SEPARATION OF PARTICULATE MATERIAL BY THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRIC FIELDS

摘要

A separator of particulate material by the use of electric fields is comprised of a pair of spaced plates of a dielectric material between which particulate material is arranged to be fed, the material being propelled in a given direction by a vibratory feeder attached to the lowermost plate. A set of parallel spaced electrodes are provided on each of said plates out of contact with the material and extending in a direction laterally of said given direction, and an AC voltage is applied between the sets of electrodes so that alternating electrical fields are set up at spaced locations along said plates in said given direction. Certain of said particulate material is caused to be repelled by said electrical fields and deflected thereby to move in said direction laterally of said given direction while the remainder of said material moves generally in said given direction.