US 11,806,760 B2
Systems and methods for sorting and collecting enhanced metal-bearing ores of a desired size from metal-bearing ores
Daniel Shaw, Haverford, PA (US); and James Saville, Easton, MD (US)
Assigned to CD Processing Ltd., London (GB)
Appl. No. 17/294,230
Filed by CD PROCESSING LTD., London (GB)
PCT Filed Nov. 5, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/059505
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 14, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/109893, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Application 17/294,230 is a continuation of application No. 16/582,104, filed on Sep. 25, 2019, granted, now 10,799,916, issued on Oct. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/771,280, filed on Nov. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0016674 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B07C 5/344 (2006.01); B07C 5/36 (2006.01); G01N 24/08 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 5/344 (2013.01) [B07C 5/361 (2013.01); G01N 24/081 (2013.01); B07C 2501/0018 (2013.01); B07C 2501/0036 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for producing pieces of a product metal-bearing ore by processing pieces of an input metal-bearing ore, the input metal-bearing ore having a metal therein, the product metal-bearing ore having a desired target average percentage by weight of the metal therein, said system comprising:
a first conveyor configured to receive the input metal-bearing ore;
a second conveyor configured to carry pieces of the product metal-bearing ore for collection after said system has processed the input metal-bearing ore;
a first magnetic resonance analyzing unit and an associated controller configured for measuring the percentage by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor at successive points in time, calculating the average percentage by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor measured over first predetermined length intervals of time, establishing a cut-off value of the average percentage by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor for producing the product metal-bearing ore, producing select signals when the average percentage by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on the first conveyor is equal to or greater than said cut-off value, generating an estimate of the average percentage by weight of the metal in the product metal-bearing ore, and dynamically adjusting said cut-off value up or down to an adjusted value to produce said select signals if the average percentage by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor is below or above the estimate of the average percentage by weight of the metal in the input metal-hearing ore on said first conveyor;
a diverter configured for receiving the input metal-bearing ore from said first conveyor and directing the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor to a collection path in response to said select signals when the average percent by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor is equal to or greater than said adjusted value and directing the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor to a waste path when the average percent by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor is less than said adjusted value;
and
a second magnetic resonance analyzing unit configured for measuring the percentage by weight of the metal in the product metal-bearing ore on said second conveyor and for providing to said controller signals to fine tune said adjusted value up or down to a tuned adjusted value to produce said select signals if the average percentage by weight of the metal in the product metal-bearing ore on said second conveyor is below or above the desired target average percentage by weight of the metal in the product metal-bearing ore, thereby causing said diverter to direct the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor to said collection path when the average percent by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor is equal to or greater than said tuned adjusted value and to direct of the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor to said waste path when the average percent by weight of the metal in the input metal-bearing ore on said first conveyor is less than said tuned adjusted value.