TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a mineral material screening output transfer system. The disclosure relates particularly, though not exclusively, to a controllable transfer of screened fractions to two or more conveyors.

BACKGROUND

This section illustrates useful background information without admission of any technique described herein representative of the state of the art.

Mineral material screening classifies mineral material by particle size using one or more screen decks. The screened fractions are suited for different uses and typically directed to different destinations. Often, screening output is directed to two or more different heaps. Sometimes one or more fractions are redirected to crushing, which may take place in a combined screening and crushing plant.

It is sometimes desirable to change routing of screening output from one conveyor to another. Sometimes it is also desired to combine two or more fractions to one conveyor. It is an object of this invention to enhance screening output handling or to at least provide a new technical alternative.

SUMMARY

The appended claims define the scope of protection. Any examples and technical descriptions of apparatuses, products and/or methods in the description and/or drawings not covered by the claims are presented not as embodiments of the invention but as background art or examples useful for understanding the invention.

According to a first example aspect there is provided a method for processing mineral material, comprising receiving a first output fraction from a mineral material screening device onto a first transfer conveyor that is perpendicular in relation to a flow direction of the mineral material screening device; operating the first transfer conveyor in either a first perpendicular direction or in a second perpendicular direction, in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device, for transferring received first output fraction accordingly to the first or second perpendicular direction; receiving a second output fraction from the mineral material screening device onto a second transfer conveyor that is perpendicular in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device; and operating the second transfer conveyor in either the first perpendicular direction or in the second perpendicular direction, in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device, for transferring received second output fraction accordingly to the first or second perpendicular direction.

The method may further comprise conveying material transferred to the first perpendicular direction by a first secondary conveyor. The first secondary conveyor may be a first exit conveyor. The first secondary conveyor may be a return conveyor.

The method may further comprise conveying material transferred to the second perpendicular direction by a second secondary conveyor. The second secondary conveyor may be a second exit conveyor.

The method may further comprise reversing the direction of one of the first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor so that both the first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor feed the second secondary conveyor or the first secondary conveyor, respectively.

The method may further comprise reversing the directions of the first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor so that the first transfer conveyor feeds the second secondary conveyor, and the second transfer conveyor feeds the first secondary conveyor.

The first output fraction may be an oversized fraction of a first screening medium.

The second output fraction may be an undersized fraction of the first screening medium.

The first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor may be stacked. The first transfer conveyor and the second transfer conveyor may be horizontally aligned.

The first transfer conveyor may be configured to operate in a horizontal direction.

The second transfer conveyor may be configured to operate in a horizontal direction.

The method may further comprise further conveying the mineral material from a crusher to the screening device.

The method may further comprise circulating the first output fraction back to the crusher.

According to a second example aspect there is provided system for processing mineral material, comprising a first transfer conveyor configured to receive a first output fraction from a mineral material screening device; wherein the first transfer conveyor is perpendicular in relation to a flow direction of the mineral material screening device; first actuator means configured to operate the first transfer conveyor in either a first perpendicular direction or in a second perpendicular direction, in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device, for transferring received first output fraction accordingly to the first or second perpendicular direction; a second transfer conveyor configured to receive a second output fraction from a mineral material screening device; wherein the second transfer conveyor is perpendicular in relation to a flow direction of the mineral material screening device; and second actuator means configured to operate the second transfer conveyor in either a first perpendicular direction or in a second perpendicular direction, in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device, for transferring received second output fraction accordingly to the first or second perpendicular direction.

The system may comprise a hydraulic motor. The system may comprise an electric motor. The system may comprise a pneumatic motor. The motor may at least partly implement the first actuator means. The motor may at least partly implement the second actuator means.

The system may comprise the mineral material screening device.

The system may comprise the crusher.

The system may comprise means for performing any or all steps of the first example aspect.

Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments have been illustrated in the foregoing. The embodiments in the foregoing are used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may be utilized in different implementations. Some embodiments may be presented only with reference to certain example aspects. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other example aspects as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Some example embodiments will be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a simplified drawing of a system according to an example embodiment in a first operation state;

Fig. 2 illustrates another simplified drawing of the system of Fig. 1 in the first operational state;

Fig. 3 illustrates yet another simplified drawing of the system of Fig. 1 in a second operational state;

Fig. 4 illustrates still another simplified drawing of the system of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 illustrates a mobile mineral material processing plant of an example embodiment; and Fig. 6 shows a flow chart according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference signs denote like elements or steps.

Fig. 1 illustrates a simplified drawing of a system 100 according to an example embodiment in a first operation state. The system 100 comprises a first transfer conveyor 110. The first transfer conveyor 110 is perpendicular in relation to a flow direction of the mineral material screening device. The flow direction may be understood as a longitudinal flow direction; the movement through a screen medium or media and sloping downwards along the screen medium or media is not relevant for the flow direction.

The system 100 further comprises a second transfer conveyor 120. The second transfer conveyor 120 is also perpendicular in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device.

The system 100 further comprises a first secondary conveyor 130 and a second secondary conveyor 140. The secondary conveyors are provided, e.g., for discharging or recycling mineral material.

The transfer conveyors are operable to move the first and second output fractions to given one or both secondary conveyors 130, 140 as desired.

Fig. 2 illustrates another simplified drawing of the system of Fig. 1 in the first operational state in which the first output fraction is transferred by the first transfer conveyor 110 to the first secondary conveyor 130, and in which the second output fraction is transferred by the second transfer conveyor 120 to the second secondary conveyor 140.

Fig. 3 illustrates yet another simplified drawing of the system of Fig. 1 in a second operational state. Here, the second transfer conveyor 120 is operated in opposite direction than in Fig. 2 state so that both the first and second transfer conveyors 110, 120 feed the first secondary conveyor 130. Notably, if instead the direction of the first transfer conveyor 110 were reversed, then both first and second transfer conveyors 110, 120 would feed the second secondary conveyor 140. Moreover, if the directions of the of the first transfer conveyor 110 and of the second transfer conveyor 120 were reversed, then the first and second transfer conveyors 110, 120 would feed the second secondary conveyor 140 and the first secondary conveyor, respectively.

Fig. 4 illustrates still another simplified drawing of the system of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 further illustrates a screening device 410, a first actuator 420 for the first transfer conveyor 110, e.g., an electric motor, and a second actuator 430 for the second transfer conveyor 110, e.g., an electric motor. It is also appreciated that while the two transfer conveyors may be actuated by a single motor. For example, the system may comprise first and second actuator means comprising one motor and a drive system configured to allow running both transfer conveyors to either one or another perpendicular direction.

Fig. 5 illustrates a mobile mineral material processing plant of an example embodiment. Fig. 5 shows a crusher 510, a recycling conveyor 520 for recycling the first fraction received from the first secondary conveyor 130, and the screening device 410. A mobile platform 530 comprises a base. The mobile platform may further comprise one or more crawler tracks; skids; wheels; and I or feet. The mobile mineral material processing plant may be self-propelling. The mobile mineral material processing plant may be towable.

Fig. 6 shows a flow chart according to an example embodiment. Fig. 6 shows a flow chart according to an example embodiment. Fig. 6 illustrates a process comprising various possible steps including some optional steps while also further steps can be included and/or some of the steps can be performed more than once:

600. receiving a first output fraction from a mineral material screening device onto a first transfer conveyor that is perpendicular in relation to a flow direction of the mineral material screening device;

601. operating the first transfer conveyor in either a first perpendicular direction or in a second perpendicular direction, in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device, for transferring received first output fraction accordingly to the first or second perpendicular direction;

602. receiving a second output fraction from the mineral material screening device onto a second transfer conveyor that is perpendicular in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device;

603. operating the second transfer conveyor in either the first perpendicular direction or in the second perpendicular direction, in relation to the flow direction of the mineral material screening device, for transferring received second output fraction accordingly to the first or second perpendicular direction;

604. conveying material transferred to the first perpendicular direction by a first secondary conveyor;

605. conveying material transferred to the second perpendicular direction by a second secondary conveyor;

606. further conveying the mineral material from a crusher to the screening device; and/or

607. circulating the first output fraction back to the crusher.

Various embodiments have been presented. It should be appreciated that in this document, words comprise; include; and contain are each used as open-ended expressions with no intended exclusivity.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examples of particular implementations and embodiments a full and informative description of the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presented in the foregoing, but that it can be implemented in other embodiments using equivalent means or in different combinations of embodiments without deviating from the characteristics of the invention.

Furthermore, some of the features of the afore-disclosed example embodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.