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Separating cans

 
Containers that come out of the ballistic separator now pass into a series of machines.

Here cans, followed by glass, are removed, leaving plastic for further sorting.

Overband magnet

roll packer – click on image to view it full-size in a new browser window
A magnetic belt attracts steel and other metals containing iron (known as ferrous metals). A roll packer then compacts the ferrous metals.
Roll packer – full-size image 

Eddy current separator

eddy current separator – click on image to view it full-size in a new browser window
The rest of the recyclables then pass through an eddy current separator. This contains spinning magnets that send non-ferrous metals – such as aluminium – off the conveyor.
Eddy current separator – full image

How it works: The machine injects the cans with the same charge that small magnets in the drum carry. Like charges repel, and the aluminium cans bounce off the magnets into a chute.

Sorted!

Ferrous and non-ferrous metals are stored in separate bunkers. The remaining material contains only glass and plastic.

Next stage: separating glass 
Previous stage: separating paper from containers

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