Abstract: A viscous food product dispensing system having a transport section for receiving a particulate food product from a bin, an auger for processing and conveying the received particulate food product from the transport section into an outlet adapter via one or more flutes, a milling device housed in the outlet adapter, and a discharge nozzle in the outlet adapter that pinches off the viscous food product created by the milling device. The auger has a unique design that allows it to engage and break whole nuts.

Abstract: A grinding chamber of a grinding device for vegetal products suitable to form beverages includes, in its interior, a pair of grinders axially overlapping each other, one of which is rotatable with respect to the other which is kept stationary, a grinder support at least for the rotatable grinder, a motor member connected to the grinder support for setting the rotatable grinder in rotation. The grinding chamber is formed by a first bottom wall, perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotatable grinder, adjacent and below the support thereof, and at least a second cylindrical wall, connected axially to the first wall at the peripheral boundary thereof. The grinding chamber also includes a first opening for introducing the product to be ground and with a second opening for discharging the ground product. A labyrinth is provided between the peripheral boundary of the first wall and the grinder support.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement for use with a structure defining an outer surface which expands and contracts inward and outward relative to the structure includes, a member having at least one inner surface to face the outer surface, and at least one protrusion extending from the inner surface, the at least one protrusion being biased toward and in contact with the outer surface and maintains contact as the structure expands and contracts.

Abstract: A system for preparing a coffee beverage, provided with a coffee making apparatus comprising a grinder for grinding coffee beans to obtain ground coffee, a coffee beverage preparation device arranged for, with supply of water to the ground coffee, preparing the coffee beverage, and a coffee outlet for dispensing the coffee beverage, a separate coffee bean package with an inner space which at least before use is filled with the coffee beans, wherein the coffee bean package before use is closed off in itself such that the exposure of the coffee beans to ambient air is prevented, a coffee bean inlet for supply of coffee beans from the coffee bean package to the grinder, and a connecting device for connecting the coffee bean package to the coffee making apparatus.

Abstract: A refiner includes a main body, a rotation shaft provided inside the main body, a tapered rotor attached to the rotation shaft with a space therein, a stator provided in the main body, a rotor beating portion provided on the rotor and having a groove between bars and through-holes, a stator beating portion on the stator with a groove between bars and through-holes, a raw material supply portion for supplying a raw material into the main body, and a raw material discharge portion for discharging a beaten raw material outside the main body. A portion of the raw material guided to a small-diameter opening portion of the rotor and the space of the rotor is beaten by passing through the through-holes of the rotor beating portion and the stator beating portion, and is discharged outside the stator beating portion from the through-holes of the stator beating portion.

Abstract: A device and method for conveying bulk material, said device comprising a movable conveying member and an outer wall that is stationary in relation to the conveying member, wherein the device is connected to a further processing chamber for receiving and further processing the bulk material and a dynamic seal is used which seals with respect to the differential pressure between the further processing chamber and regions lying upstream in the process. A seal element of the dynamic seal formed of a sealant in the form of a material pattern or material seal that can be regenerated during operation of the conveying device, wherein the seal element is provided from a branch flow of the bulk material to be conveyed or from a separate sealant source.

Abstract: A grinder (30) has a toolessly attached ingredient hopper assembly (50) overlying a toolessly attached fixed grinding burr (134) defining the top of a grind chamber (158) within which is received a mating rotary grinding burr (150) that is slidably mounted to a rotary drive motor (154) for adjustment relative to the fixed grinding burr (134). Adjustment is achieved automatically by control of a stepper motor (168) that pushes on the end of an elongate control shaft (393) passing through a hollow rotary drive axle (392) and carrying the rotary grinding burr (150) at an opposite end. In a similar embodiment (FIG. 23), the non-rotary burr (314) is adjusted by movement of a control shaft (393) contained within a hollow motor axle (392). In other embodiments (FIGS. 17-22), a movable axle (304) of a movable rotor motor (300) and attached to the rotary burr (312) is moved to make the adjustments.

Abstract: A system includes a multi-stage solids feeder. The multi-stage solids feeder includes a first solids feeder having a first inlet and a first outlet, a second solids feeder having a second inlet and a second outlet, and a conduit disposed between the first outlet and the second inlet. The second solids feeder is disposed adjacent to the first solids feeder, and the conduit routes a solids flow from the first solids feeder to the second solids feeder.

Abstract: A nut grinder includes a nut auger, a stationary grinding plate, and a rotatable grinding plate configured to grind nuts. The nut auger and rotatable grinding plate may be adapted to receive rotational power from a human user or a mechanical source.

Abstract: A rubbing machine and its tool pan are disclosed. The tool pan (122) comprises a number of homocentric annular structures (125) which have a lot of rubbing zones (121). Provided between the contiguous rubbing zones is at least a ramp (127), which is extending along the normal of the tool pan, and the height of which is increased gradually towards the fringe of the tool pan. In the rubbing machine (100) the tool pan is used. The rubbing machine is applicable in paper making industry, and can effectively separate and fibrillate the fiber of herbage by mechanical force between a pair of tool pans, thereby needing not to use chemicals, and according with the modern conception of environmental protection.

Abstract: A bale processor, having a support surface for supporting a bale of crop material, a shredding roller positioned at one end of the support surface, the shredding roller having an elongate roller body, the roller body configured to rotate about an axis of rotation, and a feed mechanism positioned on the support surface, the feed mechanism configured for urging the bale towards the shredding roller. The shredding roller includes at least one separating section having at least one impacting member that protrudes outwardly from the elongate roller body, the at least one impacting member configured to impact the bale when the roller body rotates so as to separate the crop material therefrom. The shredding roller also includes at least one conveying section configured to engage a portion of the bale and to direct that portion towards the separating section in a longitudinal direction aligned with the axis of rotation of the roller body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for husking and degerminating grains of maize. The aim of the invention is to provide an efficient and simple degermination of maize. To this end, during a wet degermination process, cleaned maize is wetted, and then husked and degerminated, and directly supplied to the comminution stage.

Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing insulation including a shredding chamber configured to shred and pick apart the blowing insulation. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of low speed shredders, an agitator and a discharge mechanism. The agitator is mounted for rotation and rotates toward the discharge mechanism. The discharge mechanism includes a side inlet configured to receive the blowing insulation from the agitator. A baffle is disposed between the agitator and the discharge mechanism. The baffle is configured to partially obstruct the side inlet of the discharge mechanism. The baffle allows finely shredded blowing insulation to enter the side inlet of the discharge mechanism and directs heavy clumps of blowing insulation past the side inlet of the discharge mechanism for eventual recycling into the low speed shredders.

Abstract: A machining waste metal recycling machine has an in-feed hopper. The hopper uses paired augers to move the waste metal through the hopper to a cutting and transporting auger. The hopper augers are powered independently from each other, and may be individually reversed or reversed as a group to clear jams. In the event a jam is not cleared through one or more reversal cycles, the remaining augers may be operated to clear the hopper, thereby avoiding the need for manual unloading. Within the hopper are one or more shear bars that are provided to sever bunches or bundles of machining waste and thereby clear tangles which might otherwise jam the augers. The cutting and transporting augers ultimately feed a reciprocating compactor having a movable gate with one or more grooves for controlled drainage of machining oil and other liquid, as the machining waste metal is compressed into pellets.

Abstract: A double disk refiner and inducer for the same that mixes fiber in low consistency (6% or less by weight) stock and urges it towards both pairs of refiner disks of the double disk refiner. In a preferred embodiment, the inducer comprises an impeller that has at least one flight extending radially outward from an inner hub. Each flight is angled and also can be curved so as to substantially continuously mix and urge stock toward the disks. In one preferred embodiment, the inducer is an impeller that has two helical flights that are axially spaced from one another but that overlap in an axial direction. In a preferred method, the low consistency stock is urged by the inducer toward the disks preventing clumping of fibers in the stock and breaking up any clumps already present in the stock. As a result, the gap between the disks can be increased from between one thousand and three thousandths of an inch to increase the output of the refiner.

Abstract: A device treats a fiber stock suspension with at least one additive, the fiber stock suspension being used for production of at least one of paper and cardboard. The fiber stock suspension includes a suspension medium and a fiber material. The fiber material has fiber surfaces, the fiber surfaces being moistened by the suspension medium. The device includes a fluffer having an inlet for receiving at least one of the fiber stock suspension and the at least one additive. The fluffer is coupled to the inlet, the fluffer being configured for separating the fiber material and enlarging a specific surface of the fiber surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading fibers in a fiber suspension with calcium carbonate has a housing with an inlet and an accept outlet. A rotatable distribution member is positioned within the housing. A rotor and stator assembly is positioned within the housing radially outside of the distribution member. A toothed ring is interposed between the distribution rotor and the rotor and stator assembly. The toothed ring and the rotor and stator assembly define a gas ring therebetween. A reactant gas supply is fluidly coupled with the gas ring. A method for loading fibers in a fiber suspension with calcium carbonate can be practiced with the apparatus, The method controls various factors and provides low shear treatment of the suspension to promote selective crystal formation.

Abstract: A chip detangler is provided for a machine having a discharge trough for collecting fluid containing metal chips. An auger disposed along a longitudinal axis of the trough advances the fluid and chips downstream through an exit area. The detangler preferably comprises a snagging bar fixed relative to the machine and disposed at least partially within the trough to engage nests of chips traveling past the snagging bar. The forces induced by the auger tears apart nests engaged with the snagging bar into smaller, more suitable sizes.

Abstract: Feeding elements are disclosed for use in connection with refiners for lignocellulosic fibrous material including a stationary refiner, a rotary refiner mounted for rotation in juxtaposition with the stationary refiner thereby forming a refining gap therebetween, a feeder for feeding the lignocellulosic fibrous material centrally to a central feed zone within the refining gap and a refining zone extending radially outward from the central feed zone, the feeding element including a disk for mounting on the rotatable refiner at a central location in the central feed zone, the disk including at least one radially projecting strip extending from the central portion of the disk towards the outer circumference of the disk and including a body and a projecting portion extending laterally from the body at a location displaced from the upper surface of the disk for a major portion of the radially projecting strip.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for refining lignocellulosic material between a pair of relatively rotary refining elements forming an annular outer refining zone and a central feed zone. The method includes feeding the lignocellulosic material to the central feed zone, accelerating the lignocellulosic material through the central feed zone towards the annular outer refining zone without lignocellulosic material build up in the central feed zone and substantially without working the lignocellulosic material in the central feed zone, the density of the lignocellulosic material in the central feed zone being a maximum of about 10 kg/m3, and mechanically working the lignocellulosic material in the annular outer refining zone, and in which the relatively rotary refining elements have a relative speed of greater than about 50 m/sec.

Abstract: A combination of screening structure for a composite usually food material made up, for example, of a relatively soft flesh component to be recovered and of relatively hard components usually disposed of as waste, and of dual material conveying and discharging screws having overlapped and intermeshed helical flights as discharge structure for the relatively hard components which provide a running series of compartments for receiving, carrying, and discharging such relatively hard components as well as providing useful back pressure on the composite material travelling along and against the entry face of the screening structure. Termination of the overlapping relationship of the helical flights of the material conveying screws within a discharge area for the relatively hard material carried by such compartments facilitates discharge of such relatively hard material.

Abstract: A suspension arrangement for rotatable feed worms of food cutting apparatus and knives mounted thereon for rotation thereby. The feed worms are provided with coaxially extending bearing pins which are mounted for resiliently biased movement in a coaxial recess of the worms and which are journaled in bearings provided in a cutting disk. Releasable means are provided for moving the cutting disk relative to the bearing pin and knife mounted thereon.

Abstract: A superior grade of flake mica product may be produced by applying shear forces to sedimentary mica to delaminate it into flakes. Shear forces are applied by rotating a plurality of arcuate blades within a confined cylindrical chamber containing the mica, such that the mica is forced between an outer portion of each blade and the chamber. Each one of the arcuate blades is curved to define an end portion that is spaced from, and substantially concentric with, a portion of the cylindrical chamber.

Abstract: A feeder assembly for lignocellulosic chip refiner has a conical core having a major diameter end and a minor diameter end. A helically coiled ribbon is supported by and extends longitudinally in spaced relation with the core. The ribbon is defined by turns of increasing diameter extending from the minor to the major diameter end of the core. A conical feed housing surrounds the ribbon.

Abstract: A coffee grinding apparatus for grinding coffee beans and distributing said beans into a basket for subsequent brewing of coffee having a pair of grinding disks where one of the disks is fixed to the housing and has an annular configuration with a central opening and the other disk further removed from the rotates with the drive shaft of the grinder motor. However, the rotating disk is mounted to the shaft so that it rotates with but is free to axially slide along the drive shaft. A coffee bean feed drive is mounted over the distal end of the drive shaft and moves coffee beans from the opening at the front end of the housing through the central opening of the stationary grinding burr. The feed drive is mounted to the shaft so that it rotates with but is also free to slide axially along the shaft. An adjusting mechanism is positioned adjacent to one end of the feed drive and functions to move the feed drive relative to the drive shaft.

Abstract: A sampling mill for grinding discrete materials to obtain a representative sample is provided by this invention. The mill is particularly useful for grinding various foodstuffs such as corn, peanuts, animal foods and the like. The material to be sampled is fed to a rotary worm gear of substantial length connected to a burr plate to feed the material between a second plate. By varying the worm gear with comminuting means, the placement of burrs on the burr plate and the distance between the burr plates, the size of the ground sample can be varied and different types of foodstuffs can be ground and sampled as compared to a grinder with limited adjustability. The ground sample is distributed to a main discharge chute and a sampling chute with an adjustable valve to provide a selected small percentage of the total ground foodstuff.

Abstract: An apparatus for plasticizing thermoplastic synthetic plastics material, in particular scrap material, comprises a plasticizing screw (18) bearingly supported within a housing (21), to which screw the synthetic plastics material to be plasticized is supplied through a feed opening (16). At this feed opening (16) a comminuting means in the form of two shafts (3, 4) disposed parallel to each other and parallel to the axis of the screw (18) is provided, each of the shafts (3, 4) being provided with a plurality of pinned-up disk-shaped comminuting tools (8). Between each two neighboring comminuting tools (8) a circular spacer disk (9) is disposed and stationary knives (11) engage into the gaps between adjoining comminuting tools (8), the flanks (15) of which knives extend tangentially with respect to the periphery (13) of the spacer disks (9).

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the flow of fibrous material is disclosed including a substantially horizontal feeder press, a rapidly rotatable spreader screw disposed in a vertical housing, with the outlet end of the feeder press connected to the vertical housing, at least two metering screws disposed below the outlet end of the vertical housing, and a spreader disk disposed at the outlet end of the vertical housing for disintegrating the fibrous material and distributing it to the metering housing containing the metering screws.

Abstract: The shredding apparatus comprises a shredder housing with an inlet having a flow regulator that feeds insulation into the housing at a selected rate. A blade assembly is positioned within the housing adjacent the inlet. The blade assembly rotates about an axis designating an insulation flow direction. The blade assembly has a plurality of knife blades that are arranged in a helix about the axis, and are operable to catch insulation fed from the flow regulator. A stator positioned adjacent the blade assembly obstructs the insulation caught on the blade assembly such that the blade assembly shreds the insulation. The blade assembly urges the shredded insulation to an auger positioned coaxially with the blade assembly that discharges the shredded insulation from the housing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reclaiming foundry sand wherein the speed of the rotor and/or the drum and, thus, the resulting striking, shearing and friction forces are adapted or matched to the changing surface hardness of the quartz grains to be processed during the process duration. The drum comprises two drum halves separated transversely to the rotational axis, a sand inlet and a suction removal device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the mechanical refining of high consistency lignocellulosic feed material in a frustroconical refining zone, by facilitating the backflow of steam generated in the refining zone through the upstream feed zone which, despite the backflow of steam, imparts outward force on the feed material sufficient for the material to enter the refining zone and pass therethrough, without blockage or flow interruption. This is accomplished by providing, immediately upstream of the frustroconical refining zone (46), a hybrid feed/grinding zone (104), which acts on the wood chips with relatively high refining intensity at low refining power, so as to reduce the size of the material and outwardly convey the material by centrifugal force into the frustroconical refining zone against the backflowing steam, but without generating steam in the hybrid zone.

Abstract: This apparatus is a continuous processing device designed to remove labels and similar contaminants from granulated material prior to its reclamation into a manufactured product. The apparatus is particularly suited to the removal of adhesive backed product labels affixed to plastic base materials subsequent to granulation of the intact plastic item. This allows reprocessing of label-contaminated plastic containers into plastic pellets with greater economy and a higher purity of the end product. The need for this process is particularly acute with blow molded plastic containers which have paper or plastic labels affixed to large areas of their surface. Because this apparatus is continuous in operation, it can be placed in line with other automatic processing equipment such as granulators, washers, classifiers, and extruders. The success of this apparatus results from a combination of physical and thermal forces generated within the equipment which remove the adhesive from the plastic base.

Abstract: Apparatus for refining lignocellulose containing material is disclosed, including a refiner housing including a pair of refiner discs relatively rotatable about a pair of rotatable shafts. Each refiner disc includes a refiner element mounted thereon in a face-to-face relationship defining a refiner gap therebetween. The apparatus includes feed passages passing through the first refiner discs at a location proximate to the rotatable shaft for feeding the lignocellulose-containing material to the refiner gap element and the first refiner disc includes feeding wings corresponding to the feed passages and located partially in front of each such feed passage to accelerate the lignocellulose-containing material into the refiner gap, while the second refiner disc includes a substantially smooth surface portion at a location juxtaposed with the location of the feed passages in the first refiner disc.

Abstract: A mica plate delaminator has a delaminating cylindrical chamber with a flat disk mounted on a drive shaft at a 65 degree angle to the shaft. A screw feeder feeds material from a hopper into the delaminating chamber and the disc is rotated at 600-1200 rpm to force the mica back and forth over itself and the clearance between the disc and the housing to a discharge, delaminating the mica plates to small flakes.

Abstract: A method for controlling a chip refiner meters chips into a chip refiner with the help of a metering device, and feeder which is adapted to the chip refiner for feeding chips between refiner disks. Water is added to the chips prior to feeding them between the refiner disks. Temperature of the axial bearing is measured, and using conventional methods, the volume of chip stock metered to the feeder means is controlled with the help of the metering device so as to regulate the temperature of the axial bearing to a constant level.

Abstract: A method for controlling a chip refiner meters chips into the chip refiner with the help of a metering device and feeder which is adapted to the chip refiner for feeding chips between refiner disks. Water is added to the chips prior to feeding them between the refiner disks. Input power to the feeder means is measured, and using conventional methods, the volume of chip stock metered to the feeder is controlled with the help of the metering device so as to regulate the input power to the feeder to constant level.

Abstract: Mechanical cellulosic fibrous material pulp (mechanical pulp to produce paper products) having lower freeness, and enhanced light scattering properties, tensile and tear strengths, for a given energy input, is produced by force feeding a refiner. Using a progressive compacting plugscrew, cellulosic material (e.g. wood chips) is fed to the refiner inlet at a rate greater than the transporting capacity of the refiner (e.g. about 10-40% greater). The refiner preferably is a low frequency conical refiner with steam removal at the grinding area between the conical refiner elements. The production rate is regulated by sensing the axial force on the refiner rotor and controlling the spacing between the refiner elements in response to the sensed axial force. The screw has a compaction ratio of at least 3/1 for wood chips and 6/1 for pulp, and is rotated at about 6-10% the speed of rotation of the refiner rotor.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for granulating excess material in the production of plastic article by means of knives (41) disposed at one end of a feeder screw (20) and cooperating with a number of preferably fixed counter knives (41) and a grid (57), each knife rotating with the screw (20) having a seat (40) which extends between an end plate (26) and a ring (31) most proximal the end of the screw (20) and being fixed therein at the ends, a knife blade (41) adapted to the configuration of the seat (40), and a bar (42) for fixedly clamping the knife blade (41) in the seat (40).

Abstract: A coffee bean delivery and grinding system for producing a charge of ground coffee comprising a bin and hopper for storing coffee beans, an auger being at least partially disposed in the bottom of the hopper, and a grinder having grinding wheels driven by a grinder motor. An auger motor is connected to one end of the auger for turning the auger to convey coffee beans from the hopper to the grinder. A control mechanism is provided for operating the grinder motor and the auger motor during the cycle of operation of the system. The end of the auger opposite the motor is located generally in an opening in the grinder housing such that the end of the auger is adjacent the grinding wheels for feeding coffee beans to the grinding wheels upon initiation of rotation of the auger.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for mixing chemicals into a fibre pulp, the pulp passes in a space between a fixed casing and a rotating device through three treatment sections. In the first treatment section a transport screw is arranged for transporting the pulp and impart to it a pressure up to the subsequent treatment section. In this treatment section both the casing and the rotating device are provided with guide elements which cause shearing between the fibre layers of the pulp by alternating velocity gradiants in the pulp and oscillating movement thereof. In the next treatment section the pulp is imparted a retarding velocity in a first part of the section and thereafter an accelerating velocity in a second part of the section during simultaneous oscillating movement and shearing between the fibre layers. This is accomplished by a configuration of both the fixed casing and the rotating device in the form of double-cones having their basis abutting each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for comminuting grass clippings and other waste material comprising an elongate cylindrical barrel, an extrusion screw mounted for rotation within said barrel, an inlet opening at one end of the barrel through which material to be comminuted is presented to the extrustion screw by feeding means, an end cap closing the end of said barrel and having a shaped inner surface corresponding the shape of a generally conical end portion of said extrusion screw, said end cap having a plurality of openings through which the comminuted material is forced by said extrusion screw, said openings being directed towards the line of contact between the end of the flight of said extrusion screw and the end of said barrel.

Abstract: A feed screw housing support includes a support pedestal (46), a spring loaded tie rod assembly (76), and a bearing assembly including pedestal bearing blocks (62) cooperating with mating bearing blocks (66) connected directly or indirectly to the housing. The tie rod assembly provides a resilient hold down force between the housing (32) and the pedestal (46). The interfacing surfaces (74) of the blocks are angled in such a manner that, when viewed from the ends, a line extending from each planar interface of the blocks passes directly through the axis (54) of the feed screw rotor (28).

Abstract: A screw mill, for example, used for producing fine powder grains of calcium carbonate used as a bulking agent for paper. According to the screw mill of the present invention, the combination of the continuous screw and discontinuous vanes makes it possible to efficiently grind both slurry and dry materials without causing clogging of the mill. Also the clearance between the hub and the rotor can be finely adjusted by the screw type adjustor. This makes it possible to easily adjust the grain size and to produce ground materials having the spheroidicity of 0.3-0.03 which is best suited for use as a bulking agent for paper.

Abstract: A grinding machine comprised of adjustable grinding mechanism for grinding material into preselected sized grounds. The grinding mechanism includes a stationary grinding burr and a grinding burr affixed to an axially adjustable rotor assembly. The rotor assembly includes on its face opposite to where the grinding burr is located a vane assembly which is designed to insure that any of the ground material that seeks to move into the cavity in which the vaned portion of the rotor and other adjustable mechanisms are located is evicted from said cavity to prevent fouling of the adjustable mechanisms located therein.

Abstract: A pulverizing apparatus including a stator and a rotor, the rotor including a plurality of concentric rows of stairstep-like movable teeth which intermesh with a plurality of concentric rows of similar stairstep-like fixed teeth on the stator. Each tooth in the rows of intermeshing teeth defines a plurality of edges which extend across the direction of movement of the movable plate, thereby defining a plurality of openings between the fixed teeth and the movable teeth which vary in size and shape as the movable teeth move relative to the fixed teeth, to break down substances introduced into the openings. The apparatus is suitable for comminuting organic waste such as food waste, as well as inorganic material such as metal ore.

Abstract: A motor-driven nut-grinding apparatus is constructed to effectively operate at much lower than conventional speeds and has a front-mounted, unitary casting part providing a back mounting plate wall, a feed chute, a forwardly extending feed and grinding hub, and a front mounting for a stationary grinding disc. The hub has an open-end bore that journals a motor-driven auger shaft on which a rotating grinding disc is mounted to cooperate and define a final grinding chamber with the stationary grinding plate. A back portion of the auger shaft has a cylindrical, reduced diameter portion that with at least about one and a half of auger convolution turns, is exposed through a window in the hub and an open mouth of the chute to provide a non-jamming receiving area for nut kernels from a downwardly converging mouth portion of the feed chute.

Abstract: A paper pulp refiner for refining high consistency stock characterized by two virtually identical refining zones connected in series which have an interstage device to remove excess steam and whose axial loads can be varied independently thus producing two stage pump from a single refiner.

Abstract: A storage bin for handling and discharging plug flow material uses shrouds to prevent wedging of plug flow material such as refuse derived fuel between vertical screws and the end walls of the bin. The bin is divided into two separate sections by the vertical screws. Wedging of plug flow material in both bin sections and material discharge is then stopped. The shrouds force the plug flow material into the active surface area of vertical screws and continuous discharge through an elongated discharge aperture is assured. Two horizontal screws are used to further augment material discharge beneath the elongated discharge aperture. The two horizontal screws are parallel and the bottom of vertical screws are between the two horizontal screws.

Abstract: Apparatus for thickening, or de-watering, and refining fibre-pulpsuspensions include a screw-press thickener (1) and a refiner (2). In order to prevent air from entering the pulp and to provide a simpler arrangement, the outfeed end of the screw-press thickener (1) is connected directly to the infeed end of the refiner (2), therewith also to serve as an infeed screw to the refiner (2). In this respect the thickener (1) has a screening jacket (5) which embraces the screw (6). The screening jacket has at least one section which converges in the pulp feed direction, to achieve in the screw-press (1) a press effect required for de-watering the pulp while at the same time achieving the requisite reduction in diameter of the screening jacket (5) for connection to the refiner (2).

Abstract: Apparatus for the separation of mixtures of materials of different consistencies, such as meat and bone, or sewage containing solid material, comprises a positive displacement pump feeding the pressurized mixture to a separator .Iadd.screen .Iaddend.which can be separate from the pump or an integral part of its structure. The pump comprises a rotary vaned pump with radially-moving vanes of fixed length operating with both their ends always in sealing engagement with the wall of an internal cam also constituting a wall of the pump chamber. The vanes are provided with cutting edges able to shear material such as bone that enters the pump, so that the pump is not jammed thereby. .Iadd.The pump is required to provide pressurization to the mixture of at least 70 Kg/sq. cm. (1000 p.s.i.), usually up to about 210 kg/sq. cm. (3000 p.s.i.