Vertical Current Patents (Class 209/28)
  • Patent number: 9764360
    Abstract: A separator attachment for use with a vibratory apparatus, the attachment including a housing mountable to a vibratory apparatus below a material-conveying surface of the vibratory apparatus, the housing defining a pressure chamber with an inlet and an outlet. The housing has at least one wall with a wall surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end. The attachment also includes a deflector plate with a deflector plate surface having a first end disposed proximate to the outlet of the pressure chamber and a second end, the deflector plate surface facing the wall surface. The deflector plate is translatable relative to the at least one wall to vary the spacing between the deflector plate surface and the wall surface. A system including a vibratory apparatus and the attachment may also be defined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: General Kinematics Corporation
    Inventors: William G. Guptail, Steve C. Wiechmann
  • Patent number: 9700919
    Abstract: A method and system for removing foreign grains from oat grains to establish gluten-free oats, i.e., oat grains having gluten levels below 20 ppm and, more preferably, below 10 ppm, relies upon performing a series of mechanical differentiation operations on a combination of grains, including oats and foreign, or gluten containing, grains. The various operations include aspiration, width grading and length grading steps, as well as a late stage density separating step. The resulting oats can be used to make a wide range of gluten-free oat food products, including cereal and granola products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip K Zietlow, Daniel J Winderl, Jay Romsa, Kara M Hobart, John M Hellweg, Troy D Bierbaum
  • Patent number: 9061288
    Abstract: A device for recycling molding sand, the device containing a base; a vibratory reclaimer; a pneumatic cascade classifier serially connected at its upper section to the vibratory reclaimer; and at least two generators of vibrations. The vibratory reclaimer contains: a vertical column, the vertical column being hollow and cylindrical in shape, having an axis of rotation, and a side wall with at least one pour-out hole, wherein the pour-out hole is connected with a transport trough, and the transport trough is rigidly mounted and rises in a spiral fashion along the side wall and at a top end passes through a channel extending to a feeding screw for feeding recycled molding the to the pneumatic cascade classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: AKADEMIA GORNICZO-HUTNICZA IM. STANISLAWA STASZICA W KRAKOWIE
    Inventors: Jozef Danko, Mariusz Holtzer, Rafal Danko, Grzegorz Holtzer, Jerzy Kuzmin, Krzysztof Matuszewski, Karol Przybyla
  • Patent number: 7104403
    Abstract: A two-stage static air classifier has a feed duct through which particles of a granular mixture fall. A classifying louver plate having fins forming upwardly inclined classifying channels is fitted into a side opening in the feed duct. Particles of a set size are drawn by air suction through the classifying channels in the first stage. A separator box having an inlet connected to the outlet of the classifying channels collects the separated particles in a second stage as the entrained particles fall by gravity to the bottom of the separator box while the air streams drawing the particles through the classifying channels pass out the top end of the box. Adjustable baffle plates transversely extending through the box permit control of the quantity of fines collected with the particles at the separator box bottom. Size of the collected particles is determined by the speed of a fan at the top outlet of the separator box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: The Unimin Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Stephens, Gerald G. Verret, Richard U. Lalancette
  • Patent number: 6942103
    Abstract: A two-stage static air classifier has a feed duct through which particles of a granular mixture fall. A classifying louver plate having fins forming upwardly inclined classifying channels is fitted into a side opening in the feed duct. Particles of a set size are drawn by air suction through the classifying channels in the first stage. A separator box having an inlet connected to the outlet of the classifying channels collects the separated particles in a second stage as the entrained particles fall by gravity to the bottom of the separator box while the air streams drawing the particles through the classifying channels pass out the top end of the box. Adjustable baffle plates transversely extending through the box permit control of the quantity of fines collected with the particles at the separator box bottom. Size of the collected particles is determined by the speed of a fan at the top outlet of the separator box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: The Unimin Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Stephens, Gerald G. Verret, Richard U. Lalancette
  • Patent number: 5875898
    Abstract: Mature particulate compost containing plastic film fragments resulting from the comminution of green waste and the bags containing them, is freed of the plastic fragments during screening of the compost by drawing air upwards through the compost into at least one plenum chamber at a velocity sufficient to lift the plastic film fragment into the plenum chamber substantially free of compost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Community Recycling & Resource Recovery, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Fry
  • Patent number: 5174455
    Abstract: A coarse particle separator for separating and collecting coarse toner particles having a size greater than substantially 500 microns comprises a tank having an inlet and an outlet, the separation being performed within the tank. The inlet to the tank is located at a lower portion of the tank and is connected to an eductor station by an eductor line. Particles are introduced to the inlet by the eductor line at a velocity of approximately 4500 ft/min. The separation of coarse and light toner particles can be performed by reducing the flow velocity so the coarse particles settle out by their own weight. A flow baffle made of a 75 micron screen hinders the passage of coarse particles. The outlet outputs light toner particles to at least one toner storage bin. Alternatively, the tank can have a conical-shaped upper portion which induces a cyclone effect in the flow of toner particles, the cyclone effect resulting in the collection of coarse particles in the lower portion of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Zelazny, Lewis S. Smith, Thomas W. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 4981581
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Didion Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Charles J. Didion
  • Patent number: 4678560
    Abstract: A cyclic screening apparatus (10) and method utilizes multiple air flows and differential air pressures to separate undersize and oversize particles from a mixture of 5 to 50 micron size particles. The apparatus (10) comprises a support (12) including a first conduit (14) connected to a blower (16). A lower undersize particle collecting housing (20) has a secondary air inlet (24) and outlet (26) connected to a suction fan (SF). A screen is clamped between the lower housing and an axially movable and pivotable upper receiving housing. An air distributor rotor (R) is slowly rotated below and directs the first air flow through the screen and into the upper chamber and through a lower portion (40) and against the bottom of lower housing. A rotary nozzle (80), with the help of incoming secondary air flow, disperses particulate material onto the screen below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Norton Company
    Inventors: Kjell A. Stole, Arnstien Lovsland, Egil Havig
  • Patent number: 4215151
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and a device for roasting an agro-food product in the form of grains.The process consists of fluidizing an auxiliary body in the form of fine solid particles in an enclosure 1, and putting the grains of the product to be roasted in flotation in the fluidized bed of particles of which the temperature is adapted to roasting, to generate the roasting by the effect of the shocks of the fine particles of the auxiliary body with the grains of the product.The invention can be applied particularly for the roasting of grains of a product such as coffee, cocoa, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1980
    Assignee: Agence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche (ANVAR)
    Inventors: Gilbert M. Rios, Henri Gibert, Jean Crouzet, Jean-Claude Vincent
  • Patent number: 4039434
    Abstract: A sugar cane harvester having walls defining a channel through which harvested sugar cane is to be conveyed. Power-rotated conveyor rollers extending across the channel move the cane through the channel. At least one of the rollers is in the form of a drum of expanded metal which allows escape from the cane of earth and rocks and permits inflow of air to trash removal apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1977
    Assignee: Massey-Ferguson Services N.V.
    Inventor: Kenneth W. Croucher