Abstract: The invention relates to a cast and adjacent casts on a shaft for providing a shaft assembly for a disc screen. A cast which is placeable on a shaft for a disc screen comprises a screening element part with an integral sleeve part. The shaft assembly for a disc screen comprises casts placed on the shaft, each cast comprising a screening element part and an integral sleeve part, the casts being placed against each other so that abutting screening element parts of two adjacent casts constitute a screening element, and abutting sleeve parts of two adjacent casts constitute a sleeve element on the shaft.

Abstract: A screening apparatus comprises superposed screening decks with an upper one of the screening decks having a pellet input, and each screening deck ends with an oversize pellet output, the screening decks have screens to screen the green ore pellets from top to bottom, the oversize pellet outputs feeding the travelling grate through pellet chutes with the oversize green ore pellets of one of the upper and the lower one of the screening decks being superposed to oversize green ore pellets of the other one of the lower and the upper one of the screening decks, the pellet chutes defining a curved delivery path with an input slope at the chute pellet input greater than an output slope of the chute pellet output to reduce a delivery speed of the green ore pellets from the oversize pellet output to the travelling grate. There is also provided a method for screening and delivering green ore pellets onto a travelling grate of an induration furnace.

Abstract: A modular star system for grading, cleaning, and transporting produce includes opposing, first and second hub modules with opposing, tapered surfaces, and plural finger modules separated by the first and second hub modules. Each finger module has finger members that are color-coded and the finger module and first and second hub modules are disposed on a rotatable shaft. Outer surfaces of either of the finger or hub modules are color-coded, and are substantially perpendicular to the long axis of the shaft. There is also a method of using the modular star system for grading, cleaning, and transporting produce.

Abstract: A sensing system contains a vibration device attached to a stem of an agricultural crop for applying vibration to the agricultural crop, at least one sensor attached to the stem of the agricultural crop for sensing vibration of the agricultural crop caused by the vibration applied to the agricultural product from the vibration device to transmit vibration information relate to the vibration of the agricultural crop and a computing device for identifying one local maximum value among a plurality of local maximum values in a frequency spectrum obtained from the vibration information received from the at least one sensor as a resonance frequency of the vibration of the agricultural crop to determine a growth degree of a fruit of the agricultural crop based on the identified resonance frequency.

Abstract: This invention aims to enhance efficiency of a sieve and to greatly improve productivity of a sifting operation. There is provided a sieve comprising a metal plate including long holes, wherein the long holes are plurally provided such that lines extending in length directions thereof cross one another.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separation of construction waste. In the method, the construction waste, crushed to a predetermined size, is added to liquid in a precipitation tank and separated into components in the tank according to specific gravity, in which the liquid has a reference specific gravity lower than that of a component to be recovered but higher than that of the remaining components, such that only the component to be recovered is separated by precipitation to the bottom of the precipitation tank. According to the method, high-quality recyclable aggregate contained in the construction waste can be easily separated from other impurities through a simple process. Particularly, the reference specific gravity of the separation liquid is suitably adjusted so that the recyclable aggregate can be easily separated even from impurities (tiles, red brick, asphalt concrete, cement paste mass, etc.) heavier than water, unlike the prior separation process using an aerated water tank.

Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of objects and other debris from cement that is pumped via a concrete pump includes a secondary screen that is pivotally attached at one end thereof to a concrete pump a predetermined distance above a grate that is disposed over a hopper, the screen having a smaller opening size than that of the grate. An opposite end of the screen is urged toward an opposite end of the hopper by a pair of elastomeric straps. A pair of upraised sides are included at a top and bottom of the screen, the screen having a planar member that is disposed at a steeper angle than is the grate. When cement is poured it first contacts and passes through the secondary screen which automatically descends and rises, thereby maximizing the flow rate of cement through the screen as the objects are removed from the mixture.

Abstract: A device enabling the timely removal and subsequent recycling of residues remaining in a pouring chute through which the load of a cement from a mixing drum of a mobile delivery vehicle was discharged. A strainer on a movable arm attached to the vehicle is placed under the chute to receive an effluent which results from spraying the inside of the nozzle with water. Solid particulates are retained by the strainer and a slurry which emerges from the strainer is pumped into the mixing drum, allowing the separated materials to be recycled when the vehicle returns to its base.

Abstract: A system and method for sorting recyclable materials is portable, modular, and easy to install and/or remove. Generally, a variety of sorting equipment is placed upon a portable platform that may be loaded or unloaded from a roll-off truck. When at the desired location, the portable platform may be removed and the sorting equipment set up for use. The sorting equipment may include an infeed conveyor, a sorting conveyor, and a variety of automatic sorting equipment such as an aluminum blower, a magnet separator, and an eddy-current separator. The platform may be simply placed on the floor or ground at the desired location or it may be elevated by a plurality of supports.

Abstract: Aggregate mixtures such as dirt, sand, rock, concrete, etc. are separated into piles according to size by continuous agitation of the mixture and by gravitational and centrifugal forces exerted thereon. A container for the material, such as the bucket of a backhoe, has the bottom thereof at least partially open. An adjustable, hydraulically-driven rotating disk attaches to and covers the open portion of the bottom of the container, the combination having a gap, or a selected spaced-apart relationship, between the stationary container and the rotating disk. The mixture is agitated by the rotating disk and by contact with the other particles in the container. Particles smaller than the selected gap distance are thrown out through the gap between the disk and the open portion of the container by centrifugal force. Material larger than the selected gap size remains in the container.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a large stationary, aggregate processing screening tower by fabricating weldment modules and preassembling them with aggregate processing equipment internal within the weldment modules, transporting the preassembled weldment modules to a field work site where the tower is to be erected on a foundation, aligning the modules and stacking the modules in layers and then bolting adjacent modules together. A large stationary, aggregate processing screening tower has weldment modules preassembled with aggregate processing equipment internal within the modules. The preassembled modules are stacked up on one another and secured together and can receive aggregate product at the top module and the product is processed by screening and sizing as it moves downwardly by gravity through the modules and their processing equipment for final clarification and collection of the product.

Abstract: From one aspect the invention is a method of classifying waste materials comprising arranging two sieve screens, each having an inlet end and an outlet end, one above the other to define a space there between, arranging the upper screen, to be of coarser mesh size than the lower screen, supplying waste material to be classified to the inlet end of the upper screen, vibrating the screens, and blowing air between the screens from the inlet end and towards the outlet end whereby the waste material being blown away from the outlet ends of the screens, and large heavy material falling under gravity from the outlet end of the upper screen, and separately collecting the separated waste material fractions. From another aspect the invention is an apparatus for carrying out the method described above.

Abstract: There is disclosed method and apparatus for cleaning roots, tubers, bulbs, and the like, for example, sugar beets, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, dahlia, potato, and onions (hereinafter "articles"). In the apparatus, spaced horizontal rollers have helices on their cylindrical surfaces which scroll the articles laterally to the ends of the rollers where they are deposited on a slide that removes them from the cleaner, or, optionally, returns the articles to the cleaner at strategically located lower positions for stalk removal and/or leaf stripping, or for other desired cleaning. The first sets of rollers are designed to separate small chips, small stones and loose soil from the articles. The next sets of rollers are designed to remove adhering soil and/or mud, weeds, and larger stones. Strategic placement sizing, rotational speed, and direction of rotation of the helices on the rollers are instrumental in removing leaves, stalks, weeds, breaking up dirt clods and mud balls, and cleaning of the articles.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method that utilizes a plurality of corrugated panels from used shipping containers to make a web that is then able to be cut into suitable shapes to be used in the construction of corrugated cardboard shipping pallets. The process begins with opening or flattening the used cardboard boxes and then removing the end flaps and opening along the manufacturer's seams to form a plurality of sheets. These sheets are then cut to form a plurality of sheets of uniform widths. A plurality of sheets of the same width are then assembled end to end and face to face, using an overlapping arrangement and a suitable adhesive, to make a multiple thickness corrugated web. This multiple layer web can then be cut by using suitable cutting techniques to make the components of corrugated cardboard shipping pallets. These components, or beams can be wrapped with a layer or layers of corrugated or other suitable material to add strength, moisture resistance or other desired qualities.

Abstract: A method is proposed for recovering valuable substances, particularly from construction site wastes and industrial trash as well as a system for implementing the method in which the essential sorters are disposed in a closed container which can be placed onto an elevated foundation. The foundation is formed by intersecting walls which simultaneously serve as partitions for various bunkers.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for grading objects according to their size, the objects are advanced along a broad, flat and divided conveyer path. Image data relating to the size of respective objects is obtained with the aid of a camera scanning against a light source. At the correct moment in time, control signals are transmitted to finger groups, preferably four, which function to guide ten or more objects simultaneously in mutually different directions, in accordance with the respective sizes of the objects. In one embodiment, the lowest fingers are replaced with triangular-shaped guidance blocks. A large number of objects can be sorted gently and effectively from the transport path into mutually different, individually selective sizes.

Abstract: The instant invention pertains to ascertaining the condition (i.e. texture, maturity and extent of damage (if any)) of an agricultural commodity by: (a) inputting band-limited vibrations (i.e. limited to a specific frequency band); (b) sensing vibrational characteristics (e.g. energy, resonance, absorption frequency characteristics) resulting from the input vibrations, and; (c) analyzing the vibrational characteristics.

Abstract: A device for sorting tablets by capacitive measurement, including a disk rotating between capacitor plates, a tablet fielding device for sequentially metering a series of tablets onto the disk, an arcuate guide assembly for guiding the tablets along a guide path as the disk rotates, and a deflector assembly for deflecting the tablets along one of the possible paths, as a consequence of the capacitance measurement.

Abstract: A screen cylinder is made up of a plurality of identical ceramic elements in arcuate form having screen openings, and opposite longitudinally extending edges carrying a tongue and groove, respectively. The elements are joined one to the other along their edges by inserting the tongues into the grooves to form a complete cylinder. Different diameter and lengths of screen cylinders may be formed by varying the number of elements in each closed arrangement of elements, and the closed arrangements may be disposed end-to-end with an intermediate connecting ring between them. End rings are provided to maintain the elements in a generally cylindrical configuration. Cinch rods connected between the end rings and under tension subject the elements in assembly to axial compression.

Abstract: A separator disc for use in a disc separator for separating a mixture of grain and/or grain-like particles according to particle length. The disc separator, of conventional construction, is characterized by a series of spaced parallel discs, mounted for rotation on a common shaft. The discs are partially submerged in the mixture. Pockets in the exposed plane surfaces of the discs lift shorter grains from the mixture and dump them as the discs rotate, to thereby separate the particles. The separator disc is formed of a castable polyurethane material and is radially split to provide for removal from the shaft and replacement of individual discs in a direction transverse to the axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A plate-like member selecting apparatus has a container for accommodating selected plate-like members, which comprises a flexible and elastic sheet-like member bent in the shape of V or U, and which is provided under a plate-like member transferring path. The side wall of the container can swing when each selected plate-like member abuts thereagainst, and the bottom of the container can accommodate each plate-like member without repulsion or impact.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles in accordance with the sphericity of the particles is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing which is supplied with air having a desired humidity, and which accommodates therein a cylindrical rotor with a horizontal shaft. The particles are charged into the housing from a hopper above the rotor, and tend to adhere onto the peripheral surface of the rotor with adhesive force which is dependent on the sphericity of each particle. The rotor is placed into a slow rotation and subjected to vibration whereby non-spherical particles and spherical particles are collected in respective receptacles arranged on both sides of the rotor shaft.

Abstract: A process of manufacture of a lattice configurated elastomer screen for classification, screening and washed of fragmented hard stocks of material. The process of manufacture of this lattice screen employs a cutting device with at least one rotary cutting blade. for extracting mutually spaced slots in the top and bottom layers of an elastomer sheet; with the top slots lying essentially above the bottom slots; being disposed transversely of one another. The top and bottom slots are cut at a common, intersecting depth of one another in the elastomer sheet: joining the bottom slots with the top slots; forming preferably rectangular apertures between the top and bottom slots areas of this lattice designed sifting body.

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: An apparatus for separating larger foreign bodies from a granular feed including a conveyor for moving a mixture of the larger foreign bodies and the granular feed, is provided. The apparatus comprises a wheel having an axis of rotation, a circumference and a plurality of outwardly extending resilient fingers, preferably projecting at a trailing angle from the circumference. The wheel is mounted so that its plane forms an angle with respect to the direction of travel of the conveyor. The wheel is positioned so that the conveyed mixture contacts and pushes the fingers causing the wheel to rotate and the fingers to rake the larger foreign bodies from the mixture.

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: An improved agricultural machine roll of the tapered revolving type wherein such tapered roll has a series of ribs forming a frusto-conical traction surface. The upper extremity of these ribs have provided, at least proximate thereto, a series of nubs that are located proximate the greatest circumferential dimension of the roll and which extend radially outwardly beyond such ribs. The reduced end of the roll is prefereably thickened so as to reduce chances of fracturing of material proximate the axial hole with which the roll is provided. There will likewise be supplied protuberance means, spaced from said nubs, which are directed essentially radially outwardly beyond the lower portions of the ribs. These will be less in number than the ribs and are designed to impinge upon potatoes or other agricultural pockets so as to lift upwardly and advance forwardly the potatoes, for example, should the rib traction surface become slick as by filling with dirt, mud or other debris.

Abstract: In this screening bottom, the screening elements which are mounted on a support structure are provided with an exchangeable and automatically clamped rubber plate acting as a wear-and-tear resistant layer. Beneath the rubber plate, a reinforcing structure is provided consisting of plastic ribs and/or a reinforced structure which is imbedded in a plastic material, as well as clamping elements. The reinforced structure and the clamping elements constitute a unitary grid which is undetachably coupled with the rubber plate. Thereby, it is possible to transfer the advantages from the unit construction assembly technique to screening bottoms with associated screening elements which basically are composed of rubber with a high abrasion resistance characteristic. No complicated and expensive vulcanization molds and devices are required for making the screening elements. The molding tools which are already available for making plastic screening elements can be partially used.

Abstract: A material separating device includes a support member (21) carrying one end of a plurality of rod members (18, 19). The rod members (18, 19) are mounted in a staggered relationship defining two rows which together form separating decks (16, 17). Each rod itself consists of a metallic core (22) and plastic sheath member (25). The diameter of the sheath member (25) determines the distance between adjacent rod members (18, 19).

Abstract: Method, apparatus and system for sorting objects exhibiting identifiable dynamic response to vibrational phenomena, such objects including tomatoes and other comestibles. The system utilizes an elongate sorting zone incorporating a surface which oscillates at a predetermined frequency and amplitude which varies from a minimum at the input of the zone to a maximum value at the output thereof. Conveyor belts transport the objects to be sorted along the zone for a coding interval promoting their dynamic reaction with the oscillatory surface. Objects with higher resilience characteristic are rejected from the zone, while those exhibiting a lesser resilience are transported therethrough. The oscillatory surface is dynamically balanced and readily mounted upon field harvesting devices. By adjustment of frequency of the sorting zone oscillatory surfaces, a multi-stage sorting system is made available.

Abstract: Method, apparatus and system for sorting objects exhibiting identifiable dynamic response to vibrational phenomena, such objects including tomatoes and other comestibles. The system utilizes an elongate sorting zone incorporating a surface which oscillates at a predetermined frequency and amplitude which varies from a minimum at the input of the zone to a maximum value at the output thereof. Conveyor belts transport the objects to be sorted along the zone for a coding interval promoting their dynamic reaction with the oscillatory surface. Objects with higher resilience characteristic are rejected from the zone, while those exhibiting a lesser resilience are transported therethrough. The oscillatory surface is dynamically balanced and readily mounted upon field harvesting devices. By adjustment of frequency of the sorting zone oscillatory surfaces, a multistage sorting system is made available.