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 tie plate separator, comprising:
a rotatable receiver having an interior surface;
an inlet in said receiver for receiving a plurality of tie plates;
a tie plate path including a path member disposed one of interior to, exterior to or a combination of both relative to said receiver;
a permanent magnet disposed about an exterior of said rotatable receiver;
said tie plate path disposed adjacent to said permanent magnet;
said permanent magnet having a circumferential length such that tie plates are retained in said tie plate path at a first angular position and released from said tie plate path at a second angular position.
2. The tie plate separator of claim 1 , said permanent magnet being a single magnet extending in an axial direction and a circumferential direction of said receiver.
3. The tie plate separator of claim 1 , said permanent magnet being multiple magnets.
4. The tie plate separator of claim 3 , said multiple magnets disposed at various positions in an axial direction of said receiver.
5. The tie plate separator of claim 1 , said second angular position being a release point for tie plates on to a conveyor.
6. The tie plate separator of claim 1 , said tie plate receiver having a plurality of tie plate paths spaced apart at different circumferential locations.
7. The tie plate separator of claim 6 , each of said plurality of tie plate paths being sized in an axial direction to retain one tie plate.
8. The tie plate separator of claim 6 , each of said plurality of tie plate paths being sized in an axial direction to retain multiple tie plates.
9. The tie plate separator of claim 1 , said receiver being substantially circular in cross-section.
10. A tie plate separator, comprising:
a rotatable receiver having an input for receiving a plurality of tie plates therein;
a tie plate path passing through a side of said receiver;
said tie plate path at least partially defined by a tie plate path member, said tie plate path member at least one of extending inwardly or extending outwardly from said side;
a permanent magnet extending circumferentially adjacent to a surface of said side of said tie plate receiver;
said permanent magnet having a circumferential length including a starting point where tie plates may be retained and a release point where tie plates may be released.
11. The tie plate separator of claim 10 , said magnet being disposed interior to said rotatable receiver.
12. The tie plate separator of claim 10 , said magnet being disposed exterior to said rotatable receiver.
13. The tie plate separator of claim 10 , said permanent magnet being a single magnet.
14. The tie plate separator of claim 10 , said permanent magnet being a plurality of magnets disposed in one of axial direction or circumferential direction.
15. The tie plate separator of claim 14 , said plurality of tie plates being spaced apart in an axial direction.
16. The tie plate separator of claim 10 , said tie plate path retaining a single tie plate at an angular location.
17. The tie plate separator of claim 10 , said tie plate path retaining a plurality of tie plates at an angular location.
18. The tie plate separator of claim 10 , said tie plate path retaining a plurality of tie plates at a plurality of angular locations.
19. A tie plate separator, comprising:
a rotatable receiver having an input for receiving a plurality of tie plates;
a permanent magnet disposed adjacent to a surface of said rotatable receiver and extending a preselected circumferential distance;
a tie plate path passing through said surface of said rotatable receiver from an interior of said rotatable receiver;
said permanent magnet having a circumferential length for retaining said tie plates from a first position to a second discharge position during rotation of said rotatable receiver.
20. The tie plate separator of claim 19 , said permanent magnet being one of interior or exterior of said rotatable receiver.
21. The tie plate separator of claim 19 , said tie plate path having a path member disposed at one of an interior, an exterior or a combination of said rotatable receiver.