Abstract: A method of controlling a froth flotation cell in a froth flotation circuit for separating substances is disclosed. The method includes controlling flotation gas flow rate to the cell based on changes in cell conditions to maintain the operation of the cell at a peak froth stability of the cell or closer to the peak froth stability of the cell than if the flotation gas flow rate was not changed.

Abstract: A device for the selective granulometric separation of solid powdery materials using centrifugal action, capable of separating materials into a fine material fraction and a coarse material fraction, includes: a housing, a cylindrical rotor rotatable, relative to the housing, about a vertical axis inside the housing and provided with blades evenly distributed on the periphery of an upper outlet opening through which a stream of gas, laden with particles having a size lower than a predetermined particle size, is drawn, a set of vertical adjustable vanes evenly distributed about the rotor along the generatrices of a virtual cylinder and directing the gas stream towards the rotor, elements for feeding the particles between the vanes and the rotor, collecting unit lower than the rotor for collecting the unfed particles having fallen and having a size larger than the predetermined particle size.

Abstract: A classifying apparatus including: a rotor with a plurality of annularly disposed blades, which rotates; and a louver with a plurality of blades which are disposed at an outer circumferential portion of the rotor so as to supply from the outer circumferential portion a fluid for dispersing and classifying a powder material, wherein the powder material is supplied to a gap between the rotor and the louver and centrifugally classified into fine powder and coarse powder, and wherein at least one of the following relationships is satisfied: Relationship (1): ??50° Relationship (2): D2/D1?1.17 where ? denotes an angle formed between imaginary lines connecting the center of the rotor with both ends of each blade of the louver, D1 denotes a diameter of the rotor, and D2 denotes an inner diameter of the louver.

Abstract: A solid particle flow distribution controller includes an extension skirt configured to be mounted to a discharge skirt at a division between an upstream solid particle conveyance pipe and a plurality of downstream pipes. The extension skirt includes a plurality of circumferential segments. Each segment is movably mounted to the discharge skirt for movement in an upstream and downstream direction with respect to the discharge skirt. The segments of the extension skirt are configured and adapted for motion in the upstream and downstream direction independent of one another to extend upstream of the discharge skirt as needed to improve solid particle distribution among the downstream pipes.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for post-threshing inspection and sorting of tobacco lamina is described and which includes a separation conduit which receives a source of post-threshed tobacco lamina and other contaminants for inspection and sorting, and wherein a source of pressurized air causes the tobacco lamina to move along the separation conduit past an inspection station where it is optically inspected to identify undesirable tobacco lamina or other contaminants; and a downstream reject station is provided which responds to a sorting signal provided by the inspection station and which removes unwanted or undesirable tobacco lamina and other contaminants from an air stream so as to provide a resulting product which is substantially free from contaminants or other defects.

Abstract: A static classifier cage is formed in upper and lower tiers of circumferentially spaced bar-shaped vanes of wear-resistant material. The lower tier is formed by and between a bottom ring and an intermediate ring. The top tier is formed by and between the intermediate ring and a topmost ring. In each tier, the lowermost ring is provided with slots to receive and act as a seat for the vertically oriented vanes while the upper ring in the tier is provided with radially outwardly opening notches into which the vanes are moved in a radial fashion. After the vanes are installed, a retainer is fastened into position to prevent the vanes from backing out of the notches.

Abstract: A method for dividing a stream of solids includes discharging the stream of solids via a first downer. The stream of solids are fluidized at a bottom of the first downer by supplying a first conveying gas. By the first conveying gas, a part of the stream of solids are conveyed to a top of a first riser branching off from the first downer. A remaining part of the stream of solids are discharged via a second downer adjoining the first downer. The remaining stream of solids are fluidized at a bottom of the second downer by supplying a second conveying gas. By the second conveying gas, a part of the remaining part of the stream of solids are conveyed to a top of a second riser branching off from the second downer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating lightweight waste from product with cyclic pulses of air. An air separator includes a blower duct directing air upward through product conveyed on a foraminous conveyor. A pair of counter-rotating vanes in the blower duct cyclically open and close to establish a pulsating air flow in the center of the duct across the width of the conveyor. The pulsating air flow lifts lightweight waste from the product and blows it through a vertical duct above the conveyor to waste separation chambers for separation and disposal.

Abstract: An exhauster bypass system 20 receives an input flow of gases and entrained fine solid particles 15 from a pulverizer 12 and separates the input flow into a particle-deficient gas flow and a particle-laden gas flow. The particle-deficient gas flow is provided to a fan of an exhauster assembly through a central outlet, while the particle-laden gas flow is provided to the exhauster assembly away from the fan through a bypass outlet. The bypass system includes a housing that provides a chamber for separating the particles from the hot gases to produce the particle-laden gas flow and a particle-deficient gas flow. The bypass system further includes a plurality of vertically stacked louvers disposed before the central outlet for separating the particles from the input gas flow. The outlet may include a seal or bypass fan in fluid communication with the bypass outlet to provide the particle-laden gas flow to the exhauster assembly.

Abstract: A classifying apparatus including: a rotor with a plurality of annularly disposed blades, which rotates; and a louver with a plurality of blades which are disposed at an outer circumferential portion of the rotor so as to supply from the outer circumferential portion a fluid for dispersing and classifying a powder material, wherein the powder material is supplied to a gap between the rotor and the louver and centrifugally classified into fine powder and coarse powder, and wherein at least one of the following relationships is satisfied: Relationship (1): ??50° Relationship (2): D2/D1?1.17 where a denotes an angle formed between imaginary lines connecting the center of the rotor with both ends of each blade of the louver, D1 denotes a diameter of the rotor, and D2 denotes an inner diameter of the louver.

Abstract: A process for the production of a range of improved biomass material products suitable for use as a fuel and which have been derived from municipal solid waste (MSW). The process comprises the steps of delivering a stream of mixed, MSW derived biomass material into a separator which operates under negative pressure enabling the biomass material to fall down the separator while inducing a sole air stream through the falling material to create a vortex of spinning material within the turbo chamber to separate out by centrifugal action selected denser components of the biomass material enabling such to continue falling to an outlet for collection while redirecting by entrainment in the air stream the remaining biomass material to a second outlet for subsequent processing or for collection.

Abstract: An air classification device for separation of solids comprising an input system, a first solid separator system, an output system, and an emission containing system. The emission containing system employs supplemental air lines, a supplemental air source, and high-velocity air knives to create negative air pressure at any opening in the device. The negative air pressure induces air to move into the device and prevents polluted air from escaping the device at the openings.

Abstract: A method for separating particles in hydrous slurry comprises connecting at least one teeter water pipe of a teeter water distributor of a hindered-bed separator in fluid connection with a teeter water discharging mechanism, and discharging teeter water from the at least one teeter water pipe to the teeter water discharging mechanism.

Abstract: Process for pneumatic classification of mixture of granular particulates by providing an apparatus, entraining mixture, reducing velocity of entraining airstream, and airwashing falling particulates of low aerodynamic support. Specific applications include a method separating mixed granular material based upon dissimilar specific gravities, useful in cleaning firearm ranges by separating lead from backstop material. Falling granular lead particulates can also be airwashed and negative pressure facilitates control of lead dust. Also disclosed are applications that pick up and clean or enrich precious metal bearing ore, and a broad range of applications from heavy mixtures, such as landscape rock, to light mixtures such as grain.

Abstract: A classification apparatus for classifying and separating particles having particle sizes within a predetermined range is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the classification apparatus, a center electrode (3) and an outside electrode (4) generate an electric field for classifying charged fine particles according to electric mobility. In the upper part of a housing (1), a sheath gas supply portion (7) is provided. An aerosol supply portion (11) has an introduction port (11a) provided on the outside electrode (4) side in a classification region (5), and supplies a charged aerosol at a constant flow rate through the introduction port (11a). On the downstream side in the flow of a sheath gas in the classification region (5), a larger-size particle discharge portion (13) is provided.

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 method for dividing a stream of solids includes discharging the stream of solids via a first downer. The stream of solids are fluidized at a bottom of the first downer by supplying a first conveying gas. By the first conveying gas, a part of the stream of solids are conveyed to a top of a first riser branching off from the first downer. A remaining part of the stream of solids are discharged via a second downer adjoining the first downer. The remaining stream of solids are fluidized at a bottom of the second downer by supplying a second conveying gas. By the second conveying gas, a part of the remaining part of the stream of solids are conveyed to a top of a second riser branching off from the second downer.

Abstract: This invention provides processes for maintaining a desired particle size distribution in an oxygenate to olefin reaction system. In one embodiment, the invention comprises replacing lost catalyst fines with less active co-catalyst particles. By adding less active co-catalyst particles to the reaction system, desirable fluidization characteristics and hydrodynamics can be maintained without affecting the overall (or primary catalyst) performance and product selectivities. The invention is also directed to a population of catalyst particles having a desirable particle size distribution well-suited for realizing ideal fluidization and hydrodynamic characteristics.

Abstract: A material classifier includes a cyclone including a cyclone inlet, a cyclone outlet, a blower and a blower discharge; an air diffuser connected at a diffuser inlet to the cyclone outlet and at a diffuser outlet to an air lock such that the cyclone and air diffuser are in fluid communication; wherein the diffuser including a central cylindrical portion including an air inlet for admitting controlled amounts of diffuser air around substantially the entire cylinder outer periphery of the central cylindrical portion, wherein the material classifier separating fine particles from coarse particles and discharging the fine particles together with air out the blower discharge, and discharging the coarse particles through the air lock, such that varying the amount of diffuser air one can control the size of the fine particles being separated from the coarse particles.

Abstract: The present invention provides various processes for selectively removing undesirably sized catalyst particles from a reaction system. In one embodiment, a plurality of catalyst particles, having a first median particle diameter, is withdrawn from the reaction system and is directed to a separation unit such as a counter flow cyclone separator. In the separation unit, the particles are separated into a small catalyst stream and a large catalyst stream, the small catalyst stream having a second median particle diameter less than the first median particle diameter, and the large catalyst stream having a third median particle diameter greater than the first median particle diameter. At least a portion of the small or large catalyst stream is then directed back to the reaction system in order to maintain a desirable particle size distribution therein.

Abstract: An air suspension grain cleaner system for efficiently cleaning grain in small applications. The air suspension grain cleaner system includes a frame, a cleaning chamber, a blower unit fluidly connected to a lower portion of the cleaning chamber, a grain inlet fluidly connected to the cleaning chamber, an exhaust chamber fluidly connected to an upper portion of the cleaning chamber, a cleaning damper within the cleaning chamber, and an exhaust damper within the exhaust chamber. A first control member is preferably positioned between the grain inlet and the cleaning chamber to prevent pressurized air from passing through the grain inlet.

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: The invention is an automatic debris separation system for effecting air separation of fragmented materials, such as size-reduced fiber feedstocks derived from textile wastes. The system uses high-velocity air within an elutriation assembly to efficiently remove ferrous and non-ferrous metal debris from recyclable polymer fibers. In particular, the system may employ automatic process control strategies to vary airflow within the elutriation assembly in process-controlled response to measured metal contamination, thereby ensuring that post-separation metal contamination is maintained at or below an upper contamination limit.

Abstract: The invention is an automatic debris separation process for effecting air separation of fragmented materials, such as size-reduced fiber feedstocks derived from textile wastes. The process uses high-velocity air within an elutriation assembly to efficiently remove ferrous and non-ferrous metal debris from recyclable polymer fibers. In particular, the process may employ automatic process control strategies to vary airflow within the elutriation assembly in process-controlled response to measured metal contamination, thereby ensuring that post-separation metal contamination is maintained at or below an upper contamination limit.

Abstract: An article including: disk or vortex ring with a circular opening in the center of the disk; and a fastener adapted to concentrically attach the disk to the particle outlet opening of a classifier wheel.

Abstract: A stopper debris separator useful for removing unwanted debris from stoppers utilized to seal bottles of IV pharmaceutical compositions at the manufacturing process. Debris-containing stopper in the stopper injection hopper are drawn through the stopper duct into the cyclone separator tube by the vacuum wherein the debris on the stoppers is separated therefrom and drawn through the vacuum duct into the vacuum filter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a closed air circulation system for an apparatus used for sorting wood chips, containing chips in a variety of sizes and/or fines particles, in a wood chips processing chamber, in separate fractions by means of a gas flow, which is delivered from one or more nozzle chambers by way of a nozzle slit into the wood chips processing chamber and which applies an impulse action to the processing-bound wood chips sliding along an inclined support surface. Air is circulated from the wood chips processing chamber by way of a dedusting cyclone into said one or more nozzle chambers. The wood chips processing chamber is maintained at a negative pressure by regulating the volume of air removed from the chamber. A conduit extending between the wood chips processing chamber and the one or more nozzle chambers is open to the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of grading comminuted charging material in a wind sifter having a sifting rotor. The sifting air and the charging material are introduced into a sifting chamber and blocking air is blown into a ring seal region in the transition region between the sifting rotor and a stationary withdrawal duct. In order to be able to adjust the grain size distribution range in the fine material/end product in a reliable manner and with relatively little structural outlay, the grain size distribution in the discharged fine material is adjusted in a selective manner with the aid of a bypass stream, which flows in an alterable volume from the sifting chamber into the withdrawal duct and which is charged with sifter charging material or sifter grit, by controlling the supply of blocking air.

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: An air classifier with enhanced air flow which maybe used for the simultaneous recovery of two or more distinct grades of foundry quality sand from a single sand stream. The air classifier exhibits improved performance by drawing into the classification chamber, through the use of suction, incoming air through a honeycomb followed by a screen section having two or more screens. The honeycomb removes swirl in the air and the screens slow down the fast moving air more than the slow moving air. After passing through the screens, the velocity profile of the air in the chamber is flat across the inlet flow path and, as a result, improved classification performance is achieved. Classification performance may be further enhanced through the use of a vibrating screen feeder for spreading the incoming particle stream before entrainment in the air flow within the classifier and through upward flowing air in one or more product receiver sections.

Abstract: A centrifugal type pneumatic separator having a rotor and a housing. The rotor has a plurality of vanes distributed around a periphery thereof. The housing contains the rotor. The housing has an air input conduit, a material input conduit and an evacuation conduit. The air input conduit passes air through channels formed between adjacent vanes such that air and material flows toward the evacuation conduit. The rotor is divided so as to define at least two separate passages whereby air from the air input conduit flows into the evacuation conduit as two separate and parallel streams.

Abstract: A fluidized-bed drying and classifying apparatus is provided with a main body (10) in which a fluidized bed is formed to dry a granular material and to classify the same into fine particles and coarse particles. A perforated gas-distributing plate (12) is disposed in a lower part of a region in which a fluidized bed (14) is formed in the main body (10), a wind box having the shape of a hopper is disposed below the perforated gas-distributing plate. A dropped material discharge device (29) is connected to the lower end of the hopper-shaped wind box (16) to discharge the material dropped into the wind box (16). A gas supply system (110) is connected to the wind box (16) to supply a fluidizing gas that serves as a drying hot gas and a classifying gas into the wind box. A material supply opening portion (20) is mounted to the main body (10) to feed the granular material. A discharge chute (24) is connected to the main body (10) to discharge dried coarse particles.

Abstract: Centrifugal action type pneumatic separator comprising a rotor with a vertical axis provided with vanes regularly distributed over its periphery, guide blades disposed about the rotor and a housing containing the rotor and the guide blades and provided with inputs for the air and for the material to be graded, with an evacuation conduit for the air laden with the fine fraction of the material and with an output for the coarse fraction, with the air penetrating the rotor at its periphery via the channels (15) formed between the vanes, and flowing inside the rotor towards the evacuation conduit.

Abstract: In a method of screening bulk material, a gas is conducted in counterflow to a direction of movement of bulk material for separating the bulk material into a fraction of coarse particles and a fraction of fine particles. In order to limit the amount of coarse particles in the outgoing fraction of fine particles, the amount of coarse particles contained in the fraction of fine particles is measured and compared with a desired value. When encountering a deviation of the measured the amount of coarse particles contained in the fraction of fine particles form the desired value, the energy of gas is so controlled as to match the amount of coarse particles contained in the fraction of fine particles with the desired value.

Abstract: A gas stream classifier has a gas stream classifier for classifying a feed powder supplied from a feed supply nozzle, into at least a coarse powder fraction, a median powder fraction and a fine powder fraction by an inertia force acting on particles and a centrifugal force acting on a curved gas stream due to Coanda effect in a classification zone, wherein the classification zone is defined by at least a Coanda block and a plurality of classifying edges, the feed supply nozzle is attached at the top of the gas stream classifier, the Coanda block is attached on one side of the feed supply nozzle, and the feed supply nozzle has at its rear end a feed powder intake portion for supplying the feed powder, and a high-pressure air intake portion.

Abstract: A gas current classifier has a material feed nozzle, a Coanda block, a classifying wedge and a classifying wedge block having the classifying wedge. The Coanda block and the classifying wedge define a classification zone, and the classifying wedge block is set up in the manner that its location is changeable so that the form of the classification zone can be changed.

Abstract: An airstream solid sorting technology easily and efficiently sorts electric wire and other slender objects from other unslender objects in crushed bulk wastes. A mixture of slender and unslender objects is supplied into an airstream sorting vessel, in which a turbulent stream of gas supplied from below through a meshed screen tilted in its bottom agitates the mixture. Slender objects stalling and falling longitudinally in the direction in which gravity works pass through the meshed screen, thus falling into a slender objects collecting vessel placed below the meshed screen. Unslender objects sliding down along the tilted meshed screen are thus separated.

Abstract: The invention proposes an elbow/countercurrent classifier by means of which a pneumatically introduced bulk-material stream can be separated into coarse fractions and fine materials. In order to increase the efficiency of the classifier as regards the separating action, a wall profile which results in increased turbulence of the gas streams is selected, in particular, in the region of the acceleration section and of the classifying section which adjoins the latter at the bottom. This produces a rise in the air velocity in the vicinity of the wall and thus an air velocity which is constant over the cross section.

Abstract: In a method for separating heavy particles from a particulate material containing such heavy particles, use is made of a device having a Coanda sifter, which is adapted to receive a flow of the particulate material and which has a downwardly-facing, convexly single-curved surface (9), and a zigzag sifter (13) arranged after the Coanda sifter and having a plurality of zig-zag-shaped vertical walls (14) which are perpendicular to the axis of curvature of the single-curved surface (9) and define between them channels (15) extending upwards in zig-zag fashion. The particulate material is transported to the Coanda sifter and is conducted over its convexly single-curved surface (9) to have imparted to it a direction of motion (P1, P2) which is dependent on the weight of the particles and in which the particles are guided into the zigzag sifter (13). The particles are guided into the channels (15) of the zigzag sifter (13) in the lower portions thereof and from the side parallel to the channel walls (14).

Abstract: The present invention provides a vertical drop, multi-pass cleaner comprising a housing and first and second panels defining a separation plenum therebetween through which the product drops substantially vertically through an upwardly directed air flow and a plurality of cross air flows. The panels are mounted on tracks within the housing and are separately removable from the housing as desired by the operator for cleaning or repair. The present invention may also includes a velocity control module having metering vanes to control the air flow through individual ones of the plurality of cross flow air passages, the vanes being either manually or automatically adjusted.

Abstract: Apparatus for sorting a plurality of seeds or other objects includes a plurality of separate vertically oriented collection chambers arranged side-by-side. A vacuum source induces an airflow through a vertical column disposed at one side of the plurality of collection chambers and over the open tops of the collection chambers. Discrete objects entrained in the airflow will be apportioned based on one or more characteristics thereof by falling into the collection chambers under the influence of gravity.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for separating low density solids from an airflow where a first airflow containing low density solids moves through a first conduit at a predetermined velocity and pressure and flows into a separating chamber wherein it is changed into a second airflow at a substantially reduced velocity and pressure to separate a substantial portion of the low density solids and moves out of the separating chamber through one of a second or third conduits as a third airflow at a velocity and pressure substantially the same as that of the first airflow and also passes through filtering apparatus in the second or third conduits to separate additional low density solids out of the third airflow.

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: An apparatus for separating tramp particles from comparatively lighter particles of product being conveyed, both entrained in a fluid stream within a pipeline of a pneumatic conveying system, generally comprising a passageway through which the fluid stream with the entrained particles is conducted, the fluid passageway including a section having a progressively increasing cross-sectional area whereby the velocity of the fluid stream is caused to decrease as it traverses through the passageway, a baffle disposed in the path of the fluid stream traversing through the passageway for laterally deflecting the fluid stream flowing at a reduced velocity whereby the tramp particles are caused to gravity fall from the fluid stream while the product particles remain entrained therein, and a receptacle for receiving the tramp particles discharged from the fluid stream.

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: A system for cleaning or separating particles that uses a controller or computer to precisely control the cleaning or separating process. By carefully monitoring and controlling the separating process, an improved degree of separation is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, the invention controls a particle separating machine which uses upward airflow in a channel to separate less dense particles from heavier or more dense particles. Upward airflow is induced in the channel by an airflow means. A wind speed sensor measures the air velocity in the channel and communicates this data to a controller. An operator inputs targeted or desired upward air velocity to the controller. The controller commands the airflow means to increase or decrease airflow in the channel so that upward air velocity in the channel remains comparable to the targeted upward air velocity input from the operator. Particles entering the channel are separated to a high degree because of the precisely controlled airflow.

Abstract: A classifier rotor mounted for rotation about a rotor axis inside a classification chamber for separating a fines fraction includes a plurality of disks mounted in parallel, spaced-apart relation along the rotor axis and a plurality of classifier blades axially mounted between the disks at the disk periphery. A uniform influx fluid distribution tube disposed between the disks of the classifier rotor is connected to a vacuum source to remove the fines fraction. The uniform influx fluid distribution tube includes a plurality of perforations of varying sizes in the region between the disks to compensate for velocity and pressure variations, thus creating a uniform air flow along the entire length of the classifier rotor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for blending a material feed and/or separating debris from a material feed is disclosed in which a feed separator is used with a blender and/or debris separator. The feed separator separates a feed from the conveying air flow which conveys the feed and the conveying air flow, devoid of feed, is then used to blend the conveyed feed and/or separate debris therefrom.

Abstract: A grain processor for separating and measuring components of a sample of grain as it passes through a rotary sieve having two or more sieving sections having different perforations. The separated particles in each of the sieving sections are passed through a densimetric column containing a stream of pressure-adjustable air generated by a blower to remove impurities from the separated grain which is channeled into a weighing hopper which measures the weight of the grain or impurities and registers the information in a unit provided with data processing and recording circuits, including a microprocessor. Tachometers provide rotational speed pulses to rotation control circuits in the unit which provides an input to motor controllers associated with the motors driving the fans and the rotary sieve. Each of the rotation control circuits is provided with a motor-driven potentiometer coupled to an optical coded disc which provides an output to adjacently-positioned optical heads providing an input into the unit.

Abstract: By rotating a seed agitater means such as a rotary cutter within a seed container in which seeds such as of spinach and lawn grass are admitted, the seeds are peeled to separate seed cores from seed coats while being stirred. The seed cores free from the seed coats are allowed to pass through a screen attached to the bottom of the seed container so as to collect stripped seeds thus obtained. The stripped seeds enjoy a very high rate of germination.