Abstract: A method and apparatus for the automatic determination of a continuous bulk material through a continuous balance wherein a weighing vessel, an adjustable closure member movable in the weighing vessel for adjusting an outlet cross-section of the weighing vessel and an electronic weight difference measuring device are provided. The closure member provided in the outlet region of the vessel is so arranged that when the closure member is in the open operating position, there is a free mass flow in the weighing vessel and the bulk material flows freely and unhindered from the outlet of the weighing vessel. A control device is connected at its input to the weight measuring device and at its output to the adjustable closure member whereby a signal corresponding to the weight change in the weighing vessel per unit of time is produced, which is used for calculating the parameters of state of the bulk material flow.

Abstract: A pellet mill comprises a perforated annular pellet die having an axis of rotation and first and second ends; and a die carrier rotatable about an axis of rotation and having an annular recess for receiving the first end of the annular pellet die. Fixing devices are secured to the first end of the die and cooperating fixing devices are provided in the annular recess in the die carrier. The fixing devices and the cooperating fixing devices have a first position relative to one another permitting insertion of the first end into the annular recess by relative axial movement of the die and die carrier and a second relative position permitting the transmission of force between the fixing devices and the cooperating fixing devices to draw the die towards the die carrier into a clamped position. Various different devices are provided for generating the force. In addition centering devices are provided which are effective on drawing of the die towards the die carrier to center the die relative to the die carrier.

Abstract: A roll mill, particularly a flaking mill, for milling particulate material comprises at least two rollers, especially a stationary roller and a movable one, pressed against each other by means of a pressure exerting device. Product is supplied in a width greater than the axial width of the rollers and their nip. Channels are arranged on both lateral ends of the rollers and collect the material fed in excess of the axial length of the rollers, said channels being preferably open towards the rollers, especially over their whole length. Each of said channels discharges onto a guide surface situated above the nip of the rollers and discharges in turn all the material from the channels into the nip above the upper gripping zone of the nip.

Abstract: In a method for setting the spacings of grinding rollers (2, 2') in roller frames (1) of a cereal milling plant, the roller frames are in each case followed by a screening system (14), from which a test signal is tapped and supplied to a computer (7), which compares it with a stored desired value and in the case of a variation brings about an automatic adjustment of the spacings of the grinding rollers by means of a control signal and adjusting means (4, 5). The test signal is only derived from the screen reject material (17) or screenings (18) of screening system (14) and is only supplied from certain selected key passages to computer (7). In a cereal milling plant for performing this method, a momentum weight measuring system (24, 29, 30, 31) for the continuous determination of the sifting work is associated with the gyratory sifter or sifters (14).

Abstract: For making food pellets, the raw material is first subjected to a first pelleting treatment under pressure, after which the obtained pelleted product is treated at least in part on a pressure pelleter at least for a second time. A feeding arrangement for feeding the material once pelleted to a pelleting die is respectively arranged either within a single pressure pelleter or between two pressure pelleters connected in series for carrying out such process.

Abstract: In a pasta dryer (1) with an insulation cladding encasing the dryer, the side parts of which cladding consist of individual convex wall elements (10) which can be braced in their edge regions against frame parts (13) of the dryer, the wall elements (10) are of convex design in the shape of a cylinder section and the associated frame parts (13) are adapted correspondingly.

Abstract: A machine for heat and/or cold treatment of lumpy material, more particularly a drum dryer for pasta, has a number of chambers (6) distributed around the drum periphery. Each chamber (6) is bounded in known manner at the inner and outer drum periphery by a perforated wall (8, 10) to enable air or another treatment gas to flow through. At least one perforated wall (8, 10) is associated with a retaining device, more particularly a tensioning device, at least one of the perforated walls (8, 10) and preferably at least the outer wall (10) being divided in the axial and/or peripheral direction around the drum periphery. Advantageously each chamber (6) is associated with a separate perforated wall (10) which can be tensioned by a tensioning device.

Abstract: In the case of an apparatus for cleaning grits, which has a plurality of superimposed screen layers, which can be vibrated by means of at least one unbalance exciter and with an inlet or outlet for the product inlet or screen discharge arranged at one end, collecting means with adjustable setting flaps for the screenings, as well as an air circulation through the screen layers over an air distribution chamber in a suction collecting channel adjustable by means of adjusting flaps, it is provided that the apparatus is constructed as a stand with a stand head, a stand base and a vertical intermediate support connecting said two parts, the screen layers being constructed as a dust box and being vibratably supported in the vicinity of the stand base, the stand top being formed by the upper air distribution chamber.

Abstract: A sorting cylinder for seeds and other grains with a horizontal, driven calibrating cylinder (11) resting on rolls (22, 23, 24, 25) and with a stationary machine casing (1) surrounding the calibrating cylinder (11) which has an inlet (4) for the material to be sorted and a mechanism (5, 6, 7) to lead off the fractions as well as a detachable longitudinal side wall (41, 42). In order to simplify storage and to facilitate the exchangeability also for untrained operating personnel, the calibrating cylinder (11) freely rests on four supporting rolls (22, 23, 24, 25) and at least one of the four supporting rolls (24; 25) is designed as a driving wheel (25). The calibrating cylinder (11) can be freely lifted off towards the top or can be mounted and dismounted through a longitudinal side (41, 42) of the machine casing (1).

Abstract: In pneumatic low pressure dust extraction apparatus, filter bags are cleaned by reverse flow of air. Each cleaning operation includes a first shock phase of short duration (not longer than 0.05 sec) but at high flow intensity by which accumulated layers of dust are thrown off the outside of the bag, followed by a rinsing phase of greater duration (not longer than 1 sec e.g. 0.20-0.30 sec) but at lower flow intensity during which remaining dust is blown out of the filter cloth and the cloth is allowed to lie back gradually on its support. The apparatus includes a cleaning-air tank incorporated in the filter housing for storage of compressed air in the close vicinity of apertures of the filter bags. The height of the tank exceeds its distance from the bag apertures. There is a valve for each filter bag and it has delivery means extending into the region of the bag aperture. The duration of the reverse flow for cleaning is adjustable for obtaining optimum results suited to the operating conditions.

Abstract: The grain loading apparatus 2 comprises the housing 4 which is attached to the end of the grain discharge chute. The housing 4 includes a shutoff valve 12 located proximately to a material outlet opening 9. The shutoff valve 12 exerts an adjustable closure force on the material flow through the outlet opening 9 to build up a first column of material thereabove. In addition, a grain retarding cone and cylinder 92 is arranged inside the housing 4 above the shutoff valve 12. This grain retarding cone and cylinder 92 decreases the kinetic energy of the material flow and builds up a second column of material thereabove to significantly lessen release of dust into the air upon discharge of the grain strain.

Abstract: A contrivance for shelling a granular product, in particular soy beans, sunflower seeds and the like, is provided with a distribution head that is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. This latter displays in its wall axis-symmetrical arranged passthrough openings to which radially oriented guideways (11) connect. In order to impart a uniform acceleration to all grains, passthrough openings (20) are structured slot-fashion and extend, at least partially, in the direction of the longitudinal axis in such fashion that the product, with the distribution head (10) rotating, moves veil-fashion along the guideways (11).

Abstract: Apparatus for grinding cereal grain involving the controlling of grinding forces between a pair of cooperating grinding rolls, by determining the actual grain receiving gap between the rolls during rotation thereof and regulating the gap in accordance with a preset desired dimension. A pair of parallel grinding rolls are mounted for movement of one roll relative to the other in a generally radial direction. One of the rolls is yieldingly biased toward engagement with the other roll. Adjustment mechanism is operative to limit movement of the bias roll toward said other roll and to establish said preset dimension or gap between the rolls.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for degerming maize are disclosed. The maize is introduced into a cylindrical, perforated working housing in which is mounted a rapidly rotating rotor which drives the maize along an annular working chamber between the rotor and housing. The rotor carries a large number of blades having edges which detach the germ from the endosperm. A collecting chamber surrounds the working housing, and the working housing is provided with an outlet aperture for oversize particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic filling of bags at a discharge spout of a filling hopper wherein empty bags are stored in a bag magazine in a horizontal position, the apparatus including an attachment unit hub, a frame pivotably mounted on the hub, a suction device mounted on the frame for individually removing each bag from the bag magazine and for swinging the removed bag into an essentially vertical hanging position and including a drum having suction mechanism, a spreading mechanism mounted on the frame for opening a respective bag mouth, and a holding device for holding each bag mouth tightly against the discharge spout, wherein the drum is mounted on the frame for horizontal movement and for rotation about an axis parallel to the surface of the stored bags and for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stored bags upon pivoting of the frame about the attachment unit hub, such that the drum is lowered towards the stored bags so that the suction mechanism seizes the respective topmost bag of the

Abstract: The invention relates to the dry cleaning of grain and discloses a new process and an apparatus. In the new process a deep layer of grain is formed on an upper screen, the holes of which are larger than the grain particles, and a compacting effect is produced in the bottom zone of the layer by vibratory forces. Sand particles sink into the layer compacting near the screen, and this layer drops completely--i.e. together with the sand particles--directly on to a second screen situated therebeneath. The sand passes through the bottom screen. The double screen is preferably preceded by a coarse screen. The apparatus is modular and comprises as separate modules a screen box, a head section containing the grain inlet and a tail section containing the outlets. A number of screen boxes of different sizes and head and tail sections of different sizes and arrangements may be provided to make it possible to supply a number of screening systems of different sizes.

Abstract: An injection piston for a die casting machine comprising, a piston die having a chamber therein open at one end, a die rod having an end slidable in the chamber for changing the volume thereof. A coolant is supplied to the chamber to act as a damper to the movement of the die rod toward the press die when the injection piston is moved under pressure into a mold. The coolant flows in a coolant path comprising a feed path defined in the die rod and a discharge path at least a portion of which is defined between the press die and the die rod and the rest of which is defined in the die rod. A slidably mounted immersion valve is in the end of the die rod adjacent the chamber and movable into a neutral, a first and a second position for selectively permitting the flow of coolant into and out of the chamber, blocking the flow of coolant altogether and permitting the flow of fluid only out of the chamber depending on the increase of pressure exerted on the injection piston as it is forced into a mold.

Abstract: A drum type screening machine has a centrifuging rotor within it. A perforated retaining element is carried by the shaft between a feed inlet and an entry region of the drum. Use of the retaining element prolongs the screen life so much that tension adjustment become necessary. Provision is made for this to be done from outside of the machine. The screening drum has a pair of rings which support the screening cloth and which are held apart at an adjustable distance by tensioning bars. One ring is supported within an end member of the machine housing and the other on support means within the housing. Each bar is externally threaded, e.g. by way of an extension sleeve that is axially fast with the bar. The sleeve is engaged by an internally threaded nut which is axially fast with the end member of the machine. The sleeve extends through that nut and through the end member to the outside of the machine.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a take-up head for a conveyor installation that removes bulk material from the hold of a ship. The take-up head includes a vertical conveying tube carried by a frame, the lower end of the tube defining a take-up aperture. A rotary feeder having a plurality of radially extending spiral veins is rotatably driven to drive material inwardly to the take-up aperture. A holding device, which takes various forms in the several embodiments, projects downward in coaxial relation relative to the feeder to engage the bulk material and resist lateral movement of the take-up head. Anchoring apparatus, which takes the form of a plurality of laterally extending pivotal arms or a laterally extending auxiliary conveyor, is constructed for lowering into engagement with the material to resist rotation of the frame as the feeder rotates. The take-up head is suspended from an on-shore jib that moves the head to various positions within the ship's hold to remove all bulk material.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for measurement of brightness of milled products, especially flour, are disclosed. The process is of the general type in which the surface of a layer of flour is illuminated, and the returned quantity of light is taken to an optical electrical transducer. A light source is used for illumination, and the light beam is optically decomposed into at least two part-beams (reference beam and measurement beam) for transmission to the transducer. At least one of the part-beams is cyclicly interrupted or broken into two essentially time-shifted measurement phases in such a way that of the two part-beams, only one of the two-part beams will strike the transducer during a first measurement phase, and during a second measurement phase at least the other part-beam will be applied to the transducer.