Abstract: A technology for material separation is provided. The technology enables an output of a first material from a rotary lifter. The technology enables a direction of a fluid stream onto the first material in flight based on the output of the first material such that the first material is separated into at least a second material and a third material. The technology enables a conveyance of the second material away from the rotary lifter. The technology enables a removal of the third material via a vacuum port.

Abstract: A combine has a a threshing and separating system to separate grain from crop material and a feeder housing receives crop material from the harvesting head and conveys it to the threshing and separating system. A grain tank has a conveyor for transferring separated grain to the grain tank. The feeder housing has a perforated floor section sufficiently coarse to permit passage of grain to a conveyor beneath the perforated floor section that receives the grain and delivers it to downstream of the threshing and separating system or the separated grain conveyor.

Abstract: Fine particulate material is separated from a mixture of coarse particulate material and fine particulate material by passing sweep gas through the chamber of a rotating tumbler drum that contains an introduced material that is a mixture of coarse particulate material and fine particulate material. In particular, polysilicon powder may be separated from granular polysilicon. Seals are present, at locations where gas-conveying parts of the apparatus move relative to one another, to block the escape of sweep gas to the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus. A downstream seal extends between a stationary exhaust duct and an exhaust tube that rotates with the tumbler drum. The seal is protected by a flow of clean flush gas that is delivered to a gap between the exhaust duct and the exhaust tube.

Abstract: An air classifier contains a cylindrical casing provided with at an upper part thereof a feed port to feed high pressure air and a powder material, an umbrella-shaped center core in the casing, and an umbrella-shaped separator core arranged downstream of the center core in the casing and including an opening at center thereof. The air classifier has a configuration containing a dispersion chamber to disperse the powder material, being surrounded by an inner wall of the upper part casing and the center core, and a classification chamber to classify the powder material into fine and coarse powders by centrifugation, being surrounded by the center core, separator core and inner wall of the casing. In the dispersion chamber provided are a louver ring containing guide slats circularly arranged at regular intervals, and a space encircling the louver ring and serving as flow passage of the air and powder material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a toner including granulating mother toner particles in an aqueous medium to obtain a slurry containing the mother toner particles and adjusting a size distribution of the mother toner particles by screening coarse mother toner particles from the slurry with a screen to obtain the toner containing mother toner particulates.

Abstract: An air classifier contains a cylindrical casing provided with at an upper part thereof a feed port to feed high pressure air and a powder material, an umbrella-shaped center core in the casing, and an umbrella-shaped separator core arranged downstream of the center core in the casing and including an opening at center thereof. The air classifier has a configuration containing a dispersion chamber to disperse the powder material, being surrounded by an inner wall of the upper part casing and the center core, and a classification chamber to classify the powder material into fine and coarse powders by centrifugation, being surrounded by the center core, separator core and inner wall of the casing. In the dispersion chamber provided are a louver ring containing guide slats circularly arranged at regular intervals, and a space encircling the louver ring and serving as flow passage of the air and powder material.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for decontaminating aqueous paper pulp, the apparatus comprising a decontaminating cell (12). The decontaminating cell (12) has an upper light contaminate collection hood (30) and/or a lower heavy contaminate collection trough (40). Paper pulp is provided to the cell (12) under a pulp head sufficient to purge the contaminates therefrom.

Abstract: An improved vibrating screener includes a tangential input system for the material to be processed, combined with a channel internal to the machine and for directing air down through the center of the unit to assist the screened material flowing down the conical sides of the bottom of the machine to its discharge. In this way, the air bypasses the screening surfaces and screen blinding is avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus for recovering and cleaning contaminated abrasive blast media. The blast media is transported in a vacuum airstream to a rotatable drum. Within the rotatable drum is a blocking assembly which selectively channels high-velosity air through an upper region of the rotatable drum and restricts the flow of air through a lower region of the drum. The blast media is repeatedly scooped up and dropped to the high-velocity airstream, thus subjecting it to repeated air-washing. The blocking member includes a flexible member which provides both the open channel region and the restriction to the airflow under the force of gravity as the drum rotates. The abrasive blast media is thus assured of being adequately washed even if the air velocity varies randomly during the cleaning of the blast media.

Abstract: A waste material classifier apparatus which employs a rotary trommel for stirring up the waste material in an air stream so that the conglomeration of waste is easily sorted into dirt and small particles easily sifted through the trommel pores, with air sensitive paper and plastic carried out to a collection zone and large, heavy metallic objects thrust out of the trommel and run through both a magnetic separator and an induction conveyor head stock to sort out the metallic trash according to its magnetic and non-magnetic characteristics.

Abstract: Arranged in the upper region of a drum which rotates about an axis there is a dust box for dust removal. The box is connected with a line, which leads outwards, by way of a laterally arranged discharge channel. Arranged between the dust box and a baffle rotor which rotates about the axis are baffle areas which form labyrinth-like passages for the dust to the dust suction openings in the dust box.

Abstract: An air classifier for separating light reusable materials from a stream of non-shredded solid waste is provided. The air classifier employs two operating phases. The first operating phase, the desired light fraction is entrained in an air stream and is conveyed above the remainder of the solid waste. The waste material is then received by a second conveyor so that the lighter fraction is received on top of the heavier fraction. Thus, the first phase of the apparatus effects mass stratification. During the second operating phase, the light fraction is actually removed from the heavy fraction by a high velocity air stream which is preferably induced by a reducing cross-section portion of the apparatus. The air flow through the apparatus is captured and recycled and the light fraction being separated therefrom in, for example, a cyclone.

Abstract: A rotary drum solid waste air classifier includes an inclined drum in which is mounted a non-rotatable separation enhancing tube which extends longitudinally completely through the drum. A waste conveyor is longitudinally mounted within the tube. The feed end of the waste conveyor is located outwardly of the lower end of the tube for receiving solid waste and conveying it through the rotating drum. The tube has a delivery cut-out at and below the discharge end of the waste conveyor so that the waste may fall from the discharge end of the waste conveyor and the discharge from the lower end of the drum while the light fraction flows up the drum and into a plenum downstream from the drum.

Abstract: A juice processing module is provided in a raw juice stream to aid in the separation of the juice stream into clarified juice and pulpy juice. Raw juice is forced through directed orifices at a separating screen carried in a containment housing. Juice outlet ports are provided for the clarified juice and the pulpy juice.

Abstract: A dust collecting hood for use in conjunction with a sand cooling, blending, reclaiming of other rotary drum, within the casting industry, the hood incorporates an upper and lower section, either of unitary or separate construction, the upper section including a discharge opening which cooperates with a vacuum pump to draw air through the hood, and the proximate discharge end of the rotary drum, while the lower section of the hood provides a discharge opening for removal of the mold sand from the drum, the hood, at this collection location, while further incorporating ports through which air may pass for forming the air curtain across the associated hood and drum, for removal of said fines, dust, and other deleterious particles from the ambient air.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating floss from particles conveyed in a primary gas. The primary gas strikes a plate in a closed hopper so that the primary gas, particles and floss are deflected downwardly through an annular passageway to an annular separation section. A secondary gas is jetted radially outwardly in the separation section to deflect the floss to a floss discharge tube. The heavier particles continue falling into a closed particle discharge passageway into which a tertiary gas is jetted so that it flows upwardly to the separation section. The particles but no gas are discharged from the lower end of the particle discharge passageway.

Abstract: An air classifier comprising a rotatable open-ended drum disposed with its axis horizontal or substantially so, for receiving material to be classified, means for creating a stream of air through the drum, means for introducing material to be classified into the drum at or near the upstream end thereof, means in the drum for conveying materially axially of the drum during rotation thereof, the conveying means being in the form of helical vanes of mutually opposite hand arranged in an upstream part of the drum to convey "heavies" in counter-current to the stream of air through the drum and in a downstream part of the drum being arranged to convey "lights" in the direction of the air stream, the two helical vanes being separated by an annular member which projects radially inwards from the inner periphery of the drum.

Abstract: An air classifier system which embodies two rotary drum classifiers, each with an individual adjustable plenum, the drums being individually angled at selected inclinations and the plenum capacities being variable, so that two separate masses of commingled materials such as municipal refuse and oversize bulky waste, for example, may be simultaneously classified and will produce a combined single output of refuse derived fuel.

Abstract: A material sorter to sort materials having various weight and aerodynamic characteristics such as, for example, relatively heavy magazines and corrugated cardboard from relatively lightweight newspaper. The sorter comprises a generally elongated hollow member having openings at oppositely disposed ends, the member preferably being a hollow cylindrically shaped tube. The axis of the tube is inclined with respect to the ground and the tube is rotated mechanically. The sorter also includes a source of forced air provided by a fan positioned at the lower opening of the tube, the fan is inclined at a variable angle with respect to the axis of the cylinder and provides a continuous spiral-patterned stream of air flowing upwardly through the cylinder. In the operaton of the material sorter, mixed paper having various weight and aerodynamic characteristics is placed in the upper opening of the tube. As the paper falls downwardly through the tube and is tumbled by the rotation of the tube, it separates.

Abstract: A rotary drum air classifier system which includes a conveyor positioned to feed unclassified materials of various densities and weights into one end of a drum, and supporting means for the conveyor having means for moving the conveyor in any of three directions axially, vertically and laterally of the drum's axis so as to position its discharge end in desired position depending upon the density of the mixture of materials being fed into the drum, thereby obtaining maximum efficiency of the classification procedure.

Abstract: A rotary drum air separation system separates mixed solid materials into a light fraction and a heavy fraction with substantially no stagnation of material in the air drum. It further provides for processing high volume urban solid waste without first size reducing the waste. The system separates such waste into a light fraction, substantially free of glass and ready for composting or for use as a source of energy in the form of heat or combustible gas from pyrolysis, a heavy fraction, and a glass-rich fraction from the heavy fraction, all in a high volume operation.

Abstract: A rotary air classifier for separating light material from a mixture of heavy and light material, or for separating large particles from small particles in a single material or a mixture of materials, such as in the sorting of municipal garbage, in which a tapered, e.g. frusto-conical, vessel is mounted about an axis, so that the lower surface of the vessel slopes downwardly towards the open lower end. Air is caused to spiral from the open lower end to the open upper end and takes with it the ligher fraction of material to be classified. The heavy articles slide or roll downwardly out of the open lower end.

Abstract: An air classifier system for separating mixed materials and comprising the combination of a horizontal drum or tunnel having a feed screw therein at one end of which mixed materials are deposited for movement toward the discharge end of the drum, and means for directing a flow of air through the drum at relatively high velocity for entraining and removing light materials from the drum while permitting heavy materials to be independently moved out of the drum by the screw.

Abstract: A rotary drum air classifier apparatus for separating light and heavy materials introduced into the drum by conveyor means, means for producing a flow of air at relatively high velocity through the drum for entraining light materials, heating means encircling the drum for radiatively heating the drum and drying materials therein during the separation process, and means at one end of the drum for heating air as it enters the drum for further assisting in the drying process.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating magnetic materials from nonmagnetic materials in a supply of mixed waste material, comprising an inclined rotary drum having loading means for introducing a continuous flow of mixed waste materials into the drum, means for simultaneously directing a stream of air at relatively high velocity through the drum to entrain and thereby remove light materials from the mixture therein out of the higher end thereof, means for rotating the drum to move heavy materials toward the lower end thereof, and magnetic means for selecting magnetic materials from the separated heavy materials and removing the magnetic materials separately from the drum.

Abstract: A screw conveyor for moving water-laden materials from one location to another comprising a feeder screw extending longitudinally within an enclosing duct or housing and a dewatering cylinder closely encircling the screw and comprised of closely spaced elements of substantially triangular or teardrop cross-sectional shape to remove water from the material as it is moved progressively along the duct by the flights of the screw.

Abstract: A rotary drum air classifier system which includes a side feed hopper by which mixed materials to be separated are fed to a screw feed which deposits the materials inside the drum for major separation into light and heavy materials, the screw feed being longitudinally adjustable and including air injection means for fluidizing the mixed materials as they are being transported to the drum and thus accomplishing a preliminary stage of air classification during the time the mixed materials are transiting the length of the feed screw.

Abstract: A materials separating apparatus which comprises a conveyor on which materials to be separated are deposited and conveyed to a hopper mounted on an adjustable platform, a rotary drum air classifier mounted on said platform, and transport mechanism connecting the hopper with the interior of the drum whereby materials may be moved from the hopper to the drum for separation therein, the platform being movable together with the hopper and drum whereby the drum may be positioned at a selected angle of inclination, and the conveyor and hopper being interconnected in a manner whereby the conveyor remains in position for proper deposit of materials in the hopper regardless of the position of the hopper when the platform is moved.

Abstract: An air classifier drum for receiving mixed materials and separating them into light and heavy materials, the heavy materials being dropped from one end of the drum during operation onto a conveyor, the drum being rotatable about an axis disposed at a selected angle to the horizontal and being vertically adjustable to the selected angle, the conveyor being vertically adjustable with the drum so that it will be constantly retained at a reasonably close-spaced relation to the drum to assure minimum impact of the heavy materials on the conveyor as they are discharged from the drum.