US Patent 7506766 Apparatuses and methods for separating mixed materials

An apparatus includes a separation deck free of stepwise changes in elevation between a first end and a second end, the separation deck comprising a plurality of spaces through which a constituent material may pass, a plurality of scrubbers disposed on the deck, the plurality of scrubbers having a first end disposed at a higher elevation than the deck in at least a first state, and a vibratory generator coupled to the deck. The mixed material moves over the deck and the scrubbers from the first end to the second end by the motion imparted by the vibratory generator. Components of the mixed material move relative to each other as the components move over the scrubbers, thereby causing the constituents material attached to the components of the mixed material to separate and pass through the spaces in the separation deck.