EP1181227B1 - Papiersortiersystem - Google Patents

Papiersortiersystem Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1181227B1
EP1181227B1 EP00928574A EP00928574A EP1181227B1 EP 1181227 B1 EP1181227 B1 EP 1181227B1 EP 00928574 A EP00928574 A EP 00928574A EP 00928574 A EP00928574 A EP 00928574A EP 1181227 B1 EP1181227 B1 EP 1181227B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
paper
conveyor
transition
acceleration
speed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00928574A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1181227A4 (de
EP1181227A1 (de
Inventor
Michael R. Grubbs
Garry R. Kenny
Paul G. Gaddis
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MSS Inc
Original Assignee
MSS Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/302,706 external-priority patent/US6286655B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/301,992 external-priority patent/US6250472B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/302,707 external-priority patent/US6374998B1/en
Application filed by MSS Inc filed Critical MSS Inc
Publication of EP1181227A1 publication Critical patent/EP1181227A1/de
Publication of EP1181227A4 publication Critical patent/EP1181227A4/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1181227B1 publication Critical patent/EP1181227B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03—SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B9/00—General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets
    • B03B9/06—General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets specially adapted for refuse
    • B03B9/061—General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets specially adapted for refuse the refuse being industrial
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
    • B07B9/00—Combinations of apparatus for screening or sifting or for separating solids from solids using gas currents; General arrangement of plant, e.g. flow sheets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/02—Measures preceding sorting, e.g. arranging articles in a stream orientating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/24—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by air blast or suction apparatus
    • B65H29/245—Air blast devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/58—Article switches or diverters
    • B65H29/62—Article switches or diverters diverting faulty articles from the main streams
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/66—Advancing articles in overlapping streams
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21B—FIBROUS RAW MATERIALS OR THEIR MECHANICAL TREATMENT
    • D21B1/00—Fibrous raw materials or their mechanical treatment
    • D21B1/02—Pretreatment of the raw materials by chemical or physical means
    • D21B1/026—Separating fibrous materials from waste
    • D21B1/028—Separating fibrous materials from waste by dry methods
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
    • B65H2301/44—Moving, forwarding, guiding material
    • B65H2301/445—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other
    • B65H2301/4451—Moving, forwarding, guiding material stream of articles separated from each other forming a stream or streams of separated articles
    • B65H2301/44514—Separating superposed articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2404/00—Parts for transporting or guiding the handled material
    • B65H2404/50—Surface of the elements in contact with the forwarded or guided material
    • B65H2404/56—Flexible surface
    • B65H2404/561—Bristles, brushes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to paper handling, Select embodiments of the invention are particularly well-suited for use in the waste paper recycling industry.
  • waste paper sorting is still currently performed almost entirely by manual sorting. This is time consuming and expensive. Thus, heretofore it has generally been more economical to use raw paper material than sort and process recyclable waste paper.
  • the present invention relates to a paper handler comprising:
  • the present invention relates apparatus for handling, in particular sorting, paper.
  • the invention will be best understood by reference to the attached drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like components,
  • Fig 1 shows an elevated side view of one embodiment of the present invention for a paper handling or sorting system 10.
  • the paper handling system 10 is adapted to handle paper 12 fed into the system.
  • the system 10 in the embodiment shown in Fig 2 , comprises a paper input 14 adapted to receive the paper 12, and a product output 16.
  • the system 10 includes acceleration means 18 for distributing and accelerating the paper 12.
  • the acceleration means 18 is operably positioned between the paper input 14 and the product output 16.
  • the acceleration means 18 includes several separate components including spreader 26, inclined conveyors 50 and 52, and acceleration conveyor 84.
  • the system 10 comprises an ejection output 20 between the paper input 14 and the product output 16.
  • a sensor means 22 for determining whether paper should be routed to the ejection output 20 or the product output 16 is included in the system 10 shown in Fig 2 .
  • the acceleration means 18 accelerates the paper 12 from a first speed proximate the paper input 14 to a second higher speed proximate sensor means 22.
  • the paper 12 is fed from a pit conveyor (not shown) to the paper input 14. This may be via a lift conveyor (not shown) which transfers mixed waste paper from the pit conveyor to the paper input 14.
  • the sensor means 22 includes a sensor 23 .
  • the acceleration means includes the spreading means or spreader 24 for distributing and spreading paper 12.
  • the paper 12 generally enters the system in clumps at the paper input 14.
  • Fig 3 shows an elevated side view of the spreader 24 shown in Fig 2 .
  • Fig 4 shows a simplified or schematic plan view of the spreader 24 shown in Fig 3 .
  • the spreader 24 is shown in its preferred inclined orientation with the frame and thus the paper flow path being at an angle 25 which is in the range of 10° to 20°, and is preferably in the range of 14° to 16°.
  • the spreader 24 includes a plurality of rotatable shafts 28. Each rotatable shaft 28 includes a plurality of discs 30.
  • Fig 5 shows an elevated side view of a disc 30.
  • the disc 30 is a bulged triangular disc which includes rubber tips or edges 82.
  • the rubber tip 32 which is urethane in one preferred embodiment, helps grip the paper 12 and accelerate paper 12 which is contacting the discs 30 ahead of other paper 12 not yet contacting the discs 30.
  • Other disc friction enhancing embodiments will be apparent to those with skill in the art.
  • Figs 4 , 6 and 7 are somewhat schematic illustrations of the arrangement of the disc 30.
  • Fig 7 illustrates an alternative orientation of spreader 24 in a non-inclined position.
  • the spreader 24 will operate successfully in the non-inclined position of Fig 7 , it has been found to be preferable to incline spreader 24 as shown in Fig 3 .
  • the inclination of the spreader aids in the separation and spreading of the paper, as it allows top layers to slide back over bottom layers.
  • the discs 30 are typically formed from one-quarter inch thick urethane sheet material. Adjacent discs are typically separated by a spacer plate (not shown) having a thickness on the order of one to two inches.
  • Figs 6 and 7 show plan and elevated side views, respectively, of the spreader 24 in which paper 12 is spread and accelerated by the rotatable shafts 28 and discs 30.
  • the plurality of rotatable shafts 28 comprise bulged triangular discs 30.
  • the bulged triangular discs 30 are rotated 45 degrees relative to the remainder of the bulged triangular discs 30.
  • every other shaft includes a point of the disc 30 projecting out of the page. This is shown in Fig 7 as well.
  • Fig 6 shows paper 12 flowing downstream in the direction of arrows 31 from the paper input 14 toward the product output 16. Downstream is defined as the direction from the paper input 14 toward the product output 16. As shown in Fig 6 , the plurality of rotatable shafts 28 are generally transverse to the flow of paper 12.
  • the triangular shaped discs 30 function to vibrate and undulate the paper stream as it flows across discs 30. This is accomplished by the tips of the discs 30 impacting the paper stream at regular time intervals between impacts as the paper travels downstream.
  • Fig 7 shows an elevated side view of the spreader 24.
  • the plurality of shafts 28 comprises at least two sets of shafts including a first set of shafts 34 operating at a first speed 36.
  • the first speed 36 is indicated by the rotation arrows shown in Figs 6 and 7 .
  • the plurality of shafts 28 also includes a second set of shafts 38 operating at a second speed 40.
  • the second speed 40 in higher than the first speed 36. This is indicated by use of an increased number of rotation arrows for increased speeds.
  • a third set of shafts 42 operating at a third speed 44.
  • first 84, the second 88, and the third 42 set of shafts rotate at progressively increasing speeds.
  • first set of rotatable shafts 34 rotates at a tip speed of approximately 0.787m/s (155 ft/min);
  • second set of rotatable shafts 38 rotate at a tip speed of approximately 1.423 m/s (280 ft/min);
  • the third set of rotatable shafts 42 operate at a tip speed of approximately 1.961 m/s (386 ft/min).
  • a drive means 48 including a drive motor 47 driving a gear box 49 which in turn is drivingly connected to one of the shafts 28 (see Fig 3 ).
  • the various shafts each carry two sprockets (not shown) on their outer ends, and the sprockets of adjacent shafts are connected by drive chains (not shown).
  • the desired relative speeds of the various shafts are controlled by the selection of the size of the sprockets attached to each shaft Thus if it is desired to double the speed of one shaft relative to the adjacent shaft, the two shafts carry sprockets one of which has twice the number of teeth as the other, the two sprockets being connected by a chain.
  • the acceleration means 18 includes a plurality of inclined conveyors 50 and 52 located downstream of the spreader 24.
  • Fig 9 shows a schematic enlarged view of the inclined conveyors 60 and 52.
  • the first inclined conveyor 50 operates at a first inclined conveyor speed 64.
  • the second inclined conveyor 52 operates at a second inclined conveyor speed 56.
  • the second inclined conveyor speed 56 is higher than the first inclined conveyor speed 54. The increase in speed from one conveyor to another facilitates spreading, thinning, and acceleration of the paper 12.
  • Fig 7 shows an embodiment wherein the spreader 24 comprises a spreader output 58. Proximate to the spreader output 58, the spreader 24 operates at an output speed 60. Preferably the first inclined conveyor speed 54 is higher than the spreader output speed 60. The speed at which the paper travels downstream is thus progressively increased.
  • first and second inclined conveyors 50 and 52 are inclined, relative to a horizontal floor 62, at an angle 64 in the range of ten degrees to thirty-five degrees (10° to 35°).
  • the incline of the conveyors provides means for top layers of paper 66 to slide off of bottom layers of paper 68. This further spreads the paper into thinner layers.
  • the inclination angle 64 of first and second inclined conveyors 50 and 52 is about twenty-five degrees (25°).
  • the conveyor 50 comprises a belt 70 including rough top material 72.
  • the conveyor belting is vulcanized seamless rough top rubber material.
  • the rough top material 72 helps grip the bottom layers of paper 68 and accelerate them to a speed substantially equivalent to the speed of the inclined conveyor belt.
  • the material further helps to spread the bottom layers of paper 68 apart from the top layers of paper 66.
  • the bottom layers of paper 68 are being pulled or carried along the belt 70 at a greater speed than the top layers of paper 66, while the top layers of paper 66 slide down off of the bottom layers of paper 68 due to gravity.
  • Other conventional belting material to effectuate objectives of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill.
  • the inclined conveyor 60 comprises a belt 70 and assist means 74.
  • the assist means 74 is for pinning the paper 12 to the belt 70.
  • air 76 flows through a set of louvers 78 positioned above the belt 70. The air flows downward against paper 68 to assist in pinning paper 68 to belt 70.
  • the louvers 78 may be adjusted, opened, closed, or oriented, by a louver handle 80. They may be automatically adjusted as well as manually adjusted.
  • the air 76 is controlled through an air knife 82.
  • the air assist means 74 provides a means for fluffing the paper as it cascades off the first inclined conveyor 60 onto the second inclined conveyor 52.
  • any paper which adheres to of conveyor 50 and carries over the discharge end thereof will be directed to canvas chute 83 which transfers material from a drop-out opening to container on the floor. It is noted that each of the conveyors described herein has close fitting sidewalls enclosing it on each side, so that paper cannot fall off the side of the conveyor.
  • the inclined conveyors will have variable frequency drives.
  • Provisions may be made for a portion of sidewalls of a conveyor to be removable for replacement of the belting. Access ports for cleaning out jams that might occur at transfer points between conveyors may be incorporated. Viewing windows may be provided to allow material flow to be observed during operations.
  • a uniform, metered feed stream of waste paper will be accepted from a typical input feed system.
  • Multiple stages of high-speed rough-top inclined conveyors may be positioned in series to accelerate and distribute the in feed waste paper as it is being transported to an automated sensing/ejection system.
  • the system 10 shown in Fig 2 comprises an acceleration conveyor 84, which may also be referred to as a feed means 84 for feeding the paper 12 at a predetermined speed to the sensor means 22, 28.
  • the acceleration conveyor 84 is positioned downstream of the inclined conveyors 50 and 62.
  • Fig 10 shows an enlarged elevated side view of the feed means 84.
  • the second conveyor 62 operates at an inclined conveyor speed which is slower than the predetermined speed at which the paper 12 is fed to the sensor 22, 23.
  • Fig 11 shows an embodiment in which the acceleration conveyor 84 comprises an acceleration belt 86.
  • the acceleration belt 86 accelerates the paper 88 to a predetermined speed at which it passes through the sensor 23.
  • the sensor 23 shown in Fig 12 comprises a light source 90 under which the paper 88 passes. Downstream of the sensor 23 is an ejector 92.
  • the paper 88 passes through the sensor 23 at the predetermined speed so that the ejector 92 may be operated to eject the selected paper.
  • the velocity at which the paper travels and the distance to the sensor determines when the ejector must emit a burst of air to remove the target paper from the waste stream.
  • the ejector 92 includes a plurality of high compression air jets.
  • Any paper which adheres to the acceleration belt 86 and carries over the discharge end thereof will be directed to a canvas chute 89 which transfers that material to a waste container (not shown).
  • the system 10 includes a mechanical pinning means 94 for pinning the paper 88 to the acceleration belt 86.
  • the pinning means 94 is a rotary feeder 96 positioned above and contacting the acceleration belt 86.
  • the acceleration belt 86 comprises standard PVC material.
  • the rotary feeder 96 is flexible and in contact with the acceleration belt 86.
  • the rotary feeder 96 includes a plurality of flexible bristles 98 extending radially.
  • Fig 2 shows a product removal apparatus 100 downstream of the sensor 23.
  • the ejector 92 shown more clearly in Fig 12 , is positioned between the sensor 28 and the product removal apparatus 100.
  • the product removal apparatus 100 shown in Fig 12 comprises a product conveyor 102 below and downstream of the acceleration belt 86.
  • Product 104 is carried downstream by the product conveyor 102.
  • the product conveyor 102 will take non-targeted paper (also referred to as product 104 ) away from the sensing area 118. In some embodiments it will operate at a fixed speed of approximately 3.048 m/s (600 ft/min).
  • the conveyor belting may be vulcanized seamless rubber.
  • Ejected paper 106 (also referred to as targeted paper 106 ) is ejected by the ejector 92.
  • the amount of material selected for ejection is smaller than the amount of product going to product conveyor 102.
  • the precision air-jet ejection system may be mounted on the infeed of the product take-away conveyor (also referred to as product conveyor 102).
  • the ejector 92 uses signals received from the sensor 23 to selectively eject targeted materials using an array of highpressure compressed air nozzles.
  • Any paper adheres to product conveyor 102 and carries over the discharge end thereof is directed through a drop-out opening to a canvas chute 105 to transfer the waste paper material to a container on the floor.
  • Fig 13 shows an enlarged view of the product removal apparatus 100 shown in Fig 2 .
  • the product removal apparatus 100 shown in Fig 13 includes a sort conveyor 108 and an airlock 110.
  • the sort conveyor 108 will take the paper fraction that passes through the system without being ejected and deliver it to a baler (not shown).
  • the sort conveyor 108 will be operated in some embodiments at a fixed speed of 0.508 m/s (100 ft/min).
  • the sort conveyor 108 includes the product output 16 and the airlock 110.
  • the airlock 110 is proximate the product output 16.
  • the airlock 110 is used to de-entrain paper, or product, 104.
  • the airlock 110 acts as an air seal on the sort conveyor 108 to allow paper 104 to exit while restricting the discharge of air.
  • Rotating tips 122 have a tip speed 123.
  • the tip speed 123 may be fixed, in some embodiments, to match the speed of the sort conveyor 108.
  • the tip speed 123 is 0.508m/s (100 ft/min): and the sort conveyor 108 operates at 0.508 m/s (100 ft/min).
  • the airlock 110 may be replaced by a system of rubber flaps.
  • the acceleration conveyor 84 may also be described as a paper handler 130 (an embodiment of which is shown in Fig 12 ) adapted for use with a sorting machine including a sensor 23 for sorting paper.
  • the handler 130 comprises a paper input 132 for receiving the paper 12.
  • a product output (not shown in Fig 12 ) is downstream of the paper input 132.
  • the paper handler 130 also includes a feed accelerator 134 including an acceleration conveyor 136 operably positioned to feed paper 12 (also shown as paper 88) through the sensor 23.
  • the paper handler 130 may further comprise the plurality of inclined conveyors 50 and 52 positioned upstream of the acceleration conveyor 136, as shown in Fig 2 .
  • the first inclined conveyor 50 includes a belt substantially similar to the belt 70 shown in Fig 9 , operating at a first inclined conveyor speed 54.
  • the paper handler 180 also includes a second inclined conveyor 52 including a belt 55 operating at a second inclined conveyor speed 56 .
  • the second inclined conveyor speed 56 is greater than the first inclined conveyor speed 54 .
  • the accelerator conveyor 136 operates at an accelerator conveyor speed 124 (also referred to herein as acceleration belt speed) greater than the second inclined conveyor speed 66.
  • the first inclined conveyor speed is approximately 2.286 m/s (450 ft/min); the second inclined conveyor speed is approximately 3.810 m/s (750 ft/min); and the accelerator conveyor speed is approximately 6.096 m/s (1200 ft/min).
  • the first inclined conveyor 50 is operably positioned to receive paper 12 from the spreader 26 which in turn is operably positioned to receive paper 12 from the paper input 14.
  • one embodiment of the paper handler 180 comprises rotatable shafts 28 positioned transversely relative to a stream of paper in the spreader 26.
  • the rotatable shafts 42 closer to the first inclined conveyor 50 rotate faster than the rotatable shafts 34 closer to the paper input 14.
  • the paper input 14 and the first inclined conveyor 50 are not shown. However, the product input 14 would be nearer to the first set of shafts 34, and the first inclined conveyor 50 would be located closer to the third set of rotatable shafts 42.
  • the acceleration conveyor 136 will include a high-speed belt (operating at approximately 6.09 m/s (1200 ft/min) to deliver a thin layer of mixed paper beneath the paper-sort sensor (also referred to herein simply as sensor).
  • the conveyor will have a variable frequency drive and preferably vulcanized seamless belting. Provisions may be incorporated into the design of the belt to minimize carry-over of paper, and ease access for removal of materials which become entrapped.
  • a drop ⁇ out chute may be incorporated into the under pan beneath the acceleration conveyor 136 to allow materials which enter beneath the belting to drop free without being moved to the tail section of the conveyor.
  • a small rotary brush may be positioned at the discharge end of the conveyor (proximate air sensor end 138 ) to assist with discharge of paper.
  • a large rotary brush 98 may be mounted on the acceleration conveyor to "pin" paper to the belt prior to entering the sensor area ( 118 ).
  • the rotary brush 98 may have a fixed tip speed of approximately 4.063 m/s (800 ft/min).
  • the flexible bristles 98 further reduce damage to the rotatable pinning apparatus 96 if bulky materials are carried through by the acceleration belt 86, 136 .
  • the flexible bristles 98 can flex to allow the bulky materials to pass.
  • the speed of the acceleration belt 86 adjacent the sensor 22 may be as high as approximately 6.096 m/s (1200 ft/min). Such a high speed of the acceleration belt 86 is sufficient to create a suction phenomena such that once paper such as 88 is pinned to the belt 86 , such as by means of the rotary pinning device 96 , the suction phenomena serves to further pin the paper to the belt so that the paper moves at substantially the same speed as the acceleration belt 86 .
  • a catching structure 150 including a downwardly inclined catching plate 152 to facilitate delivery of paper to the acceleration belt 86, 136. Paper slides off of catching plate 152 onto acceleration belt 86 , 136 .
  • the catching structure 150 further includes a plurality of rods such as 154 projecting downwardly in a general direction toward the catching plate 152 and the acceleration belt 86, 136.
  • paper which is cascading off the end of the second inclined conveyor 52 is directed by rods 154 and catching plate 152 onto the upper surface of the acceleration conveyor 86, 136.
  • the paper impacts the plurality of rods 154 thus allowing the paper to separate as it falls onto the catching plate 152 and the conveyor belt 86, 136.
  • transition zone 156 As the paper passes through the transition zone 156, if it has been targeted by the sensor for ejection, a rapid burst of air from ejector 92 will blow the paper downward causing it to become targeted or ejected paper 106. If the paper crossing through transition zone 156 is not impacted by air jets from ejector 92, it will continue to flow generally horizontally and fall downward upon the product conveyor 102.
  • the transition zone 156 which communicates the acceleration conveyor 86, 136 with the product conveyor 132 can be described as including a separation region adjacent the acceleration conveyor 86, 186 at which the paper separates from the acceleration conveyor 86, 136.
  • the transition zone 156 may also be described as including a reception region adjacent and immediately above the transition plate 158 of product conveyor 102 wherein the product conveyor 102 receives a majority of the paper crossing through the transition zone 156.
  • the transition zone 156 may also be described with reference to an imaginary transition plane 160 seen in Fig 12 which extends from the top of the acceleration conveyor 86 , 136 and extends to that portion of the product conveyor 102 wherein the top surface thereof becomes generally horizontal and upon which the product paper will fall downstream of the transition plate 158.
  • the transition plane 160 may be described as lying at an angle 162 relative to the horizontal, where the angle 162 lies in the range of from 15° to 60°.
  • the transition angle 162 is preferably approximately 30°.
  • the sensor 23 is preferably a linear array of sensors spread across the width of the acceleration belt 86 in a direction normal to the plane of Fig 12 .
  • an array of approximately thirty-two sensors spaced across the width of the acceleration belt would be utilized.
  • the ejector 92 also comprises a linear array of ejectors spaced across the width of the transition zone 156 between acceleration belt 86 and product conveyor 102.
  • the sensors 23 operate to identify bright white paper by searching for fluorescing additives in the individual sheets of paper. This type of paper has a higher value of fluorescence than paper without the additives.
  • the sensors illuminate the paper with a constant light source having a wave length of 360 nanometers.
  • An elliptical mirror is used to focus light onto a region above the conveyor belt at approximately ten inches from the optic system.
  • light is re-radiated in the 400 to 550 nanometer range.
  • the sensor has a second light source that emits light in the 480 nanometer range. This light source is used to determine if any type of paper is present on the conveyor belt. It is turned on momentarily every three milliseconds and a reflected light measurement is made to determine if paper is present on the conveyor belt.
  • the sensor system 23 will sense whether there is a piece of white paper on the belt 86, and it will sense the location of that paper upon the belt. Since the paper is moving at a predetermined fixed speed, the time at which the paper passes through the transition zone 156 can be calculated by the computer associated with sensor 23. This computerized control system will in turn actuate the appropriate number of the array of jets 92 at the appropriate time so as to blow any reject paper downward through the transition zone 156 .
  • Fig 15 shows an overall schematic view of an air circulation system 200 of the paper handling system 10. Details of the air circulation system 200 are seen in Figs 13 , 15 , 2 and 9 .
  • blower 202 pressurized air from blower 202 enters a discharge duct 204 which splits into a supply duct 206 and a filter duct 208.
  • the supply duct 206 splits into first and second supply duct arms 210 and 212 which are directed to the housings immediately above the first and second inclined conveyor belts 60 and 52.
  • Air knives 82 and 214 are disposed in the first and second supply duct arms 210 and 212, respectively, adjacent their inlets to the housings surrounding the first and second inclined conveyors 50 and 52, in order to control the flow of air into the housings adjacent the conveyors, and particularly to their louvers such as the louvers 78 associated with first inclined conveyor 50.
  • the first and second supply duct arms 210 and 212 may also include iris-type flow controls adjacent the air knives 82 and 214.
  • the inclined conveyors 60 and 52, the acceleration conveyor 84, and the product conveyor 102 all have associated therewith substantially enclosed housings so that the air which is provided through air supply duct arms 210 and 212 to the housings adjacent inclined conveyors 50 and 52 is directed through the housings of conveyors 50 and 52, then through the housings surrounding acceleration conveyor 84 then through the sensing area 118 across the product conveyor 102.
  • a portion of this air circulation system can be described as an air assist means 112 which is part of the product removal apparatus 100 and which assists in maintaining the predetermined speed of the paper 88 through the sensor 23.
  • the air assist means 112 includes a vacuum 114, which may also be described as a low pressure area 114, downstream of the sensor 23 as is illustrated in Fig 13 .
  • the vacuum or low pressure area 114 forms within a plenum chamber 116 defined adjacent the left hand end of product conveyor 102 in Fig 13 .
  • An air recycle duct 216 is connected to the suction inlet 218 of blower 202 in order to pull air from the plenum chamber 116 thus creating the low pressure zone 114 therein.
  • a screen may be utilized adjacent return duct 216 to prevent carry over of paper to the blower 202.
  • the filter duct 208 leads to a plenum 220 and air flow thereto can be controlled by a motorized damper 222.
  • Plenum 220 is connected to a plurality of filter bags 224.
  • the filter bags 224 are used to remove dust from the air system prior to releasing it to the atmosphere.
  • the blower 202 is a 6000 CFM blower, which is a variable speed blower for controlling the speed of the air drawn through the sensor area 118.
  • 2000 CFM would be directed to the filter duct 208, with 4000 CFM flowing through supply duct 206 which in turn splits into two streams of 2000 CFM each in supply duct arms 210 and 212 which are directed to the inclined conveyors 50 and 52.
  • Fig 12 the area between the product conveyor 102 and the acceleration belt 86 is shown open at the bottom for clarity. In practice this area will be closed in order to facilitate control of air flow through the system.
  • the air circulating through the system illustrated in Fig 15 provides several functions.
  • the air also aids in fluffing the paper as it cascades off the ends of the inclined conveyors.
  • the air also assists in the downstream movement of the paper through the system.
  • the air assists in the movement of the paper through the sensing area 118 across the gap between acceleration belt 86 and product belt 102.
  • the plenum chamber 116 adjacent the downstream end of the product conveyor 102 may be utilized to reduce the air flow to a speed 1.016m/s (200 ft/min) in order to allow the paper to settle out on the product conveyor 102.
  • the housing which defines the plenum 116 has a much larger area at plenum 116 than it does upstream near the transition zone 156, so that the air speed is much higher near the transition zone 156 than it is downstream adjacent the plenum 116.
  • the right hand end of the product conveyor 102 may generally be described as a transition end thereof.
  • a transition plate 168 is located immediately above the transition end of the product conveyor 102.
  • the transition plate 158 is curved to conform to the general shape of the curved end of the product conveyor 102, and functions to prevent paper from falling back off the transition end of the product conveyor.

Claims (17)

  1. Vorrichtung (10) zum Handhaben von Papier, die zur Benutzung mit einer Einrichtung ausgelegt ist und die Folgendes enthält:
    eine Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84), die dazu ausgebildet ist, der Einrichtung mit vorbestimmter Geschwindigkeit Papier (88) zuzuführen;
    eine Produkttransporteinrichtung (102), die stromabwärts der Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) angeordnet ist;
    einen Übergangsbereich (156) zwischen der Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) und der Produkttransporteinrichtung (102);
    dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    dass die Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) stromaufwärts der Einrichtung eine Festhaltestruktur (94) aufweist und
    dass ein Gebläsesystem (200) wirksam positioniert ist, um den Transport des Papiers (88) durch den Übergangsbereich (156) derart zu unterstützen, dass die Geschwindigkeit des Papiers gleich der vorbestimmten Geschwindigkeit ist.
  2. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einrichtung eine Sortiereinrichtung mit einem Sensor (23) und einem Ejektor (92) ist, und dass der Ejektor (92) stromabwärts des Sensors und in seiner Wirksamkeit so positioniert ist, dass er den Übergangsbereich (156) kreuzendes Zielpapier (88) ausstößt.
  3. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gebläsesystem (200) ein Gebläse (202) und eine damit wirksam verbundene Luftverteilerkammer (116) aufweist, um einen Unterdruck (114) stromabwärts des Übergangsbereiches (156) zu erzeugen.
  4. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Produkttransporteinrichtung (102) ein Gehäuse aufweist, durch das der Unterdruck (114) einen Luftstrom mit einer Luftgeschwindigkeit erzeugt, und dass das Gehäuse einen solchen Innenquerschnitt hat, dass die Luftgeschwindigkeit in der Nähe des Übergangsbereiches (156) höher ist als weiter stromabwärts des Übergangsbereiches ist.
  5. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Produkttransporteinrichtung (102) Folgendes aufweist:
    ein Übergangsende in der Nähe des Übergangsbereiches (156) und eine Übergangsplatte (158) oberhalb des Übergangsendes.
  6. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Übergangsplatte (158) einen Kurvenverlauf hat, der dem Übergangsende der Produkttransporteinrichtung angepasst ist.
  7. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Produkttransporteinrichtung (102) ein Übergangsende unterhalb der Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) aufweist.
  8. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) ein Einrichtungsende aufweist und dass das Übergangsende der Produkttransporteinrichtung sich stromabwärts des Einrichtungsendes befindet.
  9. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gebläsesystem (200) einen Unterdruck (114) erzeugt, der Luft über den Übergangsbereich (156) zieht.
  10. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Unterdruck (114) Luft durch den Übergangsbereich (156) zieht.
  11. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) mit einer Geschwindigkeit von mindestens 5,081 m/s (1000 Fuß/Minute) arbeitet und die vorbestimmte Geschwindigkeit bei mindestens 5,081 m/s (1000 Fuß/Minute) liegt.
  12. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) einen Riemen (86) aufweist und die Festhaltestruktur (94) eine Rotationszuführeinrichtung (96) hat, die an dem Riemen (86) angreift.
  13. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gebläsesystem (200) einen Unterdruck erzeugt, der Luft über den Übergangsbereich zieht.
  14. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    dass die Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) einen Trennbereich aufweist, in der sich das Papier von der Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung trennt;
    dass die Produkttransporteinrichtung (102) einen Empfangsbereich stromabwärts des Übergangsbereichs (156) aufweist, in dem die Produkttransporteinrichtung (102) den größten Teil des Papiers (88) empfängt, das über den Übergangsbereich (156) transportiert wird; und
    dass der Übergangsbereich eine Übergangsebene (160) aufweist, die den Trennbereich und den Empfangsbereich schneidet, wobei die Übergangsebene (160) gegenüber der Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) in einem Übergangswinkel liegt und wobei der Übergangswinkel zwischen 15° und 60° ist.
  15. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Übergangswinkel etwa 30° beträgt.
  16. Vorrichtung (10) nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) horizontal angeordnet ist.
  17. Vorrichtung (10) nach einem oder mehreren der Ansprüche 1, 12 oder 15, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
    dass eine Beschleunigungstransporteinrichtung (84) mit einem Beschleunigungsriemen (86) vorgesehen ist, der mit einer Beschleunigungsgeschwindigkeit arbeitet und eine Breite aufweist, die größer als das Maximalmaß der zu handhabenden Papierblätter (88) ist;
    dass die Festhaltestruktur (94) wirksam so positioniert ist, dass das Papier (88) auf dem Beschleunigungsriemen (86) festgehalten wird, und
    dass die Festhaltestruktur (94) eine Rotationszuführeinrichtung (96) aufweist mit einer Mehrzahl von flexiblen Borsten (98), die sich radial von einer Walze erstrecken.
EP00928574A 1999-04-29 2000-04-28 Papiersortiersystem Expired - Lifetime EP1181227B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US30199399A 1999-04-29 1999-04-29
US30199099A 1999-04-29 1999-04-29
US301990 1999-04-29
US09/302,706 US6286655B1 (en) 1999-04-29 1999-04-29 Inclined conveyor
US302706 1999-04-29
US09/301,992 US6250472B1 (en) 1999-04-29 1999-04-29 Paper sorting system
US09/302,707 US6374998B1 (en) 1999-04-29 1999-04-29 “Acceleration conveyor”
US301992 1999-04-29
US301993 1999-04-29
US302707 1999-04-29
PCT/US2000/011561 WO2000066465A1 (en) 1999-04-29 2000-04-28 Paper sorting system

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1181227A1 EP1181227A1 (de) 2002-02-27
EP1181227A4 EP1181227A4 (de) 2004-10-20
EP1181227B1 true EP1181227B1 (de) 2010-06-09

Family

ID=27540877

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00928574A Expired - Lifetime EP1181227B1 (de) 1999-04-29 2000-04-28 Papiersortiersystem

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1181227B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE470636T1 (de)
AU (1) AU4679100A (de)
DE (1) DE60044530D1 (de)
WO (1) WO2000066465A1 (de)

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CN106269516B (zh) * 2016-08-27 2018-07-27 日照广信化工科技有限公司 一种工业原料生产用快速过滤装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE470636T1 (de) 2010-06-15
DE60044530D1 (de) 2010-07-22
AU4679100A (en) 2000-11-17
EP1181227A4 (de) 2004-10-20
WO2000066465A9 (en) 2001-11-01
EP1181227A1 (de) 2002-02-27
WO2000066465A1 (en) 2000-11-09

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