Abstract: An apparatus for dividing horticultural products, propelled by a fluid for transport from an intake region connected to an upstream station to an evacuation region connected to a downstream station. The apparatus includes a supporting frame for a contoured floor, which is arranged so that a first edge is at said intake region and is arranged so that a second edge, arranged opposite the first edge, is at the evacuation region. The contoured floor includes a plurality of lanes interposed in a parallel arrangement between the regions and have a substantially V-shaped transverse cross-section so as to produce the progressive conveyance and alignment of the horticultural products in transit along the bottom of each lane.

Abstract: A crushing machine for a vegetable food product frozen in blocks, or in IQF form. The machine includes a box-like body containing defining a crushing chamber. The box-like body has an inlet port, through which the frozen food product is put in the crushing chamber and an outlet port through which a frozen crushed product is discharged from the crushing chamber. In the crushing chamber a crushing unit is mounted comprising a plurality of crushing rollers, for example three crushing rollers. Each crushing roller is arranged to rotate about a respective rotation axis and is having peripherally a plurality of teeth arranged to cut the frozen product into blocks, or IQF form, for splitting it into the above described fragments of predetermined size. In particular, the rotation axes of the crushing rollers are parallel to each other.

Abstract: A feed trough for a grader or other solid object processing system. The feed trough includes a plurality of feed channels, each having at least one flexible flap extending from a discharge end for transitioning a product from the feed channel to a processing region. Two converging flexible flaps may extend from the discharge end and contact a processing channel for guiding product to the processing channel.

Abstract: The invention provides, inter alia, a method for producing granules from a powder, characterized in that a low compaction force is applied to the powder to produce a compacted mass comprising a mixture of fine particles and granules and separating fine particles from the granules by entraining the fine particles in a gas stream. Also provided are apparatus for use in the process and tablets formed by compression of the resultant granules.

Abstract: A machine for sorting fasteners that have a shaft with a head attached thereto from fasteners that only have a shaft. The machine can have a plurality of rollers that are rotatably attached to a frame, the plurality of rollers having a gap between each other and generally aligned parallel to each other. In addition, the plurality of rollers can be oriented at an angle relative to horizontal. The gap between each roller is dimensioned such that the shaft of a fastener can fit or fall therethrough and yet prevent the head of the fastener to fit or fall therethrough. The plurality of rollers can have an elevated end and an exit end, the exit end having an opening proximate thereto and dimensioned for the head of the fastener to fit therethrough.

Abstract: A material separation system includes a separation screen and an air directing device positioned above the separation screen. The separation screen has at least one rotating shaft, wherein the separation screen transports the relatively rigid material and relatively flexible material to the rotating shaft. The air directing device directs air towards the separation screen such that the relatively flexible material is blown beneath the rotating shaft in a first material stream, wherein the relatively rigid material continues on the separation screen past the rotating shaft in a second material stream.

Abstract: The invention refers to a screen star, in particular for a screen machine, wherein the screen star is configured essentially disc-like and can be arranged on a shaft, wherein referring to the center of the screen star at least two outside-running star fingers are provided. The invention is characterized in that the length of the star fingers differs.

Abstract: A sorting table with grading rolls supported by end supports and positioned to form a sorting plane. The rolls are rotated in the same direction and configured to create at least one opening between adjacent rolls to permit the pass-through of only the products to be sorted or calibrated. Larger products remain at the surface and are evacuated downstream. The gap between rolls can be modified. Elastic elements are interposed between said end supports and means of actuation for are provided bringing said end supports and the rolls supported by the latter closer together or moving them farther apart, in opposition to the antagonistic action exerted by said elastic elements, to decrease or increase the cross section of the openings, displacements in the opposite direction of said end supports and of the grading rolls being achieved by the action of extension or compression of said elastic elements.

Abstract: A seafood grading apparatus that includes a first roller supported from the frame; a drive motor for rotating the first roller about a longitudinal axis thereof; a second roller also supported from said frame and constructed and arranged in juxtaposition to the first roller. The first roller has a helical outer surface, and the second roller is for driving about a longitudinal axis thereof and in unison with the first roller. An inlet port receives pieces of seafood for the purpose of the grading thereof and arranged relative to the rollers to dispose the seafood between the rollers. At least two receiving trays are disposed downstream of the inlet port for receiving different respective size seafood pieces.

Abstract: A system for removing debris from tree crop product utilizes a plurality of screening and transport rollers which have disk-shaped members having projections that are curved and extend rearwardly in a direction opposed to the direction of rotation of the rollers, at least a portion of the projections of adjacent rollers overlapping to form voids.

Abstract: A feed trough for a grader or other solid object processing system. The feed trough includes a plurality of feed channels, each having at least one flexible flap extending from a discharge end for transitioning a product from the feed channel to a processing region. Two converging flexible flaps may extend from the discharge end and contact a processing channel for guiding product to the processing channel.

Abstract: A motor driven crusher for agitating and crushing material is provided. The crusher includes a frame removably coupled to a mechanical bucket and a plurality of shafts rotatably coupled within the frame and operationally coupled to the motor. The crusher further includes a plurality of crushing agitators coupled to each shaft of the plurality of shafts; and a plurality of screening spaces each having a predetermined spacing, wherein material placed on a top side of the crusher is agitated and crushed by the plurality of crushing agitators while the plurality of shafts rotate, screening small material through the plurality of screening spaces while crushing the larger material on the top side of the crusher to fit within the plurality of screening spaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting material, includes a frame, at least one first shaft rotatably mounted onto the frame, and at least one second shaft rotatably mounted onto the frame in a substantially adjacent and parallel relationship with respect to the at least one first shaft. The first and second shafts define a conveying surface along which material to be sorted is intended to travel via a rotation of the shafts. At least one single disc is mounted in a substantially transverse relationship with respect to the at least one first shaft. At least one compound disc is mounted in a substantially transverse relationship with respect to the at least one second shaft, each compound disc having a main disc and an associated secondary disc, each main disc having an outside perimeter greater than that of the associated secondary disc, each secondary disc being in alignment with the at least one single disc of an adjacent first shaft.

Abstract: A motor driven agitator comprises a frame and a plurality of shafts rotatably coupled within the frame. The plurality of shafts are operationally coupled to the motor. The axes of the plurality of shafts are substantially parallel when coupled within the frame. The agitator further comprises a plurality of scalping agitators coupled to each shaft of the plurality of shafts. The agitator may further comprise a plurality of screening spaces each having a predetermined spacing. Material placed on a top side of the agitator is agitated by the plurality of scalping agitators while the plurality of shafts rotate, screening small material through the plurality of screening spaces while maintaining the larger material on the top side of the agitator. The agitator may be removably coupled to a mechanical bucket.

Abstract: A conveying and separating device for root crop has a separating stretch with at least two rotatingly driven separating rollers, wherein the separating stretch receives a harvested material of root crop and admixed parts and wherein the at least two separating rollers transport on a topside of the separating stretch primarily the root crop while the admixed parts are removed in a screening phase through a screening gap between the at least two separating rollers. By a direct forced cleaning action, the at least two separating rollers are kept free at least of admixed parts that can adhere to the at least two separating rollers.

Abstract: A sorting table with grading rolls supported by end supports and positioned to form a sorting plane. The rolls are rotated in the same direction and configured to create at least one opening between adjacent rolls to permit the pass-through of only the products to be sorted or calibrated. Larger products remain at the surface and are evacuated downstream. The gap between rolls can be modified. Elastic elements are interposed between said end supports and means of actuation for are provided bringing said end supports and the rolls supported by the latter closer together or moving them farther apart, in opposition to the antagonistic action exerted by said elastic elements to decrease or increase the cross section of the openings, displacements in the opposite direction of said end supports and of the grading rolls being achieved by the action of extension or compression of said elastic elements.

Abstract: A motor driven agitator comprises a frame and a plurality of shafts rotatably coupled within the frame. The plurality of shafts are operationally coupled to the motor. The axes of the plurality of shafts are substantially parallel when coupled within the frame. The agitator further comprises a plurality of scalping agitators coupled to each shaft of the plurality of shafts. The agitator may further comprise a plurality of screening spaces each having a predetermined spacing. Material placed on a top side of the agitator is agitated by the plurality of scalping agitators while the plurality of shafts rotate, screening small material through the plurality of screening spaces while maintaining the larger material on the top side of the agitator. The agitator may be removably coupled to a mechanical bucket.

Abstract: A mechanical bucket for separating small material from larger material. The mechanical bucket includes a bucket adapted to receive and retain material within the bucket and a roller screen assembly removably secured to a bottom portion of the bucket. The material received within the bucket rests on the roller screen assembly when deactivated. The roller screen assembly is adapted to separate smaller material from larger material of the material received within the bucket when activated. The mechanical bucket may include a scraper device for removing debris from the roller screen assembly when the roller screen assembly is activated.

Abstract: Multiple shafts are aligned along a frame and configured to rotate in a direction causing paper products to move along a separation screen. The shafts are configured with a shape and spacing so that substantially rigid pieces of the paper products move along the screen while non-rigid pieces of the paper products slide down between adjacent shafts. In one embodiment, the screen includes at least one vacuum shaft that has a first set of air input holes configured to suck air and retain the non-rigid paper products. A second set of air output holes are configured to blow out air to dislodge the paper products retained by the input holes.

Abstract: An adjustable apparatus for sizing objects, mainly delicate foods, by the rotation of a set of at least 7 rollers, each roller having one less tooth so that the rollers move at progressively higher revolutions per minute, from the in-feed shear roller of 144 revolutions per minute to the discharge roller of 210 revolutions per minute. The rollers are shaped and finished by 7 to 12 flats, alternated with a crown in between each flat, cut the horizontal length of the roller. The rollers are then sandblasted over the entire circumference of the surface to a depth range of 280 to 300 micro-inches.

Abstract: Device for separating fine fractions and coarse fractions from bulk goods, comprising a frame and a screen plane supported by it for supporting the coarse fraction and allowing the fine fraction to pass through, the screen plane being formed by a number of screen disks, that have been arranged in groups and detachably on rotating driven shafts, the shafts on both sides being bearing mounted with bearing ends in first and second bearings on the frame and at at least one end being in driven engagement with driving means, the bearing ends being divided into a shaft member permanent to the shaft and a bearing member bearing mounted in the first and second bearings on the frame, which bearing member inter-engages with the permanent shaft member for co-rotation therewith, wherein in both bearing ends the permanent shaft member and the bearing member can be coupled to each other and can be uncoupled from each other by a movement of the shaft transverse to the main direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A shale shaker having a basket for holding screen assembly apparatus, screen assembly apparatus for treating fluid introduced to the shale shaker, a roller bed assembly secured above and/or to the basket above the screen assembly apparatus, the roller bed assembly having a plurality of spaced-apart rotatable rollers, the fluid initially introduced to the shale shaker onto the roller bed assembly. The shale shaker wherein the fluid is drilling fluid with large undesirable solids therein, said large undesirable solids separable from the drilling fluid by the roller bed assembly.

Abstract: A screen roller is provided, configured to rotate as one of a plurality of rollers in a roller screen. The roller may include left hand spiral grooves formed in a first region of the surface of the roller, extending from one end of the roller toward the center, and right hand spiral grooves formed in a second region of the surface of the roller, extending from the other end of the roller toward the center of the roller. The roller may include a bumper strip around the central portion of the roller and configured to protect the roller from damage in the event the roller strikes a neighboring roller. The features on the surface of the roller may be formed on a sleeve that slides onto a shaft. The sleeve may be the length of the roller or may be one of a plurality of sleeves on the shaft.

Abstract: A device for sorting flat-area piece goods, particularly packets, packages, and letters. This device has a drum cylinder open towards the outside at both faces, and mounted at an angle to rotate on a bearing body on the mantle surface of the cylinder. The cylinder is structured with longitudinal rollers that rotate about their longitudinal axis, arranged at a distance from one another, mounted on annular flanges, whereby the longitudinal rollers are arranged as steps that extend towards the inside. In each instance, the steps are formed of a roller arrangement of longitudinal rollers. According to an alternative particularly preferred embodiment there is a device with longitudinal rollers that can be put into rotation about their longitudinal axes by a drive. This device has longitudinal rollers that can be put into rotation about their longitudinal axes by the drive.

Abstract: Multiple shafts are aligned along a frame and configured to rotate in a direction causing paper products to move along a separation screen. The shafts are configured with a shape and spacing so that substantially rigid pieces of the paper products move along the screen while non-rigid pieces of the paper products slide down between adjacent shafts. In one embodiment, the screen includes at least one vacuum shaft that has a first set of air input holes configured to suck air and retain the non-rigid paper products. A second set of air output holes are configured to blow out air to dislodge the paper products retained by the input holes.

Abstract: At the end of an array of rollers of a spreading head for wood particles for the production of mats to form particleboard, rollers of the array are driven at a higher speed than the rollers of the fine-particle spreading portion and baffles are provided below the higher speed rollers to scatter the particles backwardly into the fine-particle region and form an intimate mixture of the coarse and fine particles.

Abstract: Multiple shafts are aligned along a frame and configured to rotate in a direction causing paper products to move along a separation screen. The shafts are configured with a shape and spacing so that substantially rigid pieces of the paper products move along the screen while non-rigid pieces of the paper products slide down between adjacent shafts. In one embodiment, the screen includes at least one vacuum shaft that has a first set of air input holes configured to suck air and retain the non-rigid paper products. A second set of air output holes are configured to blow out air to dislodge the paper products retained by the input holes.

Abstract: A screen roller is provided, configured to rotate as one of a plurality of rollers in a roller screen. The roller may include left hand spiral grooves formed in a first region of the surface of the roller, extending from one end of the roller toward the center, and right hand spiral grooves formed in a second region of the surface of the roller, extending from the other end of the roller toward the center of the roller. The roller may include a bumper strip around the central portion of the roller and configured to protect the roller from damage in the event the roller strikes a neighboring roller. The features on the surface of the roller may be formed on a sleeve that slides onto a shaft. The sleeve may be the length of the roller or may be one of a plurality of sleeves on the shaft.

Abstract: Roll set for handling, particularly screening and spreading, different materials such as wood chips and shavings, the roll set including at least two parallel-mounted, rotatable rolls, whereby the interroll gaps are adapted to pass the material being handled and at least a number of the rolls are provided with a surface patterning. The roll set is implemented by providing at least some of the rolls of the roll set with at least one collar ring made thereto in an annular manner essentially about the entire circumference of the roll. The collar ring has an outer diameter advantageously at least as large as the outer diameter of the other surface patterning made on the roll.

Abstract: A spreading roll for spreading out a chip fleece for producing wood chip material or similar panels, includes two disk-shaped end pieces (3, 7), plural thin spokes (6), rods, pipes or cords arranged extending between the end pieces, and pipe-shaped loose sheaths (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) arranged on the spokes or the like for preventing the adhesion of fibrous materials or contaminants on the spokes or the like.

Abstract: Multiple shafts are aligned along a frame and configured to rotate in a direction causing paper products to move along a separation screen. The shafts are configured with a shape and spacing so that substantially rigid pieces of the paper products move along the screen while non-rigid pieces of the paper products slide down between adjacent shafts. In one embodiment, the screen includes at least one vacuum shaft that has a first set of air input holes configured to suck air and retain the non-rigid paper products. A second set of air output holes are configured to blow out air to dislodge the paper products retained by the input holes.

Abstract: The harvester has a harvesting head, a shredder, cleaning and separating assemblies including a roller bed, a fruit sizer and a fruit discharge. The roller bed includes a plurality of parallel rollers journaled on a roller bed frame. The roller bed frame is pivoted relative to the harvester frame to control the rate of movement of crop material in an axial direction relative to the rollers. Nips are formed between the rollers. A bar is supported by the roller bed frame directly above each nip in a position parallel to the adjacent nip. These bars are vertically adjustable toward and away from the nips to accommodate different sizes and shapes of fruit and to keep two rollers from simultaneously engaging one fruit. A reversible drive rotates adjacent rollers in opposite directions to separate leaves and stems from the fruit.

Abstract: A roller sifting or dispersing machine for the classification or dispersing of wood chips, fibers, or similar materials and to the utilization of an above-described roller sifting or dispersing machine. The roller sifting machine includes annular grooves and annular crosspieces. An outer sheathing surface of each annular crosspiece is provided with adjoining teeth in the circumference direction. The front tooth-side in the direction of rotation is steeper than the adjoining tooth back-side. The crosspiece and teeth of a roller also form a gradient that is opposed to the adjacent roller but has the same gradient height. The leading tooth sides of the circulating teeth create a pitching effect on the particles of the material to be sifted so that clogging of the roller set are avoided and an accelerated movement towards the exit end is achieved. By the continuous opposing movement of the teeth, clogging of these openings for the passage of chips is avoided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roller screen for screening pellets for sintering, the roller screen including several successive rotating rollers that are spaced apart and arranged transversally in relation to the proceeding direction of the material. The roller screen is provided with separate rotation motors for rotating each of the rollers and an adjusting member for adjusting the mutual position of the rollers in order to screen a desired particle size. The screen path of the roller screen is composed of three successive screening parts, which are mutually connected so that the rollers of the screening parts are made to rotate in relation to each other, and the speed of rotation of the roller increases in the proceeding direction of the material towards the final end of the roller screen.

Abstract: An agricultural separating device has a starshaft (7) comprising a row of resilient starwheels (2) mounted on a rotatable shaft. Rings (5) formed of a rigid material (e.g. nylon or polypropylenes), and having an outer diameter such that they extend radially along 40-80% of the radial length of the fingers (4) of the starwheels (2), are mounted between adjacent starwheels (2) so as to close off the radially inner space between the fingers (4) without reducing the length and therefore flexibility of the fingers (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a roller bar screen and to the generation of certain parameters for optimal adaptation to the bulk material being processed and as a prerequisite for process optimization. Construction measures—essentially equipping the rollers with variable speed drive mechanisms—are taken in a first preparatory step. Selected control variables and limit values related to the average characteristics to be expected of the bulk material are generated in a single operation by means of a regulation and process control system. The optimum number of revolutions for each individual roller in particular is predetermined in dependence on the process. The rollers can be grouped together.

Abstract: A roller screen is provided with an assembly for adjusting the spacing between the rolls simultaneously. The assembly includes an elongated bar is provided adjacent one end of the rolls and has a plurality of wedges slidably mounted thereon. Bearing support plates slidably mounted in a frame have v-shape wedge portions slidably engaging adjacent side surfaces of the wedges on said bar. In a preferred embodiment a plurality of computer assisted hydraulic cams selectively move the bar upwardly and downwardly to adjust engagement of the wedges and the spacing between the rolls. Preferably a spacing adjustment assembly is provided at both of the opposite ends of the rolls in the roller screen.

Abstract: A compound disc is used to eliminate a secondary slot normally formed between adjacent shafts of a material separation screen. The compound disc comprises a primary disc joined to an associated secondary disc. The primary disc and the secondary disc each have the same shape but the secondary disc has a smaller outside perimeter and is wider. The primary disc and associated secondary disc are formed from a unitary piece of rubber. The compound discs are interleaved with oppositely aligned compound discs on adjacent shafts. In other words, the large disc is positioned on a shaft to align with a smaller disc on an adjacent shaft. The oppositely aligned and alternating arrangement between the large discs and small discs reduces problems that exist in screens that use in-line multi-sided discs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for screening pulverized or chip material, such as fibers or wood chips, free from impurities. The material to be screened is fed onto a roll set formed by a number of adjacent, essentially parallel rolls (1) and is brought to an advantageous movement with the help of the rolls (1), whereby material particles of highest density drift downward closest to the surfaces of the rolls and that the material fraction closest to the roll surfaces can escape the rolls via a gap (B) a width essentially larger than the gap width (A) of the preceding roll pairs.

Abstract: There is disclosed method and apparatus for cleaning roots, tubers, bulbs, and the like, for example, sugar beets, chicory, Jerusalem artichokes, dahlia, potato, and onions (hereinafter "articles"). In the apparatus, spaced horizontal rollers have helices on their cylindrical surfaces which scroll the articles laterally to the ends of the rollers where they are deposited on a slide that removes them from the cleaner, or, optionally, returns the articles to the cleaner at strategically located lower positions for stalk removal and/or leaf stripping, or for other desired cleaning. The first sets of rollers are designed to separate small chips, small stones and loose soil from the articles. The next sets of rollers are designed to remove adhering soil and/or mud, weeds, and larger stones. Strategic placement sizing, rotational speed, and direction of rotation of the helices on the rollers are instrumental in removing leaves, stalks, weeds, breaking up dirt clods and mud balls, and cleaning of the articles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for removing bark balls from a log flow traveling on a conveyor (3) which extends from a debarking drum (1) to a chipper (2), said conveyor (3) including a roller assembly (4) provided with an opening (5) for dumping from the conveyor (3) a sub-flow consisting of wood pieces and bark balls. The apparatus comprises an adjustable dispenser device (6) for further dividing the sub-flow falling from the conveyor (3) into a portion including mainly wood pieces and a portion including mainly bark balls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a roll screen having variable screening apertures having axle-fitted rolls which are spaced at adjustable distances apart and a device for adjusting this spacing. The roll spacing adjusting device functions to act on all rolls simultaneously, so that the spacing change will be the same for all rolls. The device includes two parallel running tracks (10, 11) and the distance between these tracks can be varied. A change in the distance between the running tracks causes the roll axle housings (6) to rotate and move the axles (2). This roll screen also includes a device for adjusting the individual distance between two consecutive rolls without affecting the distances between the remaining rolls. This device includes a spacer (32) which is inserted between the housings of the two rolls in which the roll axles are journalled. The roll screen is also provided with a separate elastic sealing element between the roll axle and the roll drive arrangement.

Abstract: A flow management system and process for providing controlled separation and sizing of an incoming flow of wood chips. A flow management screen is provided in the form of a horizontal disk screen having a variable speed drive, with the drive controlled based upon the flow rate of wood chips to the screen. By controlling the rotational speed of the disks of the horizontal disk screen, the flow separation and sizing to subsequent screening stations can be predicted and controlled. As a result, more consistent output is provided, as well as improved system efficiency and ability to accommodate for varying operational conditions and wear.

Abstract: An apparatus for scattering fibrous material, e.g., chips or the like, to form a precisely controlled blanket of chips, together with a binder, onto a scattering band conveyor or a mold, includes a scattering chamber including a dosing conveyor for transferring the material to be scattered toward the discharge end of the scattering chamber. The apparatus is further implemented by arranging to the discharge end of the scattering chamber, next to the dosing conveyor, a roll set comprised of at least three rolls aligned mutually parallel, whereby slots of individually adjustable width are formed between the rolls.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for separating finer and coarser material fractions of bulk material from each other, especially for separating sawdust from wood chips, the apparatus comprising a plurality of successive rollers (2) rotating about parallel axes of rotation, the upper surfaces of the rollers providing a path for the material to be screened; and a hopper for feeding the material to be screened to the infeed end of the path. There are radial and essentially axial grooves (5, 6) on the surface of the rollers (2), the grooves forming teeth (7) onto the surface of the rollers (2), and the teeth (7) of each roller (2) interdigitate with the radial grooves (5) of the adjacent roller (2), whereby the teeth (7) and radial grooves (5) form slots (8) between them for the particles of the material to be screened. With this construction it is possible to prevent the particles that are bigger than the grain size desired from passing through the screen.

Abstract: A separator of the invention is designed to remove foreign materials, such as small stones, included in granulated materials, such as red beans, having smooth outer surfaces. The separator is formed of a supplying section, and a separating section for receiving the granulated materials with the foreign materials from the supplying section and separating the foreign materials from the granulated materials. The separating section includes at least one pair of elongated rollers formed of first and second rollers, which are arranged parallel to and at a predetermined distance spaced apart from each other. The first roller has a spiral projection on an outer surface thereof, while the second roller has a resilient outer peripheral portion.

Abstract: A separator of the invention is designed to remove foreign materials, such as small stones, included in granulated materials, such as red beans, having smooth outer surfaces. The separator is formed of a supplying section, and a separating section for receiving the granulated materials with the foreign materials from the supplying section and separating the foreign materials from the granulated materials. The separating section includes at least one pair of elongated rollers formed of first and second rollers, which are arranged parallel to and at a predetermined distance spaced apart from each other. The first roller has a spiral projection on an outer surface thereof. When the granulated materials with the foreign materials are supplied onto one end of the pair of the rollers, the foreign materials are caught between the rollers and dropped downwardly, while the granulated materials are transferred to the other end of the rollers by the rotating spiral projection and are collected.

Abstract: A flow management system and process for providing controlled separation and sizing of an incoming flow of wood chips. A flow management screen is provided in the form of a horizontal disk screen having a variable speed drive, with the drive controlled based upon the flow rate of wood chips to the screen. By controlling the rotational speed of the disks of the horizontal disk screen, the flow separation and sizing to subsequent screening stations can be predicted and controlled. As a result, more consistent output is provided, as well as improved system efficiency and ability to accommodate for varying operational conditions and wear.

Abstract: The roller screen arrangement includes a plurality of roller systems and a motor for driving the rollers of the roller system. Each roller system includes a drive shaft drivable by the motor driver and a roller associated with the drive shaft. One end of the drive shaft is disposed adjacent to one end of the roller and insert means are inserted into a hollow core of the roller at the one end of the roller. A threaded opening extends through the insert means and centrally thereof. A central screw is mounted in the hollow core of the drive shaft such that a threaded portion of the central screw extends outwardly of the drive shaft at the one end of the drive shaft, the threads of the central screw mating with the threads of the threaded opening and the central screw being rotatable relative to the drive shaft when mounted in the hollow core of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A roller bed for separating fines and slivers from sliced food product such as french fries includes a plurality of rollers placed side-by-side on parallel roller shafts and are shaped to provide alternating crown and flat portions about the periphery of each of the rollers. A motor coupled to the roller shafts rotates the rollers which are phased so that in the gaps between adjacent rollers the crown portions of one roller coincide with the flat portions of adjacent rollers. This arrangement moves properly sized product across the roller bed while allowing smaller fines and slivers to fall between the rollers.