Dry separation of contaminants from polyester materials

Abstract

A method for separating polyester materials from contaminants is disclosed suitable for, for example, a polyester recycling system. The method is a dry separation method and includes rapidly spinning a mixture of polyester and contaminants within a cleaning chamber. During the spinning of the mixture, the contaminants can be degraded and pass through a screen at the chamber wall while the polyester materials are not substantially degraded and can remain in the cleaning chamber. Polyester fines can also remain in the cleaning chamber. A cleaning device suitable for use in the process is also disclosed. The device can include a screen of a hardened material that can help degrade the contaminants and a plurality of rotating blades that can spin the mixture within the device and can also help to degrade the contaminant materials.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A cleaning vessel comprising: 
 a cleaning chamber surrounded by a wall, wherein at least a portion of the cleaning chamber wall comprises a hardened mesh material, the mesh material having a hardness about equivalent to or greater than the hardness of grade 316 stainless steel, the cleaning chamber defining a central axis;    an axle along the central axis;    a plurality of blades emanating from the axle; and    an inlet for delivering a dry mixture comprising polyester materials and contaminant materials to the cleaning chamber, wherein the contaminant materials comprise brittle contaminant materials.    
   
   
       21 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 20 , wherein a portion of the wall comprises a solid material.  
   
   
       22 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 21 , wherein the solid wall material surrounds the cleaning chamber near the inlet.  
   
   
       23 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 21 , wherein the solid wall portion is formed of a hardened steel.  
   
   
       24 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 20 , wherein the blades are formed of a hardened material having a hardness about equivalent to or greater than the hardness of grade 400 stainless steel.  
   
   
       25 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 20 , wherein the blades can rotate about the central axis, the rotating blades facilitating air flow through the cleaning chamber.  
   
   
       26 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 20 , further comprising a first outlet exterior to the cleaning chamber for removing dry contaminants from the cleaning vessel.  
   
   
       27 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 20 , further comprising a second outlet at the wall of the cleaning chamber for removing clean polyester materials from the cleaning vessel.  
   
   
       28 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 25 , wherein the blades can rotate about the central axis at a speed greater than 2000 rpm.  
   
   
       29 . The cleaning vessel of  claim 20 , wherein the contaminant materials comprise glass.