Abstract: A shifter mechanism for a filter press, which mechanism includes a reciprocal housing supported for movement along the press side rail, and a stop pawl mounted on the housing for stopping shifter movement in one direction, and a drive pawl mounted on the housing for effecting opening movement of the frontmost filter plate in the opposite direction. A vibrator is mounted on the housing and is rotated in response to linear movement of the shifter mechanism in the opposite direction to effect raising of the filter plate being shifted, followed by dropping thereof onto the side rail to impose an impact thereon to assist in loosening of the filtrate adhered thereto.

Abstract: A filter press plate shifter assembly (21) provided with a shifter housing (22) having a tunnel-like center part which passes over the filter plates and housing parts positioned adjacent opposite side rails (14). Each side housing part mounts a pneumatic plate shifter (41) for permitting the endmost plate in the closed stack to be individually and sequentially shifted away from the stack into an open position when discharge of filtrate is desired. The shifter housing mounts a bumping device (61) which cooperates with the endmost plate in the stack to effect vertical bumping thereof relative to the support rails to assist in loosening sticky cake which adheres to the plate. The shifter housing also mounts an air-assist discharge mechanism (62) which includes a nozzle-bearing head assembly (80, 80') which moves vertically downwardly between the opposed faces of an open pair of adjacent plates for discharging airstreams downwardly against the plates to assist in removing the sticky cake from the plates.