Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for separating material by length into first and second fractions containing, respectively, material longer than a specified length and material shorter than a specified length. The apparatus includes a plurality of generally parallel shafts having disks attached thereto. The disks are spaced on the shafts a distance approximately equal to one-half the specified length. Shaft diameters and shaft spacings are selected to cause material in the first fraction to remain supported by the shafts and to flow along the shaft surfaces from one shaft to the next adjacent downstream shaft, while material in the second fraction tilts and falls downwardly between adjacent shafts.

Abstract: Improved cotton harvesting apparatus. The apparatus efficiently separates rocks, dirt and debris from down cotton while minimizing the damage and down time which can result when such debris passes through conventional cotton harvesting machines.Spaced apart rotating parallel coaxial resilient disks carried in the apparatus capture rocks and debris and throw the debris free of the apparatus while minimizing the damage caused by such debris to other working components of the apparatus.

Abstract: A rotary disc screen apparatus consisting of a material screening frame having a series of corotating parallel shafts in spaced relation, screen discs mounted on supports on the shafts so the screen discs interleave between adjacent shafts, the screen discs being detachable from the supports for interchangeability with other screen discs of a selected different dimension, and drive assemblies connected to alternate one of the shafts for being able to apply the drive assemblies on adjacent jammed shafts when needed.

Abstract: Waste material classifying apparatus for applying forced air streams to the waste material discharged off the end of a rotary disc screen conveyor, directing the forced air streams into an enclosure at the discharge end of the conveyor, and forming separate passages in the enclosure so that the waste material fractions are classified by the response of the fractions to the forced air or lack of response to forced air streams, whereby the forced air streams tumble and flip the waste material for augmenting the separation of the fractions.

Abstract: A paper pulp processing mechanism and method for screening large flows of wood chips including a screening bed for receiving a delivery of a quantity of wood chips at a screening receiving station, the flow of chips dividing to flow laterally in one direction over a first lateral bed section extending laterally and upwardly and to also flow over a second lateral bed section extending laterally and upwardly with each section extending away from the receiving station to a delivery end and each path defined by a plurality of laterally extending rotatable shafts having disks thereon interdigitally related.

Abstract: A disc screen or like shaft structure in which screen discs 25 and spacers 28 are connected together in modular relation. The spacers 28 support the discs axially and are formed of plastic to allow the discs to deflect from their radial plane and the plastic spacers have an outer metallic surround 30 which is of smaller length than the spacers to present a protective metallic outwardly facing surface but allow the discs 25 to deflect laterally. The assembly is placed under a predetermined end-wise compression and the module is mounted on a rectangular shaft 27 which is suitably supported for rotation.

Abstract: A disk screen, and method wherein the material, such as wood chips for making paper pulp, is screened through a rotary disk screening bed (12) having zones wherein the space between disk slots (20) decreases from zone to zone as the material passes from the inlet end to the outlet end of the screen. Such spaces may range in zones from 8 mm to 6 mm along the screening bed (12).

Abstract: A screening and sizing apparatus for handling clusters or clumps of particulate material in which a roller table is provided with a series of equally spaced anvils or lugs for moving clusters of particulates across the rolls of the roller table and for breaking large lumps or clusters of material by forcing them against adjacent rolls or lugs. An alternative embodiment includes a tramp door through which large particles are passed to a separate bin or receptacle. Another alternative embodiment includes a cooperating, eccentrically mounted cluster breaker above the roller table.

Abstract: A rotary disc screen composed of a bed of rotary discs in spaced relation and formed in the periphery with undulating surfaces for constantly agitating the waste material to be screened, and having a controllable drive system for the rotary discs subject to control sensor which is sensitive to the distribution of the waste material along the length of the rotary screen for adjusting the speed of the discs making up the rotary screen to control the residence time of waste material and maximizing the screening efficiency so that certain classes of components in the waste material are given an opportunity to fall through the spaces between the discs for collection and transport to a separate area from the remainder of the waste material that is moved through the full length of the rotary disc screen.

Abstract: A point of sale wood chip classifier includes apparatus for receiving and discharging unclassified wood chips onto a longitudinally extending downwardly angled trough-shaped vibratory classification bed which includes a plurality of rotating disks for promoting tumbling of the chips toward an overflow end, the bed including openings between the disks defining a plurality of classification zones of increasing size along the bed in the downhill direction. A plurality of collection bins are located below the classification zones for receiving the classified chips, the classification bins being carried on respective load cells which signal the individual weights of a sample to a microcomputer for calculation of totality of chips and percentages of each classified component.

Abstract: A disk screen or like shaft structure in which screen disks and spacers are connected together in modular relation. The spacers support the disks with inner edges of the disks spaced from inner surfaces of the spacers so that when the modules are supported on a shaft the inner edges of the disks will be maintained spaced from the shaft. The spacers are preferably made from nonmetallic material such as polyurethane. By placing the modules under predetermined endwise compression, the inner surfaces of the spacers are adapted to be extended inwardly from an initial edge relation generally aligned with the inner edges of the disks. Bolts may serve as the connectors for the disks and spacers for the modules, and facilitate assembling of the modules under endwise compression.

Abstract: Disk screen apparatus and disk assemblies therefore wherein each disk assembly comprises an elongate shaft adapted to be rotatably mounted in the disk screen apparatus. The shaft has elongate indexing and keying structure extending longitudinally along and rigid with the shaft and providing a longitudinally extending and circumferentially facing edge. The edge has a series of longitudinally spaced circumferentially extending indexing and keying notches therein. Annular screen disks are mounted on the shaft and have inner diameter key shoulders engageable in the notches. The keying structure may be raised along a longitudinal area on the cylindrical perimeter of the shaft or recessed along such area. A releasable locking bar is adapted for locking the key shoulders in the notches.

Abstract: A raw refuse processing apparatus disk screen separating bed has a series of interdigitated rotatable disk assemblies and is adapted to receive raw refuse at one end, including bagged refuse, and at an intermediate location along its length the separating bed is provided with a bag breaker arrangement comprising a floating carriage having bag delaying disk assemblies and overlying bag ripping disk assemblies of the separating bed.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively sorting pulp wood chips in accordance with a predetermined maximum thickness includes a plurality of disk members disposed in a plurality of separately rotatable rows, with each row having a plurality of the members disposed in spaced parallel vertical planes, and with members in adjacent rows intermeshing with equal spaces therebetween. Each disk member has a radially contoured outer periphery with the depth of the contour being sufficiently shallow to prevent chips of thickness greater than the predetermined maximum from passing between its outer peripheral edge and an opposing spacer mounted between disk members on an adjacent row. All the rows of disk members are driven in the same direction, but adjacent disks are preferably driven at different peripheral speeds.

Abstract: A screen intended for screening pulp chips or equivalent, wherein two or more screen baskets are fitted one above the other. At least one of these baskets consists of two or more screw spirals journalled to the screen basket, the spiral wings of said spirals being fitted as interlocking in between each other. The outer circumference of each wing extends to the proximity of the mantle face of the core part of the adjoining spiral. The adjoining spirals are opposite-handed and have opposite directions of rotation, their rotation being synchronized in relation to each other, and the distance of the interlocking parts of the wings from each other corresponds to the maximum acceptable thickness of the chips.Two screen baskets fitted one above the other are supported by the frame, and they are connected to each other by units that permit free movement of vibration of one or both of the screen baskets. The movement of vibration is produced by transferring a cam shaft movement from one basket to the other.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is a tire debeading machine (10). A tire is supported on a guide apparatus (15) and raised to an operative position by the action of a support arm (21). A cutting blade (33) is moved against the sidewall of the tire, cutting off the bead. After the initial cut is made, the tire is raised slightly further by the combined action of an initially interlocking vertical arm (75), which extends from said support arm (21), and a roller (71) on an L-shaped arm (69). The further cut by blade (33) is closer to the bead. Another aspect of the invention is a granulating machine which includes three feed rollers (93) (95) (97) which feed the debeaded tires into a cylindrical cutting chamber (106). Inside the cutting chamber (106) are a plurality of rotary cutting blades (127) mounted on mounting plates (130), which cooperate with stationary cutting blades to produce granulated rubber particles and fiber particles.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting items according to size wherein the items are dropped between a pair of opposed sorting discs having facing sides with the spacing between the sides varying radially of the discs, with withdrawing elements being interposed at various radial locations between the facing sides of the discs for separately receiving the items in accordance with the size thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particulate or lump material by size having a passage for the material, downwardly defined by a plurality of rotationally drivable discs which are arranged in several rows. The discs in one row mesh with clearance between the discs in the nearest adjacent rows on either side, such that together the discs form a screen extending along the passage from an inlet for the material to be screened to an outlet for lumps of the material which are too large to fall through the screen. The principle axes of the disc rows are oriented in the flow direction of the material through the passage and locate the discs in a flat-sided trough-like configuration. The discs are adapted to be driven in such a direction that they impart to the material on the screen a transverse arching movement upwards and towards both sides of the passage, while the material simultaneously moves towards said outlet.

Abstract: A chip screening system has a primary screening station for dividing an incoming flow of chips into a first acceptable fraction and a second fraction having acceptable chips and also both oversized and overthick chips. The second fraction is directed to a second screening station where the incoming flow will again be fractionated into an acceptable flow being screened primarily according to thickness and a second fraction being composed of oversized and overthick chips. The second fraction is then directed to a size reducing station.

Abstract: In a disk screen apparatus of the type having a series of corotating shafts, each of which has a longitudinal series of concentric screen disks which mesh with the screen disks of the adjacent shafts, the screen disks are carried by tubular modules mounted in end-to-end relation on the shafts. Each module comprises a tubular hub having a set of centrally apertured screen disks concentrically mounted in radially extending relation on the hub, which projects through the central apertures of the disks, the disks being attached to the hub in substantially accurately spaced relation to one another axially along the hub. A method is provided for making the modules, and also for making a disk screen apparatus embodying the modules.

Abstract: A separator for material which includes components of different specific gravities and sizes, includes a series of spaced, parallel shafts disposed in essentially the same plane, which may be tilted upwardly. A series of non-circular discs, such as elliptical, three lobed, etc., are mounted on each shaft and interspaced with the discs on adjacent shafts. A pipe, on which the discs are mounted, or a spacer mounted on the shaft provides circular surfaces between the discs which clear the projections of the discs of adjacent shafts but when the disc surfaces between the projections come opposite the pipe or spacer, cause holes or spaces to be produced, through which material may fall, if sufficiently small. As the discs rotate, they not only cause the holes to open and close, but also propel the material both upwardly and forwardly. The discs may be mounted on a shaft in a spiral relation, so that not only is the material pushed upwardly and forwardly, but also laterally.

Abstract: An improved disc separator in which discs are mounted on retainers to form multiple disc units and the units are mounted end-to-end on a shaft and are clamped in place thereon. The discs have internal splines that project through and beyond splining slots in segments of the retainer, one spline only on each disc being wider than the others and adapted to fit closely in any of the slots in the retainer. The splines project slightly beyond the inner surface of the retainer and are swaged to hold the retainer segments rigidly in fully expanded positions.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in equipment for separating the residual bark in decorticating facilities, for which, following decortication, the material is moved from the decorticating drum into a collecting funnel or hopper and from there moved on by a conveyor system, where the conveyor system is in the form of a first conveyor belt and is mounted transversely to the lower part of the hopper extending across the end of the drum, the improvement comprising joining one reversing location of the first conveyor belt by another reversing location of a second conveyor belt with an intermediate space between them, an additional roller corresponding in width to the width of the belts mounted between them, and one rectilinear guide member at each end of the additional roller to permit displacement thereof.