Abstract: Method and apparatus for the sorting out of plastic foil from a mixture of refuse previously divested of heavy materials such as stone, glass and iron. The mixture is conducted in a thin layer, using moderate feeding power, past pointed spines on a reel, by a broom or brush, so that components with high tensile strength remain hanging on the spines, while components with low tensile strength, such as paper, or components not impaled, such as leather, cardboard, wood and thick-walled plastic, are further conveyed by the broom or brush. One or more brush rollers, preferably armed with strips or brushes transverse to the direction of conveying, sweep the mixture of refuse across one or more spiked rollers studded with spines. Combing-off rollers may be used, rotating at higher velocity and in opposite direction to the spiked rollers, to loosen impaled foils from the spines.

Abstract: A classifying and sorting machine for refuse particles, particularly household refuse and other refuse having a composition resembling household refuse, has a rotatable screen drum the diameter of which is within the range of 1:1-1:2 relative to its axial length. Baffles of sawtooth-shaped configuration are arranged in the drum rotating with the same and having inwardly directed ripping teeth. Annular baffles in the drum subdivide the drum into two or more axially adjacent compartments and each have an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the drum, and an arrangement is provided for rotating the drum at an angular velocity which is smaller by between about 20-50% than the velocity at which the drum contents are pressed by centrifugal force against the circumferential drum wall.

Abstract: Raw and uncomminuted refuse is introduced through an entrance port into a substantially closed chamber as a horizontally flowing stream so that the refuse drops in the chamber along a path. A current of air is circulated in a closed circuit through the chamber and is directed in the chamber generally perpendicular to the path of the falling refuse and is inspired in the chamber through a sieve oriented substantially perpendicular to the current in the chamber. A minor portion of the air is withdrawn from the circuit, filtered, and released to the atmosphere. This withdrawn portion is replaced in the circuit by drawing air into the chamber substantially only through the entrance port so that slight subatmosphere pressure is created in the chamber to prevent the generation of unwanted dust or smell.

Abstract: Any bundles in household refuse are broken up and this refuse is then coarsely comminuted with the broken up bundles, only the hard components of the refuse being comminuted with the light components merely being temporarily deformed between a pair of rollers having surface formations. Thereafter the coarsely comminuted refuse is separated by means of a drum-type sieve into a heavy fraction and a light fraction. The light fraction is finely comminuted into granules which are blown into a burning chamber in which they are suspended on a gas. The granules are combusted in this chamber to form a hot gas that is recirculated to sterilize and dry the heavy fraction and to dry the finely comminuted light fraction before its burning.