Abstract: A grinding apparatus may include a frame and a pair of rolls each having a circumferential surface and being rotatably mounted on the frame, and a plurality of teeth located on the circumferential surface. In embodiments, at least one roll comprises a roll body structure rotatably mounted on the frame and a roll cover structure forming the circumferential surface, and the roll cover structure may be at least partially removable from the roll body structure to permit replacement of at least a portion of the circumferential surface without requiring removal of the roll body structure from the frame. In embodiments, the teeth on one roll may include an upper cap portion formed of a relatively harder material and a lower base portion formed of a relatively softer material. In embodiments, the teeth on one roll have a coating of a relatively harder material than a relatively softer base material forming the tooth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grinding a particulate material is disclosed. The method may include providing a system including a roller mill apparatus and a hammermill apparatus, operating the roller mill apparatus and the hammermill apparatus, adjusting a feed rate of particulate material to the roller mill apparatus until power consumption by operation of the roller mill apparatus achieves a target power consumption for the roller mill apparatus, and adjusting a gap between mill rolls of the roller mill apparatus until power consumption by operation of the hammermill apparatus achieves a target power consumption for the hammermill apparatus. The system may include roller and hammermill apparatus with sensing and controlling apparatus configured to operate the roller and hammermill apparatus according to the methods disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring the roll diameter and shock loads in a milling apparatus may include a frame, a pair of rolls including a movable first roll and a stationary second roll, roll supports configured to support the first roll on the frame in a movable manner and the second roll on the frame in a stationary manner, and a motor assembly configured to rotate at least one of the rolls. Embodiments of the systems may also include a wear sensing assembly configured to detect wear on at least one of the rolls of the pair of rolls. Embodiments of the systems may also include a shock sensing assembly configured to detect shock to at one of the rolls.

Abstract: A system and method for operating a milling apparatus with grinding rolls and a variety of sensors sensing various aspects of the milling process.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting a rotating body on a frame may include a bearing support block having a plurality of block mounting bores for each being axially aligned with a bearing mounting hole formed in the frame, and at least one mounting bolt removably insertable into one of the block mounting bores and into a bearing mounting hole, with the mounting bolt having exterior threads for threading into interior threads on one of the bearing mounting holes on the frame. One block mounting bore may have interior threads formed thereon, and the interior threads of the block mounting bore may incompatible with the exterior threads of the mounting bolt such that the mounting bolt is not threadable into the block mounting bore. An apparatus and system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus may include a frame and a pair of rolls each having a circumferential surface and being rotatably mounted on the frame, and a plurality of teeth located on the circumferential surface. In embodiments, at least one roll comprises a roll body structure rotatably mounted on the frame and a roll cover structure forming the circumferential surface, and the roll cover structure may be at least partially removable from the roll body structure to permit replacement of at least a portion of the circumferential surface without requiring removal of the roll body structure from the frame. In embodiments, the teeth on one roll may include an upper cap portion formed of a relatively harder material and a lower base portion formed of a relatively softer material. In embodiments, the teeth on one roll have a coating of a relatively harder material than a relatively softer base material forming the tooth.

Abstract: A grinding apparatus may include a frame and a pair of rolls each having a circumferential surface and being rotatably mounted on the frame, and a plurality of teeth located on the circumferential surface. In embodiments, at least one roll comprises a roll body structure rotatably mounted on the frame and a roll cover structure forming the circumferential surface, and the roll cover structure may be at least partially removable from the roll body structure to permit replacement of at least a portion of the circumferential surface without requiring removal of the roll body structure from the frame. In embodiments, the teeth on one roll may include an upper cap portion formed of a relatively harder material and a lower base portion formed of a relatively softer material. In embodiments, the teeth on one roll have a coating of a relatively harder material than a relatively softer base material forming the tooth.

Abstract: A system may comprise a frame, a pair of rolls with each of the rolls comprising a roll body having opposite ends and a circumferential surface, a plurality of teeth being formed on the circumferential surface, and at least a portion of the circumferential surface being electrically conductive. The roll may also have a roll shaft having end portions extending from the roll body, with each of the end portions extending from one of the ends of the roll body. The system may also comprise roll supports configured to support the rolls on the frame in a manner such that at least one of the rolls is movable to adjust a separation gap between the rolls, a detection apparatus configured to detect contact between the rolls, and a signaling apparatus configured to produce a signal indicating a change in electrical potential is detected by the detection apparatus.

Abstract: A scalper apparatus configured to divide a flow of material between filtered and unfiltered streams. The scalper apparatus may include a housing with an upper opening, a primary lower opening for outputting the filtered stream, and a secondary lower opening for outputting the unfiltered stream. The scalper apparatus may include a grate extending across the interior of the housing such that any material leaving the interior through the primary lower opening must pass through the grate while any material unable to pass through the grate is caused to move through the secondary lower opening. The scalper assembly may include a brush assembly with at least one brush movable across the grate, and a carrier assembly configured to carry the at least one brush across substantially an entire top of the grate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for grinding a particulate material is disclosed. The method may include providing a system including a roller mill apparatus and a hammermill apparatus, operating the roller mill apparatus and the hammermill apparatus, adjusting a feed rate of particulate material to the roller mill apparatus until power consumption by operation of the roller mill apparatus achieves a target power consumption for the roller mill apparatus, and adjusting a gap between mill rolls of the roller mill apparatus until power consumption by operation of the hammermill apparatus achieves a target power consumption for the hammermill apparatus. The system may include roller and hammermill apparatus with sensing and controlling apparatus configured to operate the roller and hammermill apparatus according to the methods disclosed.

Abstract: A plant processing system may include a plant stripping apparatus with a frame and a plurality of stripping fingers including at least two groups of the stripping fingers being movable relative to each other. Each group of fingers may extend from a respective working surface, and the working surfaces may be oriented in substantial opposition to each other with a gap being formed between the first and second working surfaces to provide a pathway for movement of plant materials between an input and an output of the stripping apparatus.

Abstract: A system for grinding material in a material flow through the system may include a feed hopper having an interior for receiving material to be processed, a feed apparatus configured to receive material of the material flow from the feed hopper and control a feed rate of the material moving through the system, a roller mill apparatus configured to grind material of the material flow passing through the roller mill apparatus, and a classifier apparatus configured to remove portions of the material from the material flow.

Abstract: A roll grinding apparatus may comprise a frame, first and second rolls rotatably mounted on the frame in proximity to each other to grind materials passing between the rolls, and first and second motors to rotate the first and second rolls respectively. A control apparatus controls operation of at least one of the motors. The control apparatus may be configured to control the speed of the second roll by providing power to the second motor or braking the second motor through regeneration of energy from the second motor.

Abstract: A system may comprise a frame, a pair of rolls with each of the rolls comprising a roll body having opposite ends and a circumferential surface, a plurality of teeth being formed on the circumferential surface, and at least a portion of the circumferential surface being electrically conductive. The roll may also have a roll shaft having end portions extending from the roll body, with each of the end portions extending from one of the ends of the roll body. The system may also comprise roll supports configured to support the rolls on the frame in a manner such that at least one of the rolls is movable to adjust a separation gap between the rolls, a detection apparatus configured to detect contact between the rolls, and a signaling apparatus configured to produce a signal indicating a change in electrical potential is detected by the detection apparatus.