WO2025240754A1

WO2025240754A1 - Systems and methods for briquetting of loose aluminum chips

Info

Publication number: WO2025240754A1
Application number: PCT/US2025/029580
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dechao Lin; Jaesuk PARK; Dewei Zhu; Matthew Josef Heyen; Martin BEECH; Xiaoming Chen
Original assignee: Novelis Inc Canada
Current assignee: Novelis Inc Canada
Priority date: 2024-05-17
Filing date: 2025-05-15
Publication date: 2025-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 2026-11-17

Abstract

A briquetting apparatus for aluminum chips includes a holder for receiving aluminum chips, a compacting station at a first location, and a release station at a second location. The compacting station may compact aluminum chips within the holder into a briquette, and the release station may release the briquette from the holder. The holder may be movable between at least the compacting station and the release station.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BRIQUETTING OF LOOSE ALUMINUM CHIPS

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/648,718, filed on May 17, 2024, and entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BRIQUETTING OF LOOSE ALUMINUM CHIPS, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This application relates to systems and methods for processing metals scrap or chips (hereinafter “chips”), and more particularly to systems and methods for consolidating chips into briquettes or pucks.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Metal chips are generated in various industries during various manufacturing processes that produce various metal products. As an example, during the processing of a metal ingot to a rolled product, it is common for a scalper and/or an edge trimmer to generate metal chips as part of processing a metal ingot and/or otherwise transforming an intermediate metal product of aluminum or an aluminum alloy to produce a finished metal product. Traditionally, the chips generated are conveyed to a storage unit, sometimes mixing with other material and/or other alloys. Some chips may be formed into briquettes that may be recycled to produce new metal products. Traditional briquetting techniques utilize a single station in which loose chips are received, formed into a briquette, and released, thereby requiring a relatively long cycle time to produce a single briquette. The briquettes produced by traditional techniques may also suffer from melt loss and dross formation due to a relatively high surface area and surface contact with air, thereby causing a high proportion of surface oxide layers and an increased amount of melting loss. As such, traditional briquettes require a not insignificant amount of prime aluminum when recycling the briquettes into new metal products. SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments covered by this patent are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various embodiments and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.

[0005] According to certain embodiments, a briquetting apparatus for aluminum chips includes a holder for receiving aluminum chips, a compacting station at a first location, and a release station at a second location. The compacting station may compact aluminum chips within the holder into a briquette, and the release station may release the briquette from the holder. In certain embodiments, the holder is movable between the compacting station and the release station.

[0006] According to various embodiments, a method of processing aluminum chips includes compacting loose aluminum chips within a holder into a briquette at a compacting station of a briquetting apparatus at a first location. The method includes moving the holder with the briquette from the first location to a release station of the briquetting apparatus at a second location and releasing the briquette from the holder at the release station.

[0007] According to some embodiments, a method includes receiving aluminum chips from an aluminum chip-generating system, segregating aluminum chips of a first alloy from the aluminum chips, and forming a briquette from the segregated aluminum chips of the first alloy and/or charging the segregated aluminum chips of the first alloy into a melting furnace.

[0008] According to certain embodiments, a method includes receiving aluminum chips of a first alloy at a briquetting apparatus and forming one or more briquettes of the aluminum chips of the first alloy. The method includes receiving aluminum chips of a second alloy at a briquetting apparatus and forming one or more briquettes of the aluminum chips of the second alloy. In various embodiments, the method includes, after receiving the aluminum chips of the first alloy and before receiving the aluminum chips of the second alloy, receiving dilution aluminum chips at the briquetting apparatus to separate the aluminum chips of the first alloy from the aluminum chips of the second alloy. [0009] Various implementations described herein can include additional systems, methods, features, and advantages, which cannot necessarily be expressly disclosed herein but will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. It is intended that all such systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within the present disclosure and protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The specification makes reference to the following appended figure, in which use of like reference numerals is intended to illustrate like or analogous components.

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for processing aluminum chips according to embodiments.

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a briquetting apparatus of the processing system of FIG. 1 according to embodiments.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a briquetting process using the briquetting apparatus of FIG. 2 according to embodiments.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a top view of a chip processing system with the briquetting apparatus of FIG. 1 according to embodiments.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of the chip processing system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] Described herein are systems and methods for producing briquettes from loose metal chips, such as but not limited to loose aluminum chips. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may improve the productivity of briquette formation compared to traditional approaches. In one non-limiting example, the systems and methods described herein may have a briquetting cycle time, or time required to produce a briquette, of less than 12 seconds, such as less than or equal to 11 seconds, such as less than or equal to 10 seconds, such as less than or equal to 9 seconds, such as less than or equal to 8 seconds, such as less than or equal to 7 seconds, or such as less than or equal to 6 seconds. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein utilize a briquetting apparatus with at least two separate workstations, such as at least three workstations. In such embodiments, one station may be dedicated to only producing briquettes (i.e., the cycle time at the station is limited to compacting loose chips into briquettes), and the other stations may input the loose chips and release the briquette. In some embodiments, the briquetting apparatus may be fully automated. In certain embodiments, the briquetting process may continuously form briquettes at a rate of about 6 seconds or less for one briquette. In certain embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may reliably produce briquettes having a density of at least about 2.5 g/cm³.

[0017] In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may produce briquettes from segregated alloys. As non-limiting examples, the systems and methods described herein may receive aluminum chips from an aluminum chip-generating system, such as but not limited to a scalper or edge trimmer, and segregate aluminum chips of a first alloy (or first group of alloys) from the aluminum chips. In certain embodiments, segregated aluminum chips may be compacted into briquettes. As non-limiting examples, the systems and methods described herein may be utilized for forming briquettes from 3xxx/4xxx brazing and fin chips and/or from low Cu 6xxx chips; however, in other embodiments, other alloys may be segregated and/or formed into briquettes as desired.

[0018] In various embodiments, the briquettes produced by the systems and methods described herein may have a minimized or reduced amount of lubrication and/or otherwise be ready for furnace melting. In some embodiments, the briquettes formed by the systems and methods described herein may reduce melt loss during melting by reducing dross formation. As non-limiting examples, the consolidated briquette may minimize an exposed surface area and/or surface contact with air at an elevated temperature, thereby reducing dross formation. In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may produce briquettes suitable for direct remelting in a furnace and/or reduce prime aluminum needed in a remelt furnace, may lower costs, and may minimize waste. Various other benefits and advantages may be realized with the systems and methods described herein, and the aforementioned benefits and advantages should not be considered limiting.

[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a chip processing system 100 for processing aluminum chips according to embodiments. In certain embodiments, the chip processing system 100 may be implemented as a component of a larger metal processing system such as but not limited to a rolling system, casting system, finishing system, combinations thereof, and/or as otherwise desired. In various embodiments, the chip processing system 100 generally includes one or more aluminum chip-generating devices or system 102, a briquetting apparatus 104, and a melting furnace 106. The components of the chip processing system 100 may or may not be provided at a common workspace. In some embodiments, the aluminum chip-generating system 102 and the briquetting apparatus 104 optionally are provided at a common workspace such that, unlike traditional approaches in which loose aluminum chips are housed, the loose aluminum chips generated by the aluminum chip-generating system 102 are directly supplied to the briquetting apparatus 104. An example of such an arrangement is discussed in greater detail below with respect to FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0020] The aluminum chip-generating system 102 may be various systems or devices that generate aluminum chips, such as but not limited to a scalper, edge trimmer, and/or other devices or systems as desired. In one non-limiting example, the aluminum chip-generating system 102 is a scalper. In some embodiments, the aluminum chips may be collected in segregated form (e.g., based on aluminum alloys), while in other embodiments the aluminum chips may be collected in mixed form (e.g., mixed with other alloy chips). In embodiments where the aluminum chips are mixed, the chip processing system 100 may further include systems and/or methods for sorting aluminum chips into various alloys using various techniques as desired. Sorting techniques may include, but are not limited to, optical-based sorting techniques, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) techniques, x-ray fluorescence (XRF) sorting techniques, x-ray transmission (XRT) sorting techniques, combinations thereof, and/or other sorting techniques as desired.

[0021] As discussed in detail below, the briquetting apparatus 104 may compact the loose aluminum chips from the aluminum chip-generating system 102 into one or more briquettes. While various briquetting apparatuses may be utilized, in certain embodiments, the briquetting apparatus 104 is a multi-station briquetting apparatus 104 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The briquettes formed by the briquetting apparatus 104 may be supplied to the melting furnace 106, where they may be melted for formation into a new metal product. The melting furnace 106 may be various furnaces as desired, such as but not limited to a rotary furnace, a single crucible furnace, an induction furnace, and/or a side well furnace. In certain embodiments, unlike traditional approaches in which briquettes of aluminum chips are supplied to side well furnaces where the coated scrap is mixed with a flux that enables contaminants to be skimmed off as floating dross before the molten metal enters the main chamber of the furnace, the briquettes produced by the systems described herein may be directly supplied into the main chamber of the furnace.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the briquetting apparatus 104 according to various embodiments. Compared to traditional approaches in which loose aluminum chips are received, compacted, and released at a single station, the briquetting apparatus 104 generally includes a plurality of stations at discrete locations and for performing portions of the briquetting process. In some embodiments, the briquetting apparatus 104 includes loading station 108 at a first location 110, a compacting station 112 at a second location 114, and a release station 116 at a third location 118. A holder 120 may be movable (represented by arrows 150) to the stations 108, 112, 116 using various conveying systems, such as but not limited to a conveyor 122 with a conveyor surface 124. The holder 120 includes a receiving area 126 for receiving and holding aluminum chips 101. In certain embodiments, a portion of the receiving area 126 may be defined by the conveyor surface 124, although it need not be in other embodiments.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the loading station 108 may include one or more loading devices 128 such as but not limited to one or more nozzles 130, funnels, and/or other dispensing or directing means for loading loose aluminum chips 101 into the receiving area 126 of the holder 120. In some embodiments, each loading device 128 is arranged to load a particular alloy into the receiving area 126. As a non-limiting example, one loading device 128 may load Ixxx aluminum alloy chips into the receiving area 126, another loading device 128 may load 3xxx aluminum alloy chips into the receiving area, another loading device 128 may load 4xxx aluminum alloy chips into the receiving area, and another loading device 128 may load 6xxx aluminum alloy chips into the receiving area.

[0024] The compacting station 112 includes a compacting device 132, such as but not limited to a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 134 for contacting the loose aluminum chips 101 within the receiving area 126 and compressing the loose aluminum chips 101 into a briquette 103. In various embodiments, the compacting device 132 is vertically movable (represented by arrows 136) to compact the loose aluminum chips 101 into the briquette 103. Optionally, the compacting device 132 may compress the loose aluminum chips 101 against the conveyor surface 124 to form the briquette 103, although it need not in other embodiments. In various embodiments, the compacting device 132 may produce briquettes 103 having a density of at least about 2.5 g/cm³, such as a density of at least about 2.6 g/cm³, such as a density of at least about 2.7 g/cm³, such as a density of at least about 2.8 g/cm³. In one non-limiting example, the compacting device 132 may produce briquettes having a density of at least about 2.5 g/cm³.

[0025] A transverse dimension of the briquettes 103 produced by the compacting station 112 (and/or a transverse dimension of the receiving area 126) may be various sizes as desired. In some non-limiting examples, the briquettes 103 and/or the receiving area 126 may have a transverse dimension of about 2.0 inches, such as about 2.5 inches, such as about 3.0 inches, such as about 3.5 inches, such as about 4.0 inches, such as about 4.5 inches, or such as about 5.0 inches. In one non-limiting example, the briquettes 103 and/or the receiving area 126 may have a transverse dimension of about 3.5 inches. In other embodiments, the briquettes 103 and/or the receiving area 126 may have other transverse dimensions as desired. In other embodiments, the briquettes 103 may have other geometries, shapes, and/or dimensions as desired, which may provide better storage, alloy segregation, a cleaner environment, and/or better handling.

[0026] In certain embodiments, a cycle time of the compacting station 112 and/or a cycle type of the compacting device 132, or the time that it takes to form one briquette 103, is less than about 12 seconds, such as less than or equal to about 11 seconds, such as less than or equal to about 10 seconds, such as less than or equal to about 9 seconds, such as less than or equal to about 8 seconds, such as less than or equal to about 7 seconds, or such as less than or equal to about 6 seconds. In one non-limiting example, the cycle time of compacting station 112 is less than or equal to about 6 seconds.

[0027] The release station 116 of the briquetting apparatus 104 includes a release device 138, such as but not limited to a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 140, for releasing the briquette 103 (represented by arrow 152) from the receiving area 126 of the holder 120. In certain embodiments, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, the release device 138 is vertically movable (represented by arrows 142) to release the briquette 103 from the receiving area 126. In certain embodiments, the release device 138 may release the briquette 103 through the conveyor 122. In such embodiments, a portion of the conveyor surface 124 may be removable and/or otherwise include features such that the briquette 103 may pass through the conveyor 122. In certain embodiments, a portion of the conveyor surface 124 may be actuated and/or otherwise controlled to be in a closed configuration in which the portion of the conveyor surface 124 at least partially defines the receiving area 126 and an open configuration in which the portion of the conveyor surface 124 at least partially defines an opening and/or otherwise allows for the briquette 103 to be released through the conveyor 122. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the conveyor may be in the closed configuration at the loading station 108 and the compacting station 112 may be in the open configuration at the release station 116.

[0028] The briquette 103 released from the briquetting apparatus 104 may be directed into storage, directed to a melting furnace, and/or may otherwise be subsequently processed as desired. [0029] In various embodiments, the briquetting apparatus 104 with the separate compacting device 132 and release device 138 at separate locations 114, 118 may improve the cycle time of the briquetting apparatus and ability to reliably produce briquettes 103. As an example, traditional briquetting approaches utilize a single station (and single location) for receiving, compacting, and releasing briquettes, and a cycle time of compacting devices of such traditional approaches is greater than or equal to 12 seconds (e.g., the compacting device is further required to release the briquette and/or wait for the briquette to be released before another briquette can be formed). The briquetting apparatus 104 with the dedicated compacting device 132 thus reduces the cycle time, in certain cases reducing the cycle time by half or more, and the compacting device 132 may thus continuously produce briquettes at an improved cycle time.

[0030] A method of forming a briquette 103 from loose aluminum chips 101 using the briquetting apparatus 104 is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0031] In a block 302, the method includes receiving and/or loading the loose aluminum chips 101 within the receiving area 126 of the holder 120 while the holder 120 is at the loading station 108 at the first location 110. In various embodiments, block 302 may include loading a particular type of alloy and/or combination of alloys into the holder 120. Block 302 may include selectively activating one or more loading devices 128.

[0032] In a block 304, the method includes conveying the holder 120 filled with the loose aluminum chips 101 from the first location 110 to the second location 114 and compacting the loose aluminum chips 101 into the briquette 103 at the compacting station 112. In certain embodiments, block 304 includes conveying the holder 120 using a conveyor 122, although other conveying devices or mechanisms may be utilized as desired. Block 304 may include controlling and/or actuating the compacting device 132 such that the compacting device contacts the aluminum chips 101 and compresses the aluminum chips 101 into the briquette 103. In various embodiments, block 304 includes controlling the hydraulic and/or pneumatic cylinder 134 to compact the aluminum chips 101 into the briquette 103. In certain embodiments, block 304 includes producing the briquette with a density of at least about 2.5 g/cm³. In various embodiments, block 304 may include forming the briquette at a rate of about 6 seconds or less for one briquette 103.

[0033] In a block 306, the method includes conveying the holder 120 with the briquette 103 from the second location 114 to the third location 118 and releasing the briquette 103 from the holder 120 at the release station 116. Block 306 may include controlling and/or actuating the release device 138 to contact the briquette 103 and/or otherwise release the briquette 103 from the holder 120. In some embodiments, block 306 includes controlling and/or actuating the hydraulic and/or pneumatic cylinder 140 to release the briquette 103 from the holder 120. In various embodiments, block 306 includes releasing the briquette 103 through the conveyor 122, optionally by controlling the conveyor 122 to be in an open configuration.

[0034] In certain embodiments, blocks 302, 304, 306 may be performed continuously and/or for a desired duration and/or volume of a particular aluminum alloy. As a non-limiting example, blocks 302, 304, 306 may be performed until a volume or supply of loose 6xxx aluminum alloy chips are formed into briquettes 103.

[0035] In various embodiments, the method may include continuously performing blocks 302, 304, 306 for a second aluminum alloy after the first aluminum alloy. Optionally, after receiving the aluminum chips of the first alloy and before receiving the aluminum chips of the second alloy, the method includes receiving dilution aluminum chips at the briquetting apparatus to separate the aluminum chips of the first alloy from the aluminum chips of the second alloy. As a non-limiting example, after loading aluminum chips of the first alloy (e.g., by utilizing a first loading device 128 in block 302) and forming briquettes of the first alloy, the method includes loading dilution aluminum chips (e.g., by utilizing a second loading device 128 in block 302) before loading aluminum chips of the second alloy (e.g., by utilizing a third loading device 128 in block 302). The dilution aluminum chips may be various suitable aluminum chips for separating the first alloy from the second alloy. As one non-limiting example, the dilution aluminum chips may be Ixxx aluminum alloy chips, although others may be utilized as desired.

[0036] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in certain embodiments, the aluminum chip-generating system 102 and the briquetting apparatus 104 optionally may be provided within a common worksite, such as within a metal processing plant and/or as otherwise desired. In such embodiments, the chip processing system 100 optionally includes a conveying system 444 for diverting aluminum chips (represented by arrows 456) from the aluminum chip-generating system 102 to the briquetting apparatus 104. Such conveying systems 444 may be various systems suitable for conveying and/or diverting aluminum chips as desired. In one non-limiting example, the conveying system 444 may be a pneumatic conveying system 444 with one or more cyclones 446. [0037] In certain embodiments, the conveying system 444 optionally includes means for segregating and/or receiving different aluminum alloy chips. As a non-limiting example, the conveying system 444 may include a plurality of passages 448, each with an associated cyclone 446, and each configured to receive a particular alloy. Optionally, the passages 448 may further be utilized to store a supply of the aluminum chips until a desired time for forming briquettes from such aluminum alloys. As a non-limiting example, the cyclone 446 of a particular passage 448 may be activated and/or deactivated depending on the alloy of the metal being processed by the scalper or other aluminum chip-generating system 102. The number of passages 448 should not be considered limiting, and any number of passages 448 may be utilized as desired. Optionally, the briquetting apparatus 104 may direct briquettes to one or more storage systems 460, optionally depending on type of alloy.

[0038] Moreover, while FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the conveying system 444 with passages 448 to a single briquetting apparatus 104, in other embodiments, the conveying system 444 may deliver aluminum chips to a plurality of briquetting apparatuses 104. In some embodiments, the number of passages 448 and/or the number of briquetting apparatuses 104 utilized may be controlled based on a volume of aluminum chips produced by the aluminum chip-generating system 102 and/or alloy of metal processed by the aluminum chip-generating system 102 variation as desired.

[0039] A collection of exemplary embodiments is provided below, including at least some explicitly enumerated as an “Illustration” providing additional description of a variety of example embodiments in accordance with the concepts described herein. These illustrations are not meant to be mutually exclusive, exhaustive, or restrictive; and the disclosure not limited to these example illustrations but rather encompasses all possible modifications and variations within the scope of the issued claims and their equivalents.

[0040] Illustration 1. A briquetting apparatus for aluminum chips, the briquetting apparatus comprising: a holder for receiving aluminum chips; a compacting station at a first location, wherein the compacting station is configured to compact aluminum chips within the holder into a briquette; and a release station at a second location, wherein the release station is configured to release the briquette from the holder, wherein the holder is movable between the compacting station and the release station. [0041] Illustration 2. The briquetting apparatus of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, further comprising a conveyor configured to move the holder between the compacting station and the release station.

[0042] Illustration 3. The briquetting apparatus of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the conveyor comprises a closed configuration defining a support surface for aluminum chips and an open configuration defining an opening through the conveyor, wherein the conveyor is in the closed configuration at the compacting station and is in the open configuration at the release station.

[0043] Illustration 4. The briquetting apparatus of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the release station is configured to release the briquette from the holder through the conveyor.

[0044] Illustration 5. The briquetting apparatus of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the compacting station comprises a first hydraulic cylinder and the release station comprises a second hydraulic cylinder.

[0045] Illustration 6. The briquetting apparatus of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the briquetting apparatus only forms briquettes at the compacting station.

[0046] Illustration 7. The briquetting apparatus of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein a cycle time of the compacting station to compact aluminum chips within the holder into a briquette is less than or equal to 6 seconds.

[0047] Illustration 8. The briquetting apparatus of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, further comprising a loading station at a third location, wherein the holder is configured to receive loose aluminum chips at the loading station, and wherein the holder is movable between the loading station, the compacting station, and the release station.

[0048] Illustration 9. A method of processing aluminum chips, the method comprising: compacting loose aluminum chips within a holder into a briquette at a compacting station of a briquetting apparatus at a first location; moving the holder with the briquette from the first location to a release station of the briquetting apparatus at a second location; and releasing the briquette from the holder at the release station. [0049] Illustration 10. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein moving the holder comprises moving the holder with a conveyor.

[0050] Illustration 11. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein releasing the briquette comprises releasing the briquette through a conveyor.

[0051] Illustration 12. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein compacting the loose aluminum chips comprises using a first hydraulic cylinder at the compacting station and releasing the briquette from the holder comprises using a second hydraulic cylinder at the release station.

[0052] Illustration 13. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein releasing the briquette comprises pushing the briquette through a conveyor using the second hydraulic cylinder.

[0053] Illustration 14. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, further comprising receiving the loose aluminum chips within the holder at a loading station of the briquetting apparatus at a third location and moving the holder from the loading station to the compacting station.

[0054] Illustration 15. A method comprising: receiving aluminum chips from an aluminum chip-generating system; segregating aluminum chips of a first alloy from the aluminum chips; and forming a briquette from the segregated aluminum chips of the first alloy and/or charging the segregated aluminum chips of the first alloy into a melting furnace.

[0055] Illustration 16. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the aluminum chip-generating system comprises a scalper.

[0056] Illustration 17. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein forming the briquette comprises delivering the segregated aluminum chips to a briquetting apparatus comprising a loading station at a first location, a compacting station at a second location, and a release station at a third location.

[0057] Illustration 18. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein receiving and segregating the aluminum chips comprises utilizing a conveying system configured to divert chips from a scalper to a briquetting apparatus.

[0058] Illustration 19. A method comprising: receiving aluminum chips of a first alloy at a briquetting apparatus and forming one or more briquettes of the aluminum chips of the first alloy; receiving aluminum chips of a second alloy at a briquetting apparatus and forming one or more briquettes of the aluminum chips of the second alloy; and after receiving the aluminum chips of the first alloy and before receiving the aluminum chips of the second alloy, receiving dilution aluminum chips at the briquetting apparatus to separate the aluminum chips of the first alloy from the aluminum chips of the second alloy.

[0059] Illustration 20. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the briquetting apparatus comprising a loading station at a first location, a compacting station at a second location, and a release station at a third location, and wherein forming one or more briquettes comprises: receiving loose aluminum ships within a holder at the loading station; moving the holder to the compacting station and forming a briquette; and moving the holder from the compacting station to the release station and releasing the briquetted from the holder.

[0060] Illustration 21. The method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations, wherein the dilution aluminum chips comprise Ixxx aluminum chips.

[0061] Illustration 22. A briquette formed by the method of any preceding or subsequent illustration or combination of illustrations.

[0062] The subject matter of embodiments of the present disclosure is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not necessarily intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Directional references such as “up,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” “longitudinal,” “front,” and “back,” among others, are intended to refer to the orientation as illustrated and described in the figure (or figures) to which the components and directions are referencing.

[0063] The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, or gradients thereof, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention, and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0064] The above-described aspects are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications can be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and all possible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements or steps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims that follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described embodiments, nor the claims that follow.

Claims

CLAIMS That which is claimed:

1. A briquetting apparatus for aluminum chips, the briquetting apparatus comprising: a holder for receiving aluminum chips; a compacting station at a first location, wherein the compacting station is configured to compact aluminum chips within the holder into a briquette; and a release station at a second location, wherein the release station is configured to release the briquette from the holder, wherein the holder is movable between the compacting station and the release station.

2. The briquetting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor configured to move the holder between the compacting station and the release station.

3. The briquetting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the conveyor comprises a closed configuration defining a support surface for aluminum chips and an open configuration defining an opening through the conveyor, wherein the conveyor is in the closed configuration at the compacting station and is in the open configuration at the release station.

4. The briquetting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the release station is configured to release the briquette from the holder through the conveyor.

5. The briquetting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the compacting station comprises a first hydraulic cylinder and the release station comprises a second hydraulic cylinder.

6. The briquetting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the briquetting apparatus only forms briquettes at the compacting station.

7. The briquetting apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cycle time of the compacting station to compact aluminum chips within the holder into a briquette is less than or equal to 6 seconds.

8. The briquetting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a loading station at a third location, wherein the holder is configured to receive loose aluminum chips at the loading station, and wherein the holder is movable between the loading station, the compacting station, and the release station.

9. A method of processing aluminum chips, the method comprising: compacting loose aluminum chips within a holder into a briquette at a compacting station of a briquetting apparatus at a first location; moving the holder with the briquette from the first location to a release station of the briquetting apparatus at a second location; and releasing the briquette from the holder at the release station.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein moving the holder comprises using a conveyor to move the holder.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein releasing the briquette comprises releasing the briquette through a conveyor.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein compacting the loose aluminum chips comprises using a first hydraulic cylinder at the compacting station and wherein releasing the briquette from the holder comprises using a second hydraulic cylinder at the release station.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein releasing the briquette comprises pushing the briquette through a conveyor using the second hydraulic cylinder.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving the loose aluminum chips within the holder at a loading station of the briquetting apparatus at a third location and moving the holder from the loading station to the compacting station.

15. A method comprising: receiving aluminum chips from an aluminum chip-generating system; segregating aluminum chips of a first alloy from the aluminum chips; and forming a briquette from the segregated aluminum chips of the first alloy.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the aluminum chip-generating system comprises a scalper.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the briquette comprises delivering the segregated aluminum chips to a briquetting apparatus comprising a loading station at a first location, a compacting station at a second location, and a release station at a third location.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving and segregating the aluminum chips comprises utilizing a conveying system configured to divert chips from a scalper to a briquetting apparatus.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving aluminum chips of a second alloy at a briquetting apparatus and forming one or more briquettes of the aluminum chips of the second alloy; and after receiving the aluminum chips of the first alloy and before receiving the aluminum chips of the second alloy, receiving dilution aluminum chips at the briquetting apparatus to separate the aluminum chips of the first alloy from the aluminum chips of the second alloy.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the dilution aluminum chips comprise Ixxx aluminum chips.