Abstract: A generator module for a vehicle includes a housing with a first conical surface, a rotor assembly with a second conical surface, aligned with the first conical surface, and a spring arranged to push the second conical surface into contact with the first conical surface. In an example embodiment, the first conical surface or the second conical surface includes a plastic surface or a friction paper surface. In an example embodiment, the rotor assembly is axially displaceable within the housing to compress the spring and move the second conical surface away from the first conical surface.

Abstract: A processing device has a fibrillation portion fibrillating fiber-containing materials containing fibers in the air, a particle supply portion supplying particles having Mohs' hardness of 2 or more and 5 or less to the fiber-containing materials during or after the fibrillating at the fibrillation portion for collision of the particles and the fiber-containing materials, and a particle removal portion removing the particles from the fiber-containing materials to which the particles are supplied.

Abstract: A dosing device dispenses predetermined doses of ground coffee into a filter holder of an espresso coffee machine. The dosing device includes a carousel body formed by plural compartments sized to hold respective p doses of ground coffee. Each compartment includes a top opening and a bottom provided with members for opening and closing thereof. The carousel body can be displaced between a first position, in which the top of one of the compartments is at a discharge conduit of ground coffee and a second position in which the bottom of the compartment is positioned above the filter holder. The dosing device disclosure can arrange doses of ground coffee, different from each other, preparing different types of beverage, within respective containment compartments, select the dose for the beverage, select the compartment that contains it, move the compartment to the filter holder, and supply the selected dose to the filter holder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for opening containers (C), the device comprising: an enclosure (2) having an inlet (3) for admitting containers (C), the inlet being above an outlet (4); a rotary shredder tool (10) suitable for causing the containers (C) to open, and extending between a bottom end (11) and a top end (12), said shredder tool (10) being mounted via its top end (12), the bottom end (11) of said shredder tool (10) being free inside said enclosure (2); and drive means (14) for driving rotation of said shredder tool (10); the device (1) being characterized in that said shredder tool (10) presents a reference position from which it can move away while continuing to perform its function of opening the containers (C), said shredder tool (10) having a natural tendency to return to its reference position under the action of return means (34). Opening containers.

Abstract: A nacelle for a wind turbine includes an electrical generator having a stator and a rotor with an air gap between the stator and the rotor. The stator includes an annular support plate. A cooling circuit in the nacelle includes at least a first inlet portion for channeling a fluid cooling medium to the gap between the stator and the rotor. The first inlet portion of the cooling circuit includes at least an inlet hole on the annular support plate for letting at least a portion of the cooling medium flow towards the air gap and an inlet fan for making the fluid cooling medium flow in the inlet portion. The stator includes a circumferentially outer structure attached to the annular support plate and the cooling circuit includes at least a second outlet portion for channeling a heated fluid medium from the air gap between the stator and the rotor.

Abstract: A device for generating controlled formation and collapse of cavitation bubbles in a fluid. The device includes a rotor having a plurality of bore holes and a stator having a plurality of bore holes. Fluid flows into the device and passes through a space between the stator and rotor to expose the fluid to the bore holes of each component. The rotor can be rotated relative to the stator to pass the rotor bore holes across the openings of the stator bore holes to generate and collapse cavitation bubbles in the stator bore holes. The rotor bore holes may have the same diameter as the stator bore holes and the rotor bore holes preferably have depth equal to or less than the depth of the stator bore holes.

Abstract: A method and device for processing a liquid with cavitation uses a channel element with passageways having local constrictions and a moving rotor surrounding the channel element. The rotor contains a plurality of rotor channels that are moved during rotation to periodically line up with the passageways in the channel element. To operate the device, liquid is passed through the local constriction in the passageway into an outlet channel at a velocity of at least 1.4 m/s at the exit of the outlet channel to form cavitation bubbles. Cavitation bubbles in the liquid in the outlet channel are collapsed by subjecting the cavitation bubbles to a water hammer hydraulic pulse pressure resulting from periodically rapidly closing of the outlet channel by rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: Lysing may include agitating a specimen in a chamber along with a medium that includes a particulate lysing material that has an affinity for a biological material. Lysing material may include beads or other material which may be coated that facilitates binding. The medium may include a fluid with a high salt or low pH level. The biological material may be eluted by lowering a concentration of salt or increasing a pH level. Lysing materials with two or more different affinities may be employed. Heating may be used. Lysing may be performed in a flow through apparatus.

Abstract: A mixer of the rotor-stator type that includes a stator having a plurality of openings and a rotor disposed on the inner side of the stator and spaced by a predetermined gap away from the stator is described, wherein the mixer that is capable of improving the shearing stress applied upon the liquid being processed and provides the higher performance is proposed. The stator includes a plurality of stators each having a different circumferential diameter, and the rotor is disposed on the inner side of the plurality of stators and spaced by the predetermined gap away from the stators so that the stators and the rotor can be brought closer to or farther away from each other in the direction in which the rotary shaft of the rotor extends.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a comprehensive mixer performance estimation method that can be applied to the mixers of the rotor-stator type having various configurations and circulation systems. Specifically, the performance estimation method for the mixers of the rotor-stator type includes the steps of: obtaining the homogenization index: H.I. for each of the mixers, measuring the size of each of the mixers, the power requirements and flow rates during the running time of each of the mixers, estimating the magnitude (smallness or greatness) of the configuration dependent term value of each of the mixer as a whole which is specific to each of the mixers, and estimating the performance of each of the mixers accordingly.

Abstract: A comprehensive mixer performance estimation method that can be applied to each of the mixers of the rotor-stator type having the various configurations and circulation modes is provided. In accordance with the mixer performance estimation method of the present invention, the total energy dissipation rate ?a for the mixers of the rotor-stator type may be obtained, the respective sizes of the rotor-stator and the powers and flow rates during the mixer's running time may be measured, the magnitude of the values for the configuration dependent term for the entire mixer that are specific to each of the mixers and are obtained by measuring the size of the rotor-stator and the powers and flow rates during the mixer's running time may be estimated, and the mixer's performance may be estimated.

Abstract: A food processor includes a bowl with a removable lid. Food items are advanced into the bowl through a feed tube formed in the lid where they are cut by a blade assembly. A rotating disk is adjustable relative to the blade assembly to vary the thickness of the food items cut by the blade assembly. A user-operated pin is positioned below the rotating disk and is moveable between a first position in which the rotating disk is prevented from moving upwardly and downwardly, and a second position in which the rotating disk is permitted to move upwardly and downwardly.

Abstract: A crusher device for performing a crushing operation, including a hollow part of frusto-conical shape narrowing downwardly, a crusher spindle rotatably mounted coaxial with the hollow part, at least one crusher impeller rotatably mounted on the crusher spindle, and a crusher driving device for rotatably driving the at least one crusher impeller relative to the first hollow part; the at least one crusher impeller comprises a first crusher impeller containing a first crushing blade and a second crushing blade, each of the first and second crushing blades extending radially from the crusher spindle and being fixedly connected to each other at their distal extremities by a blade member. The crusher device can be combined with a milling device providing an apparatus of compact size, adapted for reducing material from a size up to 36000 cm3 to particles having a size below 250 microns.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a roller grinder comprising two rollers, each mounted on a separate shaft, a fixation means, a guide member, and a first and a second end member. A center of the guide member is rotatably attached to the fixation means in a position, which in a horizontal direction is located centrally between said rollers. Each end of the guide member is attached to a first end of the first and second end members, respectively, by means of a joint, such that both the guide member and the first and second end members can rotate around the joint, and the first and second end members, respectively, are rotatably attached at a second end to a respective one of the shafts.

Abstract: A device and method for comminuting ore and/or slag comprises an ore feeding unit for feeding ore to a pulverizer, wherein the pulverizer includes at least two comminuting elements that form at least one comminuting space for the ore such that, by a relative movement in the form of a rotation of at least one of the comminuting elements, the ore is pulverized. One or more accelerating elements are provided on at least one of the comminuting elements for accelerating and comminuting the ore by the rotation of one of the comminuting elements. An intermediate space is provided between two comminuting elements and/or in at least one of the comminuting elements, through which the pulverized ore, during the rotation, is transported from the center of rotation, and an outlet unit is provided, which is connected to the intermediate space and through which the pulverized ore is discharged.

Abstract: A device for locking the micrometric adjustment of the degree of grinding in coffee grinders includes a hollow cylindrical casing for housing a lower grinding wheel carrier, which is connected to a motion transmission shaft, and for housing an upper grinding wheel carrier, which is axially movable; and a threaded ring nut engagable in the casing to adjust the position of the upper grinding wheel carrier, wherein the ring nut has at least one seat for inserting a peg for locking its rotation, and the casing has an undercut slot in which a slider cooperating with the peg is housed, the thickness of the slider being less than the thickness of the slot. A member engages the slider and causes it to rise and to interfere by friction with the upper wall of the slot.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for grinding and reclaiming of polymer material such as a rubber. The apparatus comprising a stator (4) and a rotor (2) in near face-to-face relationship with each other forming an operating zone for rubber grinding and reclaiming therebetween. The stator (4) has a substantially flat smooth face surface and the rotor (2) has a concave face surface with a depth gradually decreased from a center to a periphery thereof. The rotor further comprising at least one curved protrusion (30) with a radius of curvature gradually increased from the center to the periphery of the rotor.

Abstract: A device for the grinding of coffee, for instance in (semi)automatic machines for the preparation and the dispensing of drinks, comprising a housing (11), inside which are positioned at least two milling heads (19, 25) of which at least one (19) is revolving, means (2) of driving said at least one revolving milling head (19), an inlet (32) for feeding the coffee between the milling heads (19, 25) and an exit (35) for the ground coffee. Advantageously, the housing (11) and the milling heads (19, 25) internal to it are coupled to the means of driving (2) through an insert-and-lock joint (12, 13, 18, 218, 20, 120) that allows their rapid removal and reassembly without the aid of tools. Preferably the device includes means of regulating the relative distance between the milling heads and at least one sensor (S) for the measurement of such distance and/or a sensor (S1) of the speed of rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: A device for aligning the refining disc of a refining apparatus, in which refining apparatus lignocellulose-containing material is disintegrated and refined, which device is intended to be arranged in a support (701) for the axle package of the refining apparatus, the supporting (701) resting on a ground surface, which axle package comprises the rotary refining disc of the refining apparatus, a rotation axle to which the rotary refining disc is attached, and a bearing housing (702) in which the axle is journalled by means of bearings arranged in the bearing housing (704).

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a refining disc is a refiner is disclosed, the apparatus including a first wedge slidable along a support for the axle package of the refining disc, a second wedge disposed between the first wedge and a bearing housing in which the rotatable axle of the axle package is journalled, the second wedge being slidable transversely to the slidable movement of the first wedge, a controller for controlling displacement of the first wedge including an actuator at one end of the support and a control axle extending from the actuator to the first wedge, the control axle being rotatable and rotatably secured to the first wedge whereby operation of the actuator causes rotation of the control axle, which in turn causes displacement of the first wedge which causes transverse displacement of the second wedge.

Abstract: A raw material is fed through a raw material supply channel into a raw material introduction part between a fixed grinding disc and a moving grinding disc. The moving grinding disc is provided on a drive shaft and the gap between the same and the fixed grinding disc is adjusted by means of a gap adjusting mechanism. Heat transfer from the drive unit is prevented while power is transmitted to the drive shaft to rotate the moving grinding disc. The raw material while being transferred through the coarse grinding distributing channel is coarsely ground and any raw material of low grindability is crushed by the crushing part, distributed to the microgrinding part and microground to thereby attain the production of ground matter.

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 member (151) passing through a hollow rotary drive axle (152) and carrying the rotary grinding burr (150) at an opposite end.

Abstract: A device for the grinding of coffee, for instance in (semi)automatic machines for the preparation and the dispensing of drinks, comprising a housing (11), inside which are positioned at least two milling heads (19, 25) of which at least one (19) is revolving, means (2) of driving said at least one revolving milling head (19), an inlet (32) for feeding the coffee between the milling heads (19, 25) and an exit (35) for the ground coffee. Advantageously, the housing (11) and the milling heads (19, 25) internal to it are coupled to the means of driving (2) through an insert-and-lock joint (12, 13, 18, 218, 20, 120) that allows their rapid removal and reassembly without the aid of tools. Preferably the device includes means of regulating the relative distance between the milling heads and at least one sensor (S) for the measurement of such distance and/or a sensor (S1) of the speed of rotation of the drive shaft.

Abstract: An adjustment mechanism for a rotary disc chipper apparatus includes an axially displaceable shaft attached to a chipper disc, at least one gear disposed in relation to the axially adjustable shaft and a drive member engageable with the at least one gear to produce axial movement of the axially displaceable shaft and the chipper disc.

Abstract: The invention provides a crusher block assembly for a particulate size reduction system including a crusher block having an inboard face configured and adapted to cooperate with a swing hammer in a crusher chamber of a particulate size reduction system to crush particulate, and an outboard face for receiving an adjustment mechanism. The crusher block assembly also includes an adjustment mechanism joined to the outboard face on the crusher block. The adjustment mechanism is configured and adapted to adjust the position of the crusher block along a direction between an inboard location and an outboard location within the crusher chamber. The invention also provides a method of adjusting clearance between a swing hammer and a crusher block in a particulate size reduction system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blasting medium picking-apart device comprising: a hopper-shaped container having an upper opening through which a blasting medium is put in; a blade attached to a rotary shaft which is mounted along the central axis of the container, for applying a shear force to the blasting medium when the blade is rotated; a first shearing plate attached to an inner surface of the container for applying a shear force to the blasting medium between the rotating blade and the first shearing plate; an annular horizontal plane fixed to a lower opening of the container; a rotary plate which is attached to the rotary shaft, and is disposed opposite to the horizontal plane with a predetermined space therebetween; a second shearing plate attached to the rotary plate; and a rotation drive section for driving the blade and the rotary plate for rotation via the rotary shaft.

Abstract: A nondenatured ground matter with high quality is produced through efficient grinding while preventing overheating by, even in the case of grinding a material to be ground having a flexible thin film, such as cereal grain, efficiently crushing the thin film of low grindability to thereby obtain a ground matter of fine grains with uniform size by the use of simple apparatus and operation. A raw material is fed through raw material supply channel (55,56) into raw material introduction part (11) between fixed grinding disc (4) and moving grinding disc (5). The moving grinding disc (5) is hung down by means of drive shaft (21), and the gap between the same and the fixed grinding disc (4) is adjusted by means of gap adjusting means (7). While preventing any heat transfer from drive unit (8), power is transmitted to the drive shaft (21) so as to rotate the moving grinding disc (5).

Abstract: A system and method for deforming and puncturing magnetic storage media includes one or more pivot arms that support one or more rotationally driven rotatable members bearing multiple deforming members or punch points. The punch points impact the media, producing the deformation, while the rotational forces push the media through the system, and the pivot arms adapt to media characteristics and widths to protect against jams. The puncturing force may be adjustable.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning a refining disc is a refiner is disclosed, the apparatus including a first wedge slidable along a support for the axle package of the refining disc, a second wedge disposed between the first wedge and a bearing housing in which the rotatable axle of the axle package is journalled, the second wedge being slidable transversely to the slidable movement of the first wedge, a controller for controlling displacement of the first wedge including an actuator at one end of the support and a control axle extending from the actuator to the first wedge, the control axle being rotatable and rotatably secured to the first wedge whereby operation of the actuator causes rotation of the control axle, which in turn causes displacement of the first wedge which causes transverse displacement of the second wedge.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus controlling the alignment between refining surfaces of opposite refining discs are disclosed which are relatively rotatable and which are incorporated in a refiner for disintegrating and refining lignocellulose-containing material in a refining gap between the refining surfaces. The disclosed method includes positioning at least three sensors at least three measurement positions, measuring the vibrations at each of the measurement positions during refiner operation, and comparing each of the measured vibrations at each of the measurement positions with each other.

Abstract: A powder based granules disintegrating and sizing device having a drive shaft in a horizontal direction inside a casing, a rotor fixed to the drive shaft, a sizing stator having an inclined surface a gap section A where the powder based granules settles being formed by the plate surface of the rotor and the inclined surface of the sizing stator, and a disintegrating and sizing section B being formed by the narrowest gap section between the circumferential edge of the rotor and the sizing stator. The drive shaft is supported in a cantilever fashion, the rotor is fixed to an open side end portion thereof, the sizing stator is installed over the whole circumference of the rotor, a raw material supply port is opened in the vicinity of the central portion of the rotor, and a product output port is opened in the vicinity of position directly below the rotor.

Abstract: A jaw crusher having two jaws which define an upwardly open crushing chamber for receiving crushable material and a discharge opening between the lower ends of the jaws for discharging crushed material, the jaws being relatively movable so as to vary the size of the receiving chamber and thereby exert working and relieving actions on the crushable material and so that crushed material can be discharged via the discharge opening, and in which: a rotatable elongate member extends throughout at least a major part of the length L of the jaws, and is located at or near to the discharge opening so as to assist the gravity discharge of crushed material through the discharge opening, and/or to exert an impact/crushing action in conjunction with the working actions of the jaws.

Abstract: In a device for the dispersion of, in particular, low-viscosity to high-viscosity mixtures of substances, including a container having one or more openings for introducing the substances to be dispersed and one or more openings for discharging the dispersed substances, and at least one rotor and one stator, the at least one rotor being mounted for rotation relative to the stator about an axis of rotation, for the purpose of dispersing the substances that have been introduced into the container, fast and precisely metered introduction of substances at a controlled rate is achieved in that the stator is mounted for reciprocation in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotor and can be displaced by a displacement device within a specified range of movement and can be locked in an arbitrary position.

Abstract: A jaw crusher used to crush hard materials includes a frame and a fixed and movable jaw positioned in spaced opposed relationship to receive hard materials to be crushed between the jaws. A lever is pivotally connected to the frame for pivotal movement about an axis and includes first and second extensions. The first extension includes a part that is in communication with the movable jaw and a part that is in communication with the axis and the second extension includes a part in communication with a reciprocating drive and a part in communication with the pivot axis. The distance between the parts of the second extension is greater than the distance between the parts of the first extension causing leveraged force to be applied on the movable jaw on application of force on the second extension by the reciprocating drive.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for comminuting rubber particles. In this process and apparatus rubber particles at a temperature below the glass transition temperature are introduced into a comminuting device concurrent with the introduction of an inert gas coolant at a temperature below about ?75° F. The rubber particles are comminuted in the comminuting device at a rate proportional to the average particle size of the introduced rubber particles to an average size within the range of crumb or powder rubber particles.

Abstract: A spice grinder is comprised of a mounting ring for screwing onto a spice container. An outer grinding member comprised of a ring is locked to the top of the mounting ring to prevent rotation. An inner grinding member comprised of a cone is positioned within the outer grinding member. A cap is positioned around the outer and inner grinding members, and rotationally fixed to the inner grinding member. An adjustment knob is attached to a shaft which is positioned through the cap and the inner and outer grinding members. A first spiral ramp under the knob is engaged against a second spiral ramp on the cap. An inner end of the knob is locked to the inner grinding member. Spring arms projecting radially from the inner grinding member are biased against an inner surface of the cap. Coarseness is adjusted by rotating the knob.

Abstract: A device for grinding spices such as salt, pepper, cinnamon, etc. has a grinder rotor which has a removable keeper member which facilitates the ready removal of the rotor for cleaning or replacement. The grinder elements are made of ceramic material such as alumina silicate which eliminates the possibility of corrosion or rusting as with metal parts. The mill provides dual grinding action by utilizing separate grinding elements to provide either coarse grinding or fine grinding, as may be desired. For coarse grinding, the condiment only passes through the coarse grinding element while for fine grinding, the condiment first passes through the coarse grinding element and then passes through the fine grinding element.

Abstract: An automatic coffee maker having a grinding device is provided. Responsive to closing a door, activating an electromagnetic valve will move a covering member away from first apertures and counterclockwise pivot a stop with resilient means being expanded so that powering on a motor will activate a gear mechanism to transmit motion to an outer grinding mechanism for grinding coffee beans into powder which drops through aligned second and first apertures onto a filter cup in a base prior to falling into a bowl in the base by permeation. The coffee maker further comprises a particle fineness adjusting device so that a turning of a projecting bar thereof will adjust the powder fineness.

Abstract: A refiner including a rotor and a stator defining a cylindrical or conical refining gap therebetween. A pulp feed channel extends in a radial direction from an inlet pipe to the refining gap.

Abstract: The invention pertains to equipment and methods in which the rotatable drive member of a variable speed motor, such as a switched reluctance motor, carries a rotatable pulp processing element (10). Magnetic bearings (22, 24) levitatingly support both the rotatable drive member (15) and associated rotatable pulp processing element (41) and control axial and radial positionning thereof relative to the axis of rotation of the drive member.

Abstract: A refiner for shredding pulps having refining surfaces provided on a rotor and a stator and which form a cylindrical or a conical refining gap. The refining gap is set by wedges which are mounted on the stator and rotor and can be moved against each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for comminuting, grinding and dispersing flowable grinding stock has a grinding receptacle with an inner, first grinding surface, which is rotationally symmetrical relative to an axis of rotation, and is drivable to rotate about the axis of rotation. Also provided is a grinding roller, which has a second grinding surface that is rotationally symmetrical relative to a central longitudinal axis, and is drivable to rotate about the axis. A grinding gap is defined between the first grinding surface and the second grinding surface.

Abstract: A one-way pepper grinding tool includes an one-way member, and a grinding assembly having an inner and an outer grinding part. The one-way member has a main body turnably received in a housing. The main body has several curved slots around a central round hole. The curved slots each has an engaging end portion in open communication with the central round hole for permitting an engaging block movably received in the slot to separably engage a ring fitted in the central round hole; the engaging blocks being biased to the engaging end portions by springs to force the ring to turn together with the main body when the main body turns in a first direction, making the inner grinding part associated with the ring turn to grind pepper. When the main body turns in an opposite direction, the engaging blocks are moved away from the ring, not able to make the ring turn, i.e. the inner grinding part will not turn relative to the outer grinding part.

Abstract: A condiment grinder apparatus which includes a pair of condiment grinders each of which are to dispense a different condiment. The dispensing of both condiments are from the same end surface of the condiment grinder. Operation of one condiment grinder is by turning an actuator in a clockwise direction and operation of the second condiment grinder is by turning of the actuator in a counterclockwise direction.

Abstract: A device inside a grinder to peel the inner embryo membrane of coffee beans is disclosed. It has a motor with a motor shaft, a positioning cylinder located on the lateral side of a motor and having a lower exit inside a conveyor base, and a conveyor base, which is on the lateral side of the grinder and has an extruded exit end on the other side of the grinder. The motor shaft connects to an eccentric synchronic rotation grinding bar. During rotation, the grinding surface completely hits the inner ring rim of the positioning cylinder and coffee beans are ground into particles. When the particles fall, due to low specific weight, the embryo membrane is drawn by a fan located on the lateral wall of a grinder and is collected in a dust collection bag.

Abstract: A crushing and particle sizing apparatus for granular material in which the particle size can be controlled without the use of a screen or similar apparatus. A gap region is formed as a particle size adjusting region which allows particles suited to the gap setting to pass. Particles not suited to the gap setting are brought into rotational contact with a rotating body and crushed to the suited gap setting.

Abstract: A colloid mill utilizes a motor-driven shaft configuration that connects to the rotor of the colloid mill to the electric motor rotor. In this way, the mill rotor shaft is directly driven. Complex gear or belt drive arrangements between a separate electric motor and the fluid processing components of the colloid mill are thus avoided. Moreover, the gap between the mill rotor and mill stator can be adjusted simply by axially translating the motor-driven shaft. Such translation is provided by a timing belt-based arrangement to limit backlash. As a result, a simple hand-operated knob or stepper motor arrangement can be used to control the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for fine grinding material, such as waste automotive tires. The apparatus includes first and second plates mounted within a housing. The first and second plates include respective, opposed inclined surfaces and respective pluralities of generally radially extending cutting elements. Each of the generally radially extending cutting elements define a serrated edge extending above the corresponding inclined surface. The serrated edges on the first and second plates intermesh with one another while the opposed inclined surfaces define a grinding space therebetween that gradually becomes more narrow in a radially outward direction. One of the plates is mounted for rotation and a drive is operatively coupled with the one plate for rotating that plate during a grinding operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for grinding foodstuffs includes a grinding chamber comprising a housing having fixed and driven grinding members positioned therein. The driven grinding member is mounted at one end of a drive shaft, and apparatus is provided at the opposite end of the drive shaft for positioning the drive shaft longitudinally and thereby positioning the driven grinding member relative to the fixed grinding member. The housing supports the driven grinding member and is mounted for pivotal movement about horizontal and vertical axes to vary the parallelism of the fixed grinding member relative to the driven grinding member.

Abstract: A colloid mill utilizes a motor-driven shaft configuration that connects to the rotor of the colloid mill to the electric motor rotor. In this way, the mill rotor shaft is directly driven. Complex gear or belt drive arrangements between a separate electric motor and the fluid processing components of the colloid mill are thus avoided. Moreover, the gap between the mill rotor and mill stator can be adjusted simply by axially translating the motor-driven shaft. Such translation is provided by a timing belt-based arrangement to limit backlash. As a result, a simple hand-operated knob or stepper motor arrangement can be used to control the gap. Specifically, a thrust bearing is supported in a threaded sleeve that mates with the colloidal mill body. The timing belt engages the sleeve to rotate it relative to the body, thus adjusting the thrust bearings axially along the motor driven shaft and thereby controlling the gap between the mill stator and mill rotor.