Abstract: A fixed roller is laterally axially supported by a movable body so as to ow an axial center line of the fixed roller to extend in parallel to a lateral direction, and driven to rotate an upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller backward, and a plurality of split press rollers respectively having the axes inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an axial center line of the fixed roller as viewed in plan are arranged in a row in a lateral direction above the fixed roller in the manner of supporting the split press rollers by press roller frames. The split press rollers are energized to the descending side by oil-hydraulic cylinders respectively provided between a frame of the body and the press roller frames so as to bring the lower peripheral surface side of each split press roller into contact with the upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller under the action of pressure.

Abstract: A conditioning implement having first and second conditioning rolls, one of which is movably mounted, includes a mounting system for selectively urging the movable roll toward the other roll. The mounting system includes a pair of mounting plates adapted for placement one on either side of the movable roll, with the mounting plates being pivotably mounted to a frame. An adjustment subassembly is connected to the mounting plates. In a first position, the adjustment subassembly exerts a maximum biasing force on the mounting plates for urging the movable roll toward the other roll with a maximum biasing force. In a second position, the adjustment subassembly relieves the biasing force exerted on the mounting plates, thus allowing movement of the movable roll away from the other roll to accommodate passage of a mass of material therethrough. A system is provided for interconnecting the adjustment subassembly with a lifting and lowering system for the conditioner.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and heating a material to be treated, i.e., fibrous materials of plants such as true grasses or the like, changing the quality of the material, and solidifying the same. The material to be treated is delivered by a rotatable screw into and through a quality-changing chamber. During the passage of the material through the quality-changing chamber, the material is heated by a heating device. During the passage of the material through the quality-changing chamber, the material has its tissues destroyed, is softened, is compacted, and is solidified due to the compression by the screw and the heating by the heating device. A sensor senses a load applied to a motor and/or the temperature of the material being treated within the quality-changing chamber. A control system responds to a signal or signals from the sensor to control the load and/or the temperature.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for the "in-field" production of compact bales of fibrous material, particularly picked cotton, the apparatus including a bin into which the fibrous material can be deposited, a series of beaters near one end of the bin which are capable of dispersing the fibrous material, a movable wall for moving the fibrous material in the bin towards the beaters, a duct extending from at a point near the beaters to a baling hopper, a blower for creating an air stream for conveying the dispersed fibrous material through the duct, and a press ram for compacting the dispersed fibrous material in the baling hopper into compact bales.

Abstract: Disclosed is a maceration system of the type generally used in the grinding and juice extraction of sugar cane. The last mill has a roll and feed and discharge bottom rolls with elongated trash plate spanning the space between the bottom rolls. Separate troughs extend below each of the bottom rolls to catch and separate juice therefrom. The top roll has longitudinal flow passageways around it opening into ports in the roll surface and water is introduced through these passgeways to flow into the pulp moving over the trashplate to the discharge roll, and the juice from below the discharge roll is directed to the pulp moving to the feed roll. In the case of multiple mills in tandem, the juice recovered from the feed roll is directed to the top roll passageways of the previous mill and the juice from the discharge roll of that mill is directed to the feed roll thereof.

Abstract: A mill, particularly a mill for extracting juice from cane sugar, has a fixed top roller (24), and feed discharge rollers (25) and (26) which are independently pivotable by respective power operated means (47, 51) to vary the feed opening between the feed roller and top roller and the discharge opening between discharge roller and top roller. A trash plate (55) for transferring material between the feed opening and the discharge opening is connected to the feed roller for pivotable movement therewith.