Sorting Device Using Pulse Air and Current Plate for Material Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional separation methods face challenges in achieving high accuracy and efficiency when separating multiple specific materials simultaneously, particularly due to variations in trajectories caused by differences in shape and specific gravity, leading to reduced separation accuracy and yield.
Innovation Solution
A separation apparatus and method that uses independently provided air nozzles along the trajectories of separation subjects to discharge pulse air, combined with a conveyor system and a current plate that controls airflow, allowing for precise separation of at least two materials by adjusting airflow velocity and direction to minimize trajectory variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple groups of air nozzles are used to separate multiple materials simultaneously, then separation efficiency is improved, but trajectory variations due to shape and specific gravity differences reduce separation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The separation apparatus divides the separation process into multiple independent stages, with each stage handling one or two specific materials. The conveying belt is divided into multiple separation regions, and material distinguishing units are positioned at different locations to identify and separate different resin types sequentially, thereby maintaining high accuracy while achieving multi-material separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
Different separation conditions are applied to different regions of the conveying belt. Each separation region has optimized airflow parameters, nozzle positions, and timing specific to the material being separated at that location. This localized optimization ensures that each separation action achieves high accuracy despite the diversity of materials being processed simultaneously
2Manufacturing precision
If pulse air is discharged from nozzles to blow off small pieces of specific material, then separation of resin materials is achieved, but an enormous amount of wastewater is produced in conventional specific gravity separation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the water-based specific gravity separation system with a pneumatic separation system. Instead of using water to separate materials based on density, the system uses pulse air discharged from nozzles to blow off targeted resin pieces, eliminating wastewater generation while maintaining separation accuracy through material distinguishing units that identify resin types optically or spectroscopically
3Quantity of substance
If conventional specific gravity separation using water is used, then small pieces made of polypropylene are separated from high specific gravity components, but small pieces made of polystyrene and ABS with similar specific gravities are not separated from each other
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces water-based specific gravity separation with optical or spectroscopic detection systems that can distinguish between different resin types based on their molecular properties rather than physical density. This allows materials with similar specific gravities like PS and ABS to be differentiated and separated independently through material distinguishing units that identify resin types and trigger targeted pneumatic separation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the separation parameter from specific gravity (physical property) to material composition (chemical property). By using material distinguishing units that detect resin type through optical or spectroscopic means, the system can identify and separate materials based on their molecular characteristics, enabling differentiation of PS and ABS which have similar densities but different chemical compositions
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances separation accuracy and yield by stabilizing airflow and trajectories, enabling the concurrent separation of multiple specific materials with high precision and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
pulse air is discharged from nozzles provided above or below the trajectories of the separation subjects so as to blow off small pieces of a specific material and separate from a group of the separation subjects
Implementation Method 2
a conveyor (1) to convey the group of pieces (2) including the first pieces (2A) from an inlet in a conveying direction
Implementation Method 3
a material distinguishing unit (3) to distinguish a material of the first pieces (2A) made of a first material from a material of second pieces (2B) made of a second material
Data Source
Figure 1a~1c
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A separation apparatus according to the present invention includes: a conveyor (1) that conveys a group of pieces (2); a material distinguishing unit (3) that distinguishes between first pieces (2A) and second pieces (2B) that are placed on the conveyor(1), according to material; a blower (6) that generates airflow (9) supplied from a middle of the conveyor (1) toward a conveying end (4) along a conveying surface; a first separation unit (5A) that blows off the first pieces (2A) thrown forward from the conveying end (4), based on a differentiation result obtained by the material distinguishing unit (3); a second separation unit (5B) that blows off the second pieces (2B) toward a different place; and a current plate (7) provided below the group of pieces (2) thrown forward and protruding from the conveyor (1).