BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to systems for separating desired articles from a stream of articles. More particularly the present invention is directed to systems for recovering selected articles that include a substantial portion of magnetically attractable material.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Prior separation systems using magnetic properties have focused on separating magnetically attractable articles from non-magnetically attractable articles. Thus, the separator devices using magnets have constantly applied their magnetic attraction/repulsion forces to the entire stream of articles. These prior art systems are not suitable for separation of selected magnetically attractable articles from a stream of articles including non-selected magnetically attractable articles.

There is a need for improved separation systems capable of separation of selected magnetically attractable articles from a stream of articles including non-selected magnetically attractable articles.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment a method of sorting a selected magnetically attractable article from non-selected magnetically attractable articles in a stream of articles may include steps of:(a) identifying a location of the selected magnetically attractable article within the stream of articles;(b) launching the articles along a first trajectory; and(c) selectively activating one or more magnets of an array of magnets and thereby magnetically attracting the selected magnetically attractable article from the first trajectory into a second trajectory while allowing the non-selected magnetically attractable articles to continue along the first trajectory.

In another embodiment a sorting apparatus may be provided for sorting selected magnetically attractable articles from a stream of articles including non-selected magnetically attractable articles. A sensor generates sensor signals representative of a property associated with a selected class of magnetically attractable articles. A separator device includes an array of magnets arranged for interaction with the stream of articles. A controller receives sensor signals from the sensor, identifies a location within the stream of articles of a selected magnetically attractable article, and selectively activates one or more magnets of the array of magnets and thereby magnetically attracts the selected magnetically attractable article from a first trajectory into a second trajectory while allowing non-selected magnetically attractable articles to continue along the first trajectory.

In another embodiment a sorting apparatus may include a separator device for addition to a sorting system. The separator device may include an array of electro-magnetic pole pieces each of which can be selectively activated as either a negative or a positive pole piece, and a controller. The controller may be configured to activate a first group of adjacent pole pieces including at least one negative pole piece and at least one positive pole piece thereby creating a first magnetic field extending from the first group of adjacent pole pieces toward the first trajectory.

Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following disclosure when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

