Abstract: Apparatus and method for compressing raw fiber stock into a perforated basket for dyeing in a radial-flow dyeing machine. A hollow container is provided by a perforated cylinder section stacked separably on an imperforate section for loading fiber stock into the common interior. A piston movable under force of water pressure is located in the imperforate section to compress the loaded fiber stack into the perforated section. A closure plate is movable with the piston and is attachable to the perforated section following fiber compression to close the perforate section with compressed fiber therewithin, such that the perforated housing may be removed and used as a dyeing basket. A central core element is secured to the closure plate and is movable therewith to maintain an open center in the dyeing basket for use of the basket in a radial dyeing machine.

Abstract: The liquid content of sugar cane bagasse is reduced by a low pressure process having a substantially longer duration than the duration of prior art high pressure liquid removal processes. For this purpose the liquid containing bagasse, as it emerges from a diffuser, is exposed to a relatively slowly increasing yet low pressure as compared to prior art high pressures, whereby the bagasse travels with a substantially constant speed sequentially through a dewatering zone, wherein a further compaction takes place, a preliminary squeeze-out zone and a final squeeze-out zone. During the preliminary squeeze-out the pressure above an open surface area or section without a sieve or screen is about 0.2 kg/cm.sup.2. During the final squeeze-out the pressure (p) is about p/0.6D>0.003, wherein D is the diameter, in mm, of a squeeze-out roller. The pressing duration t in seconds is also related to the squeeze-out roller diameter D such that D:t is smaller than a constant value K 16.

Abstract: A frame forms a container having four vertical sides and a flat bottom plate. A hydraulically raised and lowered gate forms one of the sides. Wet hides are stacked on a pallet commonly used with a forklift. The gate is raised, and the loaded pallet placed on the bottom plate. The gate is lowered, and fillers are extended through side openings in the pallet into voids between the pallet top and bottom. A platen above the hides is hydraulically pressed downward within the container to compress the hides. A selected pressure on the hides is maintained for a desired compression period. The fillers within the voids limit deflections of the pallet top during compression of the hides, and consequently prevent damage to the pallet. The fillers are withdrawn, the gate raised, and the loaded pallet removed. The compressed, dry, cohesive hide bundles have a flat top and flat, vertical sides and are more efficiently packed for shipping.

Abstract: Cooperating hard and soft paper calendering rolls have probes for measuring the soft roll's temperature at different zones along its length and units for controlling the nip line pressure in each zone in dependence of the zone's measured temperature.

Abstract: A squeeze roll arrangement and method is disclosed for high expression squeeze roll liquor expression of non-woven fiber batts. An auxiliary conveyor belt is provided to squeeze the batt before passing through the nip of the squeeze rolls with the batt. In this way, a portion of the liquor carried by the batt is expressed prior to passage of the batt through the nip. Since the batt is carried by the auxiliary conveyor belt, disruption of the batt is minimized. Preferably, chains are provided on either side of the batt to maintain a preferred orientation of the batt. Various sprockets and pulleys are provided as desired to guide the chains with various turn rollers provided to carry the conveyor belt. The chains are flexibly attached to the edges of the belt to continuously guide the belt. In this way, alignment of the belt on the turn and squeeze rolls is maintained.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding an aloe vera plant leaf to a cutting knife. The apparatus is designed to transport the leaf on a first endless belt conveyor on which the leaf is laid lengthwise and flat on the conveyor belt. A second endless belt conveyor travels in the same direction and at the same speed as the first endless belt conveyor but is disposed at a right angle to the first endless belt conveyor at the feed end of the apparatus. The first endless belt conveyor in its travel is slowly twisted towards the second endless belt conveyor and by the time the first endless belt conveyor has reached the end of its travel, the leaf has been turned from a flat condition to a now vertical position and is sandwiched between the two sets of endless conveyor belts.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and collecting a liquid extract and a pressed dry by-product from a mash of fibrous material includes an extraction chamber and a mechanism for compressing the mash of fibrous material within the extraction chamber to extract the liquid and form a pressed dry product therefrom. The extraction chamber includes a material inlet opening for filling the chamber with the mash, a liquid outlet opening for collecting the liquid extract, and a by-product outlet opening for collecting the dry by-product. The compressing mechanism expells the dry by-product from the extraction chamber once the liquid has been extracted from the mash. The mash is compressed within a movable work station, and the dry-product is expelled from the extraction chamber by moving the work station and discharging the dry product in accordance therewith.

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: Apparatus for recovering oil, especially edible oils, from oil-containing fruit and seed in which immediately upon cleaning the fruit and seed, this oil-bearing material is subjected to cold pressing without prior heat treatment to recover a portion of the oil and the residue is thereupon extracted.The apparatus comprises a worm press formed with a perforated cylinder and a worm rotatable in said cylinder, said worm and said cylinder are subdivided along their lengths into a plurality of sections by respective shear gaps and throttles. The depth of the helical groove between flights progressively decreases toward the shear gaps and, in general, along the worm. The thread depth can range between 2 and 12% of the outer diameter of the worm which is preferably constant over the entire length thereof. Each flight may have a progressively decreasing pitch angle toward the outlet side and can be between 7.5 and 15.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for treating refuse preparatory to its discharge in a body of water in which air incorporated in the pores and interstices of the material of the refuse is replaced with a liquid, such as water, sea water, or brine, by applying fluid pressure in the range of 200-300 p.s.i. to the refuse containing an added quantity of the liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for high pressure sizing, including sizing squeeze apparatus which effectively utilizes high pressure squeeze loading to remove excess sizing from the warp yarns, and thus to reduce the water evaporation requirement of the yarn. The high pressure sizing squeeze apparatus includes positive drive of the rubber-surface roll as well as the steel roll to prevent slippage which could strain the warp, and maintains a substantially invariant squeeze loading irrespective of variable tension in the roll drive. The surface speed of the rubber-covered squeeze roll may be slightly less than the surface speed of the steel roll, to reduce the torque required to drive the rubber-covered roll at relatively high squeeze pressures where substantial slippage is encountered. A torque limiter controls maximum axial drive torque supplied to the rubber-surface roll, in response to the magnitude of squeeze loading.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing and collecting a liquid extract and a pressed dry by-product from a mash of fibrous material includes an extraction chamber and a mechanism for compressing the mash of fibrous material within the extraction chamber to extract the liquid and form a pressed dry product therefrom. The extraction chamber includes a material inlet opening for filling the chamber with the mash, a liquid outlet opening for collecting the liquid extract, and a by-product outlet opening for collecting the dry by-product. The compressing mechanism expells the dry by-product from the extraction chamber once the liquid has been extracted from the mash. The mash is compressed within a movable work station, and the dry by-product is expelled from the extraction chamber by moving the work station and discharging the dry product in accordance therewith.

Abstract: A method of extracting clear juice from apples and similar fruit involving the use of a screw press having a feed screw with a very gradual continuous slope of the body of the feed screw such that the fruit is gently compressed as it passes through the screw press. The fruit is introduced into the input of a first of such presses and the juices and solids expressed from such gradual compressing are filtered and the juice separated from the remaining solids which are then reintroduced into the input for additional compressing. A second press of the same type may receive the pressed fruit pulp from the output of the first screw press and additional juice extracted therefrom.

Abstract: Water containing bark, or the like, is fed into a gap of a bark press, mounted in an inclined plane, the gap being formed between the inner face of a rotating large rigid perforated drum and the outer face of at least one of a plurality of independently rotating smaller compressor rolls. Water is expelled from the bark through the perforations in the drum. Any of the compressed bark which adheres to the drum or compressor roll surfaces is scraped therefrom, falls to the lower portion of the bark press where it is subjected to additional compressive forces and is finally collected at the lower end of the inclined bark press. The relatively dry bark, which is obtained, can be more effectively used as a fuel.

Abstract: An extractor system for commercial laundries includes a wringer roll extractor coupled via a feed conveyor to a shake-out tumbler into which batches of laundry are placed. The laundry is wet and compacted, having been transported from the washers. The wringer roll extractor compresses the laundry pieces with a force of 37,000 pounds between wringer rolls approximately 36 inches in diameter rotating at approximately 3.5 rpm. Under the pressure and time duration developed by this extractor, the laundry pieces give up water to a retention level of approximately 60%. A photocell is mounted on the feed conveyor to monitor the rate at which laundry pieces are fed to the extractor, operating through a speed control mechanism to limit the speed of the shake-out tumbler. A second photocell, also mounted on the feed conveyor, serves to monitor the flow of laundry items to detect the presence of larger clumps which have not been broken up by the shake-out tumbler.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing waste material comprises a piston arrangement acting upon a mass of refuse in a receptacle formed by a cylindrical wall and a counter-piston constituting the bottom. The counter-piston can rise in such a way as to block sludge outlets in the cylindrical wall during the initial phase of compression of the waste by the piston arrangement. Thereafter, the counter-piston descends so as to free the sludge outlets when a certain pressure is attained. The compression-piston arrangement comprises two coaxial pistons designed to ensure constant, substantially uniform pressure in the mass of waste. Thus, virtually all liquid, semisolid, or viscous materials can be extracted from the waste to obtain sludge useful in agriculture. Also obtained are virtually dry and non-brittle blocks of refuse which has not been crushed but subjected to internal shearing and contraction, thus yielding a good agglomerate. These blocks may be used as fuel briquettes.

Abstract: Process for obtaining beet pulp of high dry-solids content from a sugar extraction process by mechanically pressing the pulp, mixing salts of polyvalent cations, an acid or both with the pressed pulp, further pressing the admixture and thermally drying the admixture. The salts of the polyvalent cations are preferably calcium chloride, aluminum chloride and ferric chloride and are added in an amount of from 0.5 to 10%, preferably from 1.5 to 4%, relative to the pulp dry-solids content. The liquid from the second pressing can be concentrated by evaporation and at least part can be recycled to produce the initial solution of the salts. The remainder of the concentrated liquid can be added to the pressed admixture before or after drying to further increase the dry-solids content.

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: In the pressing of liquids from solid materials, especially for the pressing of liquids from oil-containing solids such as edible-oil seeds, using a filter press, the pressing is carried out in a plurality of stages each of which is followed by a pressure reduction. According to the invention, the material in each stage is initially subjected exclusively to a progressively increasing pressure, is then spontaneously expanded to the ambient pressure and thereafter is at least partially subdivided into particles which are compressed in the next stage in accordance with the same pressing sequence.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing excess ceramic slurry from polyurethane foam used as a matrix for ceramic material in manufacturing filters for molten metals such as aluminum. The apparatus comprises a first chamber for retaining a body of polyurethane foam impregnated with a slurry of ceramic material; a second chamber; a slurry-permeable screen between the first and second chambers; and compression means for pressing the polyurethane foam against the screen. By evacuating the second chamber and simultaneously compressing the foam against the screen, slurry is withdrawn from the foam into the second chamber while retaining in the foam an evenly distributed residue of ceramic material.

Abstract: A method of pressing and draining whey from cheese curd particles in manufacturing large sized blocks of cheese. Cheese curd is placed into a pressing container mold which has a removable internal draining means having dimple-like projections maintaining a space between the plates of the screen. In one embodiment of the invention, pressure is applied in a vertical direction on the curd particles uniformly draining the whey. The drain means is extracted, and a second application of pressure closes remaining interstitial voids. In a second embodiment of the invention, a first application of pressure is applied to the curd particles in two separate directions at the same time. A spreading spade is inserted between substantially vertical parallel foraminous plates thereby moving these plates further apart exerting a relatively horizontal force on the curd particles and, in conjunction, a press plate pushes down on the curd particles exerting a relatively vertical force on the curd particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a filtration process for separating solid, sludge-like and dissolved constituents from effluent, comprising the steps of introducing under an elevated pressure the effluent into a tube-shaped filter having a closed end and an open end, the tube-shaped filter being comprised of a semi-permeable material, the point of introduction of the effluent being initially near the closed end of the filter; moving the point of introduction of the effluent away from the closed end and toward the open end of the filter; and adjusting the rate of introduction of the effluent into the filter to achieve a predetermined content of solids in the concentrate remaining inside the filter. Also disclosed is a device for carrying out this process.

Abstract: A method is provided for splitting and extracting green plants, such as lucern, for fodder and preserving of the pulp. The method provides for separatelygathering the juice and the pump with various percentages and at a desired rate for more judicious utilization of those components and in particular, a better valorization of proteins; and forpreserving the pump in commercial fractions by a method of batch-compaction and of anaerobic storage, eliminating all dehydrations and thus exhibiting an appreciable savings of energy.The method is characterized in that it includes a primary phase of crushing and breaking of stems without mixing of the cellulose and a secondary phase in which one realizes a definitive splitting to the desired degree. A device for using the method is also disclosed. The method and device have application in the agro-alimentary industries.

Abstract: A process for drying and granulating sewage sludge. Wet sewage sludge is at least partially dried in a thermal drying zone, which preferably is a toroidal dryer. A plasticizer is added to the dried sludge and the resultant mixture is extruded to form fertilizer granules. An extrusion aid may also be admixed with the dried sludge.

Abstract: Sewage sludge is dewatered in a two-stage process. The first stage dewaters the sludge to a solids content above about 40 to 45 wt. %. The first zone comprises a cylindrical porous chamber with a centrally mounted screw conveyor which does not contact the porous wall of the chamber. The second stage further dewaters the sludge. The second stage applies pressure directly, as with a piston, to a stationary quantity of sludge which is in contact with a porous wall. The effectiveness of the second stage is increased through use of the first stage, which reduces the thixotropic nature of the sludge by dewatering it.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for treating matter comprising a solid phase and a liquid phase, according to which said matter is crushed and the crushed matter is sifted under pressure, wherein the sifting under pressure and the crushing of the matter are effected simultaneously by disposing said matter in a closed so-called pressure chamber, causing at least one punch to advance in said chamber and expelling sifted matter through calibrated orifices in the pressure chamber. The invention is applied more particularly to the treatment of household garbage.

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: In an apparatus for treating a blanket of rayon fibers with a treating solution having means for conveying said blanket and at least one means for compressing out excess solution prior to drying, including means along the edges of said blanket for causing the edges of said blanket to turn in and fold over on itself prior to compression during its advancement along the conveyor means.

Abstract: A continuous press for pressing grapes and other fruit is disclosed. Within the press chamber there is provided a rotatable screw for moving the material being pressed through the chamber. The screw is axially moved, without rotation, against the material where pressing is carried out.

Abstract: Fruit press comprising a substantially rigid enclosure or cage having two parallel, vertical open ends and a closeable top for introduction of fruit pulp or other material to be deliquified, and including two platens, one abutting each of the two open ends of said enclosure, one of said platens adapted to substantially tightly and slidably seat in said enclosure and compress material to be deliquified against the other platen to form a cake, said other platen then being indexable away from said enclosure while the first platen indexes slightly beyond the distal end of said enclosure to displace said press cake out of said enclosure. Liquid is expressed from said press cake by drainage through suitable channels in the faces of one or both of the platens and/or the sides and bottom of the enclosure.

Abstract: An extractor press disclosed comprises an upright frame having a plurality of posts, a drum mounted for angular displacements around one of the posts and having a plurality of equidistant sample loading and juice extraction work stations. Each work station has a coaxial filter cup and juice receptacle assembly, a lower hydraulic cylinder having a piston adapted to raise the assembly during compression, and a central ejection rod. An operating station is fixed to the frame and comprises a motor for the rotation of the drum and an upper precompression hydraulic cylinder having a piston for displacing the removable ramming member in the filter cup and a latch for locking the ramming member in position in the filter cup and an ejecting hydraulic cylinder selectively cooperable with the central ejection rod.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided to control the moisture content of pulp which is discharged from a press. During operation of the press, slurry containing the pulp enters the press and engages a screw which is rotated to feed the pulp upwardly in the press. As the wet pulp moves upwardly, water is removed from the pulp. In order to further reduce the moisture content of the pulp, a restrictor member or cone in the press outlet is effective to compress the pulp against helical flighting of the screw. In order to maintain the moisture content of the discharged pulp substantially constant with variations in wet pulp consistency and to prevent overloading of the press drive motor, the restrictor cone is movable axially along the screw drive shaft to vary the extent to which it restricts the press outlet. The restrictor cone is moved along the screw drive shaft under the influence of forces applied against the outer surface of the cone by the wet pulp.

Abstract: For the batch filtration of suspensions by application of external pressure, after the pressing of the suspension in the press-chamber space and before entrance of the resultant press cake into at least one subsequent press-chamber space the structure of the press cake is changed by shearing forces and the press cake is curved and at least partially torn apart. In the case of municipal sludge the flaked sludge is subjected in a first pressing zone to slow increase of pressure and a pressure of up to about 1 bar and then is subjected in at least one following press zone to a pressure increase which is more rapid than in the first press zone, up to a pressure of about 3 bars.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method to express liquid from wet fibrous material while minimizing breakage thereof and splashing of the solvent and easying solvent recovery. The method comprises laying said material on a smooth perforated surface, gradually compressing said body of wet fibrous material against said surface to force out liquid, and removing from said surface said body of material in a drier state. A convenient way to compress said body is by exerting on it a gradually increasing compression by means of a second roller having a smooth surface.

Abstract: A process for mechanically dewatering fibrous organic waste such as sewage sludge. The underwatered waste is passed into the first end of a cylindrical dewatering zone having a porous outer wall. A helical blade rotated within the dewatering zone pressurizes the waste and moves it to the outlet at the second end of the dewatering zone. A filter media comprising a cylindrical substantially unagitated layer of fibrous material derived from the waste is retained within an annular space located between the outer edge of the helical blade and the inner surface of the porous wall.

Abstract: A filter press, e.g. for the manufacture of insulation products from an aqueous slurry, which has a number of movable platen portions. The platens have individual actuating means which are adjustable relative to one another but are controlled by a common drive which can move all the portions simultaneously as one platen.Also the method of using the press for the manufacture of insulation products. SUThe present invention relates to the manufacture of sheet or slab form insulation products from relatively free flowing slurries, for example containing calcium silicate and/or fibre. In particular it relates to a filter press which can be used to make such products. It also relates to a method of making sheet or slab form insulation products.Such products may be made by paper and/or board making techniques, they may also be made by filter pressing in which a measured volume of slurry is poured into a foraminous mould cavity and then de-watered by pressing.

Abstract: A method of removing liquid from a slurry of solid material in liquid in which the liquid is squeezed from the slurry by passing the slurry through a roll nip and, simultaneously with the squeezing and passing, the liquid squeezed from the slurry is blocked from flowing through the roll nip.Apparatus for removing liquid from a slurry of solid material in a liquid includes a plurality of liquid guides, disposed in a spaced-apart parallel relationship, being inclined away from and opening adjacent the roll nip.

Abstract: Apparatus carried on a self-propelled vehicle field processes alfalfa to obtain therefrom fiber and protein components and a deproteinized liquid component which is simultaneously applied on the field as the vehicle advances. The apparatus includes a harvesting head assembly which is mounted on the front of the vehicle to cut the alfalfa and means to convey the alfalfa rearwardly to a macerator which shreds the harvested alfalfa. The macerated alfalfa is separated into fibrous and liquid fractions by a dewatering press which is connected to the macerator by a conveyor. The fibrous fraction is blown rearwardly into a trailer pulled behind the vehicle. The liquid fraction is heated to a predetermined temperature and is pumped into a holding tank wherein the protein in the liquid coagulates and floats on the deproteinized liquid. The protein is skimmed from the deproteinized liquid and is collected in a storage container mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: A baling machine for particulate material such as wood chips and bark includes a vertically elongated compression chamber provided at its upper end with an inclined inlet feed chute, a downwardly facing vertically movable compression ram in the chamber, an upwardly facing vertically movable gate ram forming the lower end of the chamber during compression, and a bale-strapping assembly associated with the lower end portion of the chamber. A horizontally movable door operating between open and closed positions at the inner end of the feed chute forms part of the wall of the chamber when closed. The leading edge of the door is specially shaped to penetrate the material in the chute and to cooperate with anvil surfaces at the end of its travel to prevent jamming of the door as it closes.

Abstract: The invention provides processes and apparatus for removing bark from logs. The logs are subjected to mechanically applied compression forces acting against the sides of the logs, these forces being such as to expel juices from the ends of the logs. The pressure on a log is preferably between 500 and 3,000 p.s.i. per square inch measured on the area of the diametrical plane of the log. This compression provides loosening the bark which can then be readily removed. Preferably, a stack of logs is simultaneously compressed by means of a hydraulic press, and the juices which are expelled from the ends of the log are collected for sale as a by-product. The loosened bark on the log is then removed by a mechanical frictional treatment.

Abstract: Crumbled cheese curd is fed into the top of a hollow column in a chamber maintained at a sub-atmospheric pressure so as to form in the column a pillar of curd devoid of air pockets. The curd in the lower portion of the pillar being compressed by the weight of superimposed curd to press out whey therefrom and consolidate the curd, and the pillar of curd is repeatedly lowered, the bottom end of the pillar severed to form a block of cheese, and fresh curd added to the top of the pillar. During the lowering of the pillar of curd, the top of the pillar is subjected to a higher pressure than that acting on the bottom of the pillar so that the differential pressure exerts a force on the top of the pillar urging the pillar downwards and prevents fracture of the pillar due to frictional resistance with the walls of the column.

Abstract: A wood chip product and a process for baling wood chips in which sufficient compressive pressure is applied to a quantity of wood chips to substantially reduce its volume, and force the water liquid from the chips to create, without any binder, an adhered but separable compact mass of chips. The mass is enclosed in a flexible web cover, retained by spaced, circumferential ties which extend in the direction of compression. The chips are thus reduced to from one-half to one-sixth of their bulk or volume and have lost from about 15% to about 40% of their weight.

Abstract: Fruits, such as nuts and the like, are loaded at an inlet end into an elongated housing having a passage provided with a rotatable screw. At the end adjacent the inlet the screw serves to crush and thoroughly comminute the fruit so that the oil therefrom can be drawn off through strainers. The screw is formed with a thread having gaps which receive flow-interruptors which project inwardly from the housing and which insure complete mixing of the crushed fruit. In addition the screw is formed with a ridge defining a narrow gap with the inner wall of the housing so that no large particles can be left in the finished product. The screw also has a region of lesser diameter where the crushed fruit is degassed by withdrawal of air and vapor through the wall of the housing. The housing and the screw are heated so that as the fruit is being crushed and the oil extracted this fruit is roasted. At the downstream end the paste-like pulp of the fruit is extruded.

Abstract: A method is provided for continuously filtering liquids containing microorganisms, macromolecules and/or fine particles of solid matter as substances to be filtered out and collecting the substances that are filtered out. The liquid to be filtered is introduced from the top into an upright sieve basket where the filtrate is separated from the substances to be filtered out. A pressure is exerted on the liquid in the sieve basket by pressing means so that the filtrate leaves the sieve basket and the entire surface of the cake formed from the filtered-out substances always has approximately the same height in the sieve basket. The liquid in the sieve basket is pressed under an increasable counterpressure into the space underneath the pressing means in the sieve basket. When the backpressure of the liquid is higher than the pressure of the pressing means on the liquid, the pressing means is lifted a small distance above the cake in the sieve basket.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of dewatering sludge such as residuals in sewage discharge processing installations. The method provides that cakes are formed of the sludge. These cakes have initially a high water content and are of inhomogenous, loose consistency. They are guided between filter bands through a preliminary filtering zone in which some of the water contained in the cakes is extracted by straining and pressure action applied thereto. The filter bands with the cakes therebetween are then successively guided over a first dewatering drum and a subsequent second dewatering drum. Pressure is applied to the filter band while being guided about the drums, thereby extracting further water from the cakes. Additionally, the cakes while traveling from the feed-in point toward and through pressure zones are deformed and also turned over thereby compacting the cakes as water is extracted therefrom. Finally, the cakes after being sufficiently dewatered and compressed are discharged.

Abstract: A process for the concentration of pigment press cakes including feeding the press cakes to rollers and simultaneously applying a vacuum.

Abstract: Each of a series of small groups of cured bricks, each such group to be joined to others to form a completed hack of such bricks, are automatically handled to stabilize the pressure bearing contact surfaces between adjacent vertical and horizontal surfaces of such bricks in the finished hack and are automatically transported, handled and banded to form a stable bound hack, which hack comprises spaced apart voids for engagement by a forklift truck.