Abstract: Calendering takes place in a calendering zone which operates under pressure with application of temperature and moisture. The desired smoothness is achieved with a correspondingly long dwell time of the material web in a correspondingly long calendering zone in view of the speed of web travel. A web which is still wet is guided between parallel heatable surfaces which are arranged on both sides of the web and face each other through the web and can each be pressed against the web. The surfaces are designed to form and hold a given precise contour of the calendering zone over its full length. One surface is constructed e.g. as a casing of a heated roller and the second surface is constructed as an endless flexible belt which can be pressed in a direction towards the roller casing by means of a concave supporting element. If wished, the web can be calendered on both sides with the method.

Abstract: A press for the production of pressed board with injection of steam utilizes press platens to which the steam is fed to the steam-feed channels from opposite sides in a collision flow, the chanels communicating with steam-nozzle bores opening at the pressing surface and such that the cross section of each channel is equal to at least 60% of the total flow cross sections of the boards communicating with that channel. Before the pressing commences, the channels are through-flushed with steam to flush air from the channels and bores and to evacuate air from the pressed mat by a venturi effect.

Abstract: The invention provides multiple steam applicators which are used to distribute steam against a web during calendering. The invention includes a primary steam applicator located adjacent a side of the web to which steam is applied. The primary steam applicator has a manifold, a primary inlet valve, and a plurality of steam valves spaced along the primary manifold. Each steam valve regulates a steam flow distributed to a cross-directional section of the web. A secondary steam applicator is located adjacent the side of the web to which steam is applied. The secondary steam applicator has a manifold, a secondary inlet valve, and a plurality of steam valves spaced along the secondary manifold, each steam valve regulating a steam flow distributed to a cross-directional section of the web. A gloss sensor measures the gloss finish of the web.

Abstract: Particle board, hard board, wafer board, plywood and the like are formed by vapor injection pressing using thin plates through which steam is injected into the product under consolidation, the thin plates lying adjacent the press platens. For closed steam pressing, the plate is provided with a peripheral seal which is inflatable to seal the cavity of the press using either the same stream which is injected into the product, or a second source of steam or other gas at a higher pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for storing and processing waste materials at hospitals or the like includes a housing having an access opening in a sidewall for receiving wastes and a discharge opening at the base of an end wall. Non-hazardous wastes are stored in a compartment adjacent the discharge opening. A compactor ram is periodically traveled across the compartment and into the discharge opening to transfer wastes to an adjacent receiver of the type that can be transported to a disposal site. Infectious wastes are stored in a separate sealable receptacle from which air is periodically evacuated and replaced with steam to sterilize the contents. Motors then swivel the receptacle away from the housing access passage and tilt the receptacle to dump the sterilized contents into the non-hazardous storage compartment.

Abstract: A pneumatically operated compaction device includes a piston compressible in the upward direction in a container having a sealable lid. Odor laden air surrounding the material to be compressed is utilized for a compression fluid as air is drawn from the chamber to be compressed and pressurably pumped the chamber providing the compressive force. A deodorizer automatically injects the compression chamber with a deodorizing fluid during each use, and which is powered by exposure to the changing pressure within the compactor.

Abstract: An improved system for extracting soluble substances from fibrous material by using a plurality of maceration and compression steps thereby excerting moderate pressure on the fibrous material up to 15 bars.Arrangements are made to saturate the fibrous material to its maximum absortion potential between each pressure application. Moisture content of the agent fibrous material is finally reduced with the combined application of moderate and high pressure. The application of imbibition liquid in this area and the use of the solvent received for the purpose of maceration in the preceeding extraction steps is made in accordance with the respective concentration of the solvent.The extraction system can operate without the application of process heat; therefore, a lixiviator is not required. Two or more maceration and compression steps can be located in a module, thus permitting a very compact arrangement of the extraction system.

Abstract: A guard at the inlet side of the nip of two rolls in a calender has a hollow support for two blocking devices with movable sections extending close to the peripheral surfaces of the rolls to prevent injury to the fingers of an operator. The support defines one or more channels for steam or for another fluid medium which is discharged through one or more rows of ports to moisturize a running web of paper, foil or textile material or to dry, heat or cool the web and/or the rolls.

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: Baled animal feed material is improved by being moved onto a vehicle either by a lifting mechanism at the side of the vehicle or by a platform which takes the bale directly from a baler. On the vehicle is firstly mounted a wrapping station in the form of a cradle which rotates the bale about its axis and about an axis at right angles to the bale so that the plastic strip material is wrapped around the bale and around the ends of the bale. A probe is moved forwardly hydraulically to enter the bale along its axis following which anhydrous ammonia from a volumetric measuring device is injected under pressure from a hydraulic supply through the probe into the bale.

Abstract: Processing and outfit for the extraction of cane sugar by pressing canes and magma between several pairs of fluted rollers, wherein each pair of rollers is completely submerged in a tank (C) and fed through a hopper (13), and wherein a constant recirculation of the magma, from each tank towards the corresponding hopper, with a significant flow rate on the one hand, and a countercurrent circulation of the bagasse and the juice with a lower flow rate in the different tanks (C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3) corresponding to the different pairs of rollers on the other, are combined.

Abstract: An indicator for use in a refuse compactor for effectively indicating the need for replacement of a refuse-treating material supply as a function of the normal depletion thereof. The indicator is controlled by a timer accumulating incremental time during each operation of the compaction ram and operates a signaling indicator when the accumulated time reaches a preselected value. The indicator may be used with any form of refuse-treating material apparatus. In the illustrated embodiment, the refuse-treating material apparatus is an aerosol spray can of deodorizing and sanitizing material removably mounted within the refuse compactor cabinet.

Abstract: An autoclave for sterilizing used medical equipment and compacting same for disposal comprising a sealable receptacle lined with a thermoplastic liner wherein the liner forms an interior region for receiving used medical equipment. The sealable receptacle is provided with a hydraulic ram for compressing and crushing the equipment contained in a thermoplastic wrap. Thus the medical discards are compressed into portable capsules which then may be discarded in landfills. The hydraulic ram includes controls for automatic cycling of the compression and ejection strokes and the autoclave itself is provided with a steam inlet means through which steam is injected into the liner both to soften the liner and to sterilize the debris before compression. The ram actuation may be coupled to a recorder which records the sterilization temperatures and may include interlocks and clock limits to preclude injury to the operator.

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: A baler has a preservative applicator assembly with an improved nozzle array for applying a volatile crop treating fluid to crop material as the crop material is being formed into a bale. The nozzle has a centrally disposed passageway which has a cross-sectional area greater than the minimum sum of the cross-sectional areas of a plurality of fluid dispensing openings in the end of the nozzle. Each of the openings includes a throat and a lip outwardly diverging from the throat. The nozzle array maintains the fluid under high pressure and aids in dispersing the fluid with a high velocity to enhance the retention of the fluid as a liquid while in the nozzle and to promote wide and uniform dispersing of the fluid throughout the crop material during the application.

Abstract: An apparatus for neutralizing and disposing of infectious solid waste and non-hazardous solid waste includes a housing having an upper chamber for receiving the infectious solid waste and a lower chamber for receiving the non-hazardous solid waste. The upper chamber includes an exterior loading door, and an interior discharge door. A discharge ram forms one wall of the upper chamber opposite to the discharge door. The upper chamber includes door seals and pressure fittings so that the infectious waste placed therein may be sterilized by steam introduced under pressure. The neutralized wastes are ejected by the discharge ram through the interior door into the lower chamber. One wall of the lower chamber comprises a compactor ram which is extendable through a discharge opening to compress the neutralized and non-hazardous wastes into a closed compactor container.

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: 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 device and method are disclosed for treating compressible materials, such as hay or other fibrous materials, with a treating substance, preferably anhydrous ammonia, as a preservative for the treated compressible material. The treating substance is preferably introduced into a treating area as a gas, but may be introduced in aqueous or liquid form to establish a fog of treating substance in the treating area.The compressible material to be treated is introduced into the treating area which preferably has air locks, established by a pair of pressure rollers, at both the compressible material inlet and outlet to maintain the treating substance within the treating area.Within the treating area, a path is established for continuous movement of the compressible materials from the inlet to the outlet rollers.

Abstract: A trash compactor is especially designed for industrial and commercial usage. A compacting unit is driven by an electricity-free drive unit for allowing applications in hazardous environments, such as offshore drilling rigs. Specifically, a hydraulic pump is pneumatically driven for powering the compactor. A container used in the compactor is specially designed for facilitating removal of the relatively bulky and heavy compacted trash.

Abstract: A liquid impregnating system for impregnating, with a liquid, absorbent, compressible product maintained at least in part within the interior compartment of a tub or other container. The impregnating operation is carried out by compressing the product to increase the residence volume in the tub for the impregnating liquid, and directing the liquid into engagement with the product while it is maintained in its compressed condition. Most preferably, the product is a stack of absorbent sheets and the compressing operation is carried out by pressing downwardly on the uppermost sheet of the stack in localized areas intermediate end margins to cause end margins of at least some adjacent sheets in the stack to fan apart. This increases the accessibility of absorbent surface area within the stack to the impregnating liquid.

Abstract: Nozzles are mounted on the face of the plunger of a conventional hay baler for injecting a fluid into the mass of hay as it is compacted. The nozzles are connected to a tank holding the fluid through control valves and a metering chamber which serve to limit the period of injection to the compression stroke of the plunger and to limit the quantity of fluid injected.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating liquids from soft particulate food solids, especially for cottage cheese. A tensioned belt is partially wrapped around a foraminous drum to compress a layer or bed of food particles advancing on the exterior of the drum wall through a separation zone beneath the belt. The belt run opposite the drum wall is free to flex and yield and to expand and contract the cross-sectional area of the separating zone, depending upon the thickness of the bed of food particles in said zone. Accordingly, delicate such particles will not be damaged or broken up into small particles, as would happen if a thick bed is forced through a zone of fixed cross-sectional area. Moreover, pressure is maintained on the bed when it is thin. A belt tightener is provided which will maintain a desired tension on the belt so that the belt will always exert a predetermined desired pressure on the bed.

Abstract: A selective spray device for use in a refuse compactor, or the like, arranged to provide selectively onto the refuse a deodorizing spray. The device includes a control for effecting automatically a spray of the refuse as an incident of movement of the receptacle into which the refuse is placed for compaction. A manually operable control permits a manual operation of the spray device when desired at any time. The control may further be arranged to prevent operation of the spray device notwithstanding movement of the receptacle. The spray may be provided as a pressurized fluid in a can having a suitable selectively operable valve. The valve actuator may be held fixed while the can itself is displaced to effect an opening of the valve. The control may include a slidable cam having associated therewith a manually operable handle. The selective opening of the valve may be effected by a lever pivotally mounted adjacent the cam and having a cam follower engaged by the cam.

Abstract: Vehicle mounted compactor apparatus comprising multiple pressure actuated cylinders connected such that fluid is initially directed to a first cylinder to provide rapid reciprocating movement of a ram through a chamber to form a low density bale and is subsequently directed to second and third cylinders to provide low speed movement at increased compactive force to increase the density of the bale. A bonding agent is sprayed into the chamber to eliminate necessity for tying the bale. An elevator deposits the bale in a storage container pivoted to the frame of the vehicle for dumping.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of packaging asbestos fibers wherein damp asbestos fibers are consolidated into blocks having a density of at least about 100 lbs./cu. ft. (PCF). These blocks can then be stacked on pallets, pulpable pallets if desired, and secured to said pallet with various means, for example with a shrink film, to produce a clean, compact package. At the point of use, the blocks are disintegrated using a block-breaker and the resultant pieces are then opened into a loose mass of asbestos fibers in a conventional opening apparatus.

Abstract: In a rotary compacting machine using rolling-compressing techniques sheets of loose fibrous material rolled into a dense continuous cylindrical core in a compression channel, being confined by power driven boundary compression rollers. The circumferentially spaced plurality of compression rollers impart to the material of the core radial, tangential and axial forces. At the end of the compression channel the continuous core is cut to the desired length individual rolls. The skewing position of the compression rollers is automatically regulated and adjusted to obtain the desired density of the core and to provide means to cause the desired axial displacement of the formed core toward and away from the discharge end of the compression channel.To make this compacting process applicable to biologically active fibrous materials, such as agricultural forage crops at higher moisture contents, an applicator for chemical additives, such as preservatives, is incorporated into the system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the foam-encasing of refuse, through the intermediary of which refuse being dumped may, in a simple and satisfactory enclosed manner with respect to the surroundings, be transported, stored and further processed. In the method the refuse or the like is compacted and foam-encased by an all-encompassing closed-cellular foam material layer so as to form a predetermined completely defined three-dimensional body. The apparatus for carrying out the method is constructed, in one embodiment, so as to consist of a closed form constituted of a plurality of form elements, which are adapted to be separated from each other, for the compacting and foam-encasing of the refuse or the like, and in whose walls there are distributed a plurality of nozzles for the infeed of the foam materials into the form.

Abstract: A vertically extending framework having a hydraulic ram subassembly mounted in the framework for pivotation about a horizontal axis, and spaced from the lower end of the framework to accommodate a refuse receptacle within the framework under the ram. A disinfectant injection pump is mounted in the hydraulic ram for automatically discharging a disinfectant into refuse compressed by the ram. The ram is double acting, and valve means is provided for automatically retracting the ram when a predetermined force opposes the outward extension of the piston of the ram.