Abstract: An apparatus for straining liquid fibrous suspensions to remove contaminants and foreign objects has a stationary screen basket located in a housing. Purging blades rotate in the interior of the screen basket in close proximity to the interior walls of the screen and create pressure pulses, causing trapped contaminants and foreign objects to migrate toward an outlet, whereas the purified suspension, including the useful fibers, passes through the screens.The average path traversed in the apparatus by contaminants and foreign objects is shortened due to the disposition of an intermediate chamber, at mid-height of the screen basket, through which contaminants may also be eliminated from the apparatus. The purging blades are appropriately extended to sweep the walls of this intermediate chamber. The shortened average path reduces the probability that contaminants will pass through the screen on their way to the outlet.