Abstract: Can crushing apparatus wherein mutually angularly disposed convex and flat conical disks are rotated to define an open, wedge-shaped receiving region which progressively diminishes about a circular locus to an exit position of close adjacency of the surfaces. Cans are introduced into the receiving region whereupon they are progressively longitudinally flattened, thus facilitating the expulsion of any liquids remaining within the cans while carrying out flattening. By introducing cans from an upwardly disposed trough structure, inherent safety is achieved such that the operator cannot reach into the crushing components of the apparatus. The slope of the disk member engaging surfaces preferably is about 9.degree., while the included angle therebetween at the receiving region preferably is about 33.degree.. By operating the disks at about 60 rpm, improved silent operation is achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stabilizing the operation of a dewatering press operating on a known liquid-solid mixture by measuring a physical property such as the pressure of the material being dewatered at an intermediate position in the press, comparing the measured value with a predetermined optimum value set at will by the machine operator, and generating from the comparison a process alteration capable of stabilizing the operation of the press.

Abstract: A dewatering press which is particularly suited for use on a self-propelled vehicle designed to field process alfalfa for obtaining therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. The dewatering press includes a pair of conical pressure members mounted in a frame assembly which provides outward and downward pivotal movement of the conical members to afford access to the interior of the press. Material to be pressed is charged downwardly between the pressure members as they are rotated slowly by motors mounted in the frame assembly, and after having passed through a pressing zone located below the rotational axis of the conical members, the pressed material is discharged outwardly by a deflector mounted between the conical members. Expressed juices are collected in a pan which extends along the lower periphery of the pressure members.

Abstract: Fruit juice extraction apparatus in which a pair of confronting frusto-conical discs are supported on a rotatable main shaft by ball and socket connections and retained in angular tilted relation by guide bearing assemblies to provide a point of minimum peripheral spacing between the discs on one side, a stationary wall being interposed between the discs and cooperating therewith to form separate pressure-applying travel paths for the respective halves of cut fruit sections, each of the paths converging in the direction of disc rotation from a path inlet adjacent the minimum spacing point to an outlet. The whole uncut fruits are supplied in advance of the minimum spacing point and gripped between the discs and carried to a slicing knife for cutting into half-sections which are carried through the converging paths and forced against perforate portions of the stationary wall by progressively applied pressure to extract the juice.

Abstract: A disc press for continuous pressing of aqueous or suspended pulp for fractionating the pulp in a liquid fraction and a dry substance fraction, comprises two plane parallel pressing discs mounted for rotation about a shaft and having strainer plates which haul the pulp therebetween by friction. The press also comprises inner and outer pressing means extending between the pressing discs and together with the latter define a curved pulp passage which in the transport direction has a varying cross section and constitutes a filling or dewatering zone, a pressing zone and a discharge zone. The passage zones of the pulp passage combined extend throughout an angle which is less than 360.degree., and the filling or dewatering zone has an approximately constant cross section. The subsequent pressing zone (B) has a uniformly decreasing cross section, the centerline of the pressing zone following an arc having an approximately constant radius about the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A continuous filter press of the type having wheels provided with conical screens and carried by pivoted side structures, the arrangement being such that material (e.g., a slurry) fed into the space between the wheels is carried through a pinch zone and then discharged. The claimed improvements to such presses include special means for journalling the wheels which employs a sleeve instead of a stud shaft, and material diverting means or plow which has portions on its inner end that are accommodated in central openings of the wheels.

Abstract: A press, including a frame, a pair of rigid side structures, means for pivotally connecting the side structures to said frame, a pair of rotor assemblies having confronting faces arranged at an angle to each other and defining a pressing zone, each of the rotor assemblies being mounted for rotation in a respective side member, means interconnecting the side structures to one another and serving to apply yieldable force to urge the side structures toward one another, the improvements basically comprising means for adjusting the pivotal connecting means to vary the pressing action of the rotor assemblies, and a hydrostatic bearing means, which may be used in association with an annular thrust bearing, for minimizing the friction between the rotor assemblies and the side structures.

Abstract: Containers made of various materials, such as aluminum and steel beverage cans, and glass beverage bottles, are crushed and separated to permit recycling of the metallic materials by a method and apparatus comprising crushing the containers in a container crushing means having two cone shaped members being rotationally frictionally engageable with each other, one of the cone shaped members being displaceable from the other against the resistance of a spring means, wherein the containers are crushed as they pass between the cone shaped members, conveying the crushed containers away from the crushing means on a container conveyor and separator means comprising an endless belt member having a first end portion for receiving crushed containers from the crushing means and a second end portion, separating the magnetic from the non-magnetic crushed containers by subjecting the containers to a magnetic field at the second end portion of the belt member whereby the non-magnetic containers are discharged from the belt