Tie plate separator and method thereof
Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.
1. A method of separating tie plates, comprising;
rotating a tie plate receiver;
receiving tie plates in said tie plate receiver;
magnetically retaining said tie plates at a first location; and,
magnetically releasing said tie plates at a second location on to a discharge conveyor.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said discharge conveyor is exterior of said tie plate receiver.
3. The method of claim 1 , said magnetically retaining comprising engaging said tie plate with a permanent magnet.
4. The method of claim 3 , said magnetically releasing comprising moving a permanent magnetic.
5. The method of claim 1 , said magnetically retaining comprising powering on an electromagnet.
6. The method of claim 5 , said magnetically releasing comprising powering off said electromagnet.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first location is a first rotational position.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said second location is a second rotational position.
9. The method of claim 1 said releasing causing said tie plates to move on to a conveyor.
10. A method of separating tie plates, comprising:
rotating a tie plate receiver;
depositing tie plates within said tie plate receiver;
magnetically retaining each of said tie plates at a first location;
moving each of said tie plates to a second location;
magnetically releasing said tie plates at said second location.
11. The method of claim 10 , said releasing positioning said tie plate on to a conveyor.
12. The method of claim 10 , said magnetically retaining positioning said tie plate against a surface of said tie plate receiver.
13. The method of claim 10 , said magnetically retaining and said magnetically releasing being with a permanent magnet.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising moving said permanent magnet relative to said tie plate receiver.
15. The method of claim 10 , said magnetically retaining and said magnetically releasing being with an electromagnet.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising powering on and off said electromagnet.
17. A method of separating tie plates, comprising:
rotating a tie plate receiver;
feeding tie plates in said tie plate receiver;
magnetically retaining said tie plates at a first position;
moving said tie plates to a second position during said rotating;
releasing said tie plates at said second position.
18. The method of claim 17 , said releasing being on to a conveyor.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein said magnetically retaining is by one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet.