Abstract: Apparatus for separating longer tobacco particles from shorter tobacco particles has an elongated vibratory trough for the advancement of a stream containing a mixture of shorter and longer particles from a delivering conveyor to a collecting receptacle. The upper side of the bottom wall of the trough is formed with longitudinally extending depressions which receive and align the particles of the advancing stream, and the bottom wall is formed with one or more transversely extending slots which extend across the depressions and permit shorter particles to descend into a second trough from which the shorter particles return into the distributor of a cigarette rod making machine. The properly aligned longer particles advance across the slot or slots and enter the receptacle.

Abstract: A crumb removal system has an inclined chute extending beneath a horizontal vibratory conveyor trough with an upper convex curved end of the inclined chute spaced in front of the discharge end of the conveyor trough. The spacing between the upper curved end of the chute and the discharge opening of the conveyor trough forms an opening through which fines and small pieces of broken snack food chips can fall and be separated from unbroken chips and larger pieces.

Abstract: A bar screen (10) for sizing wood chips which includes a plurality of parallel bars (12--12) supported at their respective ends (14, 16) in such a manner and driven in such a manner that each bar moves both longitudinally and vertically. Two alternating sets of bars (12--12) are included, one set being 180.degree. removed in position relative to the other set. The speed and movement of the bars (12--12) is such that the wood chips are tipped up to a vertical orientation and supplied with such a momentum that the chips break contact with the bars and encounter a slot between adjacent bars in their thickness dimension.

Abstract: A material separating apparatus for separating particles up to a preselected size from a material having particles of different sizes therein includes a trough having a material input end longitudinally spaced from a material discharge end. The apparatus also includes a separator having a plurality of longitudinally spaced finger screen sections between the input end and the discharge end and along the longitudinal axis of the trough. The finger screen sections each have a backbone extending from side to side across the width of the trough and also each have forwardly extending fingers connected at one end to the backbone. The fingers are spaced side by side from each other by a preselected amount at forward ends thereof sufficient to allow particles up to the preselected size to pass through the fingers as the trough is vibrated to cause the material to move from the input end to the discharge end.

Abstract: A screen deck having spaced, canted parallel slats which present screening slots between them, wherein the slats are mounted on pedestals that are positioned and aligned by parallel rods which extend transversely through the pedestals. The pedestals are spaced apart by spacers between them, the spacers being held in place by the rods. Slat mounting is facilitated and slot width uniformity is improved by use of the pedestals.

Abstract: A feed prestratification attachment for classifying materials is configured to be secured to a vibrating screen unit so as to encourage stratification and more even distribution of the incoming feed material. The attachment includes a pair of side adapter plates separated by a horizontal mounting bar and a plurality of elongate rods affixed at one end to the mounting bar, the rods dimensioned so that the vibratory movement of the vibrating screen causes the rods to oscillate, thus permitting the rapid passage of undersize particles through the rods and the presentation of those particles to the screen, and enhancing the stratification of near-size and oversize particles.

Abstract: A shuffle feed apparatus for removing slivers and comprising first and second shuffle feed members (26, 27) supported respectively between frame members (31, 32) for oscillatory motion to advance articles in rows. To adjust the size of slivers that are removed from the article mainstream, the feed members (26) are adjustable in thickness to allow the spacing between adjacent feed members to be varied. Each feed member (26) comprises a pivotally connected outer shell member (45) and inner shell member (46). The inner shell members are connected by a rail (50) attached to a lever (55) for adjusting the relative positions of the inner and outer shell members to vary the thickness of the feed members (26).

Abstract: An aggregate separator has a fan-shaped separating surface made up of an array of diverging end-stretched wires which are permitted to oscillate individually in response to vibratory stimulus. The surface includes a plurality of identical fan-shaped panels, each panel including a plurality of wires and a pair of end sheaths which retain the ends of the wires in fixed relation to each other so that the wires of each panel diverge. Each panel is stretched on the frame of the separator until the length and tension of the wires are substantially the same. Intermediate transverse bridges may be used to position the wires between the upstream and downstream ends of the separator and ensure that the effective spacing between adjacent oscillating wires does not exceed the exit interval.

Abstract: A screening apparatus, particularly for screening valuable materials, domestic garbage, industrial garbage, bulky garbage, dry garbage, wet garbage, compost and/or problematic and dangerous materials, including inclined, open-ended bars capable of oscillatory movement arranged in a transport direction and forming at least two bar grating screens forming a stepped arrangement of bar grating screens with one screen located behind the other in the transport direction. The bar grating screens have bars that are tapered in the transport direction. The apparatus further includes an inlet portion and a preliminary distributor path for feeding in material upstream of at least the upper bar grating screen of the stepped arrangement. A screen frame accommodates the bar grating screens, the inlet portion and the preliminary distributor path. The inlet portion and the preliminary distributor path comprise approximately one third of the entire length of the screening apparatus.

Abstract: A method for screening of wooden chips and the similar stuff placed upon a vibrating conveyor including a chute (1) and a frame (2), at which the bottom (4) of the chute (1) is provided with a screening grid consisting of mutually parallel screening rods (6) and is brought to vibrate relative to the frame (2) by help of a vibrating device (11) and at which the frame (2) is provided with longish carriers (9) which are arranged projecting up between the screening rods (6) and the carriers (9), and at which the carriers (9) is brought to vibrate partly relative to the frame (2) and partly relative to the chute (1) with the screening rods. The chute (1) with the screening rods (6) is vibrating in the same plane as the carriers (9) at which the relative movement between the screening rods (6) and the carriers (9) is controlled by a mutual phase displacement of these respectively movement of vibration.

Abstract: A bar screen for the separation by size of lump goods, such as wood chips, according to its thickness, and comprising parallel bars (1-5) provided with flights (6), where the bars are mutually movable.

Abstract: This relates to a method of and an apparatus for feeding a product which includes fines to a weigh hopper. In lieu of the usual feeder pan, the last feeder pan in the feeder system is a duplex feeder pan including an upper feeding pan or level and a lower feeding pan or level. The upper feeder pan is provided with selected apertures therein so that fines will be separated from the remainder of the product and directed into the lower feeder pan. During the normal filling of the weigh hopper, both the upper feeder pan and the lower feeder pan will discharge into the weigh hopper. When a pre-selected underweight condition occurs, at least a part of the product from the upper pan will be diverted from immediately entering into the weigh hopper, while the feeding of the fines will continue so as to bring the weight of the product within the weigh hopper up to the pre-selected weight with a minimum of overweight.

Abstract: A screening device having a screen deck composed of two screen frames (11, 27) provided with oblong, parallel screening elements (20, 28), the elements (20) of the first frame being arranged between the elements (28) of the second frame. The second frame (27) rests on the first frame (11). The frames are provided with guide and contact elements (22-26, 32) for guiding and retaining the second frame in a predetermined position on the first frame. The second frame (27) can, in order to free material particles which have jammed between the screening elements (20, 28), be raised freely relative to the first screen frame to a predetermined maximum height, the frames and their screening elements remaining parallel to one another. The frames can be resiliently supported for performing oscillating movements relative to a support frame (5) and relative to one another.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for screening and separating wood chips or the like according to thickness. In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus comprises two generally horizontal decks mounted one beneath the other, and with each deck having three screening sections disposed in a serial arrangement along its longitudinal length. Each screening section comprises an opening in the associated deck, a stationary grid composed of parallel rod elements disposed in the opening, and a movable grid which is also composed of a plurality of rod elements and which are disposed in alternating relation with the rod elements of the stationary grid. Further, the grids are arranged so that the gaps between the rod elements are parallel and of predetermined uniform separation throughout.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for separating articles is disclosed. Apparatus (10) includes a frame (16) having upper and lower portions (24, 26) yieldably separated by compression springs (28). Belts (90) extend between drive rollers (30) supported by upper frame portion (24) and driven rollers (42) supported by lower frame portion (26). A plurality of longitudinal members (88) are attached to each shaft (86) of driven rollers (42). Mud which might otherwise plug an eliminator is removed from belts (90) as they variably flex in passing about driven rollers (42).

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for shaking pieces of breaded food to remove excess breading intermixed therewith and for sifting said breading to recover reusable portions thereof. The breaded pieces of food are placed in a fryer basket which is positioned within a shaker housing, and the housing and the basket are then mechanically shaken to cause excess breading intermixed with the pieces of food to fall onto a screen located below the basket within the housing. The excess breading is sifted by the screen and the reusable portions of the breading are then recovered in a recover pan located therebelow.

Abstract: A machine for effecting an orientation of carrots or other elongate, tapered vegetables placed thereon, comprising a vibratory table of elongate configuration whose upper surface is principally constituted by a plurality of generally parallel members. These members are spaced along the longitudinal centerline of the table, with the spacing between members increasing incrementally such that the minimum spacing between members exists at one end of the table, and the maximum spacing exists at the other end. Alignment means are utilized such that elongate vegetables cuased to be individually aligned with the longitudinal axis of the table can travel for a substantial portion of the length of the table, bridging at least some of the spaces between members.

Abstract: A material separating device includes a support member (21) carrying one end of a plurality of rod members (18, 19). The rod members (18, 19) are mounted in a staggered relationship defining two rows which together form separating decks (16, 17). Each rod itself consists of a metallic core (22) and plastic sheath member (25). The diameter of the sheath member (25) determines the distance between adjacent rod members (18, 19).

Abstract: A parts separator for separating small parts from a mixture with larger members, comprising a vertical cylindrical separator baffle wall and a continuously rotating conical rotor mounted co-axially in the baffle; the upper surface of the rotor is radially corrugated with the outer ends of the corrugation "valleys" large enough to accept the small parts but not the larger members. A mixture deposited on the rotor at an input location moves downwardly and outwardly, so that the small parts fall into the corrugation valleys and then through an annular gap between the rotor and the baffle onto a floor at the base of the separator; the small parts are pushed along the floor and out through a small parts discharge port. The larger members ride down the corrugation peaks and come out through a different discharge port, comprising a large gap in the baffle wall. A proximity switch monitors separator operation and affords an alarm in the event of interruption; a friction clutch affords specific overload protection.

Abstract: Small live insects are separated from green coffee beans or similar sized agricultural commodities by vibrating a screen on which the beans are placed at a frequency of at least 60 cycles per second. The insects are inactivated by the vibrations and fall through a multiplicity of apertures in the screen sized smaller than the beans but larger than the insects. The vibrating screen is usually capable of removing substantially all of the small live insects from the beans. The insects separated from the beans can then be suitable disposed of.

Abstract: As parts of two different sizes are dropped into the mechanism, they are received by a rotor that rotates about an upright axis and is provided with a generally conical configuration such that the parts slide along the conical rotor in a radially outward and downward direction. The conical upper surface of the rotor is formed in part by fin-like members having uppermost longitudinal edges that define the sliding conical surface for the parts, the lateral spacing between such fins being such as to permit the smaller parts to drop between the fins and onto a lower conical surface, also sloping radially outwardly and downwardly from the axis of the rotor, while the larger parts remain supported by the fins.

Abstract: An improved wood chipping installation of reduced overall height has conveyor means for feeding wood pieces to a chipping machine. The conveyor means includes a conveyor type screening device for separating proper size chips from oversize chips. Means are provided for transferring material chipped by the chipping machine back to the infeed end of the screening device so that oversize chips are fed by the conveyor, along with other wood pieces, back into the chipping machine while proper size chips and fines are separated out.

Abstract: This invention relates to a machine for harvesting market-size worms from their bedding that lays in the bottom of a flat-bottomed trough-like bed. The machine is self-propelled and travels lengthwise of the beds riding atop their side walls. A novel digger is provided on the front end of the unit made up of a rotating reel with rake-forming tined shafts, the tines of which remain in parallel relation at all times due to a pair of independently rotating eccentrically positioned hubs that rotate in unison therewith and are operatively connected thereto by a series of parallel links. The digger rakes the bedding along with the worms contained therein back onto a conveyor belt that carries the mixture upwardly and rearwardly and deposits it onto a shaker screen inclined downwardly and rearwardly above the open trough.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting and separating discrete articles such as railroad track material according to shape and size, including an oscillating conveyor, a plurality of spaced parallel bars extending longitudinally along a trough of a sorting end of the conveyor and having leading edges projecting beyond an edge of the trough so that a separating zone is defined, means positioned a spaced distance from the separating zone for receiving a first group of material from the top surface of the parallel bars, and means positioned beneath the separating zone for receiving a second group of smaller-sized material after it falls over the trough edge. The apparatus of the invention also preferably include a hopper, a feeder positioned adjacent the hopper whereby flow of material from the hopper to the oscillating conveyor is regulated, a belt conveyor for transporting the first group of material away from the first receiving means, and an elevating conveyor adjacent the belt conveyor.