Apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials

Abstract

An apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials (1) comprising a tumbling / screening section (10) which is functionally connected, at an inlet region, to a device for feeding the material to be processed and, at an outlet region, to at least one region for discharging the processed material, the tumbling / screening section (10) comprising at least two processing chambers arranged in mutual succession along an advancement direction (200) of the material to be processed, respectively a first chamber (11) and a second chamber (12), the first chamber (11) being configured to perform at least one tumbling operation and the second chamber being configured to perform at least one tumbling / screening operation, the first chamber (11) and the second chamber (12) being defined by a respective cylindrical casing (11a, 12a) which can rotate on command about an axis of the cylindrical casing (100a) which is arranged inclined downward from the inlet region toward the outlet region, between the first chamber (11) and the second chamber (12) there being first separator means (20) which can rotate on command about an axis of rotation (101a) in order to pass, depending on the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation (101a), between a first operating condition, in which they are adapted to prevent the passage of the material from the first chamber (11) toward the second chamber (12), and a second operating condition, in which the first separator means (20) are adapted to allow the passage of the material to be processed from the first chamber (11) toward the second chamber (12).

Description

[0001] APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING AND RECOVERING METALLIC

[0002] MATERIALS

[0003] The present invention relates to an apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials.

[0004] Plants are known and widely used for the recovery and / or disposal of refuse (of various kinds) through the use of multiple plant sections using combined technologies capable of separating the different non-metallic and metallic (ferrous and non-ferrous) fractions present in the refuse.

[0005] One extremely important section of such plants is the selection and screening section, in which the steps are performed of sorting, selection, separation and recovery of ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

[0006] Typically, this section is constituted by several plants in sequence, in order to effect a targeted selection of the various types of materials, for example metals from inert / sterile materials such as rubber, plastic, and wood.

[0007] Very often this separation is carried out using Foucault's eddy currents, magnetic systems, optical recognition systems and air-based separation systems, etc.

[0008] The materials are then subjected to screening in order to obtain homogeneous size ranges and, generally, upstream of the screening the materials are subjected to a tumbling operation which consists of mechanically removing residues of substrate, in particular powder or residues of paint. Barrel finishing is particularly suitable for giving a surface finish to a high number of pieces that are small in size.

[0009] This is done by rolling and tumbling the pieces in a barrel (the tumbler) which is contoured for this purpose: the rotation speed of the tumbler influences the rapidity of treatment.

[0010] Once the tumbling operation is complete, the material is removed and sent to the various screening devices.

[0011] The conventional solutions, although widely used, are not however devoid of drawbacks.

[0012] First, it is necessary to manage two different apparatuses, the tumbler and the screen, with their corresponding electrical and mechanical actuation systems.

[0013] Furthermore, devices need to be provided to collect the material exiting from the tumbler and to send these collected materials to the screening devices.

[0014] This determines a certain complexity in the design and in the structure of this section of the plant, as well as the need for considerable space for positioning the various apparatuses.

[0015] The aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials that is capable of improving the known art in one or more of the abovementioned aspects.

[0016] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to make available an apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials that is capable of reducing constructive complexity.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to devise an apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials, capable of performing in particular the operations of tumbling and screening, that is extremely compact, so that it can be installed even if the available space is scant.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials that is highly reliable, easy to implement and at low cost.

[0019] This aim and these and other objects which will become more evident hereinafter are achieved by an apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials according to claim 1, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

[0020] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description that follows of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials according to the invention, which is illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 is a perspective cutaway view of a portion of the apparatus according to the invention;

[0022] Figure 2 is an enlarged- scale perspective view of a part of the portion of apparatus shown in Figure 1.

[0023] With reference to the figures, the apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, comprises a tumbling / screening section 10, shown in the figures, which is functionally connected, at an inlet region, to a device for feeding the material to be processed, and, at an outlet region, to at least one region for discharging the processed material.

[0024] The material to be processed comprises metallic material, ferrous and optionally non-ferrous.

[0025] According to the present invention, the tumbling / screening section 10 comprises at least two processing chambers arranged in mutual succession along an advancement direction 200 of the material to be processed, respectively a first chamber 11 and a second chamber 12.

[0026] Specifically, the first chamber 11 is configured to perform at least one tumbling operation, while the second chamber 12 is configured to perform at least one tumbling / screening operation.

[0027] The first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 are defined by a respective cylindrical casing Ila, 12a.

[0028] The cylindrical casings Ila and 12a can rotate on command about an axis 100a of the cylindrical casing which is arranged inclined downward from the inlet region toward the outlet region.

[0029] Between the first chamber 11 and the second chamber 12 there are first separator means 20, which can rotate on command about the axis of rotation 100a in order to pass, depending on the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation 100a, between a first operating condition, in which they are adapted to prevent the passage of the material from the first chamber 11 toward the second chamber 12, and a second operating condition, in which the first separator means 20 are adapted to allow the passage of the material to be processed from the first chamber 11 toward the second chamber 12.

[0030] According to a particularly important aspect, the apparatus 1 comprises, downstream of the second chamber 12, a third chamber 13, which is configured to perform a screening or tumbling / screening operation.

[0031] The third chamber 13 is defined by a respective cylindrical casing 13a, which can rotate on command about an axis of the cylindrical casing 100b which is arranged inclined downward from the inlet region toward the outlet region.

[0032] Between the second chamber 12 and the third chamber 13 there are second separator means 21 , which can rotate on command about an axis of rotation 101b in order to pass, depending on the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation 101b, between a first operating condition, in which the second separator means 21 are adapted to prevent the passage of the material from the second chamber 12 toward the third chamber 13, and a second operating condition, in which the second separator means 21 are adapted to allow the passage of the material to be processed from the second chamber 12 toward the third chamber 13.

[0033] Advantageously, the first separator means 20 are in the first operating condition when the second separator means 21 are in the second operating condition, and vice versa.

[0034] Preferably, the first separator means 20 comprise a first propeller-like structure 25 which can rotate on command about the axis of rotation 101a.

[0035] The first propeller-like structure 25 has, conveniently, a plurality of blades 25a which are arranged around the axis of rotation 101a and have a first inclination a with respect to the plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation 101a.

[0036] The second separator means 21 also comprise a second propeller-like structure 26 which can rotate on command about the axis of rotation 101b.

[0037] The second propeller-like structure 26 has a plurality of blades 26a which are arranged around the axis of rotation 101b and have a second inclination 0 which is opposite to the first inclination a with respect to the plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation 101b.

[0038] Advantageously, the axes 1001 and 100b of the cylindrical casing are substantially coincident, and conveniently are also coincident with the axis of rotation 101a of the first separator means 20 and with the axis of rotation 101b of the second separator means 21.

[0039] Conveniently, the cylindrical casings Ila, 12a, 13a are connected to each other and to the first propeller-like structure 25 and to the second propeller-like structure 26.

[0040] In particular, the rotation of the cylindrical casing causes a corresponding rotation of the separation means.

[0041] The first propeller-like structure 25 is configured to be in the first operating condition and the second propeller-like structure 26 is configured to be in the second operating condition during the rotation of the cylindrical casings Ila, 12a, 13a in a first direction of rotation, while the first propellerlike structure 25 is configured to be in the second operating condition and the second propeller-like structure 26 is configured to be in the first operating condition during the rotation of the cylindrical casings Ila, 12a, 13a in a second direction of rotation which is opposite to the first direction of rotation.

[0042] With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the tumbling / screening section 10 comprises a main drum which extends around the axis of rotation 100a, 100b and defines, along the extension of the axis of rotation 100a, 100b, the cylindrical casings Ila, 11b, 11c.

[0043] The first propeller-like structure 25 rotates integrally with the main drum about the axis of rotation 100a.

[0044] The second propeller-like structure 26 also rotates integrally with the main drum about the axis of rotation 100b, which coincides with the axis of rotation 100a.

[0045] With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the tumbling / screening section 10 has drive means which are connected kinematically, for example, to the main drum, which is integral, in rotation about the axis 100a, with the first and second separator means 20, 21.

[0046] The first cylindrical casing Ila has a lateral surface directed inward which is configured to ensure the surface finish of the material to be processed and at the same time to allow the dust and the removed material to be dropped outside the first cylindrical casing Ila, through a first lower discharge port 31.

[0047] The operation of the apparatus 1, and in particular of the tumbling / screening section 10, is the following.

[0048] The material to be processed, typically constituted by ferrous material to be recovered, is fed to the tumbling / screening section 10 at the first cylindrical casing Ila, in order to feed it into the first chamber 11.

[0049] The rotation of the main drum, and consequently of the first cylindrical casing 11 and consequently of the first propeller-like structure 25, in a first direction of rotation, when the material to be processed is loaded into the first chamber 11 , prevents the material to be processed from progressing because the first separator means 20 are in the first operating condition and, by virtue of the particular inclination of the blades 25a, prevent the material to be processed from leaving the first chamber 11.

[0050] Once the tumbling operation in the first chamber 11 is completed, the direction of rotation of the main drum is reversed and, consequently, the first separator means 25 are brought to the second operating condition which allows the material to be brought toward the second chamber 12, defined by the second cylindrical housing 12a.

[0051] In this step, the second cylindrical housing 12a and the corresponding second separator means 26 also rotate in the second direction of rotation, and this keeps the second separator means 21 in the first operating condition, while the first separator means 20 are in the second operating condition.

[0052] In this manner, the material passes through the first separator means 20 from the first chamber 11 toward the second chamber 12, while the second separator means 21 prevent it from leaving the second chamber 12.

[0053] In fact, the blades 26a of the second propeller-like structure 26 which form the second separator means 21 are inclined in an opposite direction to the blades 25a.

[0054] After the operation to screen and tumble the material contained in the second chamber 12 is complete, with the finer (or under-screen) material dropped through the second lower discharge port 32 into the container below the screen, the direction of rotation is reversed again, so bringing the second separator means 21 to the second operating condition, which allows the coarser material still contained in the second chamber 12 to be brought to the third chamber 13, while the first separator means 20 are brought to the first operating condition which makes it possible to retain, inside the first chamber 11 , the new material to be processed, which can then be loaded into the first chamber 11.

[0055] Simultaneously, the material present in the third chamber 13 is treated so that the smaller (or under-screen) fraction is dropped through a third lower discharge port 33 into the container under the screen, while the larger (or over-screen) fraction will be dropped through the discharge port 34.

[0056] In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing an apparatus 1 provided with a tumbling and screening section 10 that is extremely compact and capable of drastically reducing the components used and the complexity of implementation.

[0057] The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0058] In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0059] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102024000022878 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0060] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, such reference signs have been inserted for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

9CLAIMS1. An apparatus for separating and recovering metallic materials (1) comprising a tumbling / screening section (10) which is functionally connected, at an inlet region, to a device for feeding the material to be processed and, at an outlet region, to at least one region for discharging the processed material, characterized in that said tumbling / screening section (10) comprises at least two processing chambers arranged in mutual succession along an advancement direction (200) of the material to be processed, respectively a first chamber (11) and a second chamber (12), said first chamber (11) being configured to perform at least one tumbling operation and said second chamber being configured to perform at least one tumbling / screening operation, said first chamber (11) and said second chamber (12) being defined by a respective cylindrical casing (Ila, 12a) which can rotate on command about an axis (100a) of the cylindrical casing which is arranged inclined downward from the inlet region toward the outlet region, between said first chamber (11) and said second chamber (12) there being first separator means (20) which can rotate on command about an axis of rotation (101a) in order to pass, depending on the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation (101a), between a first operating condition, in which they are adapted to prevent the passage of the material from said first chamber (11) toward said second chamber (12), and a second operating condition, in which said first separator means (20) are adapted to allow the passage of the material to be processed from said first chamber (11) toward said second chamber (12).

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, downstream of said second chamber (12), a third chamber (13) which is configured to perform a screening or tumbling / screening operation, said third chamber (13) being defined by a respective cylindrical casing (13a) which can rotate on command about an axis (100b) of the cylindrical casing which is arranged inclined downward from the inlet region towardsthe outlet region, between said second chamber (12) and said third chamber (13) there being second separator means (21) which can rotate on command about an axis of rotation (101b) in order to pass, depending on the direction of rotation about the axis of rotation (101b), between a first operating condition, in which they are adapted to prevent the passage of the material from said second chamber (12) toward said third chamber (13), and a second operating condition, in which said second separator means (21) are adapted to allow the passage of the material to be processed from said second chamber (12) toward said third chamber (13).

3. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first separator means (20) are in said first operating condition when said second separator means (21) are in said second operating condition, and vice versa.

4. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first separator means (20) comprise a first propeller-like structure (25) which can rotate on command about said axis of rotation (101a).

5. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first propeller-like structure (25) has a plurality of blades (25a) which are arranged around said axis of rotation (101a) and have a first inclination (a) with respect to the plane that is perpendicular to said axis of rotation (101a).

6. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second separator means (21) comprise a second propeller-like structure (26) which can rotate on command about said axis of rotation (101b).

7. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second propeller-like structure (26) has a plurality of blades (26a) which are arranged around said axis of rotation (101b) and have a second inclination (0) which is opposite to the first inclination (a)11 with respect to the plane that is perpendicular to said axis of rotation (101b).

8. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said axis (100a, 100b) of the cylindrical casing substantially coincides with the axis of rotation (101a) of said first separator means (20) and with the axis of rotation (101b) of said second separator means (21).

9. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said cylindrical casings (Ila, 12a, 13a) are connected to each other and to said first propeller-like structure (25) and to said second propeller-like structure (26).

10. The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first propeller-like structure (25) is configured to be in said first operating condition and said second propellerlike structure (26) is configured to be in said second operating condition during the rotation of said cylindrical casings (Ila, 12a, 13a) in a first direction of rotation, and in that said first propeller-like structure (25) is configured to be in said second operating condition and said second propeller-like structure (26) is configured to be in said first operating condition during the rotation of said cylindrical casings (Ila, 12a, 13a) in a second direction of rotation which is opposite to said first direction of rotation.

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