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Line speed cleaning Line speed cleaning of recycled partsof recycled parts

Improving the yield of recycled Improving the yield of recycled components through non-contact components through non-contact cleaning of irregular parts.cleaning of irregular parts.

A high-level recap of patent documents A high-level recap of patent documents presented as an example of innovation presented as an example of innovation and teamwork by Jerry Ernstand teamwork by Jerry Ernst

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Introduction Introduction A cross-disciplinary team was established to A cross-disciplinary team was established to

address product quality issues due to large fiber & address product quality issues due to large fiber & particle contaminants in recycled parts.particle contaminants in recycled parts.

Previous part cleaning methods used high levels Previous part cleaning methods used high levels of compressed air, which was already in short of compressed air, which was already in short supply.supply.

A novel concept was brought to the team by Jerry A novel concept was brought to the team by Jerry Ernst which improved cleaning measurably, while Ernst which improved cleaning measurably, while reducing the amount of compressed air required.reducing the amount of compressed air required.

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Overview Overview Replaced high velocity air nozzles and Replaced high velocity air nozzles and

overhead cyclone exhaust.overhead cyclone exhaust. Fit new components inside a mini Fit new components inside a mini

environmentenvironment

Air balance

Exhaust slots

Air knives

Gravity

Ionization

High velocity air

Low volume air

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ConceptConcept

A fan blows air through filters downward over the part, A fan blows air through filters downward over the part, creating a flow of clean air to wash away dislodged creating a flow of clean air to wash away dislodged particlesparticles

Air knives provide a very focused sheet of air at low Air knives provide a very focused sheet of air at low volume and with ionization bars to reduce the volume and with ionization bars to reduce the electrostatic bond between particles and the part and electrostatic bond between particles and the part and dislodge large particles.dislodge large particles.

Slots at the enclosure slides increase exhaust velocity, Slots at the enclosure slides increase exhaust velocity, improve capture of dislodged particles, preventing improve capture of dislodged particles, preventing resettling onto parts. resettling onto parts.

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Conceptual model and Conceptual model and prototypeprototype

This is the simple model This is the simple model presented to the teampresented to the team

The prototype on a The prototype on a conveyor line, very conveyor line, very similar to the original similar to the original modelmodel

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SummarySummary

Prototype passed customer’s acceptance test Prototype passed customer’s acceptance test requirements, and reduced compressed air requirements, and reduced compressed air usage from 80 lb. to about 15 per unit.usage from 80 lb. to about 15 per unit.

Additional units implemented on production Additional units implemented on production lines.lines.

Team was granted 3 U.S. patents for this Team was granted 3 U.S. patents for this project. Other team members: project. Other team members:

Thomas Albano, Dean Smith, and Klaus Pohl.Thomas Albano, Dean Smith, and Klaus Pohl.