Abstract: A food product finisher includes a finisher housing and screen supported by the housing. A rotor driven within the screen has an inlet section with inlet vanes of reduced diameter in a steep helical configuration. The inlet vanes are joined continuously into body vanes of full height and less steep helical configuration on the body of the rotor. Steps or transition sections may be provided in the vanes. The vane configuration provides uniform loading of the vanes, high efficiency and reduced power consumption.

Abstract: An improved juice finisher having a housing including a screen defining a central cavity with a rotating finisher worm disposed within the cavity and having a first section with a plurality of first flights, an intermediate section with a plurality of paddles, and a final section with a plurality of final flights; with the intermediate section beginning at the point the first flights terminate so juice may be more efficiently extracted from juice-carrying pulp.

Abstract: A blancher having a tank and an elongate generally cylindrical and hollow perforate drum rotatably received in the tank with the drum including an inlet end plate with a food product inlet opening adjacent an end of a support core that is spaced from the inlet opening by at least two braces of non-straight construction to allow food product to enter the drum without being obstructed adjacent the inlet opening. The braces increase the structural rigidity of the drum enabling blanchers to be constructed having axial lengths greater than 24 feet and drum diameters greater than 72 inches while also being of open throat construction and having an inlet opening diameter greater than the outer diameter of the core.

Abstract: A compactor assembly comprises a ground supported housing having an open top through which waste material is deposited. An auger is rotatable on an axis positioned within the housing for breaking waste material received therein through the open top, and for transporting the waste material therethrough. A drop area is downstream of the receiving chamber of the housing and has a remote open portion. A compactor ram is reciprocal on an axis parallel to the auger axis for transferring waste material through the open portion. A first drive is operably associated with the auger for rotating the auger, and a second drive is operably associated with the compactor ram for causing reciprocation thereof.

Abstract: A screw conveyor including a feed screw formed, at least partially, as a shankless screw, a jacket surrounding the feed screw and a brush cooperating with the inner surface of the jacket for cleaning the same, with the feed screw including a plurality of substantially band-shaped screw threads extending along an imaginary helical line and arranged, when viewed in a transporting direction, one behind the other with an ever increasing distance from a screw axis so that each two adjacent screw threads form a step therebetween, and with the brush being arranged on the step formed by two outmost screw threads.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for conveying, compacting, and discharging materials such as shavings or swarf in a continuous manner. The material to be compacted is received into a conveyor tube inside which is rotated a screw thread mounted on a shaft. The conveyor tube is formed to have at least one longitudinal passage open to the inside, so that the material being conveyed and compacted does not merely circulate around the outside of the screw thread but is enabled to move longitudinally in a forward direction with a braking effect to facilitate the compaction thereof. In one aspect of the invention, a ratio of the diameters of the outside of the screw thread and the shaft on which the screw thread is provided is less than 3 but not less than 1.

Abstract: A baler for forming parallelepiped bales includes an auger compactor located within a mainly cylindrical auger housing having a rear transition section including four corner feed structures spaced equally about the auger housing longitudinal axis. Each corner feed structure is defined by a pair of walls joined to define a corner which leads to a respective corner of a rectangular cross section bale-forming chamber at the rear end of the auger housing. The junction of one of the walls of each corner structure with the cylindrical auger housing is generally oriented so as to be crosswise to the direction of the auger flighting as it passes beneath the junction. A stripper plate is located along each junction, which occurs at the downstream side of the associated corner feed structure, as considered in the direction of rotation of the auger, for stripping material from the outer part of the auger flighting so that it enters the corner feed structure.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of filling tubes of flexible, large mesh, netting material with compacted rice straw, or the like. The finished straw tubes are on the order of nine inches in diameter, twenty five feet in length and thirty pounds in weight; and thus readily lend themselves to use in controlling or mitigating the effects of erosion and to promoting revegetation.

Abstract: A screw type dewatering machine according to the present invention includes inner and outer sleeves (1, 2), an annular space chamber (3) defined therebetween, a coil-like screw (4) rotatably disposed in the annular space chamber (3), and drain screens (5, 12) disposed on the inner sleeve (1) and/or the outer sleeve (2), and is characterized in thata support ring (16) is attached to the outer periphery of one end of the coil-like screw (4) and is rotatably supported by the outer sleeve (2).

Abstract: A single beam aerial work platform with a base structure, top structure, and at least three scissor mechanisms. A hydraulic cylinder for raising the top structure relative to the base structure is attached between the first or lower scissor mechanism and the third or top scissor mechanism. The hydraulic cylinder is attached by a mounting bracket at an offset to the pivot points and structural members of the scissor mechanisms. An additional stress reducing beam, attached parallel to one of the structural members of the middle scissors mechanism, reduces the horizontal bending stress in the structural members of the scissor mechanisms and the connecting pin loading in the scissor mechanism pins.

Abstract: A counterflow single-screw extractor includes a screw conveyor having a helical scroll formed from arcuate flight sections each having a plurality of elongated slots extending away from the direction of screw rotation and permitting the flow of effluent through the product and the flights in a manner controlled by the size, number, and orientation of the slots. The slots permit efficient extraction using relatively little extraction medium and at the same time permit a single-screw extractor to be used without having to periodically reverse the direction of screw rotation to unclog the slots and by the pitch of the screw conveyor. The inventive arrangement permits the use of a multi-section extractor employing different extraction media and/or different extraction media wash rates in different sections of the extractor.

Abstract: Extraction, especially of firm fruit such as cranberries, with improved yields of high quality, low tannin juices by using an improved countercurrent extractor employing longitudinal members positioned between adjacent flights and reinfusion of decharacterized, extracted fruit pieces with infusion syrups, such as juices from fruits other than that extracted, to produce a fruit food product of various flavors having a desired level of inherent soluble fruit component, without the need to bleed off spent syrup as a byproduct.

Abstract: An improved agricultural feed bagger wherein the feed compaction rotor is mounted above the bottom portion of the feed receptacle to provide improved compaction of the feed stock within the receptacle space. The rotor may be mounted between one-third and two-thirds of the distance between the top wall and bottom portion of the bagger.

Abstract: A press for the mechanical dewatering of water-containing pulverised solid material is provided with a rotatable feed screw (3) which is so floatably mounted that it can perform a rotary pendular pivoting movement about a swivel point (D) lying in the area of the drive. Thereby, a high dewatering power is achieved with advantagous wear properties of the press. By special formation of the region where the solid material leaves the feed section (3), the effect and operating behavior can be further improved.

Abstract: A juice extractor for extracting juice from raw juice containing materials includes a raw material supply hopper of a housing engaged with a main body. The juice extractor includes a pair of squeezing rollers engaged with each other and mounted in the housing. Each of the rollers includes a helical gear and a screw at its leading end portion. A filter surrounds the leading end portions of the squeezing rollers and a discharge section plate is mounted at the leading end portion of the housing and has a discharge pressure adjusting device. Ring gears made of synthetic resins are mounted at both sides of the helical gear of one of the squeezing rollers whereby an interval between the helical gears of squeezing rollers is maintained. Grooves are formed at both sides of the threads of the helical gears of each of the squeezing rollers at a location beneath the raw juice material supply hopper.

Abstract: A solid-liquid separator comprising a number of stationary rings arranged with spaces left therebetween, a number of floating rings each disposed movably in the spaces between the stationary rings and a screw conveyor provided in the inner space of the stationary and floating rings. The screw conveyor is driven in rotation to convey sludge water introduced into the space, and while being conveyed, only a water portion thereof is discharged to the exterior through the minute gaps between the floating and stationary rings. The motion of the floating ring prevents clogging of the solid portion in the minute gaps.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention forms and binds fibrous bulk material or the like into bales and comprises bale forming apparatus for forming the material into an elongated continuous mass. The bale forming apparatus has a bale-forming compartment with an infeed end and a discharge end, and material flow restricting apparatus located between the infeed and discharge ends for resisting the movement of the material. Auger feeding apparatus for conveying the material into the infeed end of said bale-forming compartment, and bale binding apparatus for receiving the mass of material from the discharge end of said bale-forming compartment and binding said mass into discrete bales, are provided.

Abstract: Feedstuff is compacted in a tube which lies on the ground by a mobile device which includes a traction vehicle, a trailer unit, and a rotatable feeding screw mounted at the rear of the trailer unit for feeding feedstuff from a container into the tube where it is compacted. The screw is rotated by a hydraulic motor which is driven by hydraulic fluid at a pressure which is proportional to loading of the feeding screw due to compaction of feedstuff by the screw. A brake system brakes the wheels of the trailer unit to produce a braking force while the feedstuff is being fed into the tube. A control unit controls the brake system in response to signals from a transducer which senses the hydraulic pressure at the motor. The braking force is reduced when the sensed hydraulic pressure rises to a predetermined maximum value, and the braking force is increased when the sensed hydraulic pressure decreases to a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: A screw press for dehydrating slurry and comprising an outer screen casing, a screw shaft, a slurry supplying portion, and a driving unit which rotates the outer screen casing and the screw shaft. The driving unit rotates the screw shaft in one rotational direction and the outer screen casing in the opposite rotational direction. The driving unit comprises a transmission for changing the rotational frequency of at least one of the outer screen casings or the screw shaft. It is possible to have a high dehydrating effect by rotating the outer screen casing in the opposite rotational direction of the screw shaft at a predetermined rotational frequency.

Abstract: Apparatus for picking up leaves and other loose material from a lawn or other surface and compacting such material in a bag for disposal. As in prior art apparatus of this type, the material is propelled by a rotating paddle wheel into the forward section of a housing, and from a rear housing section to an auger compactor which feeds the material into a bag positioned upon and against side and end support walls. In the present apparatus, better compaction is achieved by inhibiting rotation of the material within the bag due to rotation imparted by the auger. This action is provided by protrusions on the end and side walls of the support walls which indent the flexible bag as it is filled. As a further safety feature, a skirt carrying pivoted obstruction members prevents objects from being propelled forwardly of the apparatus.

Abstract: A screw press for pressing off fluids, especially from oil seeds, has a screw (1) and, surrounding this screw (1), a fluid-permeable mantle (2), particularly a screen, whereby the screw shaft (3) and the mantle (2) form between them a screw channel (6) with a cross-section that decreases towards the transport direction of the screw (1), and whereby in the screw channel (6) at least one throttle point (7,8,9) is provided for building up zones of high pressure, and a cross-section expansion is provided in transport direction following the throttle point (7,8,9) for relaxing the high pressure at least partially. In order to achieve a higher efficiency, at least one cam (10) that may be moved transversely to the transport direction of the screw (1) is provided in the area of at least one of the existing throttle points (8,9) in the screw channel (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and washing contaminated raked-off or screened material, particularly in sewage treatment plants, having a screw conveyor device with horizontal shafts (2, 3). There is a washing zone (33) with washer nozzles (34, 38) and compacting zones (21, 47) arranged before and after the washing zone. The washing zone (33) is divided into two sections (31, 32) adjacent to each other, in each of which a defined water level (35), occupying approx. 1/4 to 1/3 of the height of the cross-section of the housing (1), is present. In the first section (31) of the washing zone (33), the washer nozzles (34, 36) are arranged both above and below the water level (35). In the second section (32) of the washing zone (33), the housing for the screw conveyor device is provided with openings (40) arranged laterally to define the water level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conveying and compacting material which includes fractions of different sizes, densities, elasticity, moisture-content etc. wherein a shaftless spiral is disposed in a casing and the spiral is driven in rotation at an end of the casing where the material is fed into the casing. At the opposite end of the casing, i.e. the end located adjacent a discharge section of the casing, the casing surrounds the spiral with slight play, and, moreover, the casing extends in an end region below the spiral to form a correction zone. Counterpressure brakes the movement of the material to compact the material in the compaction zone. The casing is provided with drainage holes in the compaction zone for discharge of liquid expressed from the compacted material during passage through the compaction zone.

Abstract: A vertical auger bottom-fill bag filling machine including a conical auger bowl depending from a cylindrical hopper on rocker arms, with the auger bowl being connected to the cylindrical hopper and a fill tube by flexible gaskets. A vertical auger shaft extends through the cylindrical hopper, auger bowl, and fill tube, with a section of flighting disposed within the auger bowl and fill tube to compress, de-aerate, and dispense the product. An agitator is mounted on the bottom of an agitator drive shaft which circumscribes the auger shaft and rotates independent thereof, the agitator having paddles which move the product and press the product downwardly in the auger bowl. An inverted venting cone is disposed within the auger bowl, with a vent tube extending upwardly and terminating proximate to the top of the cylindrical hopper.

Abstract: A method of controlling the maceration of wood chips in a plug screw feeder having an inlet and an outlet, a compression device between said inlet and outlet, a variable speed screw disposed in the compression device, a force feed device connected to the plug screw feeder inlet, a variable speed force feed screw disposed in the force feed device, comprising the steps of introducing wood chips into the force feed drive and the plug screw feeder controlling the speed of the variable speed screw in the plug screw feeder, controlling the speed of the force feed screw disposed in the force feed cylinder to obtain the desired degree of fiber dislocation in the wood chips.

Abstract: Equipment for briqueting plant stalk-produce, includes a conical-screw compactor, a tubular press-cavity, an annular degassing device and a control device including a molding pressure sensor. The annular degassing device adjoins a discharge aperture of a compactor space with a plurality of narrow-axial degassing slits open to the atmosphere, which issue into the discharge aperture of the compactor space.

Abstract: A material pusher comprises a cylindrical body, a threaded rod pivotally arranged in the cylindrical body, and a driving device for forcing the threaded rod to rotate. The threaded rod is provided with a circular rod-shaped pivot portion located near the driving device and provided with a pivotally disposed force-feeding element of conical construction having a tapered end facing the free end of the threaded rod to which it is pivotally attached. The force-feeding element and the threaded rod are driven by the driving device to rotate at different speeds.

Abstract: A device for separating manure into wet and dry phases is disclosed herein. The manure separator includes a cylindrical strainer portion, a jacket disposed around the strainer portion to collect the wet phase, and a rotatable screw conveyor disposed within the strainer portion. The rotatable screw conveyor includes a shaft, and first and second screw thread sections disposed on the shaft and spaced from one another to include a longitudinal, annular zone that is free of obstruction around the entire circumference of the shaft. The longitudinal, annular zone causes a plug of relatively dry manure to form therein, the forming of which exerts back pressure on upstream portions of manure adjacent the first screw thread section enhancing the separation. The second screw thread section removes downstream portions of the plug for discharge of the dry phase from the device.

Abstract: A cast-formed bi-metallic worm assembly of a mechanical screw press for expressing liquids from fibrous materials and a method of manufacture therefor and the product produced by the method. The worm assembly is rotatably driven by the press drive shaft and includes an outer flight body having an integral outwardly extending helical flight formed of a relatively brittle, wear-resistant homogeneous cast material and an inner hub tightly fitted and substantially fully mated within, and coextensive with, the outer flight body. The inner hub, cast formed of a more ductile, tougher homogeneous material, includes a hollow cylindrical interior surface structured for slidable engagement around and in driving connection with the drive shaft. The inner hub and outer flight body are securely engaged one to another by cast forming the outer flight body around the precast inner hub.

Abstract: The process and the continuously working installation are intended for the extraction or flushing out of a substance from a heterogenous system with a solid phase of fibrous or granular material by means of a liquid, which, in the course of the process, forms a liquid phase which is increasingly loaded with the substance to be extracted or flushed out. The solid phase (2) is advanced in the installation with conveyor means (9. 9', 9"). the liquid phase (4, 4', 4") passes through the installation substantially in the opposite direction to the solid phase. Elements (30, 31, 32, 30', 31', 32', 30", 31", 32") for compressing and decompressing the solid phase (2) are disposed along the path of the solid phase (2) through the installation which may consist of several treatment stages (5, 5', 5") connected in series. Means for drawing off at least a part of the liquid phase are foreseen in each of the compression zones.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for extracting juice from raw juice containing material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a supporting housing, a pair of meshing helical gears (2,3) for crushing the raw juice containing material to initially extract juice therefrom and with each helical gear terminating in a tapered screw. A sieve (4) is operatively positioned around the helical gears and each of the tapered screws with the sieve being branched (47,48) with each branch housing at least a portion of one of the tapered screws, respectively. Each branch of the sieve has a terminal end with a discharge outlet formed thereat to enable each of the screws to further extract juice from the crushed raw juice containing material by compressingly moving the crushed juice containing material along one of the branch portions of the sieve and toward one of the discharge outlets formed in the sieve.

Abstract: A stainless steel tank has a hinged cover which closes over a cylindrical drum which is rotatably mounted within the tank. The drum has a stiff support structure with an inlet end plate and a discharge end plate and a plurality of linear support members extending between and rigidly fastened to the two end plates. A helical auger is welded to and supported by the support members and is positioned within the drum by a central core tube. The auger and core tube are not connected to the inlet end plate leaving an unobstructed open-throat which allows the free flow of food product into the drum. A perforated cylinder of screen material surrounds the drum and retains food product therein. An infeed flight attachment extends from the auger to the inlet end plate and has a curved portion which extends beneath the water level to avoid contact with the food product above the water level.

Abstract: A continuously and automatically functioning device for the drainage of sludge treated with a flocculent, especially of sewage sludge, comprising a screw conveyor installation with a driven conveyor screw consisting of shaft (16) and helix (17) and a screen wall (18). The screw conveyor installation possesses a first cylindrical area (10) of a large diameter and gap width followed by a conical area (12) for purposes of volume reduction in the throughput direction of the sludge. Connected to the conical area (12) of the screw conveyor installation is at least one pressure area (13) which, with the diameter of the shaft (16) being constant, possesses a decreasing lead of the conveyor helix (17) at the side of the entrance, and in its final area carries a conical piece (49) placed upon the shaft (16).

Abstract: A vertical bottom-fill auger assembly including a bottom-fill auger bowl containing an internal rotating agitator or wiper element. The agitator or wiper has a blade element disposed at least partially within the auger bowl and carried on a rotating ring horizontally disposed at or near the top of the auger bowl.

Abstract: A vertical bottom-fill auger assembly including a bottom-fill auger bowl containing an internal rotating agitator or wiper element, and a vertical moving carriage or bag handling mechanism including a traveling bag settler. The vertical movement of the carriage or bag handling mechanism may be adjusted in response to the vertical auger revolution rate, the product density or weight as measured by a bulk or net weigh scale attached to the bag support assembly, or to comport to a premeasured charge that is bulk loaded into the auger bowl. The agitator or wiper may be of a configuration having a blade mounted on a rotating shaft vertically disposed in the center of the auger bowl, or may be carried on a rotating ring horizontally disposed at or near the top of the auger bowl. The traveling bag settler includes an arm which may be oscillated in a vertical plane to strike the bottom of a bag being filled, and which travels with the bag as it descends during filling and when lowered to a conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating liquids and solids, comprising, separator screen means for receiving and separating the solids and liquids, conveyor means for feeding the separated solids upwardly from the separator screen means, and compactor means for compacting the solids, the conveyor means comprising a first conveyor extending at a first upward inclination through the separator screen means and a second conveyor extending further upwardly and at a greater inclination than the first conveyor means.

Abstract: A cast-formed bi-metallic worm assembly of a mechanical screw press for expressing liquids from fibrous materials and a method of manufacture therefor. The worm assembly is rotatably driven by the press drive shaft and includes an outer flight body having an integral outwardly extending helical flight formed of a relatively brittle, wear-resistant homogeneous cast material and an inner hub tightly fitted and substantially fully mated within, and coextensive with, the outer flight body. The inner hub, cast formed of a more ductile, tougher homogeneous material, includes a hollow cylindrical interior surface structured for slidable engagement around and in driving connection with the drive shaft. The inner hub and outer flight body are securely engaged one to another by a very thin layer of bonded brazing compound over substantially the entire mating surface therebetween. The method of manufacturing helps insure very close mating surface contact to enhance the strength of brazing.

Abstract: A feed device for low-density particulate materials is disclosed for a pelletizing machine. A fin (25) forming a helicoidal spiral on the outer surface of a tubular dome (24) connected to a drive shaft (23) carries the material to one end of the dome, where the volume of air contained in the bulk material is diverted toward the interior of the dome (24) without causing a flow contrary to the displacement of the material, thus eliminating the problem of flow interruptions caused by air entrapment.

Abstract: Feed screw for feeding a mix, said screw consisting of a core part (1), which becomes thicker towards its trailing end, and of a screw spiral (2) that revolves around said core part. The feed screw is provided with a detachable tip portion (3) at its thicker end. The detachable tip portion (3) is a sleeve-shaped piece, which is supported on an inner part (4) that constitutes a projection on the frame part of the feed screw. The frame part includes at least one front face (6) which, when the machine runs and when the screw revolves, pushes ahead of itself a counter-face (7) provided in the tip portion (3) and transmits the torque to the tip portion.

Abstract: Apparatus is described for forming fibrous bulk material or the like into a baled unit and binding it. The apparatus includes: (a) a rotatable auger, (b) a tubular housing surrounding the auger, (c) feeding mechanism for feeding bulk material to the housing, (d) a die adjacent the tubular housing, (e) a packing chamber adjacent the die, and (f) binding or tying mechanism to bind the baled unit without cessation of rotation of the auger.

Abstract: A cast-formed bi-metallic worm in a mechanical screw press for expressing liquids from fibrous materials and a method of manufacture thereof. The worm is rotatably driven by the presses drive shaft and includes a body adapted to slidably engage around and be driven by the drive shaft and a flight extending radially outward from within the body. The body is formed of a ductal homogeneous cast material while the flight, which may be continuous or split, is cast formed of a harder homogeneous material so as to mechanically engage within and be rotatably driven by the body. The worm may also include a wear resistant cast-formed shell around the periphery of the body formed of either the same material as the flight or another hard wear resistant material.

Abstract: An apparatus for dewatering and squeezing a water containing material comprises a drum with a sieve mantle defining two co-operating drum sections, each comprising a feed screw extending therein. The first section of the drum in the feed direction is formed for dewatering of the material mainly by self-drainage. The first drum section is rotatable and is provided with means for cleaning the sieve mantle holes. The second section is formed for increased compression of the material, and has a thread height for the feed screw smaller at the outlet of the second section than at the inlet to this section.

Abstract: A spindle press (1) comprises a housing (3) with an upper part (2) and a lower part (5). A press spindle (16) is supported with an upper bearing (14) in a cover (11) of the upper part (2) and with a lower bearing (19) in the lower part (5) so as to be rotatable. The press spindle (16) comprises a hollow spindle body (27) with perforations (38) for pressed out fluid, compressor wings (56) and worm wings (57) being placed on the spindle body (27) externally. Interruptors (26), which are fastened at the housing (3), extend between these wings in a plurality of axial planes. The housing comprises a screen casing (22) permeable for the pressed out fluid and also a spray casing (21) at a distance outside of the latter. The pressed out fluid is guided away through a dewatering arrangement (30) of the lower part (5). The lower part (5) rests on a vertical frame (7) which encloses a telescoping drive pipe (52) and, further down, a drive arrangement (12) which drives the drive pipe (52) in a rotating manner.

Abstract: A livestock feed bagging machine includes a wheeled chassis having a feed stock receiving trough extending transversely across the front. An auger in the trough distributes the feed stock to a toothed drum which forces ground feed stock through comb fingers into a compression and shaping compartment. Compacted feed stock moves from the compression and shaping compartment through a feed stock discharge section into a flexible bag. An adjustable brake retards the movement of the chassis in a controlled reactive response to the discharge of feed stock into the bag.

Abstract: Apparatus for compacting and advancing a mass of particulate or fibrous material to a discharge end of a conduit combines an auger with a reciprocating annular piston. The improvement of the invention is in driving the piston by way of a flywheel equipped crankshaft which also drives a dynamically counter balancing member to reduce vibrations transmitted to the frame of the apparatus. Special hydrostatic guide sleeves are used to guide the reciprocating piston at a high speed. Further improvements include gas and liquid vents and a cooling jacket, both associated with the conduit to increase efficiency of the compacting. A density sensor controlled conical choke member at the discharge end assists in maintaining uniform density of the highly compacted plug of the material. Also, it breaks up the exiting plug to improve subsequent processing of the material.

Abstract: A vibrating hopper and auger feed assembly including an infeed auger which transfers product from a main storage bin to a live bottom hopper, the live bottom hopper having a vibrating bottom pan and discharge spout, an inverted pressure cone which is centrally vented to the exterior of the hopper, and a central vertical feed auger which extends through the inverted pressure cone and the discharge spout. A transverse cross auger transfers product from the live bottom hopper to a bottom fill auger assembly for filling bags carried on a bag elevator. Each of four augers in the assembly sequentially compresses and deaerates the product, the backpressure being vented to the exterior of the assembly, to achieve a very uniform product density within the fill tube and dispensing spout.

Abstract: A screw press comprises a housing having a spray casing and a screen casing arranged within the spray casing and forming an annular space therebetween, at least one press spindle located within the screen casing and forming a pressing space therebetween, the at least one press spindle having a plurality of wing members and at least one axial zone free of the wing members, and at least one dewatering member which is supported by the housing and located in the at least one axial zone in the pressing space between the spindle body and the screen casing, the at least one dewatering member being hollow and provided with a plurality of perforations and also having an outlet which opens into the annular space between the screen casing and the spray casing, the at least one dewatering member being arranged at a radial distance from the spindle and the screen casing, and at least one carrier holding the at least one dewatering member.

Abstract: A deaerator for particulates capable of increasing the bulk density of the particles to reduce the volume of the particulates. In the deaerator, a perforated cylindrical section (1a) of a cylindrical body (1) includes a filter (13) formed of a sintered material. A screw conveyor (4) arranged in the cylindrical body has a screw pitch (4a, 4b) which is small and which gradually reduces the region on the downstream side of the perforated cylindrical section. The filter may be formed by sintering a fine metal fibre, a metal powder or a ceramic powder.

Abstract: A screw seal for conveying bulk particulate solids between spaces at differing gas pressures with minimal leakage of gas. A tubular housing encloses a screw conveyor section and a sealing section receiving the solids and forming a sealing plug. The sealing section has a divergent configuration that functions in combination with friction to create sufficient solids pressure with minimal driving torque and wear on the screw conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method useful for inducing blocking in plastic film samples under known laboratory conditions. The test device of the present invention comprises a base platen and a movable platen disposed for cooperation to engage and apply a known, preferably multiplied, compressive force to a plurality of plastic samples. The compressive force is transferred to the movable platen through a thrust member from a lever arm pivotable about a pivot, preferably a hinge, above the base platen. Along the lever arm are disposed a plurality of weight receiving locations for engagement by a hanger supporting one or more selected weights. The test device of the present invention permits higher compressive forces to be applied to plastic test samples under laboratory conditions without requiring the use of heavier weights and produces more reproducible compressive forces than prior art methods.