Abstract: For forming fibrous crop or like materials into self-supporting products, an apparatus comprising first and second compression members arranged so that opposed closing faces of the compression members co-operate to define the principal pressure-generating surfaces of a compression space for a charge of the material, protrusions extending from one or both of said opposed faces being effective to define walls of the compression space, and drive means operative to reduce the distance between the opposed faces of the two compression members until there is minimal separation of the two members in the vicinity of the leading edges of the protrusions.

Abstract: Two conveyors for stacks of paper sheets are coupled to each other for movement back and forth between a first position in which one of the conveyors receives one or more stacks and the other conveyor is relieved of the stack or stacks thereon, and a second position in which the one conveyor is relieved of the stack or stacks thereon and the other conveyor receives one or more stacks. In order to expel air from the stacks on the conveyors the foremost portions of the stacks are clamped by reciprocable rams to the respective conveyors and the thus clamped stacks are caused to move along stationary squeegees which bear against successive increments of the stacks behind the respective rams while the stacks, the respective rams and the respective conveyors move away from the stack-receiving positions.

Abstract: A portable can crusher for reprocessing cans such as beer cans and the like. The crusher includes a hopper in which a baffle (16) is provided for directing cans towards an elongate aperture (19) formed between a casing base and a driven reprocessing wheel (20). The wheel (20) has deformation means (24) on its periphery not only to compress cans fed to the aperture (19) but also to assist in the feeding of cans through the aperture. The can crusher may be trailer or vehicle mounted.

Abstract: An improvement in a long-nip press for a paper making machine, and a method for applying pressure in the press zone of such a long-nip press. The improvement is directed to providing a press shoe arrangement in the press nip that comprises a frame component, means for articulately engaging the frame component with a stationary structure, a first shoe component disposed in the frame component with means for applying pressure to the same, a second shoe component formed as a part of the frame component itself along with means for applying pressure to the same, with the press shoe arrangement constituting means for incrementally increasing pressure on a press belt and in the press zone itself. The method of the present invention is directed to applying pressure on a running fibrous web through a press nip, by incrementally applying greater and greater pressure onto the running fibrous web as it passes through the press nip.

Abstract: Apparatus for the press treatment of a fiber web in a long or extended press zone includes a first press fabric loop in which a press roll is situated and a press shoe situated within a press belt loop which acts in opposition to the press roll, the latter being supported on a transverse beam. The press roll and press shoe together form an extended press zone through which the web to be pressed is guided. The press shoe includes a pressure chamber isolated from the external environment by sealing members and to which a pressure medium, such as a fluid under pressure, is passed. The pressure chamber acts within the extended press zone on the press belt.

Abstract: The length of material, provided uniformly over the operating width with a liquid mixed with frothing chemicals, is to be massaged on the pile side for producing the froth and/or for the complete wetting of all pile fibers. A reel or a similar device exhibiting round bars uniformly distributed over its circumference and partially encompassed by the material serves for this purpose. The length of material is in contact under tension with the rotating reel. On the rear side, the material is urged against the reel by means of an air-impermeable hugger belt, held under tension, or by means of a wearproof pressure shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for crushing articles, such as aluminum beverage cans. The crushing apparatus includes a primary crusher followed by a secondary crusher. The primary crusher is composed of a rotatable, polygonal-shaped drum having a blade mounted on each flat surface which projects outwardly beyond the surface. The articles or cans to be crushed are introduced into the area between the drum and a spring loaded pressure plate, and on rotation of the drum, the blades engage the articles and move them into the nip between the drum and the pressure plate to provide a primary stage of flattening of the cans. The cans are then delivered to the secondary crusher which comprises a pair of cooperating rolls, which more fully crush or flatten the cans and deliver them to a pneumatic discharge conveyor. The apparatus also includes a feed conveyor having a provision for rejecting steel cans, as well as heavy objects, such as cans filled with liquid or foreign materials.

Abstract: A solid material pump or conveyance apparatus and method including a pump housing an inlet and an outlet with a passageway between them. The passageway is formed and defined by a friction drive wall which is movable relative the pump housing towards the outlet and a wall stationary relative the pump housing. The friction drive wall has a greater surface area for contacting the solid material than the stationary wall. The friction drive wall exerts frictional forces upon the solids material introduced through the housing inlet which exceed the frictional drag exerted upon the material by the stationary wall, so that the net frictional force drives the material in a forward direction toward the housing outlet. The solid material is compacted or compressed prior to or upon entry into the pumping apparatus to a sufficient level so that the solid material exhibits some of the properties of a liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus for expelling air from pockets between superimposed sheets of successive stacks has a brush or roller which can be lowered onto the topmost sheet of a stack while the leader of the stack is pulled along a stationary support by a tongs. The brush or roller urges successive increments of the lowermost sheet of the moving stack against a stationary or rotary anvil whereby the pockets of air are eliminated in automatic response to forward movement of the stack with the tongs. Expulsion of air from the stacks enhances their shape-retaining ability during transport toward the next processing station or stations as well as at such stations. The brush or roller is mounted on pivotable arms which can be rocked back and forth by one or more levers which are pivotable by a cam and follower assembly receiving motion from the main prime mover of the machine or production line wherein the stacks are formed and/or processed.

Abstract: A press for applying pressure to a moving web of fiber material to squeeze water from the web by means of auxiliary belts and comprising a pressure roll, pressure shoes mounted on the periphery of a rotary carrier in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, and a pressure belt extending about the carrier and shoes. The carrier is rotated by a motor to bring any one of the shoes into an operative position adjacent the pressure roll.

Abstract: A plastic foam-forming mixture (31), e.g. a polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam mix, deposited from one or more static dispensers (19) is metered through two spaced opposed members 14 and 18 forming between them a metering gap. At least one of the members is deformable in a controlled manner such that the profile of the metering gap can be variously defined. Reduces "crowning" of foam boards while permitting foam boards of different thicknesses to be made without having to replace metering bars.

Abstract: An extended nip press for a paper machine for removing water from a wet paper, cardboard or similar fibrous or porous web. The press comprises a rotating press roll and at least one stationary loading shoe as well as a band impermeable to a medium and movable between said press roll and loading shoe. The loading shoe is provided with a sliding surface against which the press roll is pressed through the band for forming an extended press zone. A paper web to be dried is passed through the press zone together with a felt for receiving water. The band is made compressible, and in its surface facing the sliding surface are formed a plurality of separated recesses into which a lubricating medium is sprayed.

Abstract: A dewatering press section for a paper or cardboard web includes a press roll having a wide pressing zone over which a belt is provided to run guided by guide rollers with the web being arranged to run in the pressing zone in compression between the press roll and the belt. At least one fabric runs in the pressing zone and acts on a respective face of the web. A pressure transmitting device has a surface which overlies the belt substantially in the pressing zone. According to the invention, ultrasonic field generators are provided in association with the pressure transmitting device surface for applying an ultrasonic field substantially in the pressing zone such that the friction between the surface of the pressure transmitting device and the belt is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dewatering screenings collected at a sewage treatment plant or the like continuously and effectively by preliminary and secondary dewatering processes. Any alien substance mixed in the screenings such as stone, chips of wood, etc. which cannot be dewatered can be detected automatically and extracted immediately, without suspending the operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A rotating force vector is applied to the sidewall of a can at a sufficient distance removed from the end of that can to permit the easy distortion of that sidewall and the ready rotation of the can-end toward a plane which lies essentially parallel to the cylindrical axis of the can. Means are provided to further distort the can and, through the second application of a rotating force vector, to rotate the second end of the can into a plane essentially parallel with the cylindrical axis of the can. Flattening means applied to the can after each revolution of a can-end tends to bring the planes into which the can-ends lie into close juxtaposition so as to provide a relatively flat package requiring comparatively little storage space when compared to the amount of space required to store the original undistorted can.

Abstract: An apparatus for crushing articles, such as aluminum beverage cans. The crushing apparatus comprises a rotatable, polygonal-shaped drum having blades mounted on each flat outer surface of the drum which project outwardly beyond the respective surface. The articles to be crushed are introduced into the area between the drum and a spring-loaded pressure plate, and on rotation of the drum, the blades engage the articles and move them into the nip between the drum and pressure plate to crush and flatten the articles. The apparatus also includes a quick release mechanism in which the pressure plate can be readily released to correct a jamming situation.

Abstract: A plastics foam-forming mixture (31), e.g. a polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foam mix, deposited from one or more static dispensers (19) is metered through two spaced opposed members (14 and 18) forming between them a metering gap. At least one of the members having a plurality of faces of different profile and being rotatable to present to the other member a selected face appropriate to the thickness of foam board to be produced. Reduces "crowning" of foam boards while permitting foam boards of different thicknesses to be made without having to replace metering bars.

Abstract: In a pressure application type image fixing method and apparatus for applying a predetermined pressure to a developed image on a recording medium, a pressure application means for fixing the image to the recording medium is reciprocated in the direction normal to the moving direction of the recording medium and the image fixing is performed by moving both the recording medium and the pressure application means, and rollers and spring means are employed as the pressure application means.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning apparatus for continuous, abrasive belts of essentially any dimension, which apparatus has a base having elongated belt supporting mandrel means mounted thereon, and belt drive roll means rotatably mounted on the base and having its rotational axis substantially parallel to the axis of the mandrel means, and wherein a first portion of the periphery of the mandrel means is movable substantially parallelly into close juxtaposition to the periphery of the drive roll means upon angular movement of the mandrel means relative to the drive roll means in order to provide for easy loading and unloading of the belts while providing positive belt driving force.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing compressible, heat settable material, and in one embodiment, useful in producing foodstuffs including so-called tortillas made from wheat flour, comprises a step-motion, rotatable, heated drum; a curved, pivotally-mounted, heated compression plate positioned in proximity to the drum for being swung into position parallel to the surface of said drum when the drum is in the stop-phase of step motion; feed means for feeding foodstuff materials into the region between the drum and the plate when the plate is swung away from the drum; and means for conveying compressed foodstuffs away from the drum surface as it rotates in the motion phase of the step motion.

Abstract: An improved juice extractor is adapted to separate the juice of a fruit pomace from the pulp thereof. The juice extractor has an elongated flexible open-ended sleeve positioned adjacent a bearing or backup surface, and having an entrance end adapted to receive the pomace. The sleeve is formed of a foraminous material permeable to the juice to be extracted, but substantially impermeable to the pulp of such fruit. The cross-sectional area of this sleeve decreases toward its exit end. A plurality of roller members are adapted to press proximate portions of the sleeve against the bearing surface, and are also mounted for movement along the sleeve. The action of the moving roller members causes the pomace to be advanced along the sleeve. Such movement of the roller members, coupled with the decreasing cross-sectional area of the sleeve, gently squeezes the pomace to separate the juice from the pulp. The juice passes through the sleeve and is collected. The pulp is discharged through the exit end of the sleeve.

Abstract: A machine characterized by a horizontally oriented conveyor for transporting an open-sided wall panel, a chute having a discharge orifice at its lower end for filling the panel with pulverized cellulose fibers, and a series of roller brushes transversely related to the path of the panel for alternately packing the cellulose in the panel and sweeping excess material therefrom.

Abstract: A material handling apparatus having a storage body, a hopper communicating with it through material compacting or crushing means in which said means comprises a cylindrical roller and a substantially planar material-holding tray capable of movement beneath said cylinder in material compacting relationship therewith.

Abstract: A chip crusher composed of a rotating disc and at least one crushing roller mounted to form a nip with a working face of the disc adjacent the periphery of the disc. The chips pass through an inlet and engage the rotating disc which flings them towards the periphery of the disc thereby to spread chips into a substantially single thickness layer. Each chip moves with the disc into the nip between the roller and disc wherein the chip is crushed. The crusher fissures the chip to a degree substantially proportional to the original chip thickness and thereby produces crushed chips having more uniform pulping qualities than regular chips.