Abstract: A system for grinding particles may include a roller mill apparatus with a pair of mill rolls, a motor assembly for rotating the mill rolls, and a controller assembly for controlling aspects of operation of the roller mill apparatus. The controller assembly may include a size detection sensor for detecting a particle size of material moving through the apparatus, and processing circuitry comparing a current particle size value with a target particle size value. The processing circuitry may execute instructions to compare the current particle size value to the target particle size value, and adjust a magnitude of a differential in rotational speeds of the mill rolls based upon the comparison of the current particle size value to the target particle size value to cause a future particle size value to move closer to the target particle size value.

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 for removing parts from plants rooted in an agricultural field while leaving other parts of the plants rooted in the agricultural field may include a harvester apparatus with an intake throat formed by structures such as the combination of an infeed head and infeed conveyor, a pair of stripping assemblies including stripping belts, or stripping assemblies including stripping members such as chains.

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 system may comprise a grinding apparatus configured to receive material and produce the output material, and a control apparatus configured to control operation of elements of the system. The control apparatus may include an operational interface assembly configured to provide an operational interface for the system, a sensor assembly configured to sense operational characteristics of elements of the system, an actuating assembly configured to operate elements of the system, and a processing device configured to receive input from the operational interface assembly and the sensor apparatus assembly and send output to the actuating assembly. The processing device may be configured to apply an analytical structure to input received by the processing device and to generate output to affect operation of the elements of the system.

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: 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: An apparatus for sensing characteristics of particles in a flow of particles may include a guidance structure configured to guide particles of a stream of particles taken from the flow of particles. The guidance structure defines an inclined surface across which particles of the stream of particles move. The apparatus may further include an image capturing device configured to capture at least one image of particles located on the inclined surface.

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 plant processing system may include an initial preparation apparatus for treating plant material prior to processing the plant material, and the initial preparation apparatus may be configured to lower a temperature of the plant material from an initial temperature to a lowered temperature. The system may also include a plant processing apparatus configured to process the plant material received from the initial preparation apparatus at approximately the lowered temperature. In some embodiments, the plant processing apparatus may be a plant stripping apparatus configured to detach constituent parts of the plant material from each other. In some embodiments, the plant processing apparatus may be a plant grinding apparatus configured to grind constituent parts of the plant material.

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 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 removing parts from plants rooted in an agricultural field while leaving other parts of the plants rooted in the agricultural field may include a harvester apparatus with an intake throat formed by structures such as the combination of an infeed head and infeed conveyor, a pair of stripping assemblies including stripping belts, or stripping assemblies including stripping members such as chains.

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 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.