Abstract: A board is formed by accumulating a mass of sugarcane rind fibers in a collection zone ahead of a horizontally reciprocable first-stage plunger that has a sweep face. The first-stage plunger is shifted horizontally toward a fiber compression zone to horizontally compact the sugarcane rind fibers and orient the fibers in vertical planes disposed substantially parallel to the sweep face. A second-stage plunger is shifted vertically downwardly from above the compression zone to push the horizontally compacted sugarcane rind fibers downwardly into a generally vertical passage means while vertically compressing the fibers. Consequently, the fibers are oriented in substantially horizontal planes to define a board segment comprised of sugarcane rind fibers having their axes disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board segment. The steps of accumulating, horizontally shifting, and vertically shifting are repeated to establish a column of abutting board segments in the extrusion passage.

Abstract: A material-feeding roll comprises a cylindrical body being at least partly composed of an elastomeric material having longitudinal apertures disposed therethrough and a plurality of tines extending therefrom.A rotary mounting assembly for a rotatable body comprises a bearing and a hollow axle member. The axle member has a tapered gripping portion for engagement within an aperture carried by the rotatable body. A tightening element is provided and is extendable through the hollow axle member into securing contact with the body to attach the axle member to the body in rotation-transmitting engagement.A material deflecting chute comprises a concave surface and a plurality of walls on the concave surface forming channels which are widened from an intake end of the chute toward a discharge end thereof.

Abstract: A method for preparing a mass of randomly oriented slender can stalks for subsequent processing at a selected location. The method is intended to deliver the stalks in cleaned condition, chopped into uniform, relatively shorter lengths and aligned longitudinally in their direction of motion.