Abstract: Shaker comprising a frame, a tray for receiving one or more samples and a drive for the tray, in which a tray shaft is mounted eccentrically in a drivable hollow shaft. The tray shaft is fixedly connected to the tray and secured against rotation relative to the frame.

Abstract: A food processing system is disclosed. The food processing system includes a food scaling portion, a food bagging portion and a chute portion connecting the food scaling portion to the food bagging portion. The food processing system also includes a foreign object sensor arranged about the chute portion. The foreign object sensor and the chute portion cooperatively form a foreign object sensing zone within a passage formed by the chute portion that extends along a portion of a length of the chute portion. The food processing system also includes at least one sensor testing conduit extending through one or both of the food scaling portion and the chute portion. An exit opening of the at least one sensor testing conduit is arranged in an opposing relationship with respect to the foreign object sensing zone. A foreign object sensor apparatus for detecting non-foodstuff material is also disclosed. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is a particle separation apparatus. The particle separation apparatus for separating soil by particle size in a wet-type separation manner includes a body unit providing a space in which a mixture of the soil and water is received to flow vertically, a screen unit coupled to the inside of the body unit to separate the soil by the particle size from the mixture that flows vertically, and a space adjustment unit coupled to a lower portion of the body unit to cover the lower portion of the body unit, the space adjustment unit adjusting a volume of a lower space of the body unit to allow the mixture to repeatedly flow in a vertical direction.

Abstract: The technology described herein provides systems and methods for the viral transfer of entertainment media with a “media exchange” established based on tools over the internet in a “buddy list,” peer-to-peer, social networking environment, or the like, without utilizing a service provider's distribution system. Additionally, this technology provides tangible media exchange in a geographically local area, wherein the media exchange is prearranged based on the “buddy list,” peer-to-peer, social networking environment, and so forth.

Abstract: A method for selecting proportions of aggregate for incorporation into concrete comprises several steps. First, a maximum aggregate size for a specific application is determined. A sample of the maximum size aggregate is loose poured into a container. The percentage voids in that sample is then calculated. An amount of smaller sized aggregate equal to approximately the volume of percentage voids calculated earlier is added to the sample until a reduced volume of voids in the mixed sample is achieved. Finally, the amounts of aggregate determined to have the reduced volume of voids in the mixed sample are used in a concrete mixture.

Abstract: Test methods are provided for determining the amount of contaminants in a carbon black sample. The test procedures include screening a known amount of carbon black to separate larger particles in the sample from smaller particles. The sample and/or separated larger particles are treated with a separating force to disperse larger agglomerates of carbon black into smaller aggregates of carbon black and to separate contaminants from carbon black aggregates. The treated sample or separated larger particles can then be screened to again separate larger particles from smaller particles. The separating force may be a water wash stream which contacts the sample or separated larger particles at a pressure of from about 15 psi to about 35 psi. The separating force may instead or additionally be generated by a dispersing agent which can be combined with the sample or separated larger particles in an amount or concentration sufficient to disperse larger agglomerates of carbon black into smaller carbon black aggregates.

Abstract: A system for preparing samples of wear particles employs a series of movable particle traps or screens within a passage to separate particles by size and magnetic characteristics. Movable magnets are placed adjacent to an inlet tube upstream from the particle traps to separate magnetic particles from non-magnetic particles. One embodiment includes a coarse particle trap and a medium particle trap. A controller initially positions the magnets adjacent to the tube and positions both particle traps to block the passage so that only fine non-magnetic wear particles are collected in the first sample. The medium non-magnetic wear particles are then rinsed from the medium particle trap to provide a second sample. Next, the coarse non-magnetic wear particles are rinsed from the coarse particle trap to provide the third sample.

Abstract: A grain processor for separating and measuring components of a sample of grain as it passes through a rotary sieve having two or more sieving sections having different perforations. The separated particles in each of the sieving sections are passed through a densimetric column containing a stream of pressure-adjustable air generated by a blower to remove impurities from the separated grain which is channeled into a weighing hopper which measures the weight of the grain or impurities and registers the information in a unit provided with data processing and recording circuits, including a microprocessor. Tachometers provide rotational speed pulses to rotation control circuits in the unit which provides an input to motor controllers associated with the motors driving the fans and the rotary sieve. Each of the rotation control circuits is provided with a motor-driven potentiometer coupled to an optical coded disc which provides an output to adjacently-positioned optical heads providing an input into the unit.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically removing particulate matter from a weighing pan of a particle-size analyzer. The apparatus includes a weighing pan having a hinged door to provide a discharge outlet for the particular matter and a wiper blade assembly for clearing the particulate matter from the weighing pan. The apparatus further includes a driving mechanism, preferably a rodless cylinder, for operating the wiper assembly in the weighing pan.

Abstract: A vibro separator, comprising a separator unit which is comprised of a screen assembly releasably mounted on a hopper at the top, which screen assembly has a screen releasably fastened therein; a vibrator unit which is comprised of a motor directly or indirectly attached to the hopper at the bottom for driving two eccentric weights to rotate via a revolving shaft; and a base which has springs for flexibly supporting the vibrator unit and the separator unit.

Abstract: A vertical set of sieves receives the particulate material from a vibrating trough conveyor above the set and is vibrated by an agitator on the machine frame. The sieves are spread apart and then tilted to dump the collected particles into respective funnels. The set can then be swung back and contracted for the the next stage. The funnels are connected to collectors which are automatically weighted.

Abstract: A rotatable wood chip thickness classifying device. The apparatus includes two coaxial, spaced sets of apertured discs, each set defining a drum. The interdisc spacing of each drum is uniform, each drum having a different interdisc spacing from the other drum. For each set of discs, the inside diameter of adjacent discs alternates. Wood chips are fed into the interior of the first drum, this drum having a typical disc interspacing of 2 mm. The common axis of drum rotation is slightly tilted to the horizontal and chips of less than 2 mm fall through the interdisc openings of the first drum. The remainder of the chips pass to the interior of the second drum, typically of 8 mm interdisc spacing. Chips less than 8 mm fall through the interdisc openings of the second drum. The alternation of inside disc diameters, for each drum, yields a chip tumbling effect to thereby inhibit an elongated chip, of a diameter of less than 2 mm for example, from straddling the 2 mm openings and not falling therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing samples taken from a flow of bulk material for the purposes of determining representative chemical and/or physical characteristics of the sampled material. The sampled material is removed in the form of a mix of fine and coarser particles of dust from the flow of bulk material by way of a suction conduit. The sample-preparing apparatus is positioned at a spacing from the intake opening of the suction conduit and at a spacing from the flow of bulk material, and comprises a first housing accommodating a first hollow strainer and a second housing downstream of the first housing and accommodating a second hollow strainer. Outside the second strainer, the second housing is communicated with a reduced pressure source for producing the suction effect to transport the dust particles of the sampled material through the two housings and, insofar as the grain size of the dust particles permits, also through the two strainers.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic screen analysis of a granular material in which the material is screened from a polygonal drum which is divided crosswise into at least two chambers by a transverse partition. A first chamber has progressively coarser screens on each of its faces except one, which has a downward slanting ramp for transferring the sample into a second chamber. Particles are transferred or chuted into the second chamber after they have been screened on all the screens of the first chamber. The second chamber has screens progressively coarser than those in the first chamber, for making more cuts. This construction increases the number of graded screening surfaces available without requiring greater drum length or more sides.

Abstract: Apparatus for analysis of particulate material employs a stack of spaced sieves permanently joined to form a sieve column. Clean-out ports are provided for inter-sieve spaces. In one embodiment the clean-out ports communicate with a common passage that is closed by a removable rod. In another embodiment individual clean-out ports are closed by separate plugs. Guard sieves are provided to protect the usual sieves at the ends of the column.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for sequentially cleaning the screens of a particle size analyzer of the indexing drum type, as each screen moves out of the screening position. The cleaning member is preferably removed from the drum during each screening step. The particles dislodged from the screen being cleaned are returned to the sample being analyzed in a manner which maintains the accuracy of the analysis. In an alternative embodiment, each screen is cleaned during a screening step, at an indexed position other than the screening position.

Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of the quality parameters of granular materials includes a loader assembly which delivers precise volume samples of granular material to a meter assembly which measures the moisture content. The apparatus also includes a sieve assembly which separates the samples into fractions according to kernel size. A scale assembly weighs the fractions and feeds this information to a computer which controls the apparatus and calculates the moisture content, density and percentage of foreign material contained in the granular material.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the field of particle chromatography, and more specifically to a method and apparatus employing the cascade principle for the purpose of characterizing particles according to subtle differences between the individual particle contours, by passing the particles through a repetitive series of sieves in a column, that have the same mesh size and are dimensioned to pass the entire sample, and wherein the particle characterization is based upon resident time of the similarly shaped particles within the column.

Abstract: The correct plant population is obtained by utilizing a method and apparatus for determining the number of seeds per unit weight in a sample number of seeds representative of the type of seeds to be planted. A seed sorter comprising a plurality of stacked sieves is utilized to sort the sample into groups according to seed size. Each group can then be individually weighed to obtain a weight which is multiplied by an associated constant representing the average number of seeds per unit weight for the size range. The product is the average number of seeds per sieve which numbers are totalled and divided by the sample weight to obtain the average number of seeds per unit weight. If no weighing scale is available, the user can individually count the number of seeds in each group and divide by the associated constant to obtain the weight per size range for the sample. The weights are added and divided into the total number of seeds in the sample to obtain the average number of seeds per unit weight.

Abstract: A device for fiber fractionation to analyze for coarse particles or chips in which fractionation takes place by washing a sample of the fiber material on a horizontally disposed slotted plate submerged in water, a central bundle-type nozzle which extends from above into the water above the slotted plate, the jets of which are directed downwardly, preferably angularly, against the slotted plate, and means for collecting the material passing through the slotted plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing dust from a fiber sample for subsequent analysis is disclosed. A first upper cylindrical chamber containing a fiber sample has a tangential air jet and a radial air jet installed to swirl and tumble the fiber sample in a cyclonic fashion, thus liberating the dust from the sample when either a positive or a negative pressure is applied through the air jets. The liberated dust particles are then screened out through a 100 mesh screen filter and exhausted through a funnel. The device can be equipped with a second stage chamber containing a plurality of step-stage filters and a third stage plurality of microfilters to selectively screen the dust particles. A blow bottle containing an aqueous medium to absorb even the finest dust particles or gas can also be added as a fourth stage.

Abstract: A stack of interfitting sieve trays are held in position on a carrier by an upstanding periperial wall on the carrier which engages the lower portion of the lower sieve tray, and by a plurality of clamp-down units which at their lower ends are pivotally connected to end portions of the carrier and at their upper ends include a lever operated hook mechanisms for engaging upper edge portions of the top sieve tray. Side edge portions of the carrier are provided with upper and lower bearing strips. These edge portions are received between upper and lower sets of cam rollers which are mounted onto web portions of side members which have been fashioned from channel stock. The side members carry bearing strips which contact and guide the side edges of the carrier. The clamp-down units are overweighted on their outer sides so that when released they will fall outwardly against stop means for limiting the amount of outward movement.

Abstract: An automated wet sieving apparatus and process are provided comprising a wetting liquid distributor which is coupled by eccentric disks to a motor which drives the distributor in an orbital path for supplying the liquid onto a sieve. Means are provided for creating alternating vacuum and pressure below the sieve. The vacuum draws undersized particles whose size is being determined through the sieve and the pressure loosens blinding particles from the sieve. Preferably, the sieve is cyclically tilted as the wetting liquid is being distributed onto the sieve.

Abstract: Sieve analysis and fineness modulus of particles are adjusted in bulk, without breakdown into size fractions and reblending to tailor a feed product for a given application such as asphalt sand or concrete sand by adjusting the rate of largest size cut and smallest size cut removal in a way to modify the distribution of intermediate fractions.

Abstract: In the manufacture of thermoplastic resin particles by polymerization, size classification by screening of polymerized particles at rates from 27 to 69-lbs/hr-ft.sup.2 is improved by the use of solid finely divided phosphates and carbonates in amounts of from 500 to 3000 ppm of such salts provided that this amount is above the breakdown point in classification of the particles for such rates of screening.

Abstract: A sample of particulate material is entrained in a moving body of fluid and the fluid is continuously discharged through a porous weighing member. Before passing to the weighing member sized fractions within the sample, except for the smallest one, are separated and held back at different regions in the body of fluid so that only the one fraction initially deposits on the weighing member. The weight addition of this fraction is measured and then a further fraction is re-entrained to move with the fluid to pass to and deposit on the weighing member cumulatively with the first fraction. The weight increase caused by this further deposition is measured and the re-entrainment and weight increase measurement of still further fractions are effected separately and successively until all fractions are deposited on the weighing member. These individual weights and their sum are recorded either manually or automatically and from them size percentages are computed.

Abstract: Tobacco is graded by size by separating a sample into size fractions using a rotary drum screen. The sample is characterized by two distribution curves, one for a finer portion and the other for a coarser portion. The crossing point of logarithmic plots of the percentage by weight vs. particle size distributions of the two portions provides a precise and sensitive descriptor, which can be termed as a "percent desirable fraction," for grading the size characteristics of threshed or cut tobacco.