Spindle Or Roller Having Axially Spaced, Flat-sided Circumferential Elements (e.g., Flanges, Disks, Wheels, Etc.) Projecting Therefrom Patents (Class 209/672)
  • Publication number: 20030183561
    Abstract: Device for separating fine fractions and coarse fractions from bulk goods, comprising a frame and a screen plane supported by it for supporting the coarse fraction and allowing the fine fraction to pass through, the screen plane being formed by a number of screen disks, that have been arranged in groups and detachably on rotating driven shafts, the shafts on both sides being bearing mounted with bearing ends in first and second bearings on the frame and at at least one end being in driven engagement with driving means, the bearing ends being divided into a shaft member permanent to the shaft and a bearing member bearing mounted in the first and second bearings on the frame, which bearing member inter-engages with the permanent shaft member for co-rotation therewith, wherein in both bearing ends the permanent shaft member and the bearing member can be coupled to each other and can be uncoupled from each other by a movement of the shaft transverse to the main direction of the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: BOLLEGRAAF BEHEER APPINGEDAM B.V.
    Inventor: Derk Abel Smook
  • Patent number: 6612446
    Abstract: A spreading roll for spreading out a chip fleece for producing wood chip material or similar panels, includes two disk-shaped end pieces (3, 7), plural thin spokes (6), rods, pipes or cords arranged extending between the end pieces, and pipe-shaped loose sheaths (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) arranged on the spokes or the like for preventing the adhesion of fibrous materials or contaminants on the spokes or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Dieffenbacher Schenck Panel GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Scriba, Walter Henschel
  • Publication number: 20030116486
    Abstract: A disc screen apparatus for classifying a stream of mixed recyclable materials of various sizes and shapes, including newspaper, clean mixed paper, magazines, plastic bottles, glass bottles and jars, cans, and the like. The apparatus has an inclined fixed first disc screen section and an inclined articulating second disc screen section whose angle of inclination can be independently adjusted via a hydraulic cylinder or other angular adjustment mechanism in order to improve the separation of newspaper and/or clean mixed paper without impairing the ability of the fixed disc screen section to separate mixed containers. The first and second disc screen sections are supported by first and second frames that carry the parallel driven shafts and discs that form the disc screen sections. The frames have complementary mating surfaces that limit the range of articulation of the second disc screen section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Robert M. Davis
  • Publication number: 20030089645
    Abstract: The invention relates to a screening device, in particular for material to be screened containing stones or concrete, with a screening unit (10) having rotating screening elements (13), the screening elements (13) being arranged on a plurality of screening shafts (14) directed parallel to one another, and the screening elements (13) forming a screening plane (21). According to the invention, the screening shafts are divided into at least two groups, that is a first group (15) with screening shafts and a second group (16) with screening shafts, screening shafts of the first and second groups being arranged alternately. Furthermore, the screening shafts of one group (16) can be moved together and cross-axially in relation to the screening shafts of the other group (15).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Heinz Backers
  • Publication number: 20030062294
    Abstract: A disc screen apparatus has a V-shaped configuration with a lowermost region that provides a laterally inclined trough that receives the mixed recyclable materials. Broken glass falls downwardly between the discs of the lowermost region. Plastic milk bottles and soda pop containers tumble down the trough and eventually fall off its lower end. Newspaper is conveyed upwardly over the terminal upper ends of a pair of vertically inclined regions of the disc screen apparatus. The frame of the disc screen apparatus can incorporate ducting for connecting a source of pressurized air to one or more air manifolds the blow air toward the vertically inclined regions for helping the discs in these regions convey newspaper up the inclined regions and over their terminal upper ends. The angle of inclination of the vertically inclined regions may be adjustable to optimize the efficiency of classification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Robert M. Davis, James D. Weller
  • Patent number: 6460706
    Abstract: Air is directed downwardly from at least one laterally extending air manifold to push newspaper in a stream of mixed recyclable materials against the discs of an inclined disc screen to ensure that the newspaper is conveyed upwardly over an output end of the screen while containers and bottles in the stream tumble downwardly off a lower input end of the screen. In an alternate embodiment, the disc screen has a V-shaped configuration with a lowermost region that provides a laterally inclined trough that received the mixed recyclable materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: CP Manufacturing
    Inventor: Robert M. Davis
  • Publication number: 20020056668
    Abstract: A mobile screening unit for screening bulk material. The screening unit comprises a first screener, a second screener, and an elongated mobile support frame having a longitudinal axis. The first screener is mounted to the support frame and extends longitudinally thereon. The first screener has an inlet for receiving the bulk material containing large-sized, medium-sized, and small-sized particles. The first screener also has a first outlet for releasing large-sized particles and a second outlet for releasing medium-sized and small-sized particles. The first screener is used for screening the bulk material along a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support frame. The second screener is mounted to the support frame and extends longitudinally thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Jean-Denis Dube, Eric Houle, Frederic Gauvin
  • Patent number: 6382425
    Abstract: A mobile system for recovering materials from construction waste or demolition debris is provided. The system includes a mobile wheeled chassis that has at least one picking station. A grapple is mounted on the wheeled chassis for selectively retrieving waste or debris from a jobsite. A screen is disposed on the wheeled chassis and is configured to receive the waste or debris from the grapple. The screen sorts the waste or debris into fines and oversized material. A conveyor transports the oversized material adjacent to at least one picking station to allow selected materials to be removed for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: Robert H. Brickner, Steven Clements
  • Patent number: 6371305
    Abstract: A compound disc is used to eliminate a secondary slot normally formed between the outside perimeter of discs on adjacent shafts of a material separation screen. The compound disc includes a primary disc joined to an associated secondary disc. The primary disc and the secondary disc each have the same shape but the secondary disc has a smaller outside perimeter and is wider. The primary disc and associated secondary disc are formed from a unitary piece of rubber. The compound discs are interleaved with oppositely aligned compound discs on adjacent shafts. In other words, the large disc is positioned laterally on a shaft to longitudinally align with a smaller disc on an adjacent shaft. The oppositely aligned and alternating arrangement between the large discs and small discs eliminate the secondary slot that normally exists in disc screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Bulk Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred M. Austin, Roy R. Miller, Brian K. Clark
  • Patent number: 6318560
    Abstract: A disc screen apparatus is disclosed for separating mixed recyclable materials of varying sizes and shapes. The disc screen apparatus has an enclosure or frame with an input, a container discharge location and a paper discharge location. A first plurality of shafts and second plurality of shafts are rotatably supported by the frame. The first plurality of shafts form a first disc screen disposed in a first plane and the second plurality of shafts form a second disc screen at least a portion of which is disposed in a second plane. The second plane is disposed beneath and angled with respect to the first plane such that the planes at least partially overlap. One or more motors rotate the first and second plurality of shafts. Each shaft has a plurality of discs positioned along it. The discs are offset between adjacent shafts such that discs on each shaft interleave with discs on an adjacent shaft but do not touch the adjacent shaft. The discs are substantially square in shape with radiused corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: C P Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Davis
  • Patent number: 6296124
    Abstract: A screening device for separating fractions of bulk materials, and has at least one screening floor, with a plurality of shafts aligned parallel to each other, which rotate at the same speed, in the same direction of rotation. Screening stars are mounted on these shafts, with teeth projecting radially in relation to the shaft. The screening stars are positioned interleaved with one another. The diameter d of each screening star is approximately determined according to the formula d = 2 ⁢ t 2 whereby t is the spacing between the longitudinal axes of shafts disposed adjacent to each other. Viewed in the direction of rotation, the leading flank of each tooth of the screening stars extends along an approximately straight line near the tip of the tooth and defines a curve from the tooth trough to the flank area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Albert Zubrägel Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Albert Zubrägel
  • Patent number: 6257414
    Abstract: A roller sifting or dispersing machine for the classification or dispersing of wood chips, fibers, or similar materials and to the utilization of an above-described roller sifting or dispersing machine. The roller sifting machine includes annular grooves and annular crosspieces. An outer sheathing surface of each annular crosspiece is provided with adjoining teeth in the circumference direction. The front tooth-side in the direction of rotation is steeper than the adjoining tooth back-side. The crosspiece and teeth of a roller also form a gradient that is opposed to the adjacent roller but has the same gradient height. The leading tooth sides of the circulating teeth create a pitching effect on the particles of the material to be sifted so that clogging of the roller set are avoided and an accelerated movement towards the exit end is achieved. By the continuous opposing movement of the teeth, clogging of these openings for the passage of chips is avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: G. Siempelkamp GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Klaus Gerhardt, Werner Gawlitta
  • Patent number: 6250477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a star scalper for separating supplied material, and has a number of parallel, rotatable shafts that are each equipped with a number of star bodies placed at a distance from each other, which bodies have a hub and radially protruding star fingers, in which the star bodies of each shaft extend between the star bodies of the adjacent shaft. According to the invention at least one star body is provided with a scraper, which scraper reaches to the hub of the adjacent star body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Machinefabriek Lubo B.V.
    Inventor: Gererdus Cornelis Petrus Maria Swanink
  • Patent number: 6250478
    Abstract: A disc screen apparatus is disclosed for separating mixed recyclable materials of varying sizes and shapes. The disc screen apparatus has an enclosure or frame with an input, a container discharge location and a paper discharge location. A first plurality of shafts and second plurality of shafts are rotatably supported by the frame. The first plurality of shafts form a first disc screen disposed in a first plane and the second plurality of shafts form a second disc screen at least a portion of which is disposed in a second plane. The second plane is disposed beneath and angled with respect to the first plane such that the planes at least partially overlap. One or more motors rotate the first and second plurality of shafts. Each shaft has a plurality of discs positioned along it. The discs are offset between adjacent shafts such that discs on each shaft interleave with discs on an adjacent shaft but do not touch the adjacent shaft. The discs are substantially square in shape with radiused corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: C P Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Davis
  • Publication number: 20010004059
    Abstract: A disc screen apparatus is disclosed for separating mixed recyclable materials of varying sizes and shapes. The disc screen apparatus has an enclosure or frame with an input, a container discharge location and a paper discharge location. A first plurality of shafts and second plurality of shafts are rotatably supported by the frame. The first plurality of shafts form a first disc screen disposed in a first plane and the second plurality of shafts form a second disc screen at least a portion of which is disposed in a second plane. The second plane is disposed beneath and angled with respect to the first plane such that the planes at least partially overlap. One or more motors rotate the first and second plurality of shafts. Each shaft has a plurality of discs positioned along it. The discs are offset between adjacent shafts such that discs on each shaft interleave with discs on an adjacent shaft but do not touch the adjacent shaft. The discs are substantially square in shape with radiused corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventor: Robert M. Davis
  • Patent number: 6237778
    Abstract: An agricultural separating device has a starshaft (7) comprising a row of resilient starwheels (2) mounted on a rotatable shaft. Rings (5) formed of a rigid material (e.g. nylon or polypropylenes), and having an outer diameter such that they extend radially along 40-80% of the radial length of the fingers (4) of the starwheels (2), are mounted between adjacent starwheels (2) so as to close off the radially inner space between the fingers (4) without reducing the length and therefore flexibility of the fingers (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Richard Pearson Limited
    Inventor: David Booth Weston
  • Patent number: 6234322
    Abstract: Device incorporating rollers to separate particles of different gradings a plurality of adjacent rollers (11) forming a selection bed where each roller (11) has a surface conformation defining a plurality of circumferential peaks (12) alternating with circumferential grooves (13), the rollers (11) including at least a working position where the grooves (13) of one roller are facing and at least partly penetrated by the peaks (12) of the adjacent roller (11), the discharge gap (18) between the two adjacent rollers (11) having a substantially zig-zag development, in at least some rollers (11) the connection surface (26) between the peaks (12) and grooves (13), and/or the peaks (12) and/or the grooves (13) themselves being at least partly worked with protuberances, protrusions, hollows and/or facets (23, 24, 25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: PAL Srl
    Inventor: Romeo Paladin
  • Patent number: 6196394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a roller bar screen and to the generation of certain parameters for optimal adaptation to the bulk material being processed and as a prerequisite for process optimization. Construction measures—essentially equipping the rollers with variable speed drive mechanisms—are taken in a first preparatory step. Selected control variables and limit values related to the average characteristics to be expected of the bulk material are generated in a single operation by means of a regulation and process control system. The optimum number of revolutions for each individual roller in particular is predetermined in dependence on the process. The rollers can be grouped together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Zemag GmbH
    Inventors: Claus-Dieter Sieg, Peter M. Lobeck
  • Patent number: 6149018
    Abstract: A compound disc is used to eliminate a secondary slot normally formed between adjacent shafts of a material separation screen. The compound disc includes a primary disc joined to an associated secondary disc. The primary disc and the secondary disc each have the same shape but the secondary disc has a smaller outside perimeter and is wider. The primary disc and associated secondary disc are formed from a unitary piece of rubber. The compound discs are interleaved with oppositely aligned compound discs on adjacent shafts. In other words, the large disc is positioned on a shaft to align with a smaller disc on an adjacent shaft. The oppositely aligned and alternating arrangement between the large discs and small discs reduce problems that exist in screens that use in-line multi-sided discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Bulk Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred M. Austin, Roy R. Miller, Brian J. Clark
  • Patent number: 6076684
    Abstract: A waste paper sorting conveyor for sorting waste paper from waste cardboard has a sorting bed formed by a row of rotatable, driven shafts mutually spaced in a conveying direction and each extending transversely to the conveying direction. The shafts each carry a row of impellers for intermittently urging material on the sorting conveyor upward and in the conveying direction. The impellers of each of the rows are mutually spaced in longitudinal direction of the respective shaft. Rotary contours of impellers carried by each of the shafts project between rotary contours of the impellers carried by a neighboring one of the shafts. Since the mutual spacing of the impellers of at least one of the rows in longitudinal direction of the respective shaft is adjustable, waste paper and waste cardboard mixtures of varying compositions can be sorted to an improved purity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Machine Fabriek Bollegraaf Appingedam B.V.
    Inventor: Heiman Salle Bollegraaf
  • Patent number: 5960964
    Abstract: A compound disc is used to eliminate a secondary slot normally formed between adjacent shafts of a material separation screen. The compound disc comprises a primary disc joined to an associated secondary disc. The primary disc and the secondary disc each have the same shape but the secondary disc has a smaller outside perimeter and is wider. The primary disc and associated secondary disc are formed from a unitary piece of rubber. The compound discs are interleaved with oppositely aligned compound discs on adjacent shafts. In other words, the large disc is positioned on a shaft to align with a smaller disc on an adjacent shaft. The oppositely aligned and alternating arrangement between the large discs and small discs reduces problems that exist in screens that use in-line multi-sided discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Bulk Handling, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred M. Austin, Roy R. Miller, Brian K. Clark
  • Patent number: 5901856
    Abstract: A device for separating office paper and computer printout from cardboard waste material is provided. The device has two decks, each of which has multiple driving and separating disc rotors. Non-cardboard paper can fall between the disc rotors as the paper flows through the machine. A single counter-rotational disc rotor is provided which inverts cardboard and empties boxes. The drive for each deck of the device is independent and variable speed, allowing for quick reconfiguration between input streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Inventors: Stanley A. Brantley, Jr., Junius Warren White, Shawn Lane
  • Patent number: 5799801
    Abstract: A disc screen classifies material by size. The disc screen includes a frame, a plurality of shafts mounted on the frame parallel with one another and a first stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row. Each of the discs has a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. A second stage includes discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row. Each of the discs has a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. A receiving section agitates debris while the debris moves at an angle up to a given elevation. A roll over section drops the materials down to a discharge position for feeding onto a discharge section. The materials are dropped from the roll over so that the debris either falls vertically or flips over further promoting separation. The discharge section again agitates the debris while moves up a second incline until the larger debris discharges out a rear end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Bulk Handling System, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Clark, Roy R. Miller
  • Patent number: 5740922
    Abstract: Sizing screen apparatus is provided with mechanism for enabling the extent of spacings, longitudinally of an elongate sizing screen between transversely extending, individual rows of spacing members, to be adjusted individually. Each transversely extending row of sizing members is mounted on a rotatable shaft journaled at its opposite ends in the lower end portions of a pair of mounting arms that are pivoted at their upper end portions to opposite longitudinal side members of a supporting frame and hang downwardly for back and forth space adjusting movement. The mounting arms of the pair are pivotally interconnected adjacent their lower ends with an elongate connection member of an operating device that is manually or power operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Milestone Blackfoot, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen G. Williams
  • Patent number: 5626239
    Abstract: A screening machine comprising a plurality of rotors adapted such that in a frame the axes of the rotors are arranged parallel to one another from a supply side where objects to be screened including mixed substances different at least in size are supplied from above by a conveyor to a discharge side where the remainders after screening are discharged, and such that the rotors are rotated in the same direction by a rotating drive, each rotor further comprises at least two kinds of components, namely, a plurality of large diameter sections and a plurality of small diameter sections alternately disposed in the axial direction of each rotor and arranged in a staggered relation in the feeding direction to define screening gaps having desired dimensions between the large and small diameter sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Miike Tekkosho
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5590792
    Abstract: A screening machine including a plurality of rotors adapted such that in a frame the axes of the rotors are arranged parallel to one another from a supply side where objects to be screened including mixed substances different at least in size are supplied from above by a conveyor to discharge side where the remainders after screening are discharged, and such that the rotors are rotated in the same direction by a rotating drive, each rotor further comprises at least two kinds of components, namely, a plurality of large diameter sections and a plurality of small diameter sections alternately disposed in the axial direction of each rotor and arranged in a staggered relation in the feeding direction to define screening gaps having desired dimensions between the large and small diameter sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Miike Tekkosho
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5582300
    Abstract: A screening machine comprising a plurality of rotors adapted such that in a frame the axes of the rotors are arranged parallel to one another from a supply side where objects to be screened including mixed substances different at least in size are supplied from above by a conveyor to a discharge side where the remainders after screening are discharged, and such that the rotors are rotated in the same direction by a rotating drive each rotor further comprises at least two kinds of components, namely, a plurality of large diameter sections and a plurality of small diameter sections alternately disposed in the axial direction of each rotor and arranged in a staggered relation in the feeding direction to define screening gaps having desired dimensions between the large and small diameter sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Miike Tekkosho
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5558234
    Abstract: A product size grading system comprises a roller bed having a plurality of rotary shafts wherein each shaft supports product sizing roller members. A motorized transmission is coupled to the plurality of rotary shafts and drives the rotary shafts in a uniform direction wherein each shaft in the roller bed rotates at a different speed. The speeds of the rotary shafts become progressively faster from the input end of the roller bed to its output end. The roller members comprise alternating conveyor disks and nubbin rollers threaded onto each of the rotary shafts. The nubbin rollers are relatively thick disks having a substantially polygonal cross section with flexible nubbins or vanes projecting radially outwardly therefrom. Each nubbin roller is sandwiched by a pair of thin conveyor disks which are also generally polygonal in shape, but have rounded crown portions between their flat portions. The combination of the nubbin rollers and the conveyor disks form product sizing pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventor: John E. Mobley
  • Patent number: 5555985
    Abstract: A screening machine comprising a plurality of rotors adapted such that in a frame the axes of the rotors are arranged parallel to one another from a supply side where objects to be screened including mixed substances different at least in size are supplied from above by a conveyor to a discharge side where the remainders after screening are discharged, and such that the rotors are rotated in the same direction by a rotating drive, each rotor further comprises at least two kinds of components, namely, a plurality of large diameter sections and a plurality of small diameter sections alternately disposed in the axial direction of each rotor and arranged in a staggered relation in the feeding direction to define screening gaps having desired dimensions between the large and small diameter sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Miike Tekkosho
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5544761
    Abstract: A cranberry separator, and method, to separate soft and undersize cranberries from hard, marketable cranberries. Mushy cranberries do not clog the separator.Pressure is repeatedly applied to each cranberry, to a pressure less than 0.50 psi, as cranberries are transported from a loading hopper, along a roller conveyor, to an outlet.The roller conveyor comprises an overhead soft roller, and a finned hard roller, mounted under the soft roller. Each cranberry passes between multiple pinch points, between the upper and lower rollers.Each cranberry is supported across two fins, at the pinch point. Soft cranberries are forced between the fins, and are stripped out from between the fins, by comb teeth, extending upwardly between the fins. After each pinch point, the cranberry is rotated randomly, to present a new surface to be tested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Inventor: Jerome J. Zdroik
  • Patent number: 5503712
    Abstract: A flow management system and process for providing controlled separation and sizing of an incoming flow of wood chips. A flow management screen is provided in the form of a horizontal disk screen having a variable speed drive, with the drive controlled based upon the flow rate of wood chips to the screen. By controlling the rotational speed of the disks of the horizontal disk screen, the flow separation and sizing to subsequent screening stations can be predicted and controlled. As a result, more consistent output is provided, as well as improved system efficiency and ability to accommodate for varying operational conditions and wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignees: James River Corporation of Virginia, Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Brown
  • Patent number: 5480034
    Abstract: A screening machine comprising a plurality of rotors adapted such that in a frame the axes of the rotors are arranged parallel to one another from a supply side where objects to be screened including mixed substances different at least in size are supplied from above by a conveyor to a discharge side where the remainders after screening are discharged, and such that the rotors are rotated in the same direction by a rotating drive, each rotor further comprises at least two kinds of components, namely, a plurality of large diameter sections and a plurality of small diameter sections alternately disposed in the axial direction of each rotor and arranged in a staggered relation in the feeding direction to define screening gaps having desired dimensions between the large and small diameter sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Miike Tekkosho
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5450966
    Abstract: A disc screen for classifying material by size. The disc screen comprises a frame, a plurality of shafts mounted on the frame parallel with one another, a first stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row, each of the discs having a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation; and a second stage including discs mounted on the shafts in a substantially coplanar row, each of the discs having a perimeter shaped to maintain the space between discs substantially constant during rotation. The first stage discs are positioned to allow passage of only small fraction material and the second stage discs are positioned to allow passage of intermediate fraction material thereby classifying the material into a small fraction, an intermediate fraction and a large fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Bulk Handling Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Clark, Roy R. Miller
  • Patent number: 5361909
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for separating and recovering the solid particle components of a waste aggregate using screening and air separation mechanisms. Such an aggregate could be log yard waste comprising soil, wood and mineral particles. The aggregate is first mechanically screened to produce a product of fine particles (the soil) and a plurality of sized streams, each comprised of similarly sized particles of different densities (the wood and mineral particles). The sized streams are then separately but simultaneously introduced into an air separation device which comprises an upstanding funnel-like member forming an upwardly converging passage through which air is flowing. The smallest sized stream of particles is fed into the passage at the lowest elevation, where a separation of light and heavier density particles occurs, light particles moving upwards with the air, heavier falling downwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: Bradley K. Gemmer
  • Patent number: 5298119
    Abstract: A flow management system and process for providing controlled separation and sizing of an incoming flow of wood chips. A flow management screen is provided in the form of a horizontal disk screen having a variable speed drive, with the drive controlled based upon the flow rate of wood chips to the screen. By controlling the rotational speed of the disks of the horizontal disk screen, the flow separation and sizing to subsequent screening stations can be predicted and controlled. As a result, more consistent output is provided, as well as improved system efficiency and ability to accommodate for varying operational conditions and wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: James River Corporation of Virginia
    Inventor: Robert A. Brown
  • Patent number: 5279427
    Abstract: A roller bed for separating fines and slivers from sliced food product such as french fries includes a plurality of rollers placed side-by-side on parallel roller shafts and are shaped to provide alternating crown and flat portions about the periphery of each of the rollers. A motor coupled to the roller shafts rotates the rollers which are phased so that in the gaps between adjacent rollers the crown portions of one roller coincide with the flat portions of adjacent rollers. This arrangement moves properly sized product across the roller bed while allowing smaller fines and slivers to fall between the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Inventor: John E. Mobley
  • Patent number: 5257699
    Abstract: A die stamp formed disc construction including a toothed plate and a two-stepped sleeve integrally formed thereon. The sleeve has coined or stamped interior and exterior forty-five degree flats. The flats are accurately positioned so that, with the discs received through their central openings and clamped together onto the rotation shaft, the interior flat of one disc is held directly against the exterior flat of the adjacent disc thereby accurately and consistently positioning and holding the toothed plates of adjacent discs in spaced relation and preventing disc wobble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Mill Services and Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Fricker, James C. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 5238124
    Abstract: The apparatus makes use of a pair of rotating combs (11-14), the discs of the second comb being interposed between the discs of the first comb and positioned at the top between fixed guide plates (17). The discs of the first comb intercept the streams of closed capsules, from which any covers not provided with shells have already been removed. The capsules are inserted by their shells between the discs of the first comb and remain suspended on said discs by their covers (C1). Only capsule shells and any crushed capsules fall through the discs of the first comb. The capsules conveyed by the first rotating comb arrive on the discs of the second comb, generally with their covers at the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: IMA Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aristide Cane, Angiolino Ribani
  • Patent number: 5236093
    Abstract: The system includes a variable speed motor (13) which controls the operation of a disk screen (14) which is part of a gyratory screen/disk screening system for wood chips and the like. Wood chips are fed at a variable rate to a storage bin (34), which includes a level sensor (36). The level sensor (36) controls the operation of a star feeder (42) to maintain the level of providing a varying amount of input material to the upstream end of the gyratory screen (12). The speed of the motor (46) driving the star feeder valve (42) is used to develop a control signal for the disk screen motor (13), to ensure a uniform flow rate off the disk screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Gevan R. Marrs
  • Patent number: 5232097
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a screening method and apparatus for sorting wood chips into three categories, namely, accept chips, overthick and/or overlong chips requiring further processing and reject fines. The chips are fed onto a disc screen. A major portion of fines and a portion of accepts fall by gravity through clearances between the discs (1) of the disc screen and a portion of the chips travels over the disc screen. Screening of chips on the disc screen is cut short before all accept chips have fallen through the disc screen. Chips travelling over the discharge end of the disc screen are routed onto a roller screen (10), whereby the remaining portion of accepts can fall by gravity through the roller screen while overthick and/or overlong chunky chips are conveyed over the discharge end of the roller screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: Sunds Defibrator Woodhandling Oy
    Inventor: Antti Tohkala
  • Patent number: 5163564
    Abstract: A disc screen with spacers of limited compressibility is disclosed which has an elongated metal shaft member with a plurality of screen discs mounted co-rotatively on the shaft member. The screen discs have central shaft receiving openings through which the shaft extends coaxially. The screen discs are separated and spaced on the metallic shaft member by a plurality of metallic nonresilient and nonmetallic resilient spacers located between and coaxial with adjacent screen discs. The preferred embodiment of this invention has two metallic spacers with one nonmetallic resilient spacer between them, with the group of three spacers being located between each pair of screen discs which are spaced along the shaft member. The nonmetallic resilient spacers, which are preferably polyurethane, function to allow limited tilting of the screen discs out of the plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad Matula
  • Patent number: 5152402
    Abstract: A disc screen or like rotatable shaft assembly is disclosed having a non-metallic, substantially-cylindrical resilient spacer. The spacer has a non-circular shaft receiving opening. A plurality of screen discs are embedded in the spacer to accommodate limited tilting of the discs. Annular metallic surrounds may be provided to cover exposed non-metallic surfaces of the spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventor: Conrad Matula
  • Patent number: 5060806
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating material into first and second portions according to size including a plurality of shafts, a plurality of spaced disks radiating outwardly from each of the shafts to define apertures and linkage interconnecting the shafts for moving the shafts toward or away from one another to vary the size of the apertures while the apparatus is performing the separating function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Cal Recovery Systems, Incorporated
    Inventor: George M. Savage
  • Patent number: 5051172
    Abstract: A disc screen having rows of rotatable discs separated by sleeve-like spacers. Discs of adjacent rows are offset and extended to a near touching relationship with the spacers of adjacent disc rows. A supporting and rotatably driven shaft extended through each row of disc and spacers. The spacers are independently mounted to the shaft with internal strengthening gussets having keyway-type openings slidably fitted to the shaft's non-circular cross section. End discs on each shaft are mounted for close proximity to the side rails of the disc screen housing and, as aligned along the side rails, are reduced in diameter to prevent interference. The proximity of the end discs to the side rails prevent materials from being jammed against the side rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1991
    Inventor: Larry J. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 5032255
    Abstract: A particulate separating device (1) has an inlet (8) leading to sets of inter-leaved discs (2 and 3). The spacings between the discs determine the sizes of the particles which can pass through to an acceptance outlet (12) while larger particles are carried over to a rejection outlet (10). A comb-like barrier member (11) is interleaved with the set of discs (3) to assist in the removal of particles into the rejection outlet (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Inventor: Alan R. Jauncey
  • Patent number: 4972959
    Abstract: A disk screen or like shaft structure is disclosed in which screen disks and spacer rings are connected together in modular relation. The spacer rings consist of resilient plastic annular rings spaced around the periphery of a shaft and intermediate between screen disks so as to accommodate limited tilting of the disks relative to the axis of the shaft with deflection of the spacer rings. The flexible spacer rings allow foreign objects to work their way out of the disk screens and not become lodged between neighboring screen disks. Metallic surround may be provided to protect the plastic spacer rings from scratching and gouging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph B. Bielagus
  • Patent number: 4972960
    Abstract: A disk screen or like shaft structure is disclosed in which screen disks, surround disks, and spacers are connected together in modular relation. The surround disks have metallic flanges which shield the plastic spacers which are located on either side of the surround disks between the screen dists. The spacers are formed of resilient plastic to allow the disks to deflect from their radial plane and the flanges of the surround disks are sufficiently smaller than the spacers to avoid contact with the screen disks in their deflectred positions. The assembly is placed under a predertermined endwise compression and the module if mounted on a rectangular shaft which is suitably supported for rotation. The assembly is particularly suited for screening a wood chips in the paper making industry where exposed plastic parts is undersirable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph B. Bielagus
  • Patent number: 4901864
    Abstract: A disc screen wood chip sorter of the type having a series of corotating shafts, each of which is provided with an axially spaced series of concentric discs. The peripheries of the discs carried by one shaft interdigitate with those of the next adjacent shafts. The discs on any one shaft are maintained in parallelism by spacer elements in the general form of short cylindrical washers. The specific improvement of this invention relates to a novel configuration of these spacing elements. Each spacer end is provided with a flange to thereby define a central, annular groove or recess between the flanges, each annular receiving recess receiving a portion of the periphery of an adjacent disc, i.e., a disc mounted on a neighboring shaft. By virtue of this novel form of disc spacer, the disc screen sorter severely inhibits the passage of wood chips of a thickness greater than intended, i.e., chips of a thickness greater than the spacing between interdigitated discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: William D. Daugherty
  • Patent number: 4901863
    Abstract: A wood chip sorter comprises a shell (22) which at least partially defines a substantially cylindrical sorting chamber (26) into which wood chips are introduced. The shell (22) has a plurality of rotatable shafts (28) mounted thereon with the axes (72) of the shafts (28) being circularly arranged about a central axis (24) of the shell (22). Each shaft (28) has a plurality of discs (80) mounted at spaced intervals thereon with discs of adjacent shafts (28) intermeshing radially to form essentially axial spaces (84) therebetween. A drive and transmission system (30) revolve the shell (22) about the central axis (24) of the shell (22). A planetary gear system (32) facilitates rotation of the shafts (28) about their axes (72) as the shell (22) revolves. The discs (80) are shaped to have greatest axial width at central portions thereof, and taper to a lesser axial width at their circumference. The discs (80) are formed from an abrasion-resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Inventor: James G. Lancaster
  • Patent number: 4871073
    Abstract: A disc screen separator device for separating or classifying materials. The disc screen separator device includes a plurality of parallel, spaced apart corotating shafts each having a plurality of spaced apart separator discs mounted thereon for rotation therewith. The separator discs on adjacent shafts are interspaced. A plurality of spacers are located between adjacent separator discs on each shaft to maintain the spacing between adjacent separator discs on each shaft. Both the separator discs and spacer discs are fabricated of a resilient material.In an alternative embodiment, a disc screen separator device includes a plurality of sets of first shafts, the shafts of the sets of first shafts being parallel, spaced apart, and corotating with a plurality of spaced apart separator discs mounted on the first shafts for rotation therewith. A second shaft is located in the interval between sets of first shafts with a plurality of agitator discs mounted on the second shafts for rotation therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: National Ecology, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Berry, David N. Chon