Abstract: A sifting or screening device includes inner and outer concentric screened enclosures which rotate about a common axis. An inlet is provided at one axial end of the inner enclosure and an outlet is provided at the opposite axial end of the enclosures for the material that was too large to pass through the openings defined by the screens. An inclined dead plate or baffle member is provided at the inlet to prevent material fed in through a chute from impinging directly on the screen material and a pressurized air system presents a pulsating curtain of air to disengage material which has become lodged in the screen. A novel support system includes a circular support surface at the inlet end which rides on a pair of bearings and a central axle coincident with the axis of rotation driven by a motor at the outlet end. The axis of rotation is caused to lie at a small angle to the horizontal so that material which will not pass through the screens will slowly fall toward the outlet end of the enclosures.

Abstract: A material handling system is provided having particular application in grey iron foundries. In general, the system provides a continuous flow of work from the time castings are removed from their molds until the castings are ready for shipping. In particular, the system includes an environmentally acceptable grinding room work station in the form of a totally enclosed work area. Means for feeding material into and from the work station include a first plurality of gravity feed input chutes operatively coupled to a conveyor system on the input side of the work station, and a second plurality of gravity feed output chutes leading to another area on the output side of the work station. The conveyor system is designed to carry the castings from shake-out to the enclosed work area. Scrap is separated from the molded parts prior to their entrance into the work area and rejected parts continue along past the gravity feed input chutes to an accumulation storage device.