Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for separating milled sugarcane pith from flattened rind upon discharge from a depithing station. The method includes dividing the discharge by a fixed deflector, preferably with a blunt upstream edge, into a primary pith flow and a rind flow which includes a secondary pith flow, and thereafter removing pith from the rind flow and diverting it to join pith from the primary pith flow. Preferred embodiments capture the pith in interstices of a rotating brush which merges with the secondary pith flow, turning such pith away from the rind flow, and then releasing it.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making structural panel from the rinds of sugarcane and similar woody grasses. The method includes providing a collection of straight and rather long rind fiber-bundle strands, coating them with binder, depositing coated strands in a loose pile with the strands randomly oriented in substantially parallel planes, pressing the pile to a final thickness, and curing to interconnect each strand with others. The curing step preferably includes moving air through the pile, which had been deposited on a perforated belt and pressed between a pair of such belts.

Abstract: The invention is a board of non-timber hardwood-replacement lumber. The primary constituent is rinds of a grass selected from the group of grasses consisting of sugarcane and sorghum. The board has an integral mass of parallel elongate flattened rinds aligned along the length of the board, parallel to a board surface and joined together by adhesive bonding. A "cant" (from which the boards are made) is also disclosed and like the boards sawed from it, the cant is substantially void-free and of substantially constant density throughout its cross-section. The board is furniture-grade and exhibits grain characteristics very closely similar to natural hardwood.

Abstract: A cutting roll of the type with a cylindrical base member and at least one substantially axially-parallel blade attached thereto for separation of sugarcane, sweet sorghum, and the like. Grooves in the base have serrated walls engaging serrated sides of blade members, and wedging members secure the blades in proper radial adjustment in the grooves. A plurality of blade segments in each groove and a slight angling of the serrations allows blade rotation and provides a highly accurate and easily adjustable cutting roll.

Abstract: An improved structural panel made from the rinds of sugarcane and other similar grasses. The panel is formed of a pile of rind fiber-bundle strands randomly oriented in substantially parallel planes. The strands are substantially straight and of length such that most have a stalk node thereon. Each strand has a multiplicity of contact points with other strands of the pile, and a binder coats the strands and interconnects them at the contact points to form a substantially rigid structure, the coated strands defining voids within the pile.

Abstract: A sugarcane billet washing apparatus tumbles and thorougly washes billets moving through a container in a continuous stream. Washing is by sprayers extending along the container. Preferred embodiments include the container being tilted to facilitate throughput, and a used water handling apparatus. The apparatus is suitable for use with continuous, integrated sugarcane processing systems.

Abstract: As a human foodstuff, substantially rind-free sugarcane flour made of pith separated from the sugarcane stalk. Such sugarcane flour may have some or substantially all of the natural sugar content of the pith removed in the manufacturing process to suit specific end uses.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for separating milled sugarcane pith from flattened rind upon discharge from a depithing station. The method includes dividing the discharge using an endless moving screen in the discharge zone, the screen having an open mesh which is suitable to allow flow of milled pith therethrough and to carry depithed rind thereon. Preferred embodiments include apparatus associated with the endless screen for pith collection and removal, and downstream apparatus for removing pith in a secondary pith flow from the path of rind flow and diverting it to the primary pith flow.

Abstract: An improved half-billet control device in apparatus for separating sugarcane (or the like) into constituent parts and an improved method for half-billet control. The device has a rotatable gide roll in proximity to a planar slide and transverse to the direction of half-billet movement. The guide roll has annular flexible projections, preferably bristle rows, which are parallel to the direction of half-billet movement, perpendicular to the slide, and spaced apart by a distance substantially less than the average billet diameter. Half billets moving along the slide nestle between projections and are thereby reoriented as needed to align their longitudinal axes parallel to the direction of movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing straight elongate fiber-bundle strands, such as sugarcane or sweet sorghum rind strands, in a loose pile on a conveyor with the strands randomly oriented in substantially parallel planes during manufacture of structural panel from such strands. The method includes dropping bit by bit a randomly-oriented collection of strands over a drop edge located above the conveyor and flicking the strands onto the conveyor by quick downward motion of counter-rotating arrays of flicker tines in the drop zone.

Abstract: A sugarcane rind-slitting apparatus of the type having a pair of counter-rotatable cylindrical members with a multiplicity of intermeshing annular projections. The apparatus includes disks on each cylindrical member, each disk having axially-recessed sides such that the disks of one such member extend into the recession formed by a pair of disks of the other such member. Rind introduced to the apparatus is slit effectively and efficiently by the intermeshing action of the disks, without excessive wear on the disks.

Abstract: A stalk harvester comprises a mobile frame on which is mounted a deflector for engaging and bending upper portions of standing stalks forwardly. A cutter cuts the bent stalks at their base. A pair of generally rotary stalk feeding members are disposed behind the deflector and are mounted for rotation about generally upright axes. These rotary feeding members form a generally upright nip therebetween for gripping the lower stalk ends and feeding the stalks rearwardly. A drive mechanism rotates the feeding members to feed the lower stalk ends rearwardly while upper ends thereof are acted upon by the deflector to cause the stalks to travel upwardly within the nip as the stalks travel rearwardly, thereby causing the stalks to approach a horizontal orientation. A plurality of additional pairs of stalk feeding rotary members are inclined relative to vertical by progressively increasing amounts toward the rear so as to accelerate the reorientation of the stalks toward a horizontal inclination.

Abstract: A separator for separating plant stalks into components includes a feeder in the form of opposite endless conveyors which propel stalks against a splitter. The splitter comprises two oppositely traveling, notched bands which are in contact to define a cutting edge. Stalk sections have at least their pith removed by a milling roll disposed opposite a slower traveling hold-back belt, the latter controlling the speed of the stalk sections. The milling roll includes removable blades which are held in place by wedges and pairs of blades are adjusted by tiltable members at each blade end. The tiltable members move the blades into contact with reference surfaces on the milling roll to define a proper blade location. Stalks are fed to the separator by being dropped onto a chute which guides the stalks into separate feed passages, the latter being maintained throughout stalk travel through the separator.

Abstract: A juice extractor comprises a carrier defining a plurality of circumferentially spaced extracting stations. The carrier includes a reciprocable plunger at each station. A rotary head is mounted for rotation within the carrier and includes a plurality of cells alignable with the extracting stations. The cells are arranged to carry charges of plant material. An indexing mechanism rotates the head in step-by-step fashion to sequentially align the cells with successive ones of the extracting stations. The plungers are extended into compression relationship with plant material in the cells to express juice.

Abstract: A mobile forming station is provided which longitudinally orients plant fibers and compresses them into slugs. A plurality of bonding stations each include a plurality of chambers selectively positionable in alignment with an ejector of the forming station to receive slugs of fibers. Once the chambers are filled with slugs, a bonding substance borne by the fibers is cured to unite the fibers. The chambers are defined by spaced platens which are movable as a unit to sequentially align the chambers with the ejector of the forming station. The ejector includes a tubular nose which enters the chamber as the fibers are inserted to ensure that the slugs, after insertion, are of uniform density. The platens are converged to compress the slugs within the chambers. The platens are mounted on a movable carrier which is displaced away from the forming station each time that a slug is inserted into the chamber against a rear compression wall of the chamber.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for extracting juice from juice-laden material are disclosed. A tank system defines a row of material treating stations. A plurality of perforated baskets are swingably mounted at respective stations, each basket being operable to receive a charge of material. A flow of liquid is conducted through the stations in juice-extracting contact with the material. A basket actuating mechanism swings each basket from its associated station into a generally inverted position above the basket of a successive station to transfer the charge of material. In one preferred embodiment of the invention the basket is articulated intermediate its ends about a floating hinge. The basket actuating mechanism collapses the basket about the floating hinge to squeeze juice from the material before the material is delivered to the basket of a successive station.