Abstract: A load out lump breaker system includes a load out chute operably associated with a material storage bin, a screen hopper for screening lumps of material from downloaded materials, a mill for breaking up lumps of material, a mill diversion chute operably associated with the screen hopper, a discharge chute for transport of material from the mill, a plurality of gates and sensors for coordinating the switching of operations between load out and lump break up, and a controller programmed to switch and synchronize operations between load out and lump break up operations.

Abstract: Controlling the dust emissions from the discharge of bulk materials from a container provides many benefits. A support structure may include a plurality of outlets or chutes for discharging the bulk material. A dust control damper coupled to the outlets not currently in use for the discharge of bulk material may prevent dust from escaping into the surrounding air. The dust control dampers may automatically transition between a closed position and an open position. A flexibly collapsible shroud may also be coupled to a discharge gate of a container. The shroud may expand to seal against the outlet when bulk material is discharge. A vacuum system at or near an outlet may reclaim any dust that escapes during discharge of the bulk material.

Abstract: Discretizers that exhibit improved solid additive laden fluid flow emanating from the discretizers and methods of using same, particularly for making fibrous structures are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a particle separator configured to be operatively connected between an enclosure hood and a ventilation system. In practice, an air stream containing particulate matter from an industrial process is directed through an enclosure hood, through the particle separator and into the ventilation system. Relatively large particles are removed from the air stream in the particle separator before the air stream reaches the ventilation system. This reduces the abrasion and general damage that can occur from relatively large particles moving through the duct structure of a ventilation system.

Abstract: A grain harvesting articulated combine of a forward crop processing power unit (PPU), a rear grain cart, and an articulation joint that connects the PPU with the rear grain cart and includes an auger assembly that moves clean grain from the PPU to the rear grain cart. Two pump circuits deliver power to a pair of hydrostatic motors located in the rear grain cart, one pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the grain unloader assembly, the other pump circuit hydrostatic motor driving the ascending fill lift auger assembly, the drag auger assemblies, and the articular joint auger assembly. Power (inertia) can be harvested from auger assemblies not moving grain for startup or clog clearing of the other auger assemblies.

Abstract: A novel separation screen, a separation apparatus utilizing the separation screen, and a method for product separation are disclosed herein. The separation apparatus includes a housing defining a separation chamber having an inlet and a plurality of outlet orifices. A separation screen, which is located within the separation chamber, has a plurality of openings having fixed, non-uniform sizes. The separation apparatus also includes an adjustable feed placement device located upstream from the separation screen to direct a feed stream to a selected region of the separation screen to achieve a desired size distribution in each of the product streams.

Abstract: A sifter for separating coarse particles from a particle-carrying stream during the manufacture of wood fiber panels has a housing forming a chamber. The housing also has a material inlet for admitting the particle-carrying stream to the chamber, a front wall formed with an upper air inlet below the material inlet for admitting a respective upper air stream to the chamber and a lower air inlet below the upper inlet for admitting a respective lower air stream to the chamber, an exhaust-air outlet for conveying air and fine particles from the chamber, and a coarse-particle outlet for conveying coarse particles out of the chamber. The front wall of the housing has between the upper air inlet and the lower air inlet a portion with an inwardly concavely curved shape that forms a support vortex that supports the upper air stream entering through the upper feed air inlet in the chamber of the housing between the upper air inlet and the lower air inlet.

Abstract: Provided is a shot-blasting apparatus which is capable of efficiently perform dust collection and ventilation of an inside of a projection chamber, even using a dust collector having a small-size and low-cost suction device.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating granular material into at least three fractions a static cross-flow sifter and a dynamic sifter. The static has several impact and flow-conducting elements stepped one below the other in a housing having a first material inlet, at least one sifting-gas inlet and at least one coarse-particle outlet. The dynamic sifter has a rod basket rotatable about a vertical axis, a housing containing the basket, and at least one medium-particle outlet and one fine-particle outlet. The housing of the static sifter merges directly horizontally and laterally into the housing of the dynamic sifter.

Abstract: An apparatus suitable for separating particles and methods for using such apparatus are provided.

Abstract: A dedusting apparatus has a product outlet offset laterally with respect to a vertical line passing through the product inlet. The dedusting apparatus has a primary wash deck structure with a flow of air passing therethrough into the flow of product. Product discharged off the lower end of the wash deck passes into a Venture zone fed by a flow of air passing through openings in the support leg for the wash deck. The offset dedusting apparatus allows installation of a dedusting apparatus onto a diagonally oriented product discharge conduit without requiring the reconfiguration of the angle of repose for the discharge conduit. The wash deck is formed with reverse slots having deflectors raised upwardly from the top surface of the wash deck to orient the slot to direct the air flow downwardly with the flow of product and to create turbulence in the product flow to facilitate cleaning.

Abstract: A dedusting apparatus is formed with back-to-back wash decks sloped downwardly and outwardly from a central inlet opening through which contaminated particulate material in directed onto the wash decks. The wash decks terminate at discharge edges from which particulate material enters a Venturi zone outwardly from each wash deck. The housing for the dedusting apparatus includes a pair of laterally spaced outlet ports located below the respective Venturi zones for the collection of cleaned particulate material simultaneously with identical or different collection devices such that the discharge outlets are offset laterally from the central inlet opening. The discharge ends of the wash decks are supported by an angularly disposed support leg. The air manifold directs air into the apparatus through a central opening from which the air passes through openings in the two sloped wash decks and past the discharge edges of the wash decks to create the Venturi zones.

Abstract: A mobile classifier (deduster) has docking devices, flushing devices and control for the dedusting of granules, in particular polymer granules, with preference polycarbonate granules. The mobile classifier can be set up at different locations underneath silos. To perform its function, the mobile classifier is technically connected to stationary pipelines, filters and fans.

Abstract: Separating a mixture comprising at least two solid materials comprises transporting the mixture into a plenum, introducing air into the plenum, removing a heavier fraction of the solid materials from the plenum, removing air having a lighter fraction of the solid materials entrained therein from the plenum, removing the lighter fraction of the solid materials from the air that is removed from the plenum, filtering the remaining air, and re-circulating the air back to the plenum. Valves at the locations where material is introduced to and removed from the system can prevent air flow therethrough while allowing the materials to pass. The air can be introduced into the plenum at an angle with respect to the pathway in which the heavier fraction of the materials falls through the plenum, thereby avoiding damage to a screen that diffuses the air being introduced into the plenum.

Abstract: A cart is towed behind a combine harvester for collecting corn cobs and includes a conveyer belt feeding into a system for separating cobs from residue to be discharged and a tank for receiving and transporting the cobs. An unload auger is provided from the tank to one side of the cart while the cart moves forward. Power for driving the cart is obtained from a chopper drive of the combine harvester. The separating arrangement includes a series of sequential blower fans for blowing air through the discharged material as it is discharged from a conveyor and into a spreading guide disperses the residue. The cobs are conveyed using a series of augers where the auger to flight distance is at least 2 inches and particularly a pair of augers feed the cobs through a front wall of the tank so as to push cobs upwardly into the tank.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for sifting feedstock, comprising: a. a static sifter that has a ventilated bottom which is oriented at an angle to the vertical and is penetrated by sifting gas; b. an inlet for feeding the feedstock to the ventilated bottom; c. an outlet for the coarse material; d. a dynamic sifter that is mounted downstream and encompasses at least one rotor with rotor blades and a horizontal rotor axis; e. at least one outlet for the sifting gas loaded with fine material; and f. a housing inside which the static and the dynamic sifter are arranged. The housing area surrounding the dynamic sifter is designed as a housing spiral such that the sifting gas flows against the rotor in a substantially tangential direction. The rotor rotates counter to the direction of flow of the sifting gas in the housing spiral.

Abstract: A mobile classifier (deduster) has docking devices, flushing devices and control for the dedusting of granules, in particular polymer granules, with preference polycarbonate granules. The mobile classifier can be set up at different locations underneath silos. To perform its function, the mobile classifier is technically connected to stationary pipelines, filters and fans.

Abstract: Method of separation of loose mixture in fluid medium consists in the gravity feed of particles, aerodynamic monotonically increasing effect on them at acute angle to the vertical line by the cascade of slot jets and the outlet of separated fractions into separate collectors. Before aerodynamic effect on loose mixture particles each jet is transferred to developed turbulence mode by their vertical expansion jets until jets are merged with each other with faulty or close to it form of jet formation and the appearance of at least two circulation zones different in size in each inter-jet space of all contiguous jets. The device for separation contains the bunker with vibrating chute mounted underneath the jet generator, the flat nozzles located one under another at acute angle to the vertical line, the height of cross sections of which, step and angle of installation increase top-down. The generator is connected with the source of air supply under pressure, and is covered by the side walls, and grade collectors.

Abstract: Particulates called nanoparticles (principally having a diameter of 10 nm or less) are reliably and easily according to size with high throughput. An impactor includes a particulate size classifying chamber provided with an exhaust port for particulates, a nozzle ejecting to the inside of the particulate size classifying chamber a carrier gas containing particulates to be classified, and a trapping plate as particulate trapping unit provided in the particulate size classifying chamber and selectively trapping particulates ejected from the nozzle.

Abstract: A cart is towed behind a combine harvester for collecting corn cobs and includes a conveyer belt feeding into a system for separating cobs from residue to be discharged and a tank for receiving and transporting the cobs. An unload auger is provided from the tank to one side of the cart while the cart moves forward. Power for driving the cart is obtained from a chopper drive of the combine harvester. The separating arrangement includes a series of sequential blower fans for blowing air through the discharged material as it is discharged from a conveyor and into a spreading guide disperses the residue. The cobs are conveyed using a series of augers where the auger to flight distance is at least 2 inches and particularly a pair of augers feed the cobs through a front wall of the tank so as to push cobs upwardly into the tank.

Abstract: An open configuration is provided for the housing of a particulate material dedusting apparatus through which particulate material passes to be cleaned by air passing through wash decks to separate dirt and debris from the particulate material for discharge from the housing. The front wall and side access doors of the housing are configured to be openable for full access to the front and rear chambers. The primary wash deck is detachably mounted within the housing for removal for cleaning purposes. The generally horizontal floors of the housing are formed with a slope to allow water to drain from the housing. The open configuration of the deduster housing facilitates cleaning, draining and drying of the housing to expedite changeover from one material to another. Furthermore, the open configuration allows access for improved welding to eliminate cracks and openings in joints which accumulate dirt and debris during operation.

Abstract: A system and method sorts bulk material containing lightweight components and heavier components, by separating the lightweight components from the heavier components. The method includes the steps of a) conveying the bulk material to be sorted, and releasing it through a corresponding outlet along a given trajectory; and b) generating an airflow and projecting said airflow adjacent to the outlet so that the airflow intersects the given trajectory of the bulk material, and draws along with it the lightweight material via a Venturi effect, thereby separating the lightweight components from the heavier components. This enables namely to easily, quickly and inexpensively sort out fairly lightweight materials, from heavier materials, at a substantial high throughput.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating particulate material into relatively fine and relatively coarse particles wherein such particulate material and a gas stream are introduced independently of one another to a separating zone through which the gas stream flows at such volume and velocity as to entrain fine particles and convey them from the separating zone to grinding or other facilities and wherein the fineness of entrained particles may be adjusted by diverting a selected portion of the gas stream from the separating zone to a bypass passageway followed by recombining the diverted portion of such gas stream with the gas containing the entrained particles.

Abstract: An open configuration is provided for the housing of a particulate material dedusting apparatus through which particulate material passes to be cleaned by air passing through wash decks to separate dirt and debris from the particulate material for discharge from the housing. The front wall and side access doors of the housing are configured to be openable for full access to the front and rear chambers. The primary wash deck is detachably mounted within the housing for removal for cleaning purposes. The generally horizontal floors of the housing are formed with a slope to allow water to drain from the housing. The open configuration of the deduster housing facilitates cleaning, draining and drying of the housing to expedite changeover from one material to another. Furthermore, the open configuration allows access for improved welding to eliminate cracks and openings in joints which accumulate dirt and debris during operation.

Abstract: A grain dropping passage constituted below a husking unit(D) serves as a winnowing room(A). A winnowed grain conveyor(1) is provided as the sole conveyor below the winnowing room(A). A winnowing wind blown by a winnowing fan(F) through a blowing room(B) passes through below the winnowed grain conveyor(1) and then rises in the winnowing room(A). The grains mixed with hulls and others are winnowed in the winnowing room(A) so as to be sorted into two kinds: winnowed grains to be received by the winnowed conveyor(1), and the other including hulls to be received by a hull conveyor(2) arranged oppositely to the winnowed grain conveyor(1) with respect to the winnowing fan(F). In this manner, powerful separation can be executed by means of winnowing wind having a large amount and large speed so as to improve a winnowing ability remarkably.

Abstract: An arrangement used for filtering out conveying air when supplying fiber material to a processing machine is provided. The arrangement has an essentially vertical filling chute for the fiber material, the chute having an upper intake opening and a lower exit opening, a device with pneumatic fiber feed at the upper intake opening, and a floccule-forming device at the lower exit opening including a system of draw-in rolls and a fast-rotating opening roll. The chute includes at least one air-permeable surface for separating the fiber material from the conveying air. An evacuating device evacuates the filtered out conveying air. An exhaust air device is coupled to the evacuating device and has an air stream regulator which is connected to a control and regulating device. The conveying air stream is guided along the opening roll, and a partial air stream of the filtered out conveying air is guided into the exhaust air device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for separating particulate material into relatively fine and relatively coarse particles wherein such particulate material is introduced to a separating zone through which a gas stream flows at such volume and velocity as to entrain fine particles and convey them from the separating zone to grinding or other facilities and wherein the fineness of entrained particles may be adjusted by diverting a selected portion of the gas stream from the separating zone to a bypass passageway followed by recombining the diverted portion of such gas stream with the gas containing the entrained particles.

Abstract: A static V-classifier or cascade classifier having a stairway cascade (13) and oppositely arranged classifying flues (15) with upward extending and adjustable guide vanes (21) at their upper ends for altering the cut point of the classifier by controlling the classifying gas velocity in the several classifying ducts lying between the classifying flues (15).

Abstract: A compact dedusting apparatus is mounted on the machine utilizing particulate material requiring contaminant cleansing to provide an economical and effective decontamination of particulate material immediately before utilization of the material. The dedusting apparatus includes a downwardly sloped infeed chute having an opening at the bottom thereof. A metering device in the form of a rotatable finned hub blocks the opening to constantly meter the flow of particulate material through the dedusting apparatus. The metering device is formed with flexible blades oriented at a slight angle to the slope of the infeed chute to provide a constant flow of material through the opening. A flow of air is directed through a wash deck positioned below the infeed chute to cleanse the particulate material. The air flow is directed along multiple paths including a path defining an air knife associated with the wash deck to facilitate the cleansing of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing the circling upward movement of a product such as waste paper entrained in a carrier stream. The invention includes a product rake placed within a discharge chute to capture and direct product within the product flow. A further aspect of the invention includes a relief valve integrated into the discharge chute to alleviate pressure in the discharge chute and allow excess air to be relieved from the discharge chute to control the product flow.

Abstract: A parts separator is provided for separating undesired heavy material from wet chips. The parts separator is adapted to be attached to a centrifugal separator, and includes a first chute member having a top portion and a bottom portion and including spaced open first and second chute ends. The first end is adapted to receive wet chips to be centrifuged and the second end is adapted to be connected to a centrifugal parts separator. The parts separator also includes a heavy material drop out opening disposed in the first chute member bottom portion. The first chute member top has at least one opening disposed therein. The parts separator also includes a second chute member having spaced open first and second ends. The first end of the second chute member is adapted to receive wet chips to be separated and the second chute member end is attached to the first chute member at the location of the opening in the first chute top portion.

Abstract: A parts separator is provided for separating undesired heavy material from wet chips. The parts separator is adapted to be attached to a centrifugal separator, and includes a first chute member having a top portion and a bottom portion and including spaced open first and second chute ends. The first end is adapted to receive wet chips to be centrifuged and the second end is adapted to be connected to a centrifugal parts separator. The parts separator also includes a heavy material drop out opening disposed in the first chute member bottom portion. The first chute member top has at least one opening disposed therein. The parts separator also includes a second chute member having spaced open first and second ends. The first end of the second chute member is adapted to receive wet chips to be separated and the second chute member end is attached to the first chute member at the location of the opening in the first chute top portion.

Abstract: A gravity separator with improved efficiency comprising a gravity table with pins at the feed area and a flow channeler. The pins create space in the bed of material to be separated which increases stratification of the weight fractions. The flow channeler creates flow paths of the fractions which do not cross and therefore the fractions do not slow each other from feed to discharge.

Abstract: An electrostatic separation apparatus includes of a plurality of separators is provided for separating a particle mixture into two constituent species. Each separator includes one and preferably a plurality of modular separation stages. Each stage of the separator includes a pair of separation subchambers each having an electric field zone for drawing selected charged particles from the particle mixture. A curtain gas flow is provided for each subchamber to entrain and carry the selected charged particles drawn from the particle mixture in the electric field zone to a collector associated with each subchamber for recovery. The inlets for the particle mixture and curtain gas flows are adapted to straighten and smooth the respective flows to reduce turbulence in the separation subchambers and improve separation efficiency.

Abstract: An apparatus including ductwork with an inlet duct having an inlet port for receiving a cotton/trash mix discharged by a cotton gin, a lint cotton outlet duct having a lint cotton outlet port for allowing lint cotton to exit therethrough, and a trash outlet port intermediate the inlet port of the inlet duct and the lint cotton outlet port of the lint cotton outlet duct for allowing trash to exit therethrough; the inlet duct having an interior passageway, at least a portion of the interior passageway of the inlet duct having a contour with a variable cross-sectional area; the lint cotton outlet duct having an interior passageway, at least a portion of the interior passageway of the lint cotton outlet duct having a contour with a variable cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A trailer mounts a first unit having an aggregate classifier and a pair of cyclones for pivotal movement between a generally horizontal storage position on the trailer and a generally vertical upright operational position on the trailer. A second unit having a second classifier and a second pair of cyclones is pivotally mounted on the trailer for movement between a generally horizontal storage position and a generally upright vertical operational position. In the storage positions, the units leave an open area in the middle of the trailer for storing and transporting ducts for use when operational. The duct work includes a riffle splitter "Y" duct for releasable securement to the aggregate inlets of the first and second classifiers in their upright position to provide a common aggregate inlet thereto. The ducts include a rectilinear duct for interconnecting the dust outlets of the cyclones when in their vertical operational position for channeling the dust to a baghouse.

Abstract: A device and process for separating impurities from textile fibers during horizontal pneumatic transport is provided. The device includes a hollow parallelepiped separator of rectangular cross-section for the passage of transport fluids, such as air, therethrough. The passage section is subdivided into an upper part, for the cleaned fluid, and a lower part, for the separation of the impurities (i.e., foreign materials) in a hopper intercepted by an extractor having a seal. This subdivision is regulated by a deflector knife which induces an S-shaped motion of the transport fluid 4 and separates the impurities (i.e., foreign materials) by centrifugal force.

Abstract: Procedure for separating heavy particles of material from lighter particles, e.g. for separating impurities from powdery or fragmental material, such as fibers or chips, in which procedure the material (2) to be treated is supplied onto a carrier surface (1) pervious to gas and gas impacts (P) are applied to the material through the carrier surface (1), causing the heavier particles to move closer to the carrier surface (1). The carrier surface (1) is mainly moved in one direction of movement to move the heavy particles (R) and the lighter particles (K) are passed, mainly by the agency of the inclination of the carrier surface (1) and/or the gas flow, in a direction substantially differing from the principal direction of movement of the carrier surface (1). The invention also relates to an apparatus implementing the procedure.

Abstract: A separator wheel for an air separator, through which separation air loaded with fine material flows through the separator wheel from the outside to the inside and in which the separation air loaded with fine material is discharged in an axial direction from separator wheel, includes at its periphery channels in axially different radial planes with different angles to the radial direction of the separator wheel, the angle of incline of the channels near an outflow end of the separator wheel being greater than the angle of incline of channels away from outflow end.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating heavy particles of material from lighter particles, e.g. for separating impurities from powdery or fragmental material, such as fibers or chips. The apparatus includes a carrier surface (1) which is pervious to gas, onto which the material (2) to be treated is supplied, as well as a device for applying gas impacts through the carrier surface (1) to the material (2) to be treated. The apparatus includes special valve elements (4) disposed below the carrier surface (1) to produce gas impacts.

Abstract: A separating system for separating material transported by air utilizing apparatus having a tangential inlet for a stream of air and entrained material, a bottom material exit, a boundary wall air exit and a central interior air exit. Each air exit includes a perforated wall or screen through which air is removed or separated from the entrained material. Enhanced separating action is achieved through coupling two such separators in a loop arrangement such that the material discharge from a first separator is conveyed via a relay stream of air to serve as the input to a second separator, while the entire air exhaust from the second separator is returned as one of a plurality of inlet streams to the first separator. A further advantage is realized by partitioning the air exhaust of the first separator into a plurality of parallel passageways which can be individually closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating material transported by air is disclosed which includes a separator casing having a tangential inlet adapted to receive a stream of air and entrained material and a plurality of exits. One of the exits of the disclosed separator is a material discharge exit which, like the inlet is peripherally attached to the casing. There are also two separate air exits including a first air exhaust conduit peripherally attached to the casing proximate the inlet and a second air exhaust conduit centrally disposed within the interior of the casing. Operatively associated with each of the air exits is a separator means, such as a perforated surface or screen, which removes or separates the entrained material from the air.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus for a solid waste sorting system has a first set of three belt conveyors, for conveying solid waste at a first speed, and a second set of three belt conveyors, each of the latter disposed with one end connected to the downstream end of a corresponding one of the first three belt conveyors, for conveying solid waste at a second speed which is greater than the first speed. The first three belt conveyors extend transversely into a feed-out path of a storage section in such a way that the conveyor lying successively furthest away from the storage section along the feed-out path is of successively longest upstream-end extension. The solid waste is sorted manually on the second set of three belt conveyors and is then supplied to a draft-sorting machine.

Abstract: An aeraulic separator for automatically separating materials into three batches of different weights or shapes having a chamber under a slight depression with an inlet opening, two perforated inclined planes with an inclination of angle .alpha. and .beta.,.beta. being greater than or equal to .alpha., supplied with air under pressure, three outlet openings for the three batches, and a deflector. The heavy materials drop through the first opening adjacent the second inclined plane. The materials of intermediate weight are projected above the deflector and drop in the second opening, while the light materials are sucked through the third opening connected to a suction system. The separator is preferably mounted on a system for vibrating at low frequency and high elongation.

Abstract: A modular pneumatic type tobacco separator apparatus employs a separation chamber which receives a threshed tobacco mixture at a feed trough at an upper elevation, and receives an upwardly directed air stream at a lower elevation. The air stream separates the mixture into lamina material, which is blown upwardly and removed by way of a screening separator, and stem material which falls to the bottom of the chamber, and is removed by an upwardly inclined conveyor belt. The configuration of the apparatus is such that, when two units of the apparatus are placed interactively together, the stem material emergent from a first unit drops by gravity into the feed trough of the next successive downstream unit of the apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating heavier, undesired components from recycle material that includes used aluminum beverage cans. The apparatus includes a particle separation conduit that is positioned between a shredder, for reducing the recycle material to particulate form, and a suction blower, for conveying the shredded material from the shredder into the particle separation conduit and for conveying the separated shredded aluminum alloy to a receptacle after separation of the heavier components, which can include lead, brass and glass. Adjacent the conduit inlet is a diverging first section that has a gradually enlarging cross-sectional area, and adjacent the conduit outlet is a significantly shorter length, second section that has a decreasing cross-sectional area. The first and second sections are joined in a region close to the conduit outlet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating aluminum-based materials from non-aluminum materials is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor which leads into a chute. Mixed materials which may be pre-shredded travel along the conveyor and into the chute. An adjustable air header assembly is provided at the end of the conveyor within the chute which directs an air stream generally upwardly and at an angle towards the end of the conveyor and the pieces of material thereon. A predetermined air velocity and air flow is selected such that the lighter aluminum materials are lifted and blown, or propelled, a fixed distance as they emerge from the end of the conveyor and the heavier non-aluminum materials fall short of that distance. Suitable collection bins are provided at the appropriate location. The apparatus and associated method used are particularly suited to separating used food and beverage can stock before it enters a recycling station.

Abstract: An improved method of recovering recyclable materials from commingled recyclables is described as well as apparatuses for doing same. Ferrous materials recovery is achieved using the unique combination of a magnetic belt and a vibratory conveyor. Other materials are then separated with a light/heavy separator which uses finger screen, air knife, and vibratory means to separate glass from plastics and aluminum prior to conventional handsorting operations. Excess glass unsuitable for recovery is introduced into a trommel processing loop wherein contaminates are removed and the glass reduced to a particulate useful in the production of glasphalt and aggregate. Air emanating from the air knife is filtered in an improved gravity separator for reintroduction to the light/heavy separator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sorting articles with small density differences utilizing a flotation stream. A separator is provided in which a flotation stream continuously flows through a trough and is used to effect the separation of a mixture of articles having small density differences into several groups. Each density group of the mixture of articles to be separated is introduced at the head of the flotation stream at a selected depth. In one embodiment, the flotation stream may be comprised of a fluidized bed which is created by forcing a gas upwardly through a fluidization medium such as sand. In another embodiment of the invention, the flotation stream may be formed from a liquid.

Abstract: An automated ginseng root harvester having a feeder conveyor, an air flow for separating ginseng roots from various heavier and lighter objects, a pair of lateral separation conveyors, an inclined conveyor extending in the direction of the air flow and a plurality of further conveyors for inspection and collection of the ginseng roots. The implement of the present invention dramatically reduces the manual labor involved in ginseng root harvest and insures substantially complete collection of all roots in a single harvest operation.