Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for processing of waste and in particular processing involving a volumetric reduction of waste materials. There is an apparatus for processing waste material comprising a compaction compartment for receipt of waste material, the compaction compartment have a screw vane for processing waste material through the compaction compartment and a waste material outlet. In one aspect the apparatus comprises a heating zone including an arrangement for heating the waste material received from the waste outlet, the apparatus further comprising a cooling zone including a cooling arrangement for cooling the waste material received from the heating zone.

Abstract: A chewing gum sheet is formed without substantial use of a powdered non-stick agent by extruding a slab having a tacky surface of heated chewing gum composition onto a moving conveyor; cooling the slab on the conveyor sufficiently to cool the surface of the slab; and passing the slab from the conveyor through at least one cooled roller to form a chewing gum sheet with predetermined dimensions.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus (10) for compacting harvested crop or fiber (30) such as wool or hay; the method comprising applying a mechanical compacting force to the crop or fiber at the same time as or immediately after subjecting the crop or fiber to an elevated temperature above a base reference temperature and/or an elevated moisture content condition above a base reference moisture content condition whereby the crop or fiber (30) is compressed to a compressed state of predetermined density using less compacting force than would otherwise be the case. The method and apparatus can also be applied to control moisture content and certain other storage characteristics through utilization of compaction apparatus (10) on its own or in conjunction with a pre-processor (35) or post-processor (36) or both.

Abstract: A countertop appliance for automatically making a plurality of disk-shaped edibles comprising a dough maker for mixing and kneading the desired dough ingredients, the dough maker having a discharge valve that releases a portion of the mixed dough onto one of four circular platens of a transfer carousel. The platens rotate in a circular plane, so that once a dough portion is dropped to the platen, the transfer carousel rotates the platens, and in the next position a shaper plate flattens the dough portion on a platen. When a dough portion is properly shaped, the platen is rotated to a position where it inverts and the dough is dropped onto a conveyor. The conveyor moves the dough portions along a path, past heating elements that cook the dough, until the finished cooked dough products are dropped from the conveyor.