Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation and recovery of fractional components of used carpet. The nylon fiber component separated from the carpet pieces fed into the cyclonic comminuter are lighter than the other fractional. components and can be extracted from the comminuter chamber through an extraction valve located in the top wall of the comminuter chamber. The nylon extraction valve includes a valve body with an opening extending generally vertically therethrough and a shaft extending therefrom in a horizontal orientation. The valve body is moved to expose the opening to the interior of the comminuter chamber on an intermittent basis to extract accumulated nylon fibers without disrupting the air flow through the comminuter chamber and the associated comminuting operation. Preferably, the valve body is oscillated back and forth, instead of rotated, in order to minimize the trapping of nylon fibers at the valve opening.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for comminuting and drying material utilizing a closed-loop cyclonic system including a cyclonic comminution chamber, and further incorporating heated or dried air for desiccation of the material, as well as reducing the air pressure of the system to provide enhanced drying of the material. The present invention further contemplates to a cyclonic mill system configured to fiberize and dewater cellulose and other materials in a highly efficient and cost effective manner. The present system employs indirect heat drying and fiberizing for the continuous drying and processing of moist cellulose (i.e., paper) material by cyclonically agitating same in a hot air flow via a specially designed cyclonic mill, which is configured to effectively dewater and decimate wet cellulose material from a variety of sources for form fiberized cellulose material suitable for thermal insulation.

Abstract: A single cylindrical chamber has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire length thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 2000-5000 rpm, this speed being chosen so that the natural resonant frequency of the various components of the system is at least three times this rotation speed. Solid dry coarse particles to be comminuted which may be of coal, limestone/dolomite, cement or lime are fed into the chamber. Pressurized air is fed into the bottom of the chamber which in conjunction with a stationary velocity head provides uplifting pressure for driving the air and particles upwardly in the chamber. The upwardly driven particles are first driven through a plurality of rotors which are driven by the shaft and provide a centrifugal force which forms them into a vertical toroidal fluid bed that allows increased tonnage production and comminutes the particles.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming superfine particles of rubber powder suitable for recycling, as by incorporation into new rubber production, is shown. Coarsely ground rubber particles, formed in a conventional manner, are mixed in a soaking vessel with a reagent which causes the rubber particles to swell. The swollen, reagent-impregnated rubber is less elastic and more easily ground. The reagent-impregnated particles are then transported to a grinder which reduces the size of the particles to 200 &mgr;m or less. The ground particles are then heated to drive off the reagent which is recovered in a reagent recovery system. The dried particles are then sorted according to size. The process is conveniently automated and provides the ability to economically recycle rubber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new, particularly economical process for producing particulate water-soluble cellulose derivatives. The process involves forming a feed composition of swollen and/or dissolved cellulose derivative, and water. The feed composition is contacted with a carrier and heat exchange gas, in a sieve-free high rotational speed gas jet impact mill, and the cellulose derivative of the feed composition is converted into a solid state form of finely particulate particles. The particulate cellulose derivative is then separated from the heat exchange gas and carrier gas, and optionally dried. The mill drying and the particulate cellulose derivative product are influenced by establishing a specific water content in the swollen and/or dissolved cellulose derivative.

Abstract: Two-stage classification of a granular material, in particular a cement grinding feed, is accomplished in two classifiers connected in series in such a way that the separative behavior or the separative action and thus the particle-size distribution of the undersized or finished material coming from the second classifier can be modified with simple resources. Part or all of the oversized material of the second classifier is recycled to the second classifier.

Abstract: To separate light organic fractions from waste which has undergone pretreatment consisting of precomminution, ferrous-metal separation, postcomminution, further ferrous-metal separation, drying and nonferrous-metal separation, multiple, preferably so-called zigzag air classifiers are arranged in cascading stages and are passed through sequentially by the material stream to be separated. The upward-stream speed of the air is adjusted in stages in the individual air classifiers such that the first air classifier receives the smallest and the last air-classifier the highest air speed. As a result, first the fine, then the medium and lastly the large organic light fractions are discharged to the top in sequence from each air-classifier stage. The separated organic light fractions represent fuel components of high calorific value. The remaining bottom-discharge from the air classifier group consists of a mixture of heavy organic fractions and minerals.

Abstract: A method and equipment manufacturing predetermined low bark content wood chips and a high bark content fuel fraction from wood chips with bark attached, includes mechanical bark removal treatment, in which the bark is removed from the chips and their size is reduced; pre-cleaning of the flow of chips with bark attached, into a flow of chips with a bark content of less than 10% and high bark content rejects, with the aid of pneumatic and mechanical sieving; final cleaning of the aforesaid wood chip flow from the pre-cleaning, with the aid of an optical separator, to create low bark content wood chips and a fraction with a higher bark content; collection of the rejects leaving the process, to create the aforementioned high bark content fuel fraction; and seiving out of the flow of wood chips, before the mechanical bark removal process, a predetermined thin fraction of the chips, which bypasses the debarking process.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering metal from metal-containing waste or dross. The process generally includes the steps of comminuting the dross, and then classifying the comminuted dross into a metal enriched large size fraction and salt enriched small size fraction. The process further involves the classification of the large size fraction into a metal-containing product stream and a recycle stream. According to the method, the portion characterized as recycle may then be conducted to the comminution device for further comminution. The salt enriched fraction may be classified on the basis of size, and that portion having a larger size may be conducted to the comminution device for further processing. Additional steps of size classification may also be beneficially utilized according to the process. The disclosed process allows the efficient recovery of metal from metal-containing dross while significantly reducing the amount of waste salts that must be disposed of in landfills.

Abstract: Systems and processes of the present invention for recycling glass fiber waste into glass fiber product include a supply of scrap glass fibers having a mean average length of less than about 5 millimeters; a crusher having at least one pair of rotatable rollers which rotate at essentially the same speed, the rollers having intermeshing protuberances for crushing scrap glass fibers passing therebetween; and an air separating device for separating a first portion of crushed glass fibers having a mean average length of less than about 3 millimeters from a second portion of oversize glass fibers.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for manufacturing chips for a thixomolding-process injection molding machine, primary crushed pieces obtained by fragmenting and crushing metal alloy wastes are cut and fragmented by a chip manufacturing apparatus having fixed blades, rotating blades, and a screen so as to obtain chips, with the result that the surfaces are polished, and a powder is eliminated by forced exhaust air, thereby making it possible to manufacture the chips while preventing ignition and explosion.

Abstract: A cylindrical chamber has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 1,500-10,000 rpm. Solid particles to be comminuted which may be of coal, limestone/dolomite, cement or lime are fed into the chamber. Pressurized air is fed into the bottom of the chamber. Uplifting pressure for driving the gas and particles upwardly in the chamber may be provided by pressurized gas fed in through a tangential inlet in conjunction with a stationary velocity head. The upwardly driven particles are first driven through a plurality of short arm rotors which are driven by the shaft and provide a centrifugal force which comminutes the particles. The particles are then driven through a plurality of semi-permeable screens which are rotatably driven by the shaft and further comminute the particles. High apex flow enhancers are installed along the walls of the chamber to enhance the fluid flow.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating components of free-flowing material contained in a cotton-like, mat-like carrier, includes an air accelerator providing an accelerated air stream for tearing apart the carrier to form flakes. Positioned downstream of the air accelerator is a separation deck which includes a screen surface and a trough. A vibratory unit is associated to the separation deck for oscillation thereof, thereby realizing a separation of the components.

Abstract: The invention comprises an improved recycling and recovery process for rugs, flooring, carpeting, carpeting materials, and other textiles particular from waste carpet containing at least some synthetic fiber backing materials, and at least some nylon as well, and more particularly for the separation and recovery of the nylon polymers in purified and reusable condition and also recovery of other polymeric fibers and materials which may be present and can be recycled and reused.

Abstract: A cylindrical chamber has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor preferably at a speed of about 3600 rpm. Solid particles to be comminuted which may be of coal, limestone/dolomite, or hydrated lime are fed into the chamber. Pressurized air is fed into the bottom of the chamber. Uplifting pressure for driving the air and particles upwardly in the chamber may be provided by pressurized gas in conjunction with a stationary velocity head. The upwardly driven particles are first driven through a plurality of rotors which are driven by the shaft and provide a centrifugal force which comminutes the particles. The particles are then driven through a plurality of semi-permeable screens which are rotatably driven by the shaft and further comminute the particles to a micronized state. To lower NO.sub.x and SO.sub.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation and recovery of fractional components of used carpet. Although the disclosed process is operable with either jute-backed or vinyl-backed carpet, an alternative process is preferred for vinyl-backed carpet to permit the sequential removal of the vinyl backing with most of the fiberglass stabilizer intact. The process includes the chilling of appropriately sized carpet pieces and preferably pre-soaking the used carpet pieces before chilling, followed by the introduction of the pre-conditioned used carpet pieces into a cyclonic comminuter which reduces the carpet pieces into fractional components. The chilling step could lower the temperature of the soaked carpet pieces to or below freezing to stiffen the backing material and enhance the comminution process.

Abstract: A method for homogeneously mixing a uranium/plutonium mixed oxide which is used for the preparation of a uranium/plutonium mixed oxide fuel. The method comprises weighing a uranium oxide powder, a plutonium oxide powder, and a dry recovered powder prepared by grinding a uranium/plutonium mixed oxide sinter so as to give a predetermined plutonium enrichment; roughly mixing these powders together by means of a mixer; pulverizing and homogeneously mixing the roughly mixed powder by means of a jet mill; discharging the homogeneously mixed powder together with compressed air from the jet mill; and separating the mixed powder from the air by means of a first-stage cyclone to recover at least 90% of the discharged powder.

Abstract: A preferred shredder dust treatment process which includes: (1) a step of executing a first crushing; (2) a step of separating and recovering metals from the first crushed product; (3) a step of a second crushing; (4) a step of separating and recovering metals from the second crushed product; (5) a step of executing a third crushing; (6) a step of collecting and recovering dust and the like by fluidizing the third crushed product to separate therefrom a fluffy dust and pneumatically transporting the separated fluffy dust to a dust collector; and (7) a step of separating and recovering non-ferrous metals, non-metals, and the like, from the third crushed product. Preferably, the shredder dust is crushed by crushers having square blades.

Abstract: A pulverizing pass having at one side an adjustable crushing plate which forces the material entering to pass between the plate and variable speed replaceable rotating hammers which are substantially open causing the material to be pulverized. The chamber is lined with plates which can be repeatedly replaced. In addition, heat is applied to the material throughout the process by two open flame furnaces whereby the material exits dry. Further a means for removing contaminants from the glass is accomplished by three blower devices which suck the contaminants into three collection bags whereby the finished product exits 99.9 plus % clean.

Abstract: Aspartame powder for application in instant powder mixtures and instant desserts and consisting entirely or practically entirely of aspartame with a narrow particle size distribution with a d.sub.50 value in the range of from 40 to 80 .mu.m, with max. 10 wt %<20 .mu.m and max. 10 wt %>150 .mu.m; and process for the preparation, from dry or wet aspartame granules, of aspartame powder consisting entirely or practically entirely of aspartame, for application in instant powder mixtures and instant desserts, wherein granular aspartame having a moisture content of max. about 40 wt % is crushed, in dry or drying conditions at a temperature of 0-60.degree. C., or while supplying drying air having a temperature of 100-180.degree. C., in a first step in an impact mill while air is being supplied for discharging the crushed product from the mill, with drying if necessary to achieve a moisture content of less than 4 wt %, to a product in which at least 70 wt % of the particles is smaller than 150 .mu.

Abstract: A process for recovery of a precious metals containing mineral from a non-sulphidic gangue mineral comprising:preparing a pulp of a material containing the precious metals containing and gangue minerals;conditioning the pulp with an oxidizing gas containing a gas selected from oxygen and ozone; andsubjecting the conditioned pulp to a flotation operation for recovery of the precious metals containing mineral.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of extremely fine powders, which are ground wet in a mechanical grinder (1) and are subsequently dried. To obtain extremely fine sizes, the powders are ground wet as components of a suspension in the mechanical grinders. An air vortex grinder (4) is used as a dryer to obtain maximum agglomeration-free drying of the powders. The dried powder leaves the drying chamber (5) of the air vortex grinder (4) through an upper product discharge (8) and is fed through a line (9) to a filter cyclone (11). The suspension leaves the mechanical grinder (1) and is blown into the drying chamber (5) of the dryer (4).

Abstract: The thermoplastic resin waste containers are crushed into coarsely crushed pieces, an impact-grinding force and a centrifugal force are applied on the coarsely crushed pieces so that oily foreign objects be separated; i.e., the oily foreign objects are separated by the impact force and the grinding force. The difference in the centrifugal force separates the resin from the foreign object, the centrifugal force on the resin pieces being controlled by the impact-grinding force, while the centrifugal force on the oily foreign object is free from it. In the course of this process, the crushed pieces to be treated are formed into granules by the impact-grinding force, and the granulated granules are reused as a resin material. Foreign objects other than oils can be separated and removed more easily than oils.

Abstract: A process for economically handling spent mercury containing lamps in an efficient manner while protecting the environment against the release of mercury vapors into the atmosphere along with creation of non-toxic recyclable by-product materials therefrom is disclosed. The process includes the steps of: transporting a lamp crushing apparatus on a mobile vehicle to a site whereat mercury containing lamps are collected; loading the mercury containing lamps within a closed chamber defined by the lamp crushing apparatus; and, crushing the mercury containing lamps within the closed chamber while simultaneously extracting substantially all hazardous mercury vapors from the closed chamber during the crushing process to create non-toxic recyclable by-product materials from the lamps loaded into the closed chamber.

Abstract: In a process for treating composite elements of solid organic and/or inorganic composite materials-such as composites of metal/metal, plastic/plastic, metal/plastic or mineral composites with metals and/or plastic materials-solid particles are produced from the composite elements and they are added to a transport fluid, wherein at least one flow obstacle which crosses the flow of the mixture of solid particles and transport fluid is moved relative to said flow as a flow-breakaway edge for forming eddies which acceleratingly break up the mixture. The mixture is fed to the separation or break-up procedure at the flow-breakaway edge or edges with an acceleration of 20 to 25 m/sec.sup.2 and the composite element is preferably crushed prior to the separation or break-up procedure.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the separation and recovery of fractional components of used carpet. Although the disclosed process is operable with either jute-backed or vinyl-backed carpet, an alternative process is preferred for vinyl-backed carpet to permit the sequential removal of the vinyl backing with most of the fiberglass stabilizer intact. The process includes the pre-cutting and preferable pre-soaking of the used carpet into appropriate sized pieces, followed by the introduction of the pre-conditioned used carpet pieces into a cyclonic comminuter which reduces the carpet pieces into fractional components. Processes for the recovery of the separated fractional components include collecting the components from the respective discharges from the cyclonic comminuter, washing, and separating by carding, static charges, pressure gradients and the like. This effective process will allow for greater utilization of carpet recycling operations to prevent used carpet from being disposed in land fills.

Abstract: Improved control for the separation of waste materials, or materials having waste components, is provided by the injection of air, or other gas bubbles, into a water-filled tank while simultaneously depositing the waste containing material to be separated onto the top of the water. This method is especially useful where both portions of some or all of the materials to be separated from each other have specific gravities greater than that of pure water. The rapidly rising air bubbles provide turbulence and buoyancy to materials that are slightly heavier than water, such as water-soaked organic products, but do not prevent heavier materials, such as sand and metals from sinking. An apparatus is described which allows for the removal of both the floating and sinking fractions from the floatation tank.

Abstract: Contaminants are removed from RPET flakes by a process which includes the steps of comminuting the RPET flakes to produce RPET particles and driving the contaminants out from the RPET particles.

Abstract: Dry municipal solid waste material is subjected to a two-step magnetic separation process to recover ferrous values therefrom. The process includes passing the raw solid waste material through a shredder to reduce the waste to particles at a size of 3 inches or less, passing the particles through a series of two magnetic fields, recovering ferrous-containing fractions from each passage, combining the two ferrous-containing fractions and subjecting them to air classification in a cyclone separator to recover a clean particulate ferrous product, and a waste byproduct and recycling the waste byproduct to pass again through one or both of the two magnetic fields.

Abstract: Method and system for mechanical separation of materials from discarded fluorescent light tubes being broken up. The system comprises a fan-driven exhaust air system which is designed for air transportation and separation of material fragments and which is supplied with air from three separating towers (8, 8', 8"). A mill (2) which breaks up the fluorescent light tubes delivers fluorescent light tube material to a first separating tower (8) where larger material fragments are separated off, while smaller material fragments and particles leave the tower together with the outflowing air. A screen (22) divides the coarse fraction from the tower into glass fragments and metal fragments. The metal fragments from the screen are made to pass through a metal crusher (28) which is connected to a second separating tower (8'). A magnetic separator (34) separates off magnetic material from a conveyor (32) for the glass fragments and metal fragments.

Abstract: A method of controlling the operation of the bowl mills in a coal-fired steam generating power plant is disclosed; and in particular a method of controlling the operation of such bowl mills such that the furnace of a steam generating power plant can more rapidly respond to abrupt changes in the demands placed upon the output of the furnace due to abrupt changes in the power requirements of an electric power grid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for individually collecting layers from a laminated film containing many layers made of different materials by peeling or separating the layers one from the other. The laminated film having a plurality of layers made of different materials is shredded into a plurality of fragments to be processed; and the fragments to be processed are peeled or separated according to the type of layer by applying an impact frictional striking force to each of the fragments to be processed. Subsequently, the peeled or separated layers obtained in the peeling and separating step are subjected to a wind force classifying step. The collected layers in the mixed state are separated from one another, and they are individually collected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously making chopped amorphous fibers that uses an air transport system. The apparatus includes a source of floss, a duct for transporting the floss while it is entrained in a stream of gaseous carrier medium, a chopper for chopping the floss, and a separator. In a preferred embodiment, the floss is chopped while it is entrained in the stream of gaseous carrier medium using a rotating ring chopper, and the chopped floss is subsequently separated using a cyclone separator.

Abstract: A cylindrical vessel has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 1,500-10,000. Solid particles to be comminuted which may be of coal and limestone/dolomite or lime are fed into the vessel. Connected to the shaft and rotatably driven therewith is a centrifugal compressor fan which forms an uplifting air curtain which suspends the particles. Mounted above the compressor and rotatably driven by the drive shaft are a plurality of rotors, screens, and a disc mounted in an aperture formed in a fixed plate which forms a circular vortex in the space between the disc and the plate. The particles are comminuted by the successive action of the rotors, screens and the circular vortex, larger particles being repelled for further comminution while the finer particles are fed from the vessel to cyclonic classifiers.

Abstract: A cylindrical vessel has a drive shaft rotatably mounted therein and extending along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof. This drive shaft is rotatably driven by a motor at a speed of 3,000-10,000 rpm. The output of a roller mill or the like having particles of the order of -200 mesh to be further comminuted, which may be of coal or other minerals, are fed into the vessel. Connected to the shaft and rotatably driven therewith is a centrifugal compressor fan. This fan with additional air intake to the vessel provides a high velocity air curtain which suspends the particles and drives them upwardly. Mounted above the compressor and rotatably driven by the drive shaft are a plurality of semipermeable screens which comminute the particles to bring them to a superfine state. Particles which are not comminuted to a superfine state are repelled by the screens for further comminution.

Abstract: Preferred processes to separate metallic and non-metallic constituent components of at least one electronic product are generally comprised of the following steps: (a) repeatedly crushing the at least one electronic product to create a plurality of crushed electronic components; (b) repeatedly screening the plurality of crushed electronic components to ensure that the plurality of crushed electronic components substantially conform to a specific size; and (c) repeatedly separating portions of the plurality of crushed electronic components after steps (a) and (b) into non-metallic constituent components, metallic constituent components and mixed constituent components by weight, the mixed constituent components having both non-metallic constituent components and metallic constituent components; and (d) returning the mixed constituent components to be recrushed, rescreened, and reseparated in steps (a), (b), and (c).

Abstract: The waste material processing system of the present invention includes a (1) waste material supply; (2) shredder; (3) moisture reducing device; (4) crusher having a rotatable screw auger positioned within a cavity of the crusher for crushing and conveying waste material and a pressurizing device such as a conduit attached to the discharge end of the cavity for exerting a backpressure upon a portion of the waste material positioned about the second end of the auger such that a portion of the scrap glass fibers in the waste material is crushed; (5) dryer; and (6) separating device for separating waste material having a mean average length of less than about 5 millimeters from oversized dried waste material. Also provided by the present invention is a process for recycling waste material using the system.

Abstract: A landplaster production method includes the steps of providing a supply of particulate gypsum material, drying the gypsum material by passing a stream of heated air thereby as the material is rotated, classifying and separating the dried particles into fines and coarse particles, collecting the suspended fines in a collector, passing the coarse particles to a grinder such as a roller mill for reducing the particles, and mixing the reduced particles with the collected fines for processing into landplaster. The elimination of fines from the feed to the grinder results in significantly greater production by increasing the efficiency of the grinder. Further, the dryer is modified to agitate the dried gypsum material so that it may be more easily introduced into the classifier/separator situated adjacent the drier discharge outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recycling glass waste comprising glass and non-glass materials. The apparatus has a device for receiving and presizing the glass waste to produce presized glass waste. A first conveyor receives the presized glass waste and transfers it to a storage hopper. The presized glass waste is then transported to an impact mill via a second conveyor. The rate of movement of the second conveyor is regulated by a control device located within the impact mill. In the impact mill, the glass component of the glass waste is beat off the non-glass component of the glass waste to produce a pulverized mixture. The pulverized mixture is then sent to a screening device via a third conveyor. In the screening device, the glass and non-glass material are separated from the pulverized mixture and collected for reuse.

Abstract: An inspection system for sampling and determining the presence of residues of contaminants within plastic materials to be recycled from used plastic materials such as plastic beverage bottles or plastic food containers includes a chemical sniffing apparatus, or alternatively an optical scanner, for detecting the contaminants as the plastic materials are rapidly moved along a conveyor past a series of stations. Recycled food or beverage bottles are fed through a shredder in-line with the conveyor and the shredded plastic material from the bottles is fed to a washer. The bottles and shredded material may be tested for contaminants at any location in an in-line process. In one exemplary system first the bottles are tested prior to entry into the shredder in order to remove bottles containing gross contaminants.

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

Abstract: An apparatus for reclaiming used foundry and molding sand comprises a container having a cylinder sidewall and at least one bottom wall or tray is arranged on a sand reclamation device for the mechanical cleaning of grains of sand, particularly organically and inorganically bonded molding sands. A central, hollow drive shaft is arranged in the cylinder and is supported for rotation. The bottom walls are firmly attached to the hollow shaft. A slot is formed between the bottom walls and cylinder. By the rotation of the bottom walls a parting plane is formed between the rotating part and the stationary part of the column of sand, in which plane an intensive rubbing of grain against grain takes place. As a result of the cylindrical force, the sand is brought in the direction towards the wall of the cylinder and through the slot, which additionally leads to an intensive rubbing of grain against grain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the dry grinding of solids, comprises initial coarse grinding of the solids in a controlled vortexing of a fluidized bed and directing the solid fine particles generally upwardly into a vortex grinding zone and grinding the upwardly directed solid particles in the vortex grinding zone by passing a portion of the particles through the vortex grinding zone. The vortex grinding zone comprises at least one successively vertically disposed grinding stage comprising passing particles upwardly through at least one horizontal vortex zone of an annular gap, defined by a stationary plate with a circular aperture, hereafter cleaning up the upward moving product mix by eliminating coarser particles by gravity separation with a centrifugal expelling fan and subjecting the remaining part of the upwardly particles to the vertical vortexing of a rotating semipermeable means, defined by a rotating assembly containing a broad mesh screen therein.

Abstract: An inspection system for sampling and determining the presence of residues of contaminants within plastic materials to be recycled from used plastic materials such as plastic beverage bottles or plastic food containers includes a chemical sniffing apparatus, or alternatively an optical scanner, for detecting the contaminants as the plastic materials are rapidly moved along a conveyor past a series of stations. Recycled food or beverage bottles are fed through a shredder in-line with the conveyor and the shredded plastic material from the bottles is fed to a washer. The bottles and shredded material may be tested for contaminants at any location in an in-line process. In one exemplary system first the bottles are tested prior to entry into the shredder in order to remove bottles containing gross contaminants.

Abstract: A lamp processing machine for separating glass, powder and metal lamp components placed within the machine. The machine may include two generally cylindrical, concentrically mounted screens and a tube concentrically mounted between the screens. The screens may be mounted within an enclosure having separate outlets for the powder, glass and metal.

Abstract: A mill (10) for grinding garbage is disclosed including an octagonal shaped grinding chamber (26). Grinding rotors (48-50) are rotatably fixed to a rotatable shaft (44). An impeller rotor (51) is also rotatably fixed to the shaft (44) below the grinding rotors (48-50). The impeller rotor (51) discharges a stream of air, entrapped material, and projectiles into a projectile deflection device (182) which includes an upwardly sloping bottom plate (202) which deflects the projectiles into an end plate (204) to reduce the kinetic energy thereof. The air stream and entrapped material pass from the projectile deflection device (182) into a plenum (210) which reduces the velocity of the air stream to release much of the entrapped material, with the material release being enhanced by baffles (224) providing a tortuous path for the air stream in the plenum (210) before it enters a cyclonic material separator (216).

Abstract: In the process for treating slag from refuse incineration plants, the crude slag, after passing through the firing grate, is separated into at least two fractions directly and without previous quenching in a water bath. These two fractions are further processed separately, the coarse fraction being fed to a wet deslagger. For optimum separation of the two fractions, the first fraction, having a particle size preferably up to 32 mm, is separated off in a first screening stage and the screen oversize of the first screening stage is fed to the wet deslagging. The screen undersize and if appropriate the material passing through the firing grate are fed to a second screening stage to separate off the fine fraction 0 . . . 2 mm. The screen oversize of the second screening stage, if appropriate after removing metallic and inert materials, is mechanically comminuted. In an optional third screening stage (8), the fine fraction 0 . . .

Abstract: A solids pulverizing mill for producing fine particles such as coal dust, which includes a housing having a centrally located coal feed chute and enclosing an annular-shaped air port ring containing multiple nozzles located around a rotatable grinding table. Multiple grinding rollers press down and rotate upon the coal on the rotatable grinding table so as to pulverize the coal, which is then entrained by multiple intersecting and strongly interacting air jet streams upwardly from the grinding table through a classifier section to an exit conduit. The air port nozzle ring is fitted with multiple angled flow passages from which adjacent air jet streams intersect and interact strongly with the adjacent streams to product intense turbulence, which prevents undesirable acoustic vibration of the upflowing air/coal material within the mill housing. The centerlines of adjacent air jet nozzles intersect at an included angle of at least 20.degree. and not exceeding 90.degree.

Abstract: A process is provided for recovering a saline mineral from an ore containing the saline mineral and impurities. The process generally includes the steps of separating a first portion of impurities from the ore by density separation, electrostatically separating a second portion of impurities from the ore, and magnetically separating a third portion of impurities from the ore. The process can further include the steps of crushing the ore and dividing the crushed ore into a plurality of size fractions before the above-referenced separating steps. Furthermore, in order to increase the efficiency of the separating processes, the process of the present invention may further include the steps of drying the ore to remove surface moisture therefrom and de-dusting the ore to recover valuable fines.

Abstract: A high-speed fine pulverizer wherein a fixed top grindstone is mounted in a pulverizing chamber with a reduced pressure-tolerable mechanism, a rotating bottom grindstone is arranged in opposition thereto and mounted firmly to a rotating disk with a plurality of ejection wings for reduced pressure and disposed around the rotating grindstone, and an intensive reduced-pressure jet stream is caused by the high-speed revolution of rotating bottom grindstone to such air from a central opening of fixed grindstone, thereby forcedly passing the pulverizing raw material fed from said opening through the clearance between both grindstones at high speed while whirling it so as to be finely pulverized, wherein the pulverizing raw material can be pulverized finely at ambient temperature without a rise in temperature, allowing the conversion of foods etc. to powder without thermal transmutation.