The present invention relates to a switch for sorting, deflecting, and supplying ferromagnetic elements. Here, the switch comprises at least two electromagnets, which are embodied curved or circular. The magnets may be installed fixed in the switch, on the one hand, or supported on an axis, on the other hand. The ferromagnetic elements are moved by a conveying element through the switches. Advantageously the switch can also be used to control bobbins in a braiding machine. Here, the bobbin can be transferred to another impeller. This way new options are generated with regard to flexibility of braids. Further, this invention offers a considerable reduction of braiding time in case of complex braids.

A purification system and method may include a container receiving portion, pump, and magnetic field generating element. The container receiving portion may be configured to receive and support a container containing a mixture. Magnetic beads may be added to the container for separating a target substance from a remainder of the mixture. The magnetic field generating element may be movable relative to the container receiving portion between a non-working position remote from the container receiving portion and a working position adjacent an outer periphery of the container receiving portion. In the working position, the magnetic field generating element may attract the magnetic beads and hold them firmly against an interior surface of the container. While the magnetic beads are immobilized by the magnetic field generating element, the pump may remove the mixture from the container, leaving behind the magnetic beads bound tightly but reversibly to the target substance.

A purification system and method may include a container receiving portion, pump, and magnetic field generating element. The container receiving portion may be configured to receive and support a container containing a mixture. Magnetic beads may be added to the container for separating a target substance from a remainder of the mixture. The magnetic field generating element may be movable relative to the container receiving portion between a non-working position remote from the container receiving portion and a working position adjacent an outer periphery of the container receiving portion. In the working position, the magnetic field generating element may attract the magnetic beads and hold them firmly against an interior surface of the container. While the magnetic beads are immobilized by the magnetic field generating element, the pump may remove the mixture from the container, leaving behind the magnetic beads bound tightly but reversibly to the target substance.

In a conventional flocculation and magnetic separation device, it was not possible to make the device downsized because the flocs are easily broken. In addition, there was no system for the ballast water treatment that is capable of simultaneous removal of plastics and microplastics drifting in the ocean. Furthermore, there were no ships and their navigation method capable of solving the pollution problem caused by plastics and microplastics floating in the ocean. By arranging a magnetic drum that rotates in a direction opposite to the flow of a fluid containing flocs and by changing the flow path by about 180 degrees or so immediately before contacting the magnetic drum, the flocs can be removed without breaking. This method can downsize the size of the magnetic drum with the required area reduced. By combining small-sized flocculation and magnetic separation device and a device that breaks and recovers floating plastics, it is possible to remove plastics and microplastics floating in the ocean at the same time. By taking into account the status of marine plastics in the ship's planned route information, it becomes possible to remove plastics and microplastics floating on the ocean by the ship.

A method and apparatus for use in destroying a data storage device and separating materials for recycling. The apparatus employs: a first stage of rough cutting wherein the data storage device is shredded into pieces approximately 30 mm×30 mm; a second stage that separates shredded metal material, such as spindles, from non-metal material by use of a magnetized roller having a scraper to the metal material to a first bin and non-metal material to a third stage having an upper level shredder and a lower level shredder for grinding the non-metal material into particle sizes of 10 mm×10 mm or less.

A method and apparatus for use in destroying a data storage device and separating materials for recycling. The apparatus employs: a first stage of rough cutting wherein the data storage device is shredded into pieces approximately 30 mm×30 mm; a second stage that separates shredded metal material, such as spindles, from non-metal material by use of a magnetized roller having a scraper to the metal material to a first bin and non-metal material to a third stage having an upper level shredder and a lower level shredder for grinding the non-metal material into particle sizes of 10 mm×10 mm or less.

A magnetic drum separator is provided. The drum separator includes a drum and a pulley arrangement that rotates the drum. The drum separator includes an end plate coupled to the drive assembly, and the drive assembly rotates the end plate with the drum. The end plate includes a radially oriented slot. A plurality of magnets is disposed in the drum, and the magnets are attached to the end plates and rotatable with the drum. A cam assembly is disposed in the drum and remains stationary during rotation of the drum. The cam assembly includes a cam with a cam track formed therein. The magnets have a cam follower located in the cam track and an end plate follower located in the slot of the end plate. The cam track and the radially oriented slot guide the plurality of magnets to move radially inwards and outwards as the magnets rotate.

A magnetic drum separator is provided. The drum separator includes a drum and a pulley arrangement that rotates the drum. The drum separator includes an end plate coupled to the drive assembly, and the drive assembly rotates the end plate with the drum. The end plate includes a radially oriented slot. A plurality of magnets is disposed in the drum, and the magnets are attached to the end plates and rotatable with the drum. A cam assembly is disposed in the drum and remains stationary during rotation of the drum. The cam assembly includes a cam with a cam track formed therein. The magnets have a cam follower located in the cam track and an end plate follower located in the slot of the end plate. The cam track and the radially oriented slot guide the plurality of magnets to move radially inwards and outwards as the magnets rotate.

A device for capturing and releasing magnetically susceptible particles includes a housing and a retraction mechanism. A permanent axially magnetized cylindrical magnet is coupled to the retraction mechanism and a distal end of the magnet extends from a distal end of the housing. The retraction mechanism is configured to position the distal end of the magnet at one of three different predetermined distances from the distal end of the housing: retracted, protracted and hyper-protracted. A sleeve is provided over the housing distal end and when the magnet is in the protracted position, magnetically susceptible particles are gathered, when in the retracted position, magnetically susceptible particles are released and the sleeve is ejected when the magnet is positioned at a point between the protracted and the hyper-protracted position.

A device for capturing and releasing magnetically susceptible particles includes a housing and a retraction mechanism. A permanent axially magnetized cylindrical magnet is coupled to the retraction mechanism and a distal end of the magnet extends from a distal end of the housing. The retraction mechanism is configured to position the distal end of the magnet at one of three different predetermined distances from the distal end of the housing: retracted, protracted and hyper-protracted. A sleeve is provided over the housing distal end and when the magnet is in the protracted position, magnetically susceptible particles are gathered, when in the retracted position, magnetically susceptible particles are released and the sleeve is ejected when the magnet is positioned at a point between the protracted and the hyper-protracted position.