Abstract: Aggregate processing systems, methods, and apparatus are described. In some embodiments, a plant is configurable in one of a plurality of configurations, e.g. by sliding one of a plurality of chutes, hoppers, or flumes into a frame and/or by modifying a height of the frame. In some embodiments, a roller floor assembly is in a maintenance configuration when a chute is in a maintenance position. In some embodiments, a flume includes one or more diverters for moving a subset of material from one side of the flume to another.

Abstract: A deck inlet for a sifter includes a pan and a spreader. The pan is oriented at an angle from about 2° to about 20° with respect to a horizontal plane. The spreader is coupled to or integral with an upper surface of the pan. The spreader is configured to spread a material substantially evenly across a width of the pan.

Abstract: A screen drive for a mobile material processing screen which can be at a travel width without having to fold or disable the screen drive. The screen drive system includes a drive motor, which is tucked at least partially under the vibrating screen; a sheave, having a double row ball bearing being supported by a shaft; a belt, coupling sheave and drive motor; a drive shaft coupled to a first universal joint, and a second universal joint, which is coupled to an opposing end of the drive shaft and to sheave.

Abstract: A vibratory apparatus includes a first mass comprising a first deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the first deck, a second mass comprising a second deck with a path of travel between a first point and a second point along the second deck, a shaft coupled to the first mass and at least one eccentric weight coupled to the shaft, and at least one resilient member in the form of a plate having a thickness, the plate coupled at a first end to the first deck and at a second end to the second deck, the plate having a thickness disposed transverse to the path of travel along the first and second decks, the plate having at least one opening formed therethrough to form a web having a spring characteristic.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis, at least one ground engaging traction member connected to the chassis, a cleaning system held by the chassis and configured to clean crop material, and an elevator supplied with the crop material. The elevator includes a housing having a crop material inlet that receives the crop material, a boot portion that forms a bottom of the housing, and a plurality of paddles configured to convey the crop material through the housing and away from the boot portion in a generally vertical direction. The elevator further includes a hinged wall section that includes a flexible steel sheet and a UHMW material plastic or other durable wear resistant flexible material overlying the sheet and facing an interior of the elevator. The hinged wall section may be a boot door or a head door.

Abstract: A material handling system is provided that allows for the even distribution and increased fill percent of a container without the need for personnel to manually even out the distribution of the material, and contains and protects material from the environment. The system deposits and levels material into an open-top container, and may include a leveler comprising a cover, a screw coupled to the cover, and a trough. The screw may be a shafted screw and the trough may be a bottomless trough. A hydraulic piston may be coupled to the cover and a support structure may both support and move the cover of the leveler.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes a chassis; a cleaning system carried by the chassis and is configured to clean crop material; and a crop material elevator carried by the chassis that is supplied with cleaned crop material from the cleaning system. The crop material elevator includes: a housing including a boot portion at a bottom of the housing, the boot portion defining a bulbous shape on at least a conveyance side of the housing; a driving loop held within the housing and configured to rotate; a driving element linked to the driving loop and configured to rotate the driving loop; and a plurality of paddles carried by the driving loop.

Abstract: An agricultural harvester includes an auger assembly including an auger having an auger shaft defining an axis of rotation and a flighting carried by the auger shaft, the auger being configured to rotate the flighting in a sweeping path about the axis of rotation; and an auger trough placed adjacent to the auger to hold crop material in the sweeping path and having a bottom below the sweeping path. The auger trough has a first portion on a first side of the bottom and a second portion on a second side opposite the first side of the bottom, with the second portion of the auger trough having an end directed toward the first portion in a direction of the sweeping path.

Abstract: Such a mobile recycler that an operator can replenish a reducing agent tank with a reducing agent from the ground is provided. A reducing agent tank stores a reducing agent supplied to an exhaust gas treatment device treating an exhaust gas from an engine through reduction reaction. The reducing agent tank is arranged in front of a front end of a crawler belt and in the rear of a front end of a track frame in a fore/aft direction. The reducing agent tank is arranged as being superimposed on the crawler belt in a front view, below an engine frame at a distance therefrom.

Abstract: A combined auger conveyor and screening apparatus features an inlet hopper mounted to an auger housing adjacent an inlet end thereof, and a screen support frame disposed atop the inlet hopper and supporting a screen over an area of the inlet hopper. A screen drive mechanism is removably mounted to the auger housing, coupled to the screen support frame and operable to drive oscillatory motion of the screen. An angle adjustment mechanism is operable to vary a position of ground wheels relative to the auger housing in order to change an inclination angle of the auger housing and screen relative to the ground. A hydraulic circuit supplying hydraulic motors for both the auger and the screen drive mechanism comprises a control valve operable to adjust an oscillatory speed of the screen support frame.

Abstract: A particle size separator includes an upper separator frame, a lower separator frame, a screen disposed between the upper separator frame and the lower separator frame, a large size particle outlet having an inlet disposed below the screen, a small size particle outlet disposed in the lower separator frame and a combined baffle and seal unit disposed in an opening in the screen. The unit has a seal face configured to sealingly engage the inlet of the large size particle outlet. The unit has a baffle configured to constrain movement of particles on an upper surface of the screen into the inlet. The baffle is configured to sealingly engage an interior wall of the upper separator frame.

Abstract: A mobile collapsible screen and cone crusher combination where the screen is pivoted forward and downward for transport and a rubber hopper is coupled to the fines conveyor so as to permit a hinged connection and a sliding connection between the flexible hopper and the fines conveyor. A plurality of flexible matter edge plates are used at the rear of the flexible hopper to facilitate proper compression and expansion of the flexible hopper. A selectable maintenance catch is used to allow the screen to be elevated to an intermediate height for maintenance.

Abstract: In a system, one or more robotic arms are positioned adjacent a transport surface that is moving workpieces, and one or more picking elements are connected to each of the robotic arms. The picking elements have physical picking features that remove the workpieces from the transport surface and move the workpieces to another location. A controller is operatively connected to the robotic arms and the picking elements, and the controller independently controls the robotic arms and the picking elements to dynamically position the picking elements in coordination with a dynamic size, spacing, and transport speed of the workpieces being moved by the transport surface.

Abstract: A system and method to excavate and fill is disclosed. The system includes a canister adapted to receive and store excavated material. In addition, a plurality of blades are mounted inside of the canister about a horizontal shaft proximate a bottom end of the canister. A motor is adapted to rotate the plurality of blades to move the excavated material stored in the canister to the bottom end of the canister and a blower is adapted to blow the excavated material at the bottom end of the canister out of an opposing side of the canister through a discharge port. The canister includes a downward sloping lip disposed above the plurality of blades, where the downward sloping lip funnels the excavated material on to a downwardly rotating blade of the plurality of blades.

Abstract: A compact mobile variable angle vibrating screen with fines diverting systems configured to accommodate variable angles and still deliver material, via a plurality of partially nested fines chutes, to a fixed location despite angular adjustment of the vibrating screen. The system comprises a diverting pan attached to the underside and at a top end of a bottom screen and centrally positioned, such that fines material which quickly passes through the several decks encounters the diverting pan instead of falling directly onto a discharge conveyor.

Abstract: A mobile collapsible screen and cone crusher combination where the screen is pivoted forward and downward for transport and a rubber hopper is coupled to the fines conveyor so as to permit a hinged connection and a sliding connection between the flexible hopper and the fines conveyor. A plurality of flexible matter edge plates are used at the rear of the flexible hopper to facilitate proper compression and expansion of the flexible hopper. A selectable maintenance catch is used to allow the screen to be elevated to an intermediate height for maintenance.

Abstract: A dynamically real-time adaptive trommel screen system is revealed. The dynamically adaptive trommel screen system includes a fixture, a trommel screen disposed on the fixture for screening a mixture into regenerated filter granules and screened residues, a structured duct for transporting the regenerated filter granules and an enclosure for collecting the screened residues, a tilt control member arranged on the fixture for adjusting the tilt angle of the trommel screen, and a feedback controller that controls the tilt control member according to the mass flow rate of the screened residues when the trommel screen operates so as to adjust the tilt angle of the trommel screen instantly and dynamically. By the feedback controller and the tilt control member, the tilt angle of the trommel screen is adjusted in a real-time and dynamic way so as to increase the screening efficiency.

Abstract: Mobile metal scrap recovery apparatuses and methods of operating them to remove scrap metal from scrap metal-contaminated soil are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, a mobile metal scrap recovery apparatus comprises first and second wheeled components, each of which is road transportable. The first wheeled component comprises a unit for screening the metal scrap-contaminated soil into at least a coarser fraction and a finer fraction. The second wheeled component comprises a magnet separator, an eddy current separator, and a manual picking station. Methods for conducting the business of scrap metal recovery are also disclosed. Such business methods involve the use of a mobile metal scrap recovery apparatus to remove scrap metal from scrap metal-contaminated soil.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for screening drilling fluids to remove entrained debris, the fluid is urged upwardly from the lower side to the upper side of an inclined or horizontal mesh screen, so that debris falls from the face of the screen under gravity to be collected and removed, and the clean fluid emerges above the screen. The debris may be removed by a conveyor or by a vibrating mesh surface. The operating life of the screen is thereby extended.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus comprising a screen assembly for sifting powder including a rear feeding device, a first conveyor adapted to convey garbage bags from the feeding device to the screen assembly, an inclined board extended downwardly from a front end of the screen assembly, and a second conveyor provided below the board, the second conveyor being adapted to convey materials leaving the screen assembly to a subsequent station for processing; and a nonrigid, elongate object collection assembly extended from the rear of the screen assembly through the screen assembly to a point in front of the screen assembly, the object collection assembly including an elongate housing of rectangular section, a gable roof provided on the housing, a lengthwise gap provided on a top of the gable roof, and a container provided below a front end thereof for collecting nonrigid, elongate objects dropped therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for feeding a user machine (3) with particulate products, such as products for infusion like tea, chamomile and herbal teas in general, comprises a hopper (2) for dispensing the product and means (40; 7) for transferring the product from the hopper (2) to the user machine (3). The hopper (2) includes a feed body (4), with vertical walls (5), having an outlet opening (6) at its lower end. The transfer means (40) comprise a motor-driven, endless conveyor (7) facing the outlet opening (6). The apparatus also comprises adjustment means (50; 10, 11, 30) for adjusting the gap between the endless conveyor (7) and the outlet opening (6) according to the characteristics of the product feeding out the hopper (2).

Abstract: A chip screening method and plant wherein the pin chips (9) are separated from the rest of the chips and dosed among chips that are to be led to a subsequent process (7) so that the share of the pin chips (9) relative to the total amount of chips (7) does not exceed a desired value. After the screening process, a desired amount of pin chips (20) is dosed among the chips that are to be led to a subsequent process (7) without intermediate storage.

Abstract: A screen assembly 22 includes a conveyor 26 pivotably mounted beneath a screen 24 for segregation of fractions of material, for example from a mobile crusher 10. Hydraulic cylinders (not shown) are used to selectively move telescopic arms 48 (only one of which is shown in the Figures), to raise or lower the conveyor 26 between operative position and inoperative positions. In the operative position the conveyor 26 is substantially parallel to the screen 24 for receiving material which has passed through the screen mesh, in use. In the inoperative position the conveyor 26 is angularly displaced relative to the screen 24 about the pivot, to provide access to the underside of the screen 24, e.g. for maintenance purposes. Removable pins 50 are provided for releasably securing the attitude of the conveyor 26 relative to the screen 24 in the operative position.

Abstract: A mobile screening machine with a frame on tracks, having a hopper and a main conveyor mounted to a frame. The main conveyor conveys particulate matter from the hopper to a screening device positioned beneath the upper end of the main conveyor. The particulate is screened into three grades of coarseness, with the coarsest falling into a chute, the middle coarseness falling onto one lateral conveyor and the finest falling onto an underscreen conveyor, which preferably is driven downhill onto another lateral conveyor. The tracks permit the machine to be driven around the work site and onto and off of a trailer, and the entire machine can be remotely controlled. The downhill conveyor permits loading of the hopper from both sides of the frame.

Abstract: A mobile material handling apparatus (10) having a frame (11), an input arrangement (13) for receiving a bulk supply of raw material to be handled, a screen box (16) or other material processing device, a conveyor (17) to transfer the material from the input arrangement (13) to the material processing device (16), one or more discharge conveyors (14, 15) to discharge the processed material, and a wheel set (12) supporting the frame (11) to render the apparatus mobile e.g. to be transported along the public highway via a fifth wheel coupling or low loader. In order to provide the apparatus with a capability of being manoeuvred on site, a set of endless tracks (20) is mounted on the apparatus frame (11) and is adjustable between an inoperative condition out of contact with the ground, and an operative ground-engaging position when it is required to manoeuvre the apparatus on site.

Abstract: The invention in the simplest form is a passive method and apparatus for filtering motile sperm from a sperm sample. The invention passively filters the motile sperm using a membrane assembly disposed in a container. In operation, a sperm sample is placed on one side of the membrane assembly, and the motile sperm migrate through the membrane where they can be easily extracted.

Abstract: A combination of a tractor unit (10) and a wheeled trailer combination, preferably a mobile screening plant (100), in which the tractor unit (10) has endless tracks (11) to render the combination highly maneuverable, and carries an upwardly and downwardly adjustable “fifth wheel coupling” (13) which pivotally connects the forward end (115) of the screening plant (100), the latter having a wheelset (118) at its rear end, and in which the screening plant (100) has an input hopper (114), an elevator (112) for conveying material to be screened from the hopper to a screen box (117), and one or more discharge conveyors (121, 123) for discharging screened material to form one or more stockpiles of screened material.

Abstract: A self-propelled screening apparatus (10) having a support frame (11), endless crawler tracks (15) supporting the frame (11), a hopper (13) and screen or screens (12) mounted on the support frame (11), and a discharge conveyor (14) mounted on the frame (11) and operable to discharge at least one separated portion of screened material (received from the screen) along a required deposition zone while the apparatus is moving.

Abstract: A padding apparatus for padding underground cable or pipeline is provided. The padding apparatus is adapted to continuously separate excavated material piled alongside an excavated ditch into relatively fine padding material and relatively rough residual material as the apparatus moves forward. The padding apparatus continuously places the relatively fine padding material in the ditch. According to the invention, the apparatus includes a frame for supporting and moving an endless openwork in an endless path for lifting excavated material in an elevating direction. The endless openwork has rods and transverse chain sections attached to the rods, whereby the rods and chain sections define openings that allow relatively fine padding material to pass therethrough. A discharge conveyor is positioned beneath at least a portion of the endless openwork of the separator to receive the relatively fine padding material and convey the padding material to the ditch for padding cable or pipeline therein.

Abstract: A padding machine attachment for a vehicle is provided. When padding of a ditch for a pipeline or cable is required, the padding machine is removably attached in a position at one end of a conventional bucket loader, bulldozer, or other base machine or vehicle, whereby said attachment moves along the path of travel of the vehicle. As the vehicle moves the padding machine attachment along one side of the pipeline ditch, the padding machine attachment picks up at least a portion of a pile of excavated material placed parallel to and along the same side of the ditch and processes the excavated material into padding material for placement into the ditch for padding the pipeline or cable.

Abstract: The present invention is a vehicle-mounted trommel screening apparatus. A rotating trommel screen cage having an open front and a closed back is mounted on the vehicle so that the open front of the trommel screen cage is at a side of the vehicle and is adjustably tiltable about the vehicle side while the cage rotates. A conveyor is mounted below the trommel screen cage to convey material rearwardly off the end of the trailer. A push plate folds down below the trommel to assist in loading material that has been discharged from the front. Axially extending gussets within the cage provide additional lifting and tumbling action. Material is dumped into the trommel screen cage with the cage tilted back from the open end. The rotation of the cage causes a tumbling action which simultaneously breaks up larger pieces of material and screens smaller material to the conveyor below the screen. Material retained in the trommel screen may be dumped by tilting the trommel screen cage forward toward the open end.

Abstract: A media recovery hopper which lies on a floor permitting spent media and debris to be swept thereinto. The hopper, in the preferred embodiment, is a substantially rectangular box having one of its four side walls shorter than the rest. The media/debris is swept over this shorter side wall while the other walls collect and "queue" the mixture for recovery. The mixture falls through a screen and into a channeling mechanism composed of a series of ridges and valleys. Along each valley are drop-orifices which permit the media/debris mixture to fall therethrough and into an air-stream which carries the mixture to proper collection or sorting mechanism.

Abstract: The screening assembly includes a tilted upwardly movable belt conveyor over which is mounted a rotatable cylindrical drum axially oriented in the direction of the belt conveyor. A mixed soil receiving bucket mounted over the conveyor upstream of the cylindrical drum. The bucket is also transports a mixture of soil and debris towards the cylindrical drum. The cylindrical drum while rotating allows the soil to drop on the belt conveyor while the debris are rejected at the lower end of the drum. The assembly particularly makes use of a screening drum which includes a cylindrical meshed screen supported by two end rings at both ends of the meshed screen. The drum is rotated by a pair of driving wheels located under each of the rings. One of the rings includes an outer radial flange which is adapted to abut on a pair of wheels for preventing the tilted drum from sliding downwardly.

Abstract: A padding machine used for overlaying a pipeline disposed within a trench with sifted dirt to eliminate contact by rock or other abrasive material with the pipeline and, thereby, preclude rusting, corrosion or like damage. A trench typically lies along the edge of a right-of-way on which the padding machine travels, i.e. pulling, for example, as from a tractor. Raw filling material is introduced onto a shaker driven and/or vibrating screen through the use of, for example, a common backhoe. Rocks or larger sized particles move, by gravity, onto the right-of-way adjacent the side of the machine opposite to that of the trench, where sifted filler material passes onto and from a moving conveyor which is directed toward the desired covering relationship with the pipeline. A feature of the padding machine is the use of a boom which interconnects the freely vertical movable front end of the padding machine to a towing vehicle and includes an hydraulically operated piston for leveling purposes, i.e.

Abstract: A padding machine attachment for a vehicle is provided. When padding of a ditch for a pipeline or cable is required, the padding machine is removably attached in a position at one end of a conventional bucket loader, bulldozer, or other base machine or vehicle, whereby said attachment moves along the path of travel of the vehicle. As the vehicle moves the padding machine attachment along one side of the pipeline ditch, the padding machine attachment picks up at least a portion of a pile of excavated material placed parallel to and along the same side of the ditch and processes the excavated material into padding material for placement into the ditch for padding the pipeline or cable.

Abstract: A vehicle for feeding and screening material including a wheel-supported vehicle frame and a material-transport conveyor extending from one end of the vehicle frame to a raised end located between the ends of the vehicle frame. A multiple deck screen assembly forms an extension of the material-transport conveyor, and inclines downwardly toward a discharge end located at the opposite end of the vehicle frame. Off-bearing conveyors are adjustable to transport screened material laterally of the vehicle frame.

Abstract: An improved pipeline padding apparatus includes a separator for separating fine material out of spoil which is piled along side an excavation, an elevator for transporting spoil to the separator, and a pair of guide projections for guiding spoil into the elevator. A conveyor is provided to transport the separated fine portion of the spoil back into the excavation, thereby padding the pipeline. The separator, the elevator, the guide projections and the vehicle are all mounted on a tracked support vehicle. In one embodiment, the motor of the tracked support vehicle is mounted above and forward of the elevator, which helps reduce the amount of dust that the motor is exposed to during operation. According to another aspect of the invention, the guide projections may be configured to allow excess spoil to flow underneath in such a manner as to smooth out a path for the tracks of the support vehicle.

Abstract: A pipeline padding machine for use with a motorized carrier is mounted on a flat bed trailer adapted to be hitched to the carrier. Collector apparatus mounted beneath the screening apparatus receives the earth from a discharge at the bottom of the screening apparatus and conveys it to its discharge end which is located laterally of the carrier-trailer when the screening apparatus is in a transverse operational mode. A delivery apparatus pivotally mounted at a receiving end beneath the discharge end of the collector apparatus may in turn receive the earth discharged for delivery at greater distances from the screening apparatus. This delivery apparatus may be supported at its discharge end from the carrier or the trailer so that its discharge end may be located laterally of the carrier-trailer at a selected distance from the carrier-trailer within a variable range of distances.

Abstract: Particle separating apparatus includes a horizontally disposed rectangular screen or grid having openings adapted to pass smaller particles from a stream of particles of varying sizes while retaining larger particles upon the top of the screen. A conveying screw mounted in a trough below the screen conveys the smaller particles forwardly along the trough to a discharge opening. The screen is mounted above the screw for horizontal reciprocation along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the screw and is biassed by springs engaged between the front and rear ends of the screen and stationary surfaces to a normal rest position midway between the ends of the reciprocating path.

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 mobile material screening apparatus includes a sloped screen box, a housing, a fifth wheel coupling, an engine and a pair of wheels fixed to the housing. Two hydraulic rams lift the apparatus and wheels off the ground and four extendable legs support it off the ground. A conveyor located underneath the screen box delivers fully screened material up over the fifth wheel coupling. A second conveyor located at the side of the apparatus removes second grade screened material. A third conveyor removes reject material which comes down a chute.

Abstract: A compact padding machine for screening and conveying soil into a trench. The machine is usable as an attachment to a conventional bucket loader, bulldozer or other base machine. The padding machine includes a screening belt, an underlying inclined conveyor belt, and a transverse, extendible discharge conveyor belt. Soil is collected and conveyed upwardly on the screening belt. Fine grained soil passes through the screening belt, is deposited onto the inclined conveyor belt, and is discharged therefrom onto the transverse conveyor belt, from where it may be conveyed into an adjacent trench. A hydraulic vibrator is coupled to the screening belt to disaggregate clods of fine-grained soil and cause the soil to pass through the screening belt. Rocks and other large objects are conveyed to the rear of the machine and discharged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for padding a pipeline lying in a ditch by separating fine particles from coarse particles in the material excavated from the ditch and windrowed along the side of the ditch comprising moving a frame supporting a rotating separator drum at the desired distance above ground to engage windrowed material at the level required to obtain sufficient fines to pad the pipeline while rotating the separating drum to separate the fine and coarse material and conveying the fines laterally into the ditch.

Abstract: A municipal solid waste material sorting system comprises a multi-stage trommel having a relatively short first stage section with relatively small holes for screening out grit, dirt, coins, small stones and the like, a second substantially longer second stage section for screening out beverage bottles, metal cans, and other waste materials of similar size and a third stage relatively short section for screening out large objects such as half gallon and gallon plastic, metal and glass containers. The respective screened municipal solid waste fractions from each of the three trommel sections are advantageously handled in respective handling streams. Materials screened in the first stage section of the trommel may be further classified as by a vibrative air table-specific gravity device to recover useful materials, such as glass cullet and coins. Materials screened in the second stage of the trommel may be further screened in a two-section disk screening and air classification arrangement.

Abstract: A cleaning system is provided for separating desired material from undesirable material in a mixture of particulate materials. The system includes an inlet for receiving the mixture of materials and an outlet for discharging the desired materials. At least one screen is provided for separating undersized material from oversized material within the mixture, and at least one vacuum air-lift is provided for separating the lighter material from the heavier material within the mixture. A first sensor is mounted below the discharge end of the screen for sensing the quantity of undersized material separated by the screen and a second sensor is mounted in the air-lift for sensing the quantity of lighter materials separated by the air-lift. The signals generated by the sensors can be received by a processing unit which adjusts the extent of separation by the screen and by the air-lift to achieve the desired efficiency of the cleaning system.

Abstract: Screening apparatus comprises a feeder conveyor, an elevator, a screen box, an end boom elevator and two lateral boom elevators all carried on a wheeled trailer. The elevator has an elongated support with an endless belt arranged around two rollers longitudinally spaced apart on the support. A superstructure framework on the trailer carries the support in a plurality of inclined positions, and the screen box is pivotally linked to the end of the support corresponding to the discharge end of the belt and hinged to the structure at the opposite end. The support extends and retracts along its lengths by means of hydraulic rams and thereby pivots the screen. The screen box also has hydraulic rams and cylinders to adjust the angle of inclination of the screen relative to the support and thereby also adjust the inclination of the support.

Abstract: A flour sifter for separating doughballs from fine particulate matter in a breading mixture, comprises a hopper for receiving the breading mixture. The lower portion of the hopper includes a sifting screen along most of the longitudinal length that is sized to allow only the fine particulate matter to pass therethrough. The hopper may be an insert for a sifter table that is readily removably mounted within a flour sifter enclosure. The hopper insert is mounted to accommodate a breading lug above the insert. A slot at one end of the hopper is large enough for the doughballs to pass therethrough. The enclosure is provided with mounting flanges to support another breading lug below the hopper insert to receive the sifted fine particulate matter. A doughball ejector chute is associated with the slot of the hopper insert to direct the doughballs from the hopper insert to a doughball collector pan. The hopper further includes an auger brush having a helical pattern of bristles along the length of the brush.

Abstract: A mobile collector or harvester for weed seeds that are normally discharged onto the ground during a combining operation, is connected to trail a conventional grain combine, and collects the straw and the tailings discharged from the separating sieve that normally discharges small chaff and seeds onto the ground. The harvester frame has a conveyor for conveying straw and chaff onto a separate shaker screening member, which is of size to let the small weed seeds drop onto a grain pan and then into a hopper, while the straw is retained on the top of the screen and discharged onto the ground. A separate auger conveyor is used for elevating the weed seeds from the hopper into a storage tank, which is then periodically emptied through the use of another auger conveyor. The entire unit is self-contained including an internal combustion engine power unit, that drives a hydraulic pump for operating hydraulic motors through suitable valves.

Abstract: A rail spike cleaning apparatus includes a tumbler and an arrangement whereby the tumbler is automatically loaded and unloaded. The tumbler is a continuous tumbler in that it is operable to receive spikes continuously while it is tumbling and operable to automatically discharge cleaned spikes while it is tumbling. The tumbler is connected to a motor which causes the tumbler to rotate about a rotation axis, which is preferably horizontal. The tumbler is cylindrical and the axis of rotation is the center axis of the cylinder. The tumbler includes a cleaning chamber separated from a discharge chamber by a wall. When spikes reach sufficient height in the cleaning chamber, they may overflow the wall and go into the discharge chamber. Spikes which land in the discharge chamber are caught by vanes which carry them up to drop upon a conveyor belt whereupon they are carried out of the tumbler.

Abstract: In combination a screen, a shaker, a conveyor and carbody device which is attachable to a vehicle of choice, such as an hydraulic excavator, a backhoe, etc., and when installed thereon allows the vehicle to perform as a padding machine.