Abstract: A device (10) for crimping and cutting dough ropes into pillow-shaped longitudinal lengths is disclosed including a cutting roller (12) and an anvil roller (14). The peripheries (22, 24) of the rollers (12, 14) include a plurality of axially extending, spaced, parallel, linearly straight lands (26, 30) separating, forming, and defining a plurality of grooves (28, 32) therebetween. Compressible tubes (46) are stretched between end plates (36) located on the opposite axial ends of the cutter roller (12) and positioned in each of the grooves (32) thereof. The tubes (46) are compressed in the grooves (32) by the dough ropes as they are being crimped and cut by the abutment of the lands (26, 30) of the rollers (12, 14) together and expand and force the pillow-shaped longitudinal lengths of dough from the grooves (32) when the lands (26, 30) of the rollers (12, 14) separate.

Abstract: Roll press or mill with two adjacent rolls (2, 4) with cooperating compression surfaces, mounted in bearing housings located between an upper and lower box girder, one roll being adjustable, with a material feed system with at least one fill chamber (6) with walls (22, 24) parallel to the roll axes and extending into the roll gap (8) and with apparatus to eliminate the air entering the roll gap with the material, provided with air admission holes in the region of the roll gap leading into an air collection chamber connected with air outlets. On each side of the fill chamber walls, parallel to the axes, chambers (16, 18) extend essentially over the breadth of the compression surfaces of the rolls and are closed at their ends. The chambers are each connected to the roll gap by a passage (28, 30) formed between the compression surfaces at the perimeter of the rolls and the lower end of the walls adjacent to the walls of the filling chamber. The chambers (16, 18) are provided with air outlets (34, 36).

Abstract: The invention relates to an iron sponge briquetting press having two opposite rollers. The rollers consist of a roller base body and a coating affixed thereto, in which the moulding recesses for shaping the briquettes are formed. In order to provide less expensive roller coatings as compared with the segments used formerly as coating, which have moreover longer service lives, the invention provides that the coating is produced as a closed ring from a chromium nickel molybdenum steel and is held in press fit on the roller base body. Open grooves are produced in the sleeve surface of the roller base body or on the inner side of the ring as cooling ducts, their open sides being covered by the inner side of the ring or the sleeve surface of the base body in the assembled condition of the rollers.

Abstract: A pelletizer for making pellets from a liquid or semi-liquid food product has two molding rolls between which the food product is formed into pellets. The rolls have teeth of complementary shape, and the teeth of at least one roll have axially spaced apart recesses. The rolls are cooled with a refrigerant during the molding operation. By the means of the pelletizer, frozen pellets are made from a liquid or semi-liquid food product which, prior to molding, is refrigerated into moldable consistency before being supplied to the nip between the two cooperating molding rolls which are cooled during the molding operation so as to form surface-frozen pellets which are thereafter subjected to final freezing.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding pieces of soap or other soft and pasty substances having at least a central rotor (2) capable of a reciprocating rotating motion supporting two half-molds (4, 4') placed at 90.degree. and at least two lateral rotors (1, 1') capable of a reciprocating rotating translating motion, each supporting a half-mold (3, 3'), the three rotors (1, 1', 2) having their axis of rotation parallel to the feeder and discharge conveyor belts (6, 6', 7, 7', 8). Between each lateral rotor (1, 1') and the central rotor (2) an elevator/lifting device (5, 5') or other apparatus lifts/raises the pieces (19, 19') to be shaped from the feeder belt (7, 7') and brings them to the molding area, each lateral rotor (1, 1') capable of a rotating translating motion, translating in a radial direction towards the central rotor (2) molds the piece and then moves away with the molded piece (10, 10') and while rotating deposits it on the discharge conveyor belt (6, 6') of the molded pieces.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus for and a method of producing compacted particulate articles, as well as the compacted particulate articles made by that method. A particulate material mixed with a binder is introduced to and directed through a briquetting press wherein said particulate material is first sandwiched between polymer film, the sandwich formed in resilient polymer dies, then the polymer film is peeled off of the formed articles and collected while the formed articles are collected, accumulated and further processed.

Abstract: A briquetter for low density materials having a hopper, an auger in the bottom portion of the hopper extending outwardly of the hopper with its leading end feeding material conveyed by the auger and a pair of rolls receiving the feed material having briquette forming pockets extending along the roll circumferences, arranged to form complementary pockets for shaping the briquettes transversely of the rolls. A pair of confronting, threaded auxiliary ribbon flights in the hopper are provided immediately above the auger for pre-compressing material as it enters the auger. The auxiliary ribbon flights are tapered in diameter and have threads that become progressively smaller and are in opposite directions so as to concentrate pressure on material entering the auger. The leading end of the auger is smaller in diameter than the threads of the auger and is pointed to concentrate pressure on materials introduced between the pair of rolls.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming food materials into three dimensional shapes that may be made to duplicate the appearance of a variety of natural food products. The machine includes a dual rotary, matching forming cavity apparatus for producing, at continuous high speeds, food products in a variety of shapes. One embodiment of the invention employs a plurality of forming bars mounted in the dual rotary drums of the machine, the forming bars are easily removable and replacable with similar bars having different products forming cavities. Cam operated means are associated with the drums or the forming bars for ejecting formed products from the cavities.

Abstract: A roller mill such as a roll press or roll jaw crusher with crushing rollers and end face plates for lateral limitation of the nip mounted with pivotal links on the side walls of a product delivery chute and triangularly spaced support springs for the face plates urging them toward the nip with wear-resistant coatings on the inner surface of the face plates with the face plates having a lower removable extension.

Abstract: For forming fibrous crop or like materials into self-supporting products, an apparatus comprising first and second compression members arranged so that opposed closing faces of the compression members co-operate to define the principal pressure-generating surfaces of a compression space for a charge of the material, protrusions extending from one or both of said opposed faces being effective to define walls of the compression space, and drive means operative to reduce the distance between the opposed faces of the two compression members until there is minimal separation of the two members in the vicinity of the leading edges of the protrusions.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing of an oleaginous product in an extruder under pressure and heat and then introducing the product, while under such pressure and heat, into a forming unit for particulating the product into a predetermined substantially uniform size and shape. The operation is continuous with the forming unit comprising an attachment mounted at the extruder product outlet to receive directly therefrom the processed product.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing material for hot briquetting by pyrolytic decomposition of bituminous coal in mixture with thermally widely stable substances at a temperature of 450.degree. to 530.degree. C., and to a suitable apparatus for carrying out this method. In a travelling bed reactor, the briquetting material is exposed to the pyrolytic decomposition of the bituminous coal component, and is held in continuous mixing and kneading motion. For this purpose, the briquetting material is moved initially in a rotational mixing and kneading motion predominantly at levels parallel to the plane of the axes of rollers of the briquetting press, during which motion it migrates downwardly by gravity at an average speed of less than 3 centimeters per second, whereupon, at the end of this motion, it is uniformly distributed by a rotational motion over the entire width of the rollers.

Abstract: For the production of gas-permeable briquettes it is suggested to provide parts of the surfaces having higher porosity by performing the pressing operation in partial areas of the press surfaces against the material to be compressed. Press rolls (2), presses or briquette moulds, respectively, comprise depressions, grooves or blind bores (4), respectively, for receiving material to be pressed.

Abstract: A rotary mold having a removable rotary mold segment of truncated sectorial shape having top, bottom, side, and end wall surfaces wherein the top arcuate surface is adapted for molding, and the generally planar bottom surface is connected to the top surface by two end walls in radial alignment with the axis of rotation defining the arcuate top surface wherein the bottom surface joining said end walls is in perpendicular alignment with one of said end walls.

Abstract: A briquetting machine for shaping a pulverized and/or powder material includes, on the downstream side of briquetting rolls, a pair of notching rolls provided with blades on their peripheral surfaces. The blades extend in the circumferential direction and/or the widthwise direction. The notching rolls are rotated in opposite directions in synchronization with the briquetting rolls, whereby a continuous strip of briquettes discharged from the briquetting rolls can be sheared and separated by the notching rolls. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in the aforementioned type of briquetting machine, the interval between the notching rolls is selected such that when the continuous strip of briquettes is bitten between the notching rolls and is not sheared nor separated but it is merely notched by the notching rolls. A briquette guide is disposed on the downstream side of the notching rolls.

Abstract: A feeder for a briquetting press comprising a funnel for containing and directing particulate material toward the nip of a pair of cooperating rolls, an elongated ram axially disposed in the funnel with one end extending through the outlet of the funnel, and a power-driven drive shaft disposed normal to the ram and connected to the ram so that rotation of the drive shaft causes axial reciprocation of the ram.

Abstract: Method of regulating the throughput of a roll press having press rollers, a variable-speed drive motor for said press rollers and a feed device having a controllable throughput. Both the speed of the drive motor and also the throughput of the feed device are regulated automatically in two control modes which succeed one another from time to time. During the first control mode, under nominal loading, the roller speed is increased until the actual loading falls below the nominal loading; at less than the nominal loading the feed throughput is increased until the nominal loading has been attained, and after a condition has been reached in which the nominal loading has not been attained by increasing the throughput, the regulation is changed over to the second control mode.

Abstract: Two roller elements are spatially related so that grooves therein are aligned to define an opening between the roller elements. The grooves have pluralities of cavities formed therein into which material from a line is squeezed as the line is passed through the opening so that protuberances are formed on the line. A heating element is provided to soften the line prior to having the protuberances formed, and a cooling chamber is provided to cool the line after the protuberances have been formed.

Abstract: An apparatus to make cookies which consists of a drum shaped device for shaping the cookies. The drum shaped device termed a die roll receives dough from a feed roll which in turn removes dough from a feed hopper. The die roll then deposits the shaped dough on the surface of a transfer conveyor at a first location. The transfer conveyor moves the dough bits to a second location adjacent to an oven conveyor. As the dough bits leave the transfer conveyor at the second location they are made to topple onto their side when they are received by the oven conveyor. While they lay on their side the formerly flat base becomes slightly rounded. After they are baked in the oven all the baked surfaces are now rounded.

Abstract: A roller press for compacting and briquetting bulk material having rollers, each comprising a core, segments arranged adjacent one another around the surface of the core, adjusting springs by which the segments are fixed on the roller core in the circumferential direction, clamping rings having frusto-conical faces on projections which abut frusto-conical faces on projections on the segments, and clamping bolts extending through the clamping rings and passing between the longitudinal edges of the segments. Each clamping ring is provided at its inner circumference with adjusting spring grooves parallel to the axis of the clamping ring and the adjusting springs for the segments extend parallel to the axis of the roller beyond the end of the segment to such an extent that they engage in the adjusting spring grooves in the clamping ring.

Abstract: A briquetting roll press is disclosed which includes a number of replaceable mold segments. The mold segments are designed to transmit the radial compression forces applied to the mold segments to the central member of the briquetting roll through the sidewalls of the mold segments.

Abstract: A roll press includes two coacting rolls arranged to form briquettes by engagement of coacting surfaces having suitable depressions formed therein. Each of the rolls includes a central arbor of polygonal cross section including a plurality of flat faces each having a dovetail slot therein, a plurality of segments each slidably received in a corresponding dovetail slot, and retaining plates on each side of the arbor for engaging the ends of the segments and to limit axial displacement. The mounting arrangement for the retaining plates provides for thermal expansion of the segments in one axial direction. Each segment is mounted in its dovetail slot with a slight space between the inner face of the segment and the bottom wall of the slot so that precise machining of the inner face of the segment and the bottom of the dovetail slot is not necessary. A cooling arrangement is provided which comprises a plurality of spaced axially extending passages connected by diagonal passages.

Abstract: Briquetting press rolls are provided for rotation in tangential relationship with respect to each other with unequal peripheral velocities at the point of tangency to impose a shear stress on the briquettes of particulate material being formed in cooperating cavities spaced about the peripheral surfaces of the rolls. In one embodiment, the unequal peripheral velocities are provided by rotating rolls of unequal diameter at the same angular velocity. In an alternative embodiment, rolls of constant diameter are rotated by roll driving means at different angular velocities. In both embodiments, the pitch of the cavity spacings is such to ensure registration and cooperation. The shear stress imposed on the briquettes during formation provides briquettes with greater density and strength.

Abstract: A process for recovering and using fines of flux, such as limestone, used in a metallurgical process, such as oxygen steelmaking, is described. The process involves collecting fines from a receiving zone, e.g., with blower and baghouse equipment. The fines so collected are then conveyed, as by a dense-phase conveyor, to a first processing zone containing a first screening means for screening flux material which is to be fed to the process. Material not passing through said first screening means is fed to the metallurgical-process vessel, but fines passed by the first screening means are collected and formed into briquettes. The briquettes are conveyed to a second processing zone which is located above the conveyor which leads from the receiving zone to the first processing zone mentioned above. The second processing zone contains a second screening means and means for storing and releasing to the said conveyor the briquettes or portions thereof which have not passed through said second screening means.

Abstract: A cookie machine comprises a cookie shaping device for forming dough into cookies. A transfer conveyor has a transfer surface extending between a first location where the formed dough is received on the transfer surface to a second location where the formed dough is removed from the transfer surface. An oven conveyor is adjacent to and partially disposed above the transfer conveyor for receiving the formed dough from the transfer conveyor whereby the formed dough substantially remains at the height of the second location as the formed dough is received on the oven conveyor.

Abstract: Loose hay or the like is delivered into a progressively narrowing axial space between two rows of identical teeth which project towards each other from side locations on a pair of obliquely related wheels. The hay or other material is simultaneously compressed and advanced by the teeth as they come together. The teeth form axial boundaries for pockets or chambers in which the hay or other material is compressed into blocks. The radial boundaries of such pockets or chambers are formed by an annular outer wall carried by one of the wheels and an annular inner wall carried by the other wheel. One of the wheels is mounted for rotation in a fixed position. The other wheel is mounted for rotation by mounting means which can be shifted in position for the purpose of varying the axial space between the two wheels, for adjustment of the pocket size.

Abstract: Segments for briquetting and compacting rolls which include seats in the roll core and means for clamping the segments in place. The segments define side walls which are in facing relationship when the segments are assembled with the roll core. The side walls each define a groove and a sealing profile in the form of a rod of ductile material is positioned between opposed grooves. When the segments are clamped in place, the profiles are compressed and plastically deformed whereby an impenetrable barrier to the passage of particles between and beneath the segments is provided.

Abstract: A roller press, for the thermal compaction and briquetting of loose material, having rollers each comprising a core having a cylindrical outer surface and a shell carried on the core, the shell being formed from a plurality of adjacent segments each extending longitudinally of the roller and having longitudinal edges parallel to the axis of the roller and detachably secured at their ends to the roller core, circumferentially-spaced cooling ducts parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller being provided in the roller core at positions inwardly of the outer surface of the core and interconnected to form at least one cooling circuit provided with an inlet and an outlet for the passage therethrough of a coolant. The cooling ducts in the roller core can be connected in series or in parallel.

Abstract: A briquetting press roll comprising a cylindrical core having a regular polygonal cross-section and a plurality of equal planar sections around its peripheral surface, each planar section having at least one transverse groove. Secured end-to-end around the peripheral surface of the core are a plurality of removable mold segments, each having a flat bottom surface coterminous with one of the planar sections and an arcuate top working surface, forming a right circular cylinder. The flat bottom surface of each mold segment has at least one transverse groove substantially complementing the transverse groove in the coterminous planar section to form a keyway. Devices for securing the segments to the core and for utilizing the keyways to align and prevent movement of the segments relative to the core peripheral surface are provided.

Abstract: A system for heating and hot briquetting particulate matter containing a material that softens when heated, which consists of an improved fluid bed reactor for heating the material and certain instrumentation and controls for protecting the briquetting equipment from excessive temperatures originating in the furnace.The furnace improvements permit the processing of feed material having wide ranges of particle size, density and fuel content over substantial ranges of production rates. Furnace constructions are provided for heating the materials at rates of 700,000 to 2,800,000 BTU per square foot of hearth area and avoiding problems normally associated with such high combustion rates, such as excessive entrainment of feed from the furnace by the off gas, surging of the bed and insufficient material available at the furnace outlet to meet the needs of the briquetting machine.

Abstract: A briquetting machine including a pair of compacting rolls, a pair of cheek plates enclosing the nip of the rolls, a generally rectangular feeding chute having a damper, means for automatically regulating the damper to control the roll force and a rectangular off-gas conduit extending upwardly from the nip, all designed to uniformly feed the rolls, minimizing feed entrainment in the off gas, and when hot materials are fed, to minimize exposure of the rolls to heat. Also included are cooling enclosures for the rolls and other parts exposed to high temperature and means for measuring the temperature of each roll and automatically regulating the flow of the cooling fluids and the positions of the cooling enclosures so as to maintain the temperature of the roll surfaces within predetermined ranges.

Abstract: An industrial-sized briquetting press having two independent bearing housings for supporting the drive shafts of the briquette-forming rolls. One of the bearing housings is rigidly mounted and the other is pivotally mounted to the first by a pivot located midway between the longitudinal axes of the drive shafts. The axes are substantially parallel and the pivotally mounted housing moves in the plane of the axes. The rolls are biased together by hydraulic cylinders. Connecting rods attached to the rigidly mounted bearing housing, slidably passing through the pivotally mounted bearing housing and hollow piston rods of the hydraulic cylinders, and supporting the hydraulic cylinders prevent movement of the briquette-forming rolls in relative longitudinal and lateral directions. The press has no overall frame permitting easy access for repair and maintenance and the pivot is demountable permitting removal of the pivotally mounted bearing housing.

Abstract: Frictional drag on the feeder screw of a briquetting press is reduced and a concomitant reduction in feeder screw drive power requirements is realized by providing all but the lowermost flight on the feeder screw with regularly spaced notches to allow the reverse flow of limited amounts of the material being fed to the press.

Abstract: A shim designed for insertion between mold segments on hot briquette rolls permits accurate alignment of the segments and at the same time, by virtue of its softening and melting temperatures permits uniform expansion of the segments on heating.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roll briquetting press having a preconnected feed arrangement including a multiplicity of juxtaposed screw conveyors.

Abstract: The rolls of tandem roll briquette molding machines are conveniently aligned and oriented with each other with the use of a novel adjustable bearing block. It permits axial adjustment of rolls weighing several tons within tolerances of very small dimensions.

Abstract: A die segment for a briquetting roll in which the roll is a steel body which is provided with a peripheral groove having a radially outwardly facing bottom wall which is made up of planar chordal segments and having side walls at the side edges of the bottom wall with one side wall inclined inwardly in the outward direction and being in the form of an annular segment of a cone concentric with the axis of the roll and the other side wall substantially radial. The die segments are bodies of hard wear resistant material mounted in the groove, one on each chordal section of the bottom wall of the groove and each has one side inclined to fit the inclined wall of the groove with the other side spaced from and diverging from the radial side wall in the outward direction. Wedge bars between the radial side wall of the groove and the opposed sides of the die segments are utilized for clamping the segments in place in the roll.

Abstract: Hay and similar crop materials can be efficiently compacted and formed into pellets or cubes through a closely coordinated sequence of operations in which the hay picked up from the field is deposited into a feed bin, then advanced by gravity feed uniformly onto a cross feed conveyor which advances the hay through a compaction stage in which the hay is precompressed to bale density, and thereafter it is continuously advanced between a pair of counter-rotating press wheels which further compress and form the hay into dense pellets or cubes.

Abstract: A briquetting press roll is disclosed which includes a plurality of removable mold segments and means for attaching the mold segments to a cylindrical central core. The mold segments have, on their side walls, connecting means for engaging annular retaining rings. The annular retaining rings span the interface of the mold segments and the central core. The annular retaining rings engage the mold segments and the central core thereby affixing the mold segments to the central core.

Abstract: A shim designed for insertion between mold segments on hot briquette rolls permits accurate alignment of the segments and at the same time, by virtue of its softening and melting temperatures permits uniform expansion of the segments on heating.

Abstract: Inert gas is used to effect a seal between external oxygen-containing atmospheric gas and internal explosive or combustion-prone dust containing gases in a briquette making machine. The sealing system requires no mechanical contact and permits viewing of the moving briquette roll.