverse direction Y, and the different groups are regularly distributed along the longitudinal direction X. Therefore, the nozzles are arranged in rows and columns.

[0080] The matrix shape in this configuration allows the nozzles 21-29 to be positioned in such a way that there is an equal amount of space between the nozzles 21-29 and the end of the support platform 111 in both the longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y.

[0081] For example, in this 4-meter-long and 1.5-meter-wide conveyor belt 110, the first row of nozzles 29, 26, and 23 are spaced 1 meter apart from the second end 113 of the support platform 111, and the nozzles in this row are separated from each other by a lateral Y space of 37.5 cm. The first nozzle 29 in this row is spaced 37.5 cm apart from the side 114 of the support platform 111, and the last nozzle 23 in this row is also spaced 37.5 cm apart from the opposite side.

[0082] The second row of nozzles 28, 25, and 22 is separated from the first row by 1 meter in the longitudinal direction (X), and these nozzles are aligned with the first row of nozzles 29, 26, and 23. Starting from the second row, this longitudinal spacing also applies to the third row of nozzles 27, 24, and 21, thus the third row of nozzles 27, 24, and 21 is 1 meter from the first end of the support platform 111. As a result, a regular distribution of nozzles is achieved below the conveyor belt 110 and on the support platform 111.

[0083] The present invention is not limited to this specific number of air nozzles. Depending on the size of the conveyor belt, the weight of the conveyor belt, and the weight of the material conveyed by the conveyor belt, these air nozzles can range from a single air nozzle to dozens of nozzles.

[0084] The matrix shape is not the only possible distribution, but a regular distribution is preferred. For example, an alternative distribution could be a modified matrix distribution with nozzles arranged in staggered rows rather than in a straight line.

[0085] Each nozzle 21-29 is actuated by electric valves 21a-29a, so each nozzle 21-29 can be controlled independently.

[0086] However, the main valve 50 is also connected to each of the electric valves 21a-29a to ensure overall control with the ability to cut off the total flow when needed.

[0087] Each nozzle 21-29 is also associated with a flow meter 21b-29b for measuring the airflow at each nozzle. This is particularly useful in the control process to ensure that each nozzle is functioning correctly.

[0088] Therefore, when all the nozzles 21-29 blow air together, an air cushion 30 is formed between the support platform 111 and the conveyor belt 110, thereby removing potential friction from unwanted material particles, as well as potential friction caused by wear, humidity and temperature changes.

[0089] In order to control nozzles 21-29, the material separation system includes a device 60 for controlling nozzles 21-29 and their associated valves 21a-29a and main valve 50.

[0090] These control devices 60 can be processors, computers, microcontrollers, calculators, DSPs, or any related material capable of receiving signals from multiple sensors, calculating control signals, and transmitting control signals to valves 21a-29a, 50 associated with nozzles 21-29.

[0091] The control device 60 is configured to automate the material separation system 1.

[0092] The automation of the system 1 described can be achieved in different ways.

[0093] like Figure 5 The first method 500 of the automated method includes a first step 501 of detecting the activity of eddy current activation.

[0094] When eddy current activation is detected, method 500 performs step 502 of opening each valve 21a-29a and the main valve 50.

[0095] Therefore, this first embodiment of automation does not require any control over the speed of the conveyor belt 110, but it does require the control device 60 to be able to receive activation signals from the eddy current separator 10 or, more generally, any separation device 10 implemented by the system 1.

[0096] Method 500: Then keep the airflow effective for each nozzle 21-29 until verifying that the vortex separator 10 is closed 503.

[0097] Therefore, in this first embodiment of the automation method, as long as the vortex separator 10 is closed, the valves 21a-29a of each nozzle 21-29 are closed 504.

[0098] In the same Figure 5 An alternative embodiment shown is that the control device 60 detects the start of the conveyor belt, rather than the activation of the separation device 10, which typically precedes the start of the separation device 10. Therefore, valves 21a-29a, 50 open as soon as the conveyor belt 110 starts, and close when the conveyor belt 110 stops.

[0099] Figure 5Another alternative embodiment of this same automation method could be to detect the total power supply of the material separation system. In this method, a valve command is initiated as soon as the main separation system 1 is powered on.

[0100] Figure 5 The automation method 500 can also be implemented using different types of detection (such as cameras or sensors that detect the presence of material on a conveyor belt).

[0101] As an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the automation method 500 can be implemented using other initiation criteria, such as online quality analysis of the incoming material stream 14 to be sorted.

[0102] The control method of material separation system 1 Figure 4 The second embodiment described is for detecting conveyor belt speed instability.

[0103] The method 400 of the second embodiment implements the first step 401 of detecting instability of the conveyor belt 110.

[0104] This instability can be detected in various ways, such as by acquiring and tracking the current value of the motor 19 driving the conveyor belt. When this current undergoes a significant change (e.g., a 0.2A change on a 1.5A drive current), an unexpected force is detected applied to the conveyor belt 110, which is detected as friction of the conveyor belt 110 on the support platform 111.

[0105] However, some other instability detections can be implemented by using a tachometer or incremental measurement wheel encoder to measure the instantaneous speed.

[0106] When instability is detected, method 400 performs step 402 of opening each valve 21a-29a and the main valve 50.

[0107] The termination can be determined by this method, for example by implementing a timer feature to close valves 21a-29a and 50 after a predetermined time limit.

[0108] The predetermined time limit can be calculated as a fixed past time after the first detection of instability.

[0109] However, as an alternative, we can define the predetermined time limit as the past time of the conveyor belt's stable speed, such as 10 minutes after the motor's stable current consumption or constant speed.

[0110] Another method can be achieved based on online quality analysis of the product.

[0111] Furthermore, an automated method based on an artificial intelligence device that considers multiple measurements (such as motor current, measured conveyor belt speed, the presence of products on the conveyor belt, etc.) can be realized.

[0112] According to Figure 3 In a second embodiment of the material separator system 1, a single air nozzle 20 is included, which is mounted on the side 114 of the support platform 111 to blow air in a lateral direction 31 parallel to the lateral axis Y, thereby forming an air cushion 30 between the conveyor belt 110 and the support platform 111.

[0113] In this embodiment, the air nozzle 20 is associated with a valve 20a and a flow meter 20b, as in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0114] In fact, the automation method described for the first embodiment is also applicable to this second embodiment.

[0115] In an alternative embodiment of this second embodiment, a plurality of air nozzles may be regularly installed along the longitudinal direction X of the support platform 111, wherein the air nozzles 20 are mounted on the side 114 of the support platform 111 to blow air in the lateral direction 31 parallel to the lateral axis Y.

[0116] The lateral orientation of the air nozzles provides the added advantage of more efficient cleaning and removal of material leaking between the conveyor belt 110 and the support platform 111.

[0117] Any of these embodiments is not limited to using the eddy current separator 10 alone as the separation device 10. The present invention and the described embodiments can also be embedded with any kind of separation device 10, such as NIR devices, XRF devices, imaging-based separation devices, air-blowing separators, because the speed of the conveyor belt 110 remains an important parameter for system efficiency.

[0118] Furthermore, the different methods 400 and 500 for controlling the material separator system can combine different detection steps with different detection devices (such as devices for detecting motor current, measured conveyor belt speed, presence of products on the conveyor belt, and online quality of the material flow).

[0119] This detection step, which combines different detection devices, can be based, for example, on an artificial intelligence module that combines multiple input data (such as motor current, measured conveyor belt speed, the presence of products on the conveyor belt, and the online quality of the incoming material flow), such as artificial neural networks, decision trees, SVM methods, or any other automated learning methods.

[0120] The present invention also relates to a method for separating a material stream (e.g., incinerator bottom ash, also known as IBA) using a material separator system according to any embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising the following steps:

[0121] -Start conveyor belt 110;

[0122] -After the conveyor belt 110 is started, the separation device 10 is then started;

[0123] Especially when the separation device 10 is an eddy current separator, the conveyor belt is usually started before the separation device to avoid potential eddy current damage to the conveyor belt, such as when metal is unfortunately retained on the conveyor belt, which may cause burns.

[0124] However, by utilizing different implementations of the separation device 10, it is possible to consider starting the conveyor belt 110 simultaneously with, before, or after the separation device 10.

[0125] The method then includes the step of providing a material flow (e.g., a milled or graded material flow) near the first end 112 of the support platform 111.

[0126] In this respect, one of the previously disclosed methods 400 and 500 for controlling a material separator system is implemented, wherein a speed change of the conveyor belt 110 is detected, and if a significant speed change is detected by a change in current or a tachometer on any other device, an actuation is initiated to form an air cushion between the support platform 111 and the conveyor belt 110 by blowing air using air nozzles 20-29.

[0127] Then start a timer to determine when to stop air nozzles 20-29.

[0128] Air nozzles 20-29 are stopped, for example, after a fixed time after starting from air nozzles 20-29 or after a continuous time after which no significant change in the speed of the conveyor belt is detected.

[0129] Meanwhile, the material separation process operates whenever needed. During the material separation process, the previously disclosed methods 400 and 500 for controlling the material separator system can be run multiple times as frequently as detecting significant speed changes in the conveyor belt.

[0130] As an alternative, air can be blown in to create an air cushion during the entire material separation process, as previously described.

Claims

1. A material separator system (1) comprising a separation device (10) for separating at least a first group of materials (12) and a second group of materials (13) from an incoming material stream (14), the material separator system (1) comprising: - a conveying device (11) for conveying the incoming material flow (14) to the separation device (10), the conveying device (11) comprising a motorized conveyor belt (110) translating on a support table (111), on which the material flow is placed and transported along a longitudinal axis (X) to the separation device (10); the material separator system (1) being characterized in that it comprises at least one air nozzle adapted to blow air between the conveyor belt (110) and the support table (111) so as to create an air cushion (30) between the conveyor belt and the support table; wherein the at least one air nozzle is mounted on a lateral side (114) of the support table (111) so as to blow air in a transversal direction (31) parallel to a transversal axis (Y) which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (X).

2. The material separator system (1) according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of air nozzles regularly mounted on a lateral side (114) of the support table (111) along the longitudinal axis (X).

3. The material separator system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the separation device (10) comprises a cyclone separator.

4. A method (400) for controlling a material separator system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The method comprises the steps of: - detecting (401) an instability of the speed of the conveyor belt; - activating (402) the at least one air nozzle when the instability is detected.

5. The method (400) according to claim 4, wherein the instability is detected by tracking the current variation of a motor (19) driving the conveyor belt (110) and / or by tracking the instantaneous speed of the conveyor belt (110).

6. The method (400) of any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein, The method comprises the step of stopping the at least one air nozzle after a predetermined time limit.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the time limit is a fixed time period after the activation (402) of the at least one air nozzle or a continuous time period after the activation (402) during which no instability of the speed of the conveyor belt is detected.

8. A method (500) for controlling a material separator system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The method comprises the steps of: - detecting (501) an activation of the conveyor belt (110) or an activation of the separation device (10) or a power supply of the material separator system (1); and - activating (502) the at least one air nozzle when the activation or power supply is detected.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein, The method comprises the step of stopping the at least one air nozzle after a fixed time period from the activation (402) of the at least one air nozzle.

10. A method for separating an incoming material flow (14) on a material separator system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the method comprising the steps of: - starting the conveyor belt (110); - starting the separation device (10); - providing an incoming material flow (14) for separation on the conveyor belt (110); and - stopping the conveyor belt (110) and the separation device (10). - While the separation device (10) is operating, the steps of the method (400, 500) for controlling the material separator system (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 9 are implemented.

11. The method of separating access material streams (14) of claim 10, wherein, The material stream (14) includes or is composed of incinerator bottom ash.

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