Rotating Patents (Class 209/288)
  • Patent number: 11864576
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing candied popcorn, including providing: a kettle to pop popcorn kernels into popped popcorn; a drum to tumble the popped popcorn and sift out unpopped or undersized popcorn; a hopper to place the popped popcorn onto a tray; a scarf plate; and a drizzle applicator to apply an edible adhesive to the popped popcorn; preparing a volume of popped popcorn using a wet pop technique; transporting a portion of the volume of popped corn to the drum to sift out unpopped or undersized popcorn; placing the popcorn from the drum onto a tray; adjusting the height of the tray relative to a belt and placing the tray onto the belt; applying a first application of the edible adhesive onto the remaining popcorn; passing the remaining popcorn under the scarf plate to receive dry product; applying a second application of the edible adhesive onto the remaining popcorn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PERFECT SNAX, LLC
    Inventor: Frank Florio
  • Patent number: 11865584
    Abstract: A drum-type foreign substance suctional attaching and screening device includes: a screening drum having circular type first and second side plates located on both sides thereof and a sorting screen adapted to surround the space between the first and second side plates; a hood disposed inside the screening drum and open toward a conveyor belt transferring aggregates to be recycled to thus provide a sucking force generated from a suction fan to the conveyor belt; and a rotary shaft coupled to the center of the first side plate and rotating with power received from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DAEJINECOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jin Young Park
  • Patent number: 11590515
    Abstract: A pusher centrifuge includes a rotatable filter drum having a drum body and a piston that are configured to be reciprocated axially relative to one another, a filter drum drive shaft rigidly connected to the filter drum, a hydraulic push mechanism for generating an axial oscillating push force and connected to the filter drum so as to cause the relative reciprocating movement between the piston and the drum body, a hydraulic pump including a pump input shaft and is in fluid connection with the hydraulic push mechanism, and a drive motor including at least one output shaft connected to the pump input shaft and the filter drum drive shaft to actuate both the pump input shaft and the filter drum drive shaft. The at least one output shaft of the drive motor is connected to the pump input shaft in a manner without an intervening gearbox, thereby forming a direct drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: ANDRITZ KMPT GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Scherer
  • Patent number: 11432525
    Abstract: Disclosed are an excrement screening device and method. The excrement screening device includes a rotary receiving piece, a litter blocking piece and a screening piece. The rotary receiving piece is configured to receive cat litter and the rotary receiving piece is provided with a waste discharge outlet. The litter blocking piece is disposed in the rotary receiving piece and the litter blocking piece is configured to block the cat litter in a case where the rotary receiving piece rotates along a first direction. The screening piece is disposed in the rotary receiving piece, the screening piece is provided with a plurality of screening holes, and an accommodating cavity is formed by the screening piece, the litter blocking piece and the rotary receiving piece. The excrement screening method uses the above-mentioned excrement screening device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Petkit Network Technology (Shangahi) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunxin Ma, Xin Shi, Xiaoqing Ma, Feng Li, Junchao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11406991
    Abstract: A solid-bowl centrifuge screw with a screw flight is provided. The screw flight has at least a first welding layer on a base body of the solid-bowl centrifuge and at least a second welding layer on the first welding layer. Thus, plural welding layers are disposed successively on one another and are applied by shaping build-up welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Inventors: Matthias Scheidhammer, Manfred Meyer
  • Patent number: 11167930
    Abstract: An auger conveyor for transferring, from a first location, a mixed material including granular material and unwanted particulate contaminants, to a second location, the granular material substantially free of the unwanted particulate contaminants, comprising a housing in which there is rotatably supported a conveying member in the form of an auger or screw. A portion of the housing is perforated to provide a tubular screen, and the conveying member includes projecting agitation tabs along a length thereof which is coincident with the perforated portion of the housing, to propel the mixed material in the housing towards the screen so as to urge the unwanted particulate contaminants out of the housing leaving the granular material therein for conveyance to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Brent Stanley Bradford
  • Patent number: 11097902
    Abstract: A material processing unit includes a main frame and a pivot assembly pivotally mounted to the frame. The pivot assembly is movable between a first pivot position, where a portion of the pivot assembly extends below the main frame, to a second pivot position, where the pivot assembly is generally above the main frame. The pivot assembly includes a mount platform that is below the main frame when the pivot assembly is in the first pivot position. The pivot assembly includes a slewing bearing mounted on the mount platform. The pivot assembly also includes a carrier mechanism that is rotatably mounted to the slewing bearing. The carrier mechanism is configured to be rotated generally parallel to the mount platform via the slewing bearing. The material processing unit includes a discharge conveyor that is pivotally mounted to the carrier mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Kenneth Scott Eberts
  • Patent number: 10316471
    Abstract: Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: B & B Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Coots
  • Patent number: 10094071
    Abstract: Embodiments of a tie plate sorter are disclosed wherein the tie plates are sorted and fed to an output device for further feeding to a tie plate distribution system. The tie plates may be oriented as needed. Exemplary methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: B & B Metals, Inc.
    Inventor: William R. Coots
  • Patent number: 9987664
    Abstract: A grade sorting system and method. The grade sorting system is designed to sort items of various size grades into bins or other containers having items of similar size grades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: GARABEDIAN BROS., INC.
    Inventors: Michael Garabedian, Michael Emerzian
  • Patent number: 8757391
    Abstract: A garbage separation and recovery machine for beach cleaning that has mobility and can perform a garbage separation and recovery work according to the situation is provided. The garbage separation and recovery machine has a drum type sieve body (54) that is freely rotatably secured to a vehicle body frame (51) towed by a vehicle, a driving gear (92) that is freely rotatably supported by the vehicle body frame (51) and secured to an axle (52) to which right and left wheels are secured, and a mechanism portion (91) for transmitting the driving force of the driving gear (92) to the drum type sieve body (54). The mechanism portion (91) has a gear switching mechanism (95) for performing a switching operation between an automatic rotation mode in which the drum type sieve body (54) is rotated by the rotational force of the wheels (53) and a manual rotation mode in which the drum type sieve body (54) is released from the rotational force of the wheel (53) and allowed to be manually freely rotatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kiyono, Jun Nakajima, Tatsuo Masuda, Yasuji Hashimoto, Takanori Okuma, Tatsuhiko Asano, Tomohiro Nishida, Masato Nakata, Hiroyuki Uchida
  • Patent number: 8733552
    Abstract: An integrally-rotating cylindrical sieve 1 includes a hollow rotating shaft 2, which a driveshaft 21 is inserted into and fixed to, support members 3 radially extended from the rotating shaft 2, a cylindrical sieve body 4 made from a thin plate with a large number of apertures 5 formed therein, such as punching metal, and coupled with the support members 3, and sieve frames 6a and 6b attached to axial ends of the sieve body 4. The rotating shaft 2, the support members 3, the sieve body 4, the sieve frames 6a and 6b, and the driveshaft 21 are coaxially rotated together. The sieve body 4 is a cylindrical corrugated plate having wave crests and wave troughs arranged along its circumference and has a large number of apertures 5 formed in the corrugated plate. This arrangement improves the sieving efficiency of the granular material and effectively prevents potential destruction and cracking of the granular material, thus enhancing the commercial value of the sieved granular material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Tsukasa Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8678195
    Abstract: A screening bucket includes a support structure securable to the moving arm of an operating machine, a screening drum secured to that structure allowing it to rotate about an axis, a rotation unit for the screening drum and switching device for the rotation unit that switches the rotation unit between a first operating mode in which the screening drum is set in rotation at a substantially constant predetermined working speed and a second operating mode in which the rotation speed of the screening drum is reduced. The rotation unit further includes a detector assembly for detecting an angular position of the drum, cooperating with the switching device such that the rotation unit is automatically brought into the second operating mode when the drum is situated in the region of at least one predetermined portion of a revolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Meccanica Breganzese S.p.A. in Breve MB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Guido Azzolin, Diego Azzolin
  • Patent number: 8556082
    Abstract: A rotary particle separator for separating small particles from large particles is provided and includes an inclined rotary shaft having a first end and a second end. A particle bend is coupled to the elevated first end of the shaft. The particle bend has a bottom surface with a hole therethrough for gravity feed of material including the large particles and small particles from the bend along the shaft towards the second end. Annulae are spaced along the shaft with each of the annulae having a central aperture bounded by a ring that terminates in an annulae outer diameter. At least one paddle is interspersed between two adjacent annulae with at least one paddle positioned to rotate around the shaft. A screen mesh having a mesh size surrounds the annulae with a mesh size such that the small particles within the material are able to pass through the mesh and thereby leave larger particles preferentially segregated within the volume defined by the annulae spaced along the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Size Reduction Specialists Corp.
    Inventors: Donald Maynard, Scott T. Merchant
  • Publication number: 20130240417
    Abstract: Mechanical plant harvesting devices for harvesting crops from plant material including saddles, harvesting containers, and mechanical actuators. In some examples, the saddles define harvesting container-proximate regions over portions of the surface areas and saddle openings positioned within the harvesting container-proximate regions. In some examples, the harvesting containers define exterior surfaces proximate the saddles over at least a portion of the harvesting container-proximate regions of the saddles and harvesting container openings in the exterior surfaces. In some examples, the rotary actuators are mechanically connected to the harvesting containers and are configured to rotationally drive the harvesting containers through ranges of rotation. In some examples, portions of the harvesting container openings and portions of the saddle openings overlap at one or more harvesting positions in the mechanical actuators' ranges of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Inventor: Josh Kelly
  • Patent number: 8511476
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating synthetic materials having different characteristics includes a rotating drum having a cylindrical shape with a tapered end and an opposite flat bottom wall; a device configured to introduce a mixture of at least two synthetic materials in particle form and a liquid having an intermediate specific weight relative to specific weights of the two products into the drum; a radial discharge opening in the tapered end of the drum; an axial slithering discharge opening located in the bottom surface of the drum, at a distance from the drum axis, a rotor located inside the drum having a first external helical blade with the same external shape as the drum, a device configured to set the rotor in rotation relative to the drum. The blade is located at a distance from the rotor axis greater than the distance between the drum axis and the axial discharge opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Stefano Cassani
  • Publication number: 20130181077
    Abstract: A concentrator device for recovering lead, gold or other heavier matter from soil, gravel or another substrates. The concentrator may have an inner cylinder with screens and an outer cylinder with baffles. Various baffle arrangements are disclosed. A variable speed motor may drive rotation of the outer cylinder and a pre-processing hopper may be used to break up input soil. The hopper may include mechanical and/or water based components to separate the recovery object from the substrate it is in. Various screen configurations for the inner cylinder are disclosed, as are related aspects of the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Darrell L. Harris, Jerry E. Marks
  • Patent number: 8381916
    Abstract: An aggregate washing and classification system incorporates into a water-filled receptacle a sand classifier and one or more rotating augers. The augers are wrapped with screens or perforated walls that are fixed relative to the augers. The size of the perforations may be chosen to selectively sift particular sizes of gravel and rock, and if the perforations increase in size along the length of the augers, either continuously or discontinuously, the material which passes through the perforations will likewise increase in size with greater travel through the auger passageway. Consequently, a set of rock bins may be provided adjacent to the auger outlet, for collecting various sizes of larger aggregate, such as washed rocks. Sand will typically be permitted to pass through the screen perforations near the aggregate inlet. Once outside of the auger and screens, the sand will drop directly into a sand classifier, which is conveniently located directly below the augers and adjacent to the material inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Inventor: Paul W. Bossen
  • Publication number: 20130037456
    Abstract: The invention includes a grain separator with a seal system. The seal system includes an elastomeric portion and an inelastomeric portion. The seal system interfaces with an inlet spout at at least two locations. The seal system is rotatable about an inlet spout. A sealing pressure is increased as grain interacts with the seal system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: CARTER DAY INTERNATIONAL, INC
    Inventors: Matthew T. Haberman, Kevin Weiss
  • Publication number: 20120285868
    Abstract: Grading machines include machines for sorting and/or separation of solid granular or particulate materials according to the physical parameters of the component particles. Some grading machines employ a grading cylinder for retaining the material, the grading cylinder being driven by the machine to rotate about its axis. Disclosed herein are devices for easy insertion, removal, or replacement of grading cylinders from such grading machines. Also disclosed are methods for cylinder removal from a grading machine, e.g. for maintenance or cylinder replacement. The devices and methods disclosed permit stacking of grading machines in a factory or industrial setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: ARROWCORP INC.
    Inventors: Marcel Sierens, Richard Gergatz
  • Publication number: 20120279904
    Abstract: A soil plug processing mechanism for processing soil plugs which occur during ground maintenance. The soil plug processing mechanism having a separating device for picking up and processing the soil plugs by separating the soil plug material into fine particles and coarse particles. The separating device has at least one rotatable rotary sieve which has a rotatably driveable sieve drum with an outside surface which is configured at least partially as a sieve area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Wiedenmann GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Pfisterer
  • Patent number: 8123040
    Abstract: The invention is a device for characterizing the particle size distribution of powders, comprising a supply member, a discharge member, a weighing member, a continuous vibration member, a screening member and, optionally, a control member, said device being characterized in that the screening member is a member that rotates about a horizontal axis and has at least four positions corresponding to two screens of different mesh size, one release space and one anti-shock plate. Another subject of the invention is the use of such a device for characterization of the particle size distribution of powders and especially their in-line characterization, that is to say characterization during their manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Omya S.A.S.
    Inventor: Gil Largeaud
  • Publication number: 20110226676
    Abstract: An integrally-rotating cylindrical sieve 1 includes a hollow rotating shaft 2, which a driveshaft 21 is inserted into and fixed to, support members 3 radially extended from the rotating shaft 2, a cylindrical sieve body 4 made from a thin plate with a large number of apertures 5 formed therein, such as punching metal, and coupled with the support members 3, and sieve frames 6a and 6b attached to axial ends of the sieve body 4. The rotating shaft 2, the support members 3, the sieve body 4, the sieve frames 6a and 6b, and the driveshaft 21 are coaxially rotated together. The sieve body 4 is a cylindrical corrugated plate having wave crests and wave troughs arranged along its circumference and has a large number of apertures 5 formed in the corrugated plate. This arrangement improves the sieving efficiency of the granular material and effectively prevents potential destruction and cracking of the granular material, thus enhancing the commercial value of the sieved granular material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: TSUKASA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7985272
    Abstract: Sifting apparatus, for sifting solid particles from a gaseous or liquid fluid, having a rotating conical filter and fan blade assembly connected to the filter exterior, both rotated together by a motor/pulley assembly, the fan blades slanted in a direction opposite the rotation direction, so that air is drawn through the filter from its interior to its exterior, having an inlet for admission of air only at the narrow end of the filter, and having a receptacle for collection of the particles at the broad end of the filter. Applications include cleaning of particle contaminants from air; cleaning beach sand by sifting out broken glass, sea weed or other debris; extraction of mineral particles from water slurry; collection of soil samples picked up by an air stream; lawn maintenance collection of weeds, leaves and burrs; biohazard removal operations; and an alternative to auger food particle transport in food processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: Charles George Higgins
  • Patent number: 7846394
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and a method for separating particles within a sample. The apparatus includes a reservoir for receiving a biological specimen therein, wherein the specimen includes a plurality of different sized particles in a liquid. At least one physical state of the specimen is capable of being controlled in order to initially separate at least a first type of particles under the influence of gravity. The apparatus also includes a rotatable disk positioned proximate to the reservoir and configured to receive the first type of particles thereon. The disk has holes defined therethrough that are configured to further separate the first type of particles based on particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventor: Nicholas R. Bachur, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7833303
    Abstract: Sifting apparatus, for sifting solid particles from a gaseous or liquid fluid, having a rotating conical filter and fan blade assembly connected to the filter exterior, both rotated together by a motor/pulley assembly, the fan blades slanted in a direction opposite the rotation direction, so that air is drawn through the filter from its interior to its exterior, having an inlet for admission of air only at the narrow end of the filter, and having a receptacle for collection of the particles at the broad end of the filter. Applications include cleaning of particle contaminants from air; cleaning beach sand by sifting out broken glass, sea weed or other debris; extraction of mineral particles from water slurry; collection of soil samples picked up by an air stream; lawn maintenance collection of weeds, leaves and burrs; biohazard removal operations; and an alternative to auger food particle transport in food processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Inventor: Charles George Higgins
  • Patent number: 7699178
    Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to prevent accumulation of particulates on the outside of a net body of a particulate sifter having a cylindrical net body and to extend the lifetime of the net body. To achieve the purpose, in a particulate sifter which is provided with a sieve 21 having a cylindrical net body 26 extending in a horizontal direction and a booster having rotating blades which rotate along the inner surface of the net body 26 and which separates particulates that pass through the net body 26 from particulates and/or foreign substances that do not pass through the net body 26 while agitating the particulates that have flowed inside the sieve 21 with the booster, the sieve 21 is located rotatably around the central axis of the cylindrical net body 26. The sieve 21 may be rotated forcibly by an electric motor as a driving source or may be rotated by kinetic energy of particulate-air mixture agitated by rotating blades without a driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Tsukasa Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Kato, Teruo Inoue, Yoshio Sakakibara, Sinsaku Kamimura
  • Patent number: 7513370
    Abstract: A portable screening trommel having a chassis, at least one wheel assembly at a rear portion of the chassis, a hopper for receiving a material, a rotary trommel being chain driven at a discharge end and which receives the material from a feed conveyor beneath the hopper, a first product conveyor extending from a rearward end of the chassis to a forward end and feeding a rotatable stacking conveyor, and a second product conveyor receiving material from within the trommel and being rotatable between an operating position and a traveling position. The stacking conveyor is positioned at the forward end of the chassis and is rotatable between a first operating position and a second traveling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Wildcat Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Boris Fridman, Jerry L. Warlow
  • Publication number: 20090020460
    Abstract: The purpose of the invention is to prevent accumulation of particulates on the outside of a net body of a particulate sifter having a cylindrical net body and to extend the lifetime of the net body. To achieve the purpose, in a particulate sifter which is provided with a sieve 21 having a cylindrical net body 26 extending in a horizontal direction and a booster having rotating blades which rotate along the inner surface of the net body 26 and which separates particulates that pass through the net body 26 from particulates and/or foreign substances that do not pass through the net body 26 while agitating the particulates that have flowed inside the sieve 21 with the booster, the sieve 21 is located rotatably around the central axis of the cylindrical net body 26. The sieve 21 may be rotated forcibly by an electric motor as a driving source or may be rotated by kinetic energy of particulate-air mixture agitated by rotating blades without a driving source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: TSUKASA INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Fumio Kato, Teruo Inoue, Yoshio Sakakibara, Sinsaku Kamimura
  • Publication number: 20080190820
    Abstract: A screening mechanism may include a frame member, a drive mechanism, a bowl, and a screen assembly. The drive mechanism may be coupled to the frame member. The bowl may be rotatably supported on the frame member and may be in driven engagement with the drive mechanism. The screen assembly may be fixed to the bowl for rotation therewith and may include a plurality of panels removably coupled to one another and removably coupled to the bowl.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Allan Skoropa
  • Patent number: 7383956
    Abstract: A woodwaste processing trommel apparatus has a rotating trommel for receiving and separating woodwaste by size. An elongated electrode is mounted within the trommel and has a polarized electric charge thereon for attracting plastic pieces having a static electric charge thereon. An elongated vacuum pipe is mounted in the trommel adjacent the electrode for removing plastic pieces clinging to the elongated electrode. An electrode and vacuum nozzle is also placed adjacent the end of the discharge conveyor to further remove plastic particles. A method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in the trommel in accordance with the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Jimmy L. Freeman
  • Patent number: 7273150
    Abstract: A portable screening trommel having a chassis, at least one wheel assembly at a rear portion of the chassis, a hopper for receiving a material, a rotary trommel being chain driven at a discharge end and which receives the material from a feed conveyor beneath the hopper, a first product conveyor extending from a rearward end of the chassis to a forward end and feeding a rotatable stacking conveyor, and a second product conveyor receiving material from within the trommel and being rotatable between an operating position and a traveling position. The stacking conveyor is positioned at the forward end of the chassis and is rotatable between a first operating position and a second traveling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Wildcat Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Fridman, Jerry L. Warlow
  • Patent number: 7080742
    Abstract: A method for processing polycrystalline silicon workpieces to form size distributions of polycrystalline silicon pieces suitable for use in a Czochralski-type process includes: (1) preparing a polycrystalline silicon workpiece by a chemical vapor deposition process; (2) fracturing the polycrystalline silicon workpiece into a mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces, where the polycrystalline silicon pieces have varying sizes; and (3) sorting the mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces into at least two size distributions. Step (2) may be carried out by a thermal shock process. Step (3) may be carried out using a rotary indent classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Todd Stanley Graham, Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Chris Tim Schmidt, Terence Lee Horstman
  • Patent number: 6955265
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a cylindrical rotary piercing and screen assembly including surface openings, rows of first needles, and rows of blades, and a channel-shaped washing and dispersion mechanism. Garbage bags are pierced by the first needles and the blades as the piercing and screen assembly is rotating, and the pierced garbage bags discharged from the piercing and screen assembly to the washing and dispersion mechanism are pushed forward by water sprayed from the first injection nozzles, scattered by water sprayed from the second injection nozzles, and further pierced by the second needles so as to facilitate a subsequent garbage classification. The invention can effectively recycle garbage for future use, resulting in a significant reduction of garbage and an improvement of environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Inventor: Steven Tse
  • Patent number: 6910586
    Abstract: A hydraulic ram assembly adapted to move parts of a conveyor between a number of pre-defined positions. In one embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic ram assembly consists of a single hydraulic ram, pivotally coupled at one end to the chassis of a trommel, and pivotally coupled at the other end to at least one of a number of mechanical linkages. The mechanical linkages are configured to link the hydraulic ram and at least two parts of a trommel conveyor. At least one mechanical linkage is lockable and unlockable such that in operation, the hydraulic ram can move the parts of the trommel conveyor between (a) a first, lowered, extended, operational position; (b) a second, raised, extended, operational position; and (c) a third, folded, retracted position, suitable for transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Inventor: James Paschal McCloskey
  • Patent number: 6874713
    Abstract: A method for processing polycrystalline silicon workpieces to form size distributions of polycrystalline silicon pieces suitable for use in a Czochralski-type process includes: (1) preparing a polycrystalline silicon workpiece by a chemical vapor deposition process; (2) fracturing the polycrystalline silicon workpiece into a mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces, where the polycrystalline silicon pieces have varying sizes; and (3) sorting the mixture of polycrystalline silicon pieces into at least two size distributions. Step (2) may be carried out by a thermal shock process. Step (3) may be carried out using a rotary indent classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Dow Corning Corporation
    Inventors: Arvid Neil Arvidson, Todd Stanley Graham, Kathryn Elizabeth Messner, Chris Tim Schmidt, Terence Lee Horstman
  • Patent number: 6868973
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drum type refining or washing apparatus in which the refining or washing efficiency of a pulp suspension or a food suspension is remarkably enhanced by the filtration function of a rotary drum and by the filtrate sucking force of a filtrate receptive cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Sakae Kohki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Kamo, Nobuyuki Kamo
  • Patent number: 6860392
    Abstract: A separator is disclosed for mechanically separating objects having one size dimension less that a predetermined threshold size. The present separator comprises a cylindrically- or barrel-shaped device having one or more louvers. The barrel is oriented at a preset angle and rotated about its longitudinal axis (along its circumference) and powered by a motorized drive. A collection of objects (processed materials or heavy metal particles from shredder operation) are introduced into the higher opening in the barrel. As the collection of objects progresses downward through the barrel, a plurality of machined slots or louvers separates the larger objects from the smaller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Texas Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Billy Jack Davis, Roy Frosch
  • Patent number: 6827222
    Abstract: A mobile gravel sorter, which is arranged to move in a direction of travel along a road, comprising a gathering unit which is arranged to gather up granular material from a roadway as the gravel sorter moves in the direction of travel, a sorting unit (30) for sorting and supplying to the roadway the amount of the material that is smaller than a given grain size, and a collecting unit for collecting material exceeding said given grain size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Nimek Industries NYA Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Nils Lennart Nilsson
  • Publication number: 20030146137
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sorting a food product, such a fruit or vegetable, is disclosed. The food product to be sorted is introduced into a rotatable sorting chamber through an inlet opening. Whole and firm product is discharged out of the chamber through an outlet opening. Soft food product, on the other hand, is expelled radially out of the chamber through the sides of the chamber as the chamber rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Ronald A. Bichel, Thomas W. Bechert
  • Patent number: 6261454
    Abstract: Device for washing gluten, provided with at least one drum screen rotatably supported on a corrosion-resistant shaft, and equipped with means for supplying and discharging washing water and also with means for supplying the material to be treated at the one drum end and removing the treated gluten at the other drum end, at least two sets of spoke-type elements which are made of corrosion-resistant material and which support the circumferential wall of the drum screen being provided on the drum shaft at points disposed at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction, which sets are each mounted, when viewed in the circumferential direction, on a bush which is made up of at least two parts made of corrosion-resistant material and attached to one another by flanges and which is to be firmly clamped to the shaft, the shaft being made of steel which is not corrosion-resistant and which has a high modulus of elasticity, and lining sleeves made of corrosion-resistant material being provided around the s
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Cargill, B.V.
    Inventors: Adriaan J. van den Berge, Rumoldus C. H. M. Rasenberg, Jacobus de Rooij, Jacob Biemond
  • Patent number: 6206199
    Abstract: In order to recover the various components of multiple layer materials, a method uses a refiner or disperser including mutually opposing rotating discs having material engaging surfaces or elements such as teeth. The method includes: adjusting a gap between the discs so that a material is subjected to a shear force that mutually separates its material layers in the form of pieces or fragments in the absence of any substantial disintegration of the layers; pumping the separated pieces of the various layers together with a supplied suspension liquid to a separator; and, separating readily pulped or slushed pieces of the material suspended in the suspension liquid from pieces of the suspended material that are not readily pulped or slushed. The pumping of the separated pieces and suspension liquid to the separator can be via a collection vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Cellwood Machinery AB
    Inventors: Rudolf Kurtz, Günter Betz
  • Patent number: 6109450
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for screening a fibrous slurry including a rotatable drum whose circumferential wall includes a screen. The screen has spaced openings with longitudinal axes or elongations which are large relative to the transverse axes or gaps defined by the openings. The openings are disposed with their longitudinal axes extending circumferentially of the rotatable drum. The drum has at least one open end. A slurry delivery conveyor terminates adjacent to the drum for delivery of slurry within the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: G-Wald-Taylor, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward D. Grunenwald, Ronald S. Pristash
  • Patent number: 6019227
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus that will extract a desired material from an undesired material. The apparatus of the present invention comparison a front portion, a middle portion, and a back portion. The front portion includes the driving method for the device as well as a plurality of teeth which contacts the undesired material containing the desired material and transports the collection to the middle area via a conveyor. The middle portion includes the separating area. The middle portion includes a rotating cylinder including a series of sections. At least one encompassing side wall of a section is made of a wire mesh material to provide for the section to have a plurality of perforations. This will provide for the undesired material to escape from the middle portion via the openings of the wire mesh. From the middle portion, the collected material travels to the back portion where the desired material is collected in a receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Alexander Douglas May, III
  • Patent number: 6006921
    Abstract: A transportable trommel assembly is provided with a frame, a cylindrical trommel screen, having an infeed end and a discharge end rotatably mounted to the frame, and conveyors for carrying away sized material from the trommel screen. An infeed conveyor is movably connected to the frame and positionable to an operating position for infeeding material into the infeed end of the trommel screen and to a transport position where it is held within the infeed end of the trommel screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Diamond Z Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Melvin A. Zehr
  • Patent number: 5984106
    Abstract: The machine includes a modular rotary drum (10) consisting of various individual sections (10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e) each having a frustoconical shape converging in the direction of progression of the objects to be sorted. The walls of the various sections are riddled with calibrated sorting holes (26) the size of which increases from the inlet towards the outlet. The interior walls of the various sections are fitted with plates describing a spiral which guides the charge to be sorted, as it progresses. Each sorting hole (26) is in the form of an elongate slot widening in the direction of progression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Magotteaux International
    Inventor: Marian Uwa
  • Patent number: 5968315
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for screening a fibre suspension such as papermaking stock in a pressurized screen especially in connection with pumping the liquid. The invention also relates to the use of the apparatus in a process for the production of paper or board. The apparatus comprises a generally tubular housing (12) and a perforated screen-drum (22) inside the housing. The housing (12) and screen-drum (22) define between themselves a generally annular screening zone (30). The screen-drum (22) surrounds a tubular accept channel (32). The apparatus further comprises a stock inlet (14), outlet (19) for accept, and outlet (17) for reject. The screen-drum (22) is rotatable within the housing (12) and conducts are provided for introducing diluting fluid into the annular screening zone (30) at a plurality of locations along its axial extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: POM Technology OY AB
    Inventor: Paul Olof Meinander
  • Patent number: 5915569
    Abstract: A device comprising two coaxial drums (22, 24) is proposed in order to separate and then proportion objects of different sizes. The objects are introduced into one end of the inner drum consisted mainly of a coil (32) wound in a spiral. Large objects are retained in this inner drum and are routed when in rotation. Small objects drop into the outer drum (24) and are routed to its other end when it is driven in rotation. Small objects drop into the outer drum (24) and are routed to its other end through a spiral inner header (50) when it is driven in rotation. Thus objects such as hulls and end pieces obtained after cutting irradiated nuclear fuel assemblies can be separated and then proportioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: Philippe Kerrien, Roger Lahille, Serge Le Cocq
  • Patent number: 5836456
    Abstract: A discrete material washing apparatus comprises a structure mounting an elongate trough having an inlet and an outlet. A dished tray is mounted on the structure and shaped to feed into the inlet. The tray is to receive disposal of a cementitious mixture therein. A cylindrical screen has a net surface. The screen extends substantially along the length of the trough and is adapted for rotation. Water spray is provided to play on any mixture disposed onto the tray and passed through the inlet into the interior of the screen for size classification with smaller particles able to pass through the mesh of the screen surface into the trough and larger particles remaining in the screen. A first mechanism is provided to remove the smaller particles from the trough, and a second mechanism is provided to remove the larger particles from the interior of the screen through the outlet of the trough. A weir is provided in at least one longitudinal side of the trough for removal of the cementitious water therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Rapid International Limited
    Inventors: Thomas James Lappin, Robert Leslie Pickering
  • Patent number: RE42969
    Abstract: A portable trommel has a chassis, including support wheels at one end thereof for movement of the trommel. A trommel is rotatably mounted on the chassis and has an input and an output end. A hopper and an input conveyor, for supplying material to be screened to the input end of the trommel, are mounted on the chassis adjacent the input end of the trommel. An output or fines conveyor, for collecting material passing through the trommel screen, is mounted on the chassis, below the trommel. A stockpiling conveyor is mounted on the chassis and has a lower end adapted to receive screened material from the fines conveyor and an upper end for discharging screened material to form a stockpile. The stockpiling conveyor can be in two parts, which can be folded into a retracted position for storage and transportation, and further can be mounted for rotation about a vertical axis to enable an arcuate storage pile to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: James Paschal McCloskey