Abstract: A process is disclosed for pressing a material selected from materials of vegetable and animal origin. The process includes the steps of mechanically compressing the material of vegetable or animal origin while simultaneously vibrating the material at an ultrasonic frequency. The ultrasonic frequency going through the material modifies the material's internal state so as to considerably reduce resistance offered by the material to mechanical compression.

Abstract: A scrap cutter transport unit reduces assembly and dismantling times during production of mass-produced components. The scrap cutter transport unit includes a base frame for accommodating assemblies in both their transportation and operating states. During transportation, the transport unit accommodates a cutter stand in a removed state so that the cutter stand can pivot about a point. A second transport unit is formed by a press frame which includes auxiliary supports for transportation purposes.

Abstract: A method for processing yellow pine wood products into pellets for use as animal litter. The process includes the steps of collecting and drying yellow pine material and drying the wood material into a grist. The grist is moisturized by exposure to steam before placement into a pellet forming device that applies heat and pressure to the grist. The formed pellets are deposited into bags and sealed for shipment. The pellets are used as animal litter that is highly absorbent, biodegradable, odor controlling, dustless, and will remain smooth and non-fur-engaging through continued handling.

Abstract: A method of cutting a block of fibrous material for further recompression from a rectangular bale of fibrous material in which the bale is first positioned with the string side up. Slabs are cut from the bale generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and between parallel wrappings of baling twine to form a cut slab of predetermined width which is still wrapped with baling twine. The cut slab is laid over on to its side, the baling twine is removed from the slab, and the slab is cut into suitable sized pieces for recompression wherein the stems and grass blades are oriented generally parallel to each other but vertical and transverse to a longitudinal center line of the cut block.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for kneading used fluid filters having an initial kneader and a final kneader disposed subsequent to the inital kneader. The initial kneader includes a first roller and a second roller disposed on the frame adjacent to the first roller at a distance less than the diameter of the used fluid filter. The first and second rollers include a bar extending longitudinally along the perimeter of each of the first and second rollers for grabbing the used fluid filter. The second roller rotates faster than the first roller and includes a high bar extending longitudinally along the perimeter of the second roller for shearing away the filter plate from the filter canister. The final kneader includes a fifth roller and a sixth roller on the frame adjacent to the fifth roller at a distance less than the distance between the first roller and the second roller. The fifth and sixth rollers include a plurality of points.

Abstract: A method of handling scrap tires is disclosed, including providing a satellite tire collection enclosure constructed of baled tires and sized to receive at least about 2400 scrap tires, collecting scrap tires inside the tire collection enclosure until the enclosure is at or near capacity, volume reducing the scrap tires by baling the scrap tires using a mobile tire baler having a baler and a boom on a mobile platform at a minimum of about 2,400 whole tires into about 24 bales to achieve a volume reduction of about 80 percent by volume, and transporting baled scrap tires to a home base, a recycling center, or directly to an end-user. In one aspect, a mobile tire baler includes a baler and a boom on a mobile platform, a cutter for over-size tires, and a crusher for tire rims.

Abstract: In a method for the continuous production of a running mat (6) of stocked particles (2) of different dimensions by the use of a conveyor spreading method, for the production of wood material boards or similar boards by subsequent pressing of the mat, for the solution of the problem of having a well-defined supporting plane for the spread material independently of the rotary speed of the spreading rolls, it is proposed that, during the conveyor spreading action (11), at first holdouts be formed deliberately and continuously over the entire spreading width and the entire spreading length of the conveyor spreading mechanism, out of which individual spreading is done for the continuous formation of the advancing mat (6); at the same time an apparatus is proposed for the practice of the method for the performance of the already-named tasks.

Abstract: In a die cutting press for elongated material, a registration system includes a die unit that is shiftable along the path of travel of the material, along a direction of travel transverse to the path of travel, and about a reference axis perpendicular to a plane containing the material. At least one camera is provided for receiving images from the desired locations that are occupied by indicia on the material when defined areas of the material are in a predetermined relationship relative to the die unit. Reference image data representative of the desired locations of the indicia relative to the die unit is produced so that a comparison can be made between the reference image data and the actual positions of the indicia.

Abstract: A method and device for continuously or discontinuously manufacturing flat sheets of multiple-layer materials, laminates, or similar articles for use in the furniture and electrical industries. In order to prevent molten resin from leaking out at the edges of layer of material while they are being bonded under heat and pressure, the free edges of the stacked layers of bonding material are welded together before the material is transformed into a composite sheet or composite web by heat and pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating oil-bearing material which includes an extruder having an elongated enclosure with an inlet end. The extruder also includes a worm assembly for working and advancing the material through the enclosure from the inlet end to the discharge end. A high pressure region is located adjacent the extruder inlet end. A force feeder provides material to the high pressure region at a specified supply rate. Oil in the material is liberated and drained in the high pressure region to a specified level prior to entry of the material into the extruder inlet end. The apparatus also includes an outlet in the high pressure region for drainage of the released oil, as well as a screen over the outlet to prevent material greater than a specified size from exiting the high pressure region through the outlet. The seed material is mechanically worked via the action of a rotating screw in the extruder. At the same time, steam is injected into the extruder to condition the worked seed material.

Abstract: A compactor assembly comprises a ground supported housing having an open top through which waste material is deposited. An auger is rotatable on an axis positioned within the housing for breaking waste material received therein through the open top, and for transporting the waste material therethrough. A drop area is downstream of the receiving chamber of the housing and has a remote open portion. A compactor ram is reciprocal on an axis parallel to the auger axis for transferring waste material through the open portion. A first drive is operably associated with the auger for rotating the auger, and a second drive is operably associated with the compactor ram for causing reciprocation thereof.

Abstract: A hay baler or bale compressor capable of producing aerated bales of hay which can be effectively stored and shipped. Specifically, the baler includes a packer mechanism which operates to retrieve and compress individual capsules of hay and a plunger or piston that compresses the individual precompressed capsules into a large bale while simultaneously cutting and removing portions of the capsules. The plunger includes at least one tubular cutter which extends through the plunger and projects a desired distance from the face of the plunger. In operation, each time the plunger compresses the plunger load, plugs of hay are cut from capsules making up the load and passed through the tubular cutter to the throat of the baler. If a plurality of holes are formed, proper spacing of the holes allows the hay to breathe and, thus, permits shipment of large and small bales of hay without fear of premature spoiling or fire.

Abstract: A method for production of a trussed rafter, wherein the nail plates are affixed to timber members in conjunction with cutting of the timber members and before they are transported to an assembly station. The assembly station can be any type of a rafter jig but can also be a levelled surface, e.g., a factory floor, thereby eliminating the need for an assembly jig. The labor and force required in timber member jointing are substantially reduced, because the nail plates are already affixed to the timber members and assembly can be largely limited to affixing of upper nail plates (8). The assembly surface has a grid pattern (1) thereon, enabling the positioning of side quides (2) required for assembling. Markings indicating prefixed platings and/or nail plates positions are used to provide quality control.

Abstract: A ram baler (20) having a platen (28) coupled to a plunger (26). A first cutting edge (32) is attached to platen (28) and a second cutting edge (30) attached to baler (20). Platen (28) includes a top assembly (27) for attachment of the first cutting edge (32). A bottom plate assembly (46) is included for forming a lower surface of platen (28). Top assembly (27) is vertically moveable with respect to bottom plate assembly (46). Platen (28) houses an adjuster assembly (110) for varying the distance between top assembly (27) and bottom plate assembly (46).

Abstract: An oil filter crushing apparatus and method utilizing a housing defining an interior space and a bottom surface, a crushing member fitted within the housing having a crushing surface and defining a slot opening through the crushing surface, a puncturer having a point and movably attached to the crushing member within the slot opening so that the puncturer is behind the crushing surface in a retracted position and at least the point of the puncturer is forward of the crushing surface in a puncturing position.

Abstract: A process for producing a bale of crimped staple fibers includes the repeated steps of cutting continuous filament crimped nylon tow into segments, maintaining the integrity of the segments while tramping charges of the segments under pressure to form a compacted layer, holding the layer to retain layer compaction and then pressing the layers and strapping the pressed layers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for storing a plurality of tires having a threaded portion, a rim portion and two sidewall portions, said method comprising the following steps; peripherally slicing each of said tires in two half tires along said threaded portion about midway between said sidewall portions; performing radial incisions in each of said two half tires, said incisions extending through said threaded portion and part of said sidewall portion; stacking up said half tires one on top of the other in order to form a pile of half tires; compressing said pile longitudinally in order to flatten said half tires one over the other; whereby, said radial incisions allow the threaded portion of each half tire to lie in the same plane as the sidewalls of the same half tire without warping when said half tire is compressed into a flattened condition.

Abstract: A baler for baling polystyrene material which has a high bulk and low weight for subsequent recycling. The baler includes a ram, to compress the material past its form memory, which provides significant penetration over repeated cycles to compress the polystyrene into a bale, which is subsequently ejected through a bale door of the baler. The baler can either be manually controlled or automatically controlled, such as by an algorithm stored in a programmable logic controller. Feedback systems measure the length of travel of the ram and the pressure of the ram to determine the status of the baling operation, and can automatically provide for ejection of the baled material. The bale can either be manually strapped, automatically strapped, or no strapping of the bale may be required. The polystyrene material is chopped by a chopper system on the baler to break the material into smaller sections for baling. The baler also includes a vertical tamper to tamp the polystyrene down into the baling chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for and method of preparing discarded food and beverage packagings for recycling. A moisture absorbent powder is added to the packagings prior to shipment to a recycling facility. The present invention may further include an apparatus for breaking open paperboard packages and then treating the open packages with a chemical additive such as baking soda to reduce microbial activity caused by leftover contents within the discarded packages. The packages may then be compressed and sent to a recycling facility.

Abstract: A method for feeding billets in horizontal extruding presses which comprises the opening of the container, the cutting off of the surplus of the billet extruded simultaneously to the supplying of a new billet in line with the container and to a simultaneous withdrawal of the press shank after each extruding operation and with the withdrawl of the main piston; then the advancing of the pusher for the insertion of a new billet into the container which is still open and the simultaneous withdrawal of the billet shear and of the feeder means for the supplying of the billet; the closing of the container when the pusher retracts and the movement of the press shank on the axis of the container; finally the advancing of the main piston for the inserting of the press shank into the container for the extrusion operation.

Abstract: A process for conditioning and compacting vegetable fodder prior to storage and shipment which comprises breaking standard-sized bales and adjusting the moisture level of the fodder to reduce pulverization during subsequent compacting and handling; while at the same time injecting mold inhibitors and nutritional additive before repackaging the fodder into more compact bales for shipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating biodegradable solid urban waste materials and selecting those non biodegradable components for recycling comprises a tunnel (1) made of steel defining an inner room or ambient of parallelepiped shape, having a rear hinge door (4) associated with adjustable counterbalance weight (5). Near the door (4) blade kneading devices (6) can be installed. In the last portion of the bottom wall of the tunnel (1) holes (7) are arranged, positioned just over a channel (3) connected to a recovering tank (22) of the percolate. At the other front end of the tunnel a moving wall (9) is mounted, capable of being moved to and fro along two rails (10) by means of hydraulic jacks (12). In the center of the wall (9) a hydraulic cylinder (31, 31a, 31b) is anchored, the piston rod (31a) which enters into the iner chamber of the tunnel (1) for compressing the waste mass. Near the upper wall (32) of the tunnel (1), there is a circulating forced air pre-chamber (13) having a grating structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus for continuously producing blocks of cheese curd from a sheet of cheese curd. The apparatus may include means for producing the sheet of cheese curd but includes inclined surfaces for guiding the sheet into a conditioning tower. The tower receives the sheet in overlying face-to-face relation. A lower slide gate is disposed at the bottom of the tower to permit build up of a curd mass in the tower. Thereafter, a combination sliding gate and knife blade positioned above the slide gate is closed so as to cut a block of cheese curd above the lower slide gate. A carton may be elevated to telescopically surround a discharge section provided at the bottom of the tower to receive the block. When the knife blade closes, the curd thereabove is supported and the lower slide gate is then opened, allowing the block to descend through the discharge section into the elevated carton.

Abstract: The plastic syringe destruction device employs a cylinder and piston compaction unit together with heat to thermally smash plastic syringes into a compacted mass or slug. During compaction, the syringes are heated to temperatures between 100.degree. C. and 200.degree. C. to bring about melting of the syringes as well as sterilization. A removable transparent cover is also provided to permit only individual depositing of syringes into the cylinder when the main cover is in an opened position. A water injector nozzle is also provided as an option to permit compaction in a dry or wet state.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for sorting radioactive waste. The method comprises the steps of reducing the waste to pieces of substantially uniform size, detecting radiation with first and second radiation detecting structure, conveying the pieces from the reducing step to the first and second radiation detecting structure, and dispersing the pieces of waste between the first and second detecting structure so that the pieces which are collected together in clusters can separate from each other to thereby increase the likelihood of detecting radiation emanating from the pieces.

Abstract: A waste compactor utilizing the combined forces of compression and vibration for reducing, leveling and compacting waste within a container. The pressure force is expelled through a guided hydraulic ram assembly, the pressurized movement of which is coordinated with an applied vibrating energy developed through a mechanical vibrator and/or sonic frequency emitter, the rate and intensity of which encompasses a varying range. The sonic vibrating energy generator may be carried by and movable with the compacting ram or it may be embedded in the base platform of the compactor.

Abstract: A method for crushing metal cans into rectangular blocks or bales wherein cans are fed through a precrusher, which flattens and rips open the cans to drain liquids therefrom and leaves protruding torn tabs and flaps that facilitate bonding of the cans into a self-sustaining bale. The flattened cans are collected in a charging bin until a predetermined weight is reached; then the cans are released into a bale-forming chamber, which is closed by a hinged door forming an initial compression member. A ram then compresses the cans longitudinally in the chamber, the ram having ribs on the compression face to form grooves in the bale for future stack-retaining straps. A sliding door opens the end of the baling chamber for ejection of the formed bale by continued extension of the ram.

Abstract: An apparatus for collapsing and storing used burnable poison assemblies in a reduced volume, which includes a hanger member movable up and down for lifting a holder portion of a burnable poison assembly; a cutter for cutting solid portions of thimble plugs and poison rods of the burnable poison assembly hung on the hanger member; a restricting mechanism for holding the poison rods in restricted positions, restraining spontaneous movements in lateral directions; a gripper member movable up and down and capable of releasably gripping the poison rods; a packing mechanism capable of pushing aside previously stored poison rods in a container to put thereinto the poison rods gripped by the gripper member; and a thimble plug handling mechanism for guiding cut-off thimble plugs onto a receptable tray and placing the same in a container.

Abstract: An underwater compressing and cutting apparatus for activated or contaminated components of the core of a nuclear reactor by means of which even components of different geometry and different properties can be compressed to reduce their bulk and cut. The apparatus comprises a frame and slidable sleds, one sled having a squeezing jaw and the other sled having a chopping knife which are operated by unidirectional hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A machine for cleaning the flanges of cans. After fruit has been deposited in cans being carried by a conveyor, pistons that are slidably carried by a second conveyor are caused to enter each can. Each piston is so constructed that it severs fruit material on the can flange and compresses the fruit therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to processes and devices for automatically depositing and pressing continuous tows in containers moved to and fro on a traversing device, wherein the start of the tow is transferred via a chute to a catch box on the container and is retained there, the container is weighed during each traversing movement because of the extension of a weighing platform and, when the nominal weight is reached, the fed tow is held and severed in a cutting and fixing device, the tow ends obtained are fixed and marked, and the tow end belonging to the deposited material and the start of the tow are introduced into the full container from the catch box.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for dismantling, shearing and compacting a fuel assembly frame skeleton. A frame is provided which can be placed into the transfer canal of a fuel-handling building for severing a bottom nozzle from the thimble tubes and grids of the frame skeleton, compacting the remainder of the skeleton, and then further severing the thimble tubes and grids into shorter longitudinal lengths, and placing the shortened compacted severed pieces into a container for off-site shipment or on-site storage.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for extracting gel from aloe vera leaves without contaminating the gel with toxic juices indigenous to the husks of the leaves. Further, this mechanized extraction is uniquely suited to permit frequent cleaning of the machinery. The leaves are washed, trimmed, and introduced into means for feeding the aloe vera leaves to and through a blade which longitudinally bisects the leaves. The split leaves are then passed through pressing rollers which advance the husks but retain the gel which falls from the pressing rollers into a collection pan. The pressed husks shed additional gel as they are carried over a further expanse of the collection pan and are then transferred to a husk collection conveyor which carries the husks back under the machinery. The pressing rollers are mounted to the frame of the apparatus by a hinged block which permits the pressing rollers to be swung open to permit cleaning of the pressing rollers and the blade.

Abstract: Disclosed is the preparation of micro-bits of expanded styrene-polymers and of expanded polyolefins by comminuting the styrene-polymer or polyolefin in a particular combination of comminuting steps in a suitable comminutor that can provide that combination of steps and in the presence of water as a cooling agent. The polymer micro-bits, which are produced as an aqueous slurry, may be rendered dry-to-the-touch by vacuum filtration followed by passage through a filter press.

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: A method is disclosed for treating cheese, preferably cheese offcuts, to form a reconstituted block of cheese. The offcuts are first cut into small chips and then repressed in an evacuated environment to form the reconstituted block of cheese which may then be cut to commercially saleable sizes and packaged.

Abstract: A baling machine comprises a frame defining a first baling chamber having an open top and an opening formed in one end and a second baling chamber which communicates with the first baling chamber through the opening. A cover member is pivotally mounted on the frame and movable between an open position permitting access into the first baling chamber through the open top and a closed position covering the open top. A feed hopper is mounted on the frame for introducing material to be baled into the first baling chamber. A first compression ram is mounted adjacent to the first baling chamber and is movable into the first baling chamber for compressing the material in the first baling chamber and for thereby forming the material into a block having one end section which is aligned with the opening. A feed ram is mounted adjacent to the first baling chamber and is movable into the first baling chamber for moving the block end section into the second baling chamber through the opening.

Abstract: A method for compressing and cutting random loaded scrap metal comprises the steps of gravity advancing scrap metal to a cutting zone, applying a first transversal compression to the scrap metal being advanced, guillotine cutting a portion of the scrap metal and concurrently applying a further transversal compression. The machine comprises a scrap metal conveying trough, a transversally movable pressing plunger adapted for traversing the conveying trough and compacting the conveyed scrap metal, a guillotine block for cutting the compacted scrap metal and a guillotine driven compacting block movable perpendicularly to the pressing plunger and cooperating therewith.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for disintegrating a can includes a feeding chute for feeding the cans into a cutter-compactor mechanism in which cutting blades are fixedly positioned on a rotating drum for cutting each can fed into the mechanism and driving the can further into the compacting portion of the drum. The rotating drum compacts the cans against a fixed arcuate surface and drops the cut and compacted can pieces into a receptacle. The rotating drum has annular raised sides for holding the cans therebetween and protruding cleats on its surface for dragging the cam into the compacting portion. The fixed compacting surface is arcuate to gradually compress the can being pulled against it as the space narrows between the surface and the rotating drum. The chute may have a ferrous can detector to eliminate ferrous cans from the unit, and the fixed compacting surface has a slot to allow the blades to pass therethrough as the drum rotates.

Abstract: A method for treating heterogeneous waste, particularly household garbage and general industrial refuse, e.g. paper, glass or bulk objects such as furniture. The composition of waste supplied to the treating site depends on its source, i.e. household bin or industrial skip, and waste from different sources is supplied through different channels, i.e. by different salvage vehicles. At the site the waste is sorted and treated to obtain selected products e.g. for re-cycling.To facilitate obtaining the products and to cope with the range of waste suppied to the site, a number of separate bunkers are provided, each for waste from a particular source. The bunkers are arranged in an arc, although they could be in block formation and are accessible to salvage vehicles. The jib or boom of a crane or another mechanical device can sweep over the bunkers and transfer seleced waste to one of a number of manual sorting or distributing belts, preferably three, via optional hoppers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies of the type comprising an array of fuel pins disposed within an outer metal shell or shroud. A spent fuel assembly is first compacted in a known manner and then incrementally sheared using fixed and movable shear blades having matched laterally projecting teeth which slidably intermesh to provide the desired shearing action. Incremental advancement of the fuel assembly after each shear cycle is limited to a distance corresponding to the lateral projection of the teeth to ensure fuel assembly breakup into small uniform segments which are amenable to remote chemical processing.

Abstract: A method for discharging waste materials, such as household refuse, into a central sewage system. Prior to discharge, at least a portion of the waste products are crushed and stored in a container which container is connected to the sewage system by a pipe coupling which includes a solenoid valve controlled either by means of a timing clock or from a central control station. In the latter situation, the solenoid valve is activated preferably by a medium frequency signal generated at the station.

Abstract: The invention relates to a material portioning apparatus and a method which provides portions of material of predetermined weight by measuring and portioning an appropriate volume of the material. Although the apparatus is especially useful when the material consists of whole pieces larger than the portioned sizes, such as fillets of fish or meat, it can also be used for portioning granular materials, or materials of sizes smaller than the portioned sizes. It is only necessary that the material, or bulks of the material, be of such a nature that, when it is compressed in one direction, it will expand or be forced to move in a different direction. In accordance with the invention, the apparatus comprises a preforming stage having an adjustable volume, and a weighing stage also having an adjustable volume. Material is fed, through the preforming stage, into the weighing stage and the weighing stage is overfilled to include a volume greater than the desired weight.

Abstract: A method for loading refuse involving a refuse loading station and a refuse container. The refuse container is placed on the loading station and the loading station moves the container into a position adjacent a refuse discharge opening of a refuse hopper. Refuse is introduced into the hopper through a refuse inlet opening, which is spaced from the discharge opening. A packer head is reciprocated within the hopper to displace the refuse through the discharge opening and into the container. A clearing member is positioned for vertical reciprocation across the discharge opening for clearing refuse which may become situated between the container and the hopper.

Abstract: A sludge press wherein a piston is reciprocable along a horizontal path between a rectracted position in the interior of a hopper and an extended position in which extending forwardly from and communicating with the hopper so that the piston thereby expels a slug of compacted sludge through the open front end of the barrel. The front end of the barrel can be sealed by the knife-like valve member of a gate valve during movement of the piston to retracted position. The front end face of the piston is surrounded by a cutting edge which cooperates with a complementary annular cutting edge at the rear end of the barrel to sever solid ingredients of sludge during penetration of the piston into the barrel. The cutting edge of the valve member cooperates with a complementary cutting edge surrounding an opening in the rear section of the housing of the valve.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for shearing spent nuclear fuel assemblies of the type wherein a plurality of long metal tubes packed with ceramic fuel are supported in a spaced apart relationship within an outer metal shell or shroud which provides structural support to the assembly. Spent nuclear fuel assemblies are first compacted in a stepwise manner between specially designed gag-compactors and then sheared into short segments amenable to chemical processing by shear blades contoured to mate with the compacted surface of the fuel assembly.

Abstract: A frame having a baling chamber formed therein and a feed hopper member pivotally mounted adjacent the chamber for introducing a car body or similar article partially into the baling chamber. A cover member is pivotally mounted adjacent the other side of the baling chamber and has a front edge constructed as a cutting edge. The cover member when pivoted to its open position permits the introduction of the car body into the baling chamber by tilting the feed hopper member. The cover member, when pivoted to its closed position after the car body is partially introduced into the baling chamber, will partially crush and bend the car at approximately the middle portion thereof so that substantially one-half of the car body will be inside the baling chamber and the other half will protrude out of the baling chamber through the space adjacent the front edge of the cover member.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus and method wherein relatively large bulky pieces of scrap metal can be, substantially, simultaneously, divided or separated into smaller pieces of scrap metal and then compressed into smaller and more dense units of scrap metal. In compressing the bulky scrap metal into smaller and more dense units of scrap metal, the grade and quality of the scrap metal is increased so as to be more, economically, valuable.

Abstract: Refuse is processed for land fill use by comminuting the refuse into smaller particles, blending the comminuted refuse to form an extrudable mass and continuously extruding the mass through a constricted die to form high-density, low-volume shapes which are suitable for burying in a land fill.Apparatus for carrying out the process includes at least one reduction mill, a blender having a shaft carrying radially extending pitched paddles for kneading and blending the comminuted refuse into an extrudable mass and an extruder carrying a constricted die and having a screw feed for continuously extruding the blended refuse to form high-density, low-volume shapes. The bore of the constricted die defines an outwardly tapered land adjacent the discharge end for controllably accommodating the normal expansion of the compressed refuse shape prior to leaving the die.

Abstract: A process for economically utilising straw in which the straw is compressed into briquettes having a density of at least 500 kg/m.sup.3, preferably at least 1000 kg/cm.sup.3, for subsequent use in a thermal, chemical or microbiological plant.