Abstract: In an apparatus for dewatering sludge the sludge to be dewatered is continuously fed to a pre-dewatering stage and is subsequently transferred to an enclosed sludge chamber volume, which is intermittently moved past stationary pairs of pressure-applying plates. The pre-dewatering stage is consituted by a stationary dewatering container which serves also as a buffer between the means for the continuous fooding of sludge and the means for a discontinuous and intermittent transfer of the sludge to the sludge chamber volume. Owing to that design the plant has a low structural expenditure and is operable at a high dewatering rate.

Abstract: The apparatus for hot pressing a pressed board mat used in making chipboard panels, fiberboard panels and pressed board panels comprises a continuously operating press with a lower press belt and an upper press belt and a conveyor with at least two endless conveyor belts adjoining each other. The press has a mouth entrance in which the conveyor extends with a delivery nose directed in the feed direction up to a delivery region in the entrance. The delivery nose is movable in the vertical direction, in the transport direction and in a direction opposite to the transport direction and because of that, the delivery region is displaceable in the entrance of the press according to the thickness of the pressed board mat to be pressed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to equipment used in a printing system for newsprint or the like, more specifically, to a device for successively rolling up unusable outer surface strips from paper rolls, compressing them, and then discharging them. The device comprises first and second conveyors which can be moved between a V-shaped position, wherein unusable paper is conveyed in a forward direction and rolled up into a cylindrical shape, and parallel positions, wherein the rolled-up, unusable paper is compressed flatly and discharged. A semi-arched guiding device disposed above the two conveyors cooperates with the conveyors to roll up the unusable paper into a cylindrical shape and one of the conveyors changes its conveying direction to switch from a rolling up mode to an ejection mode.

Abstract: A press for extracting juice from comestible solids and semi-solids such as fruit and vegetables which includes a stationary perforated platen, a juice pervious conveyor belt for carrying comminuted comestible into pressing position over that platen, a feeder for forming a series of separated non-continuous beds of comminuted comestible upon the belt, a rotary drive moving the belt incrementally to position each bed of comestible in sequence over the stationary platen and a pressing platen which has a pressing cavity overlying the stationary platen defined by a depending sealing flange circumscribing the bed of comestible and a flexible membrane within the cavity that can be expanded into pressing engagement with the bed by pneumatic pressure in order to press juice from the comestible for drainage through the juice pervious belt and perforated stationary platen into a juice collection pan.

Abstract: A belt filter press-type apparatus receives a partially dewatered "cake" comprising a liquid/solid suspension which has been processed by conventional liquid/solid separation equipment; the apparatus removing additional moisture from the cake. The apparatus comprises two liquid-permeable belts which are driven by belt driving means along respective predetermined paths. The belts, however, share respective portions of their paths substantially in common. The cake is sandwiched between the two belts and driven through the common portions of the respective belt paths. The combination of the belts with the the cake interposed therebetween meanders around a plurality of rollers which create tension and pressure on the belt and the cake, thereby driving part of the liquid content out of the trapped suspension.

Abstract: In the production of a glass mat-reinforced thermoplastic, a mat and resin are pressed and heated in a compression zone of a dual belt press. The resin is metered onto the upper flights of the two belts of the press in powder form, and is heated at least to the extent that it adheres as a layer to those flights so as to be conveyed without difficulty into the compression zone. The glass fiber mat itself can be preimpregnated with resin prior to entering the press.

Abstract: Particulate mats are transported from the downstream end of an upstream conveyor normally moving continuously in a longitudinal transport direction at a predetermined relatively slow speed to a press downstream in the direction from the upstream conveyor that receives the mats and presses them into hard panels by supporting the mats between the upstream conveyor and the press on a downstream conveyor having an upstream end spaced downstream from the downstream end and a downstream end at the press and an intermediate conveyor extending between the upstream end of the downstream conveyor and the downstream end of the upstream conveyor and having a length in the direction at least equal to that of each of the mats in the direction. A carriage supporting the downstream end of the upstream conveyor, the intermediate conveyor, and the upstream end of the downstream conveyor is reciprocated in the direction at a frequency related to mat size and speed.

Abstract: In a belt press of the type used to dewater heavy slurries, an improved belt drive system is provided. The upper belt is driven by at least two rollers, one of which is situated in the dewatering section wherein the upper and lower belts are squeezed and traveling together. The improved drive arrangement provides a more uniformly increasing tension in the belt as it passes through the dewatering section than in such presses heretofore. Further because the lower belt is at least partially driven by its frictional engagement with the upper belt, through the sandwiched slurry, the synchronization of the belt speeds is improved. Further improved control of the belt press performance is provided by means for sensing the speeds of the belts and responsive means for regulating the belt tensioning systems accordingly.

Abstract: A drying press for hides, comprising two endless drying felts (1; 4) passed over rolls (2, 3; 5, 6), said felts being pressed against each other at press rolls (2, 5) to form a drying press gap for hides which are passed therethrough, as well as hide stretching means upstream of said gap. A problem to be solved is to provide such hide stretching means that can be used to effectively prevent the folding of the trailing edges of hides to be fed through a drying press. To solve this problem, there are an upper stretcher (8) and a lower stretcher (7) between which a hide (18) is passed while being lifted off a drying felt (1). Stretchers (7 and 8) press a hide therebetween with a suitable sliding fitness, said hide keeping taut and off a felt.

Abstract: In method for the dewatering of naturally moist, coarse lump peat or of a similar material, the material is continuously fractured into particles to approximately 2-3 cm diameter and is dispersed onto a lower screen belt. With the leading in of a provided upper screen belt the material is conveyed between the two screen belts through a preliminary dewatering zone, where at a pressure which is only given through the tension of the screen belts in a loop on at least one pair of rolls, a homogeneous filter cake is produced. The latter is pressed in a subsequent dewatering zone of a number of pairs of nip rolls at a pressure increasing along the zone between screen belts, whereby in each case between the screen belt and the nip roll a pressure belt, equal in width to the screen belt, is carried long, consisting of an elastic, watertight material, but which is designed to receive and carry away the filtrate and to stabilize the material which is to be pressed.

Abstract: An apparatus for pressing liquid out of suspensions containing liquid, comprising a screw feeder (5) adapted to feed the suspensions towards a dewatering zone (2) in which there are disposed two converging endless filter members (20, 21) adapted to be driven round a pair of back and front breaking rollers (18a, 18b). The pressing angle (.alpha.) between the filter members can be varied as can the speed of the filter members in relation to the material which is fed forwards in order to achieve an optimum flow resistance for each suspension. In certain cases, this can be very high. A worm wheel (13) is provided to prevent material from retreating in the screw thread (11).According to one form of embodiment, two or more dewatering zones are disposed in series one after the other, thus further increasing the possibilities for achieving optimum dewatering conditions.

Abstract: A compressor for separating honey from honeycomb cappings in which two side-by-side endless conveyors converge and form a trough through which cappings are progressively compressed from inlet and to discharge end along the fixed bottom of the trough by means of said conveyors and a short length of auger mounted in the inlet end of the trough. The trough is pivoted about its midpoint to produce an imbalance which stops the compressor when empty. Honey is extruded through louvered openings impressed in the conveyors. The louvers are inwardly directed to drag the cappings along the trough during compression.

Abstract: A beverage container crusher which flattens beverage containers to reduce the volume thereof so that the resultant crushed containers require very little storage room. The crushing apparatus includes spaced shafts arranged parallel to one another, and an endless belt is supported by the shaft in such a manner that the belt describes an oval track. A fixed plate is arranged at an acute angle with respect to the oval track. A lower portion of the plate continues about one end of the track so that when a beverage container is dropped into the space between the plate and the track, the container gravitates into a position where it is engaged by the traveling belt, so that the belt forces the container through the narrow space formed between the curved part of the plate and one curved end of the oval track. The flattened container drops into a storage container located below the container crusher apparatus where the containers may be accumulated and subsequently recycled.

Abstract: A pair of continuous belts, at least one which provided with openings for percolation, are arranged in overlapping relationship and controlled to forward move in the same direction. A loading hopper is provided at the initial portion of the lower belt, and means are arranged opposite to said hopper for varying the angle of convergence of the two belts and accordingly varying, as required, the pressure action exerted by said two belts on the product being treated.

Abstract: A device for automatically receiving sheets in a pile at a delivery station of a sheet processing apparatus and for removing a completed pile of sheets characterized by a first conveyor device for transporting a pallet along a vertical path and including a device for lowering the pallet along the vertical path as the sheets are deposited at the delivery station and received thereon, and a second conveyor device for transporting a pallet in a horizontal path between at least two positions with one of said positions in the path of the first conveyor and the other position removed therefrom. Preferably, the second conveyor extends perpendicular to the path of the first conveyor and has three positions arranged in a row with the middle position being the one position in the path of the vertical path of the first conveyor so that as a pallet is removed from the first conveyor to an unloading position, an empty pallet in a ready position is moved into the path of the first conveyor.

Abstract: A method for straightening elongated articles such as sausage links. A pair of horizontal endless belt conveyors operate at slightly different speeds. The lower belt conveyor has a greater length than the upper belt conveyor so that the end of the lower conveyor projects beyond the corresponding end of the upper conveyor. Chilled sausage links are conveyed upwardly by an elevator and deposited on the projecting end of the lower conveyor and passed between the belts. As the sausage links pass between the belts, they are rotated to thereby straighten the links.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for straightening elongated articles such as sausage links. The apparatus includes a pair of horizontal endless belt conveyors that operate at slightly different speeds. The lower belt conveyor has a greater length than the upper belt conveyor so that the end of the lower conveyor projects beyond the corresponding end of the upper conveyor. Chilled sausage links are conveyed upwardly by an elevator and deposited on the projecting end of the lower conveyor and passed between the belts. As the sausage links pass between the belts, they are rotated to thereby straighten the links.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for the continuous treatment of sludge, which is made possible through the advantageous combination of at least two independent dewatering steps at consecutively higher pressures and increased dwell time. In a preferred embodiment there is provided a three stage process where there is a first dewatering at the pressure provided by gravity action, the sludge being strained through continuous filter pockets; a second moderate pressure stage with a drum filter press; and a third higher pressure stage.

Abstract: Apparatus for compacting loose, spongy or disintegrated solid material in which a pair of conveyor surfaces, one of which is fluid-pervious but solid-impervious, are disposed in convergent spaced relation with one another to form a compacting zone. Fluid is removed from the compacting zone through the fluid-pervious conveyor surface. Material to be compacted is supplied to the divergent end of the compacting zone while the surfaces are moved towards the convergent end of the compacting zone to cause the material to be compacted.

Abstract: Material to be presented to a beam of electro-magnetic radiation to determine a characteristic of the material, for example, the ash content of the material is conveyed as a bed along a flat conveying deck. The initial boundaries of the bed of material are determined by an inverted trough shaped guide of uniform cross-sectional area. The material is then compacted by an extension of the inverted trough shaped guide, the extension being of tapering cross-sectional area.

Abstract: In a cotton packaging system including a press section, transfer section, strapping section, bagging section and shrink section in longitudinal alignment, a cotton bale is formed by successive compression of overlapping cotton layers and is thereafter tied and bagged. The press section includes a vertically movable lower platen and stationary upper platens each presenting transient compression and conveyor surfaces that are oscillated during bale formation.

Abstract: The press is made up to operate continuously to squeeze agricultural products such as grapes. The press is formed of a pair of driven endless belts which are disposed to define a converging passageway. The belts are also mounted in spring means to adjust to a build-up in pressure in the passageway and to permit an increase in the passageway at the exit end to accommodate an increased flow.

Abstract: An improved system for dewatering dilute slurries is disclosed. The system includes a spring-loaded sludge feed tray incorporating an adjustable flow splitter plug, along with spring-loaded sludge side guides. The sludge-cake compression section provides for a compression roller which is adjustable between two positions as a component in the backflushing of the sludge carrier screen using cake effluent. Also, a particular screen sludge solids loading range is employed which results in a significant improvement in performance and capacity of the dewatering system.