Abstract: Solid waste management has been primarily based on collection of solid waste and placing most of it in a landfill. Present invention eliminates a need for large landfills by integrating collection and transportation of solid waste with separation, treatment, processing, recovery, and reuse of solid waste prior to landfill application. Since untreated organic waste is eliminated or significantly reduced from solid waste stream, present invention eliminates a need for daily cover and working front of landfills resulting in elimination of extensive leachate and gas management systems and associated potential groundwater and air pollution problems.

Abstract: An arrangement for providing continuous grinding in a pulp grinder comprising a feed chute and a piston in the feed chute moving lengthwise of the feed chute for pressing the wood in the feed chute against a grindstone. The arrangement comprises rotary feed members between the piston and the grindstone on the sides of the feed chute for pushing the compressed wood further against the grindstone. Also, the arrangement comprises a closing member that can be pushed between the compressed wood and the piston to prevent the wood from moving backward with the piston as the piston is moved to the initial position, ready for the stroke, to allow the feed of a new batch of wood.

Abstract: A machine adapted to be towed by a tractor and powered by the PTO and hydraulic power system of the tractor for transporting, processing and blending two different types of roughage of substantial size and weight into a desired ratio for a more efficient and economical nutritional balance and better palatability as well as dispensing the ratio to livestock. This improved machine is characterized by two independently hydraulically driven floor chains that are each capable of carrying a large bale (or bales) of roughage through a series of vertically aligned shredders at different rates of speed. This produces a blend of differing types of roughage consistent with the desired nutritional component considered most economical and efficient for the particular livestock being fed. The processed ration is dropped onto a conveyor chain and immediately delivered into feed bunks for livestock consumption. The shredders and conveyor chain are mechanically driven.

Abstract: Bamboo fibers are utilized to serve as a reinforcing material and for manufacturing an inorganic molded body. In order to produce the bamboo fibers with excellent durability, in a first step bamboo material is compressed to be roughly crushed and in a second step the roughly crushed bamboo material is fiberized using a grinding machine. The moisture content of the bamboo material subjected to the first step is set to be more than 65%. After the completion of at least one of the first and second steps a drying step is taken so that the moisture content of the bamboo material is adjusted to within the range of 3 to 35%.

Abstract: The invention relates to cellulose fluff pulp products that are debondable into fluff with markedly lower energy input, to a process for making the products, and to absorbent products using the fluff. Most of the pulp products show no reduction in liquid absorbency rate from that of untreated fiber and significantly higher rates than pulps treated with the usual debonding agents. The products are made by adhering fine non-cellulosic particles to the fiber surfaces using a retention aid. The fiber is preferably treated with the retention aid in an aqueous suspension for a sufficient time so that the retention aid is substantively bonded with little or none left free in the water. The fine particulate additive is then added and becomes attached and uniformly distributed over the fiber surfaces with very little particle agglomeration occurring. The fiber is most usually not refined or only very lightly refined before sheeting.

Abstract: A system and method for treating a waxed fiber paper product with a high wax content to remove a substantial portion of the wax content includes the pulping of the wax paper fiber at an elevated temperature in excess of the melting temperature of the wax to separate a pulp fraction and to form an emulsion of water and molten wax. The pulp fraction is separated from the emulsion by filtering in a reverse pressure screen in which a finely perforated screen defines a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a major portion of the water/emulsion is removed from the suspension through the screen perforations leading from the high pressure side to the low pressure side, in which a rotor and foil arrangement within the reverse screen is operated under such conditions that the suspension at the high pressure side of the screen is maintained in a constant fluidized condition.

Abstract: In an otherwise conventional star feeder, equipment longevity is greatly enhanced by providing a readily replaceable shear edge at the downstreammost (in the direction of rotor rotation) portion of the feeder housing inlet, adjacent the clearance between the rotating pocketed rotor and the housing. Preferably one or more plates defining the shear edge are mounted by fasteners, such as screw threaded fasteners, to the housing. Where the feeder is retrofit, with the replaceable shear edge, a recess may be formed in the housing to accept and position the one or more shear plates. A shear plate may have a number of openings elongated in a dimension intersecting the clearance adjacent the inlet, and by loosening or tightening fasteners the position of the plate shear edge may be adjusted with respect to the clearance to provide an effectively new shear edge when it becomes worn. At least the shear edge portion of the shear plate may be of a hard wear resistant material, e.g.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling the beating of fibrous material to be treated in a refiner. The method includes measuring a property of the fibrous material treated in the refiner, measuring the temperature or pressure in the beating zone between the refiner disks, and altering the temperature in the beating zone based upon the measured property of the fibrous material treated in the refiner. The apparatus disclosed includes pressure and temperature gauges for measuring the pressure and temperature in the beating zone, gauges for measuring the property of the fibrous material treated in the refiner, a computer to compare the measured values of the temperature or pressure with desired values for these parameters, and a controller for altering the temperature in the beating zone based upon the measured value of the property of the fibrous material treated in the refiner.

Abstract: A refiner for refining material has a refiner disc arrangement whereby the outermost opposed refiner disc annuli have a particular corresponding refiner surface arrangement. A carrier element has a mounting surface, a central axis, and defines a plane generally perpendicular to its axis of rotation. An annular first disc is carried on the mounting surface concentrically relative to the central axis and has a first refiner surface facing outward relative to the mounting surface. A plurality of refiner bars protrudes axially from and extends generally radially along the refiner surface. A second carrier element is spaced from and confronts the first carrier element and has a second mounting surface thereon. An annular second disc is carried on the second mounting surface concentrically relative to the central axis and has a second refiner surface confronting the first refiner surface. A plurality of second refiner bars protrudes axially from and extends generally radially along the second refiner surface.

Abstract: Process and device for decomposing fibrous material in an installation including a drum having an inner wall, a first end, and a second end, a displacer having an outer wall positioned inside the drum, and a processing channel formed between at least a portion of the outer wall and at least a portion of the inner wall. The process includes pouring fibrous material to be decomposed into the drum, relatively moving the outer wall relative to the inner wall in a peripheral direction of the drum, and mechanically processing the fibrous material in the processing channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for the controlled impact comminution of wood pieces (100) is described. The apparatus includes a housing (12) within which is located a comminuting chamber (14). The acceleration zone (14A) of the chamber has an impeller system (36) with flails (42). A fan (54) is also mounted adjacent the lower portion of the chamber. The comminution zone (14B) of the chamber includes first and second impact plates (26 and 30) and a funnel (34) having an outlet tube (34B) which is connected by a tube (56) to the inlet (54A) of the fan. The outlet (54B) of the fan is connected by an outlet chute (58) to a cyclone collector (60) positioned over a bin (62). To comminute the wood pieces, the pieces are fed into the impeller path (44). The flails of the impeller move the pieces around the path and accelerate the pieces into contact with the impact plates. As a result of the impact, the pieces are reduced into smaller pieces.

Abstract: A rotary disc refiner includes a pair of spaced apart refiner discs for refining or grinding a material that typically is fibrous material such as wood pulp or the like. Pressurized vapor, typically steam, produced as a result of the refining or grinding is exhausted through a channel in the refiner disc which extends through the body of the disc. Preferably, the channel is located in a refiner disc that rotates. The channel includes a vapor inlet opening located preferably in the high pressure midsection of the refiner disc, a vapor outlet opening which discharges the steam to the relatively low pressure outer section of the disc, and a passageway behind the refining or grinding surface of the refiner disc connecting the inlet to the outlet.

Abstract: A method for producing paper pulp containing fibers of annual plants or of secondary raw materials produced therefrom, whereby fiber materials are shortened to a length which permits production of a homogeneous, pumpable suspension of the shortened fiber materials. The fiber materials are subsequently bleached and processed into a homogeneous paper pulp.

Abstract: A process for producing a product for use as an alternative cover material for landfills using recycled materials is provided.

Abstract: A disc refiner for thermo-mechanical pulping of wood chips or other fiber source for papermaking has annular refiner discs with a plurality of axially protruding radially extending curved refiner bars. Curved bars in the refiner zone should resist erosion and corrosion. Each disc has a region of bars which curve in the direction of rotation, and a region which curves away from the direction of rotation. Two identical refiner discs are mounted to rotate with respect to one another. Because of the bar curvature, processed stock experiences different angles of bar intersection as the pulp progresses from the inside of the refiner plate to the outside of the refiner plate, yielding a reduced hit on the pulp where opposed refiner bars curve in opposite directions. Where refiner bars on opposed plates curve in a like direction as they pass over one another there is a hold back action on the stock in that region.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for treatment of reject material separated at screening of fibre pulp prepared by grinding wood. In the method reject material is fed against the surface of a grindstone (3) of a pressure grinder immediately before a normal grinding zone (6). The arrangement comprises a reject feeding equipment (12) placed immediately before the normal grinding zone (6) through which the reject material is fed to be ground again.

Abstract: A fixed roller is laterally axially supported by a movable body so as to ow an axial center line of the fixed roller to extend in parallel to a lateral direction, and driven to rotate an upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller backward, and a plurality of split press rollers respectively having the axes inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to an axial center line of the fixed roller as viewed in plan are arranged in a row in a lateral direction above the fixed roller in the manner of supporting the split press rollers by press roller frames. The split press rollers are energized to the descending side by oil-hydraulic cylinders respectively provided between a frame of the body and the press roller frames so as to bring the lower peripheral surface side of each split press roller into contact with the upper peripheral surface of the fixed roller under the action of pressure.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and a method of operating a grinder for chipping and shredding material into waste, the grinder including a generally cylindrical drum having an exterior surface with a plurality of pockets formed into the exterior surface. Within each pocket, at least one of a plurality of bits are removably positioned, with each bit having a base securable into the pocket providing an upper cutting edge portion of each bit that extends above the exterior surface. Each upper cutting edge extends outward in an arcuate curving shape from each side of the bit, forming a self-sharpening sharp outer edge for each side of the bit. Each pocket and removable bit has a center line that may be angled off-set with respect to a center line of the radius of the rotor drum, providing protrusion of the leading cutting edge of each bit above the exterior surface so that the leading cutting edges of the plurality of bits are placed in contact with the material to be chipped and shredded.

Abstract: A method for processing yellow pine wood products into pellets for use as animal litter. The process includes the steps of collecting and drying yellow pine material and drying the wood material into a grist. The grist is moisturized by exposure to steam before placement into a pellet forming device that applies heat and pressure to the grist. The formed pellets are deposited into bags and sealed for shipment. The pellets are used as animal litter that is highly absorbent, biodegradable, odor controlling, dustless, and will remain smooth and non-fur-engaging through continued handling.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) having a rotating fiberizing disc (26, 226 or 326) for fiberizing wood blocks (100) to produce fibrous elements is described. The apparatus includes a housing (12) within which is mounted the disc. The disc is provided with a series of rows (32, 232 or 332) of teeth (28, 228 or 328) on the front planar face (26A, 226A or 326A) as well as a scraper (30, 230 or 330). The wood block is advanced to the face of the disc in a manner such that its long grain direction can be controlled at various angles with respect to the path of the circularly travelling teeth and thereby changing the nature of the resulting fibrous elements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for protecting a wood chip destructuring device from damage due to tramp material. The destructuring device includes a pair of destructuring rolls operating a pre-established distance from each other and an infeed chute for delivering a stream of wood chips to pass through a region between the destructuring rolls. Said protection system includes a sensing unit and a control unit to detect tramp material present in the chip stream. If tramp material is detected in the wood chip flow, the protection system operates to further separate the destructuring rolls so that the surfaces of the destructuring rolls will not be damaged by the tramp material as the flow of material passes between the destructuring rolls.

Abstract: A refiner plate for the face of a refiner disc comprising a plurality of refiner segments arranged side-by-side on the face of the disc to form a substantially annular refining region. Each refiner segment has a plurality bars and grooves for refining a lignocellulosic material and a plurality of steam pockets for receiving, storing and transmitting steam generated during the refining process. Each steam pocket is defined by a series of gaps in adjacent bars such that the steam pocket extends radially and laterally across the refiner segment and such that the surface of the steam pocket is at or below the height of the groove surface. At least one bar extends radially between each adjacent steam pocket in a segment, thereby forming a discontinuous path for the movement of steam.

Abstract: A wood chip conditioner that uses at least two closely spaced, counter-rotating rolls having a regular, wave shaped profile formed into their surfaces having a repeating pattern of peaks and valleys that radially circumscribes the roll and which are preferably the same dimension and offset from each other so that a peak on one roll is in registry with a valley on the other roll and form a nip through which oversized wood chips traverse. The chips passing through the nip are destructured by being bent and compressed by the surfaces on the rolls, which produces internal cracks along the grain of the wood without penetrating the chips. The rolls are also designed to avoid breaking or fracturing the chips, which would increase the occurrence of undesirable pins and fines. The surface of the peaks preferably also have shallow, equally-spaced grooves that extend axially. The grooves provide an edge that catches and pulls the chips into and through the nip.

Abstract: A component for a pulp refiner such as a paper pulp refiner. The component comprises an attachment surface (16) for attachment to the refiner, a working surface (17, 22), and at least one core (15, 28, 33, 50, 51) made of rigid material and provided with a wear resistant coating (19, 20, 25) so that at least the useful surface area (18) of the component at least partially consists of the outer surface of the coating (19, 20, 25). Said component is characterised in that said coating (19, 20, 25) consists of a stack of thin layers or strips (21). A refiner including at least one such component, a method for preparing said component and a fiberising and for refining method using at least one such component are also disclosed.

Abstract: A breakdown tool (10) for solid materials having fibrous constituents is attached to a container. The container accepts the material in a batch or continuous fashion. The breakdown tool (10) includes one or more material breakdown elements (21) which are disposed at separations from each other on or at a shaft (20). The outer girth of the shaft (20) in the region between the material breakdown elements (21) is larger than the maximum fiber length of the fibrous constituents occurring during the breakdown process. For this reason, the fibrous constituents occurring during the breakdown processing cannot interfere with the functioning of the breakdown tool (10). The breakdown process can consequently be carried out without interruption.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful method and apparatus for use in the cutting, processing and discharge of material. The apparatus comprises a container having a first cutter driven about a vertical axis by a first motor, a housing radially open to the container having a second cutter driven by a second motor which second cutter rotates in the same direction as the first cutter and which second cutter protrudes radially into the container and discharge means for selectively discharging processed material from the container.

Abstract: A method for producing solid fertilizer from liquid manure or from sludge includes mixing the same with harvest leftovers. The liquid substance (manure, sludge) is intimately mixed with the harvest leftovers during grinding. The solids are ground to a particle size of a few microns. The particles adsorb and absorb the liquid substance fully, so that a solid fertilizer product results which neither smells nor endangers the ground water. All of the valuable materials from the liquid substance and from the harvest leftovers are retained in the finished product, which is a high potency fertilizer. The fertilizer can be applied with methods and devices which are conventionally used in agriculture. An apparatus for performing the method includes a grinder/blender which is supplied independently from a harvest leftover storage and from a liquid substance storage. The materials are measured for exact mixture and the pH value may be adjusted.

Abstract: A device and a process for delumping pasty masses in waste materials from paper manufacture. The delumping means employs at least one rotating cylindrical drum having a plurality of flexible fingers mounted on the drum. Pasty masses are supplied to the delumper preferably by a chute mounted to the top of the delumper, and are struck by the flexible fingers of the rotating drum. Annular recesses are formed at the base of the flexible fingers which mates with a plurality of bores in the drum housings. Preferably, the fingers are rubber.

Abstract: A method of processing fibrous waste materials, such as textile waste, in which the waste materials which are not particulate are formed into particles, and the particles are thoroughly mixed to form a waste mixture. The waste mixture has an increased temperature which allows the mixture to be used as a heat source as well as a plant growth medium. A particulate source of calcium may be added to the mixture if it is to be used as a plant growth medium. The plant growth medium may be mixed after formation with a dry wood waste mixture to enhance both its growth and heat properties.

Abstract: A refiner-apparatus and method for producing refined pulp by exerting mechanical forces on pulp fibres. The apparatus includes a member having a pulp side and a drainage side, the pulp side having a plurality of spaced apart raised bar portions thereon. A plurality of drainage conduits are formed in the member, the conduits extending between the pulp side and the drainage side of the member, each drainage conduit having inlet and outlet openings respectively. The inlet openings are disposed on the pulp side of the member and the outlet openings are disposed on the drainage side of the member such that water expelled from pulp fibres forced against the pulp side is received in the inlet openings and is conducted through the drainage conduits to the drainage side of the member. Generally, the method involves draining water from pulp fibres squeezed between facing refiner members, through at least one drainage conduit in at least one of the refiner members.

Abstract: A continuous pulp digester having an elongate horizontally aligned pressure vessel through which the wood chips and digesting fluid flow in a forward direction. In a first and second embodiments within the pressure vessel there is an inner container defining an elongate chamber or passageway having a square cross sectional configuration. In a third embodiment the digesting chamber is cylindrical. At locations along the digester, there are several pair of liquid flow inlets and liquid flow outlets which enable filtrate from a pulp washer and a digesting agent to be moved into and across the digesting chamber to flow out the flow outlets. These are recirculated in a net upstream flow pattern toward the outlet end of the digester, and discharged as black liquor at different locations in the digester.

Abstract: An insertless perforated mill roll body adapted to be detachably sleeved upon a roller shaft for the grinding of a fluid-containing material such as sugar cane and extracting fluid such as sucrose juice therefrom. The insertless perforated mill roll body comprises a plurality of shish-ke-bab-like fluid channel strings to be encased in the roll body, each fluid channel string comprises a hollow fluid channel preferably defined by a channel wall member which generally extends between the two axial ends of the roll body with a plurality of fluid passage members affixed thereto. The roll body is formed by casting a castable material such as cast iron or steel to enclose the fluid channel strings, whereupon a hollow center bore is provided to receive the shaft therethrough. Each fluid passage member contains at least one generally radially extending fluid passage to allow communication between the outer periphery of the mill roll body and the fluid channel.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for treating fibrous material under pressure which includes at least two pressure relief devices. The pressure relief devices are arranged so that only one at a time is exposed to pressure during the treatment process. When the exposed pressure relief device is ruptured in response to an abnormal increase in pressure, the ruptured device may be isolated and the second pressure relief device exposed to the operating pressure so that the treatment apparatus may be operated on a substantially continuous basis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided in which direct ohmic connection is made to a comminution device (e.g., a wood chip or pulp refiner) to obtain transient voltages, existing on the refining elements, that are directly related to fiber impacts. These voltages are characterized by severity (S) (i.e., magnitude), rate (N), rise time (RT) and polarity (.+-.P). The characteristics of these voltages taken separately and/or in mathematical combinations predict the properties of refined wood chips and pulps, i.e., freeness, tensile strength, tear, burst, breaking length and fiber length. Signal characteristics further track refiner plate wear and detect the occurrence of "critical gap" as well as the onset of plate clash.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for screening cellulose ethers which have a finely fibrous or wad-like or woolly structure, wherein the process comprises the following steps:a) applying the cellulose ether (material to be screened) to a sieve surface,b) dividing the material to be screened into an screenable portion (acceptable size material or material passing through the sieve) and a circulating portion (oversize material or sieve surface tailings) with the aid of an agitated (preferably vibrating and/or tumbling) sieve surface,c) flushing through the agitated sieve surface from below, generally perpendicularly to the sieve surface, with an air flow,d) discharging (recovering) the acceptable size material, ande) discharging the circulating portion from the sieving system.The air flow inhibits clogging or plugging of or matting upon the sieve surface and is preferably directed upward by slit nozzles arranged below the sieve surface.

Abstract: A method of producing chemimechanical pulp, comprises the steps of grinding wood in a grinding mill housed in a grinding chamber, maintaining the chamber at an overpressure, spraying water onto the wood, and supplying oxygen and/or hydrogen peroxide via the spray water to the grinding chamber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing low bark-content wood chips from whole-tree chips. The method has two or more sequential separation stages, which can be divided into pre-separation with a bark content of less than 10% and final cleaning, and in which the pre-separation comprises at least pneumatic separation and the final cleaning includes sorting based on color difference. Before pneumatic separation the bark is removed from the chips by grinding, which simultaneously reduces the particle size of the bark.

Abstract: Methods for processing wood chips for digestion utilize a chip destructuring apparatus. The method includes an initial disc screen for removing the gross overthick and oversized chips which are discarded or are processed through a rechipper. After the initial disc screen, the entire stream of chips is processed to eliminate tramp metal. The entire chip stream is screened to remove fines. The stream of chips is fed to the chip destructuring apparatus from a surge bin with a star feeder. The star feeder is a metering device and is operated by a controller which monitors the level of chips in the surge bin. The controller uses the star feeder to feed a steady supply of chips to the chip destructuring apparatus which allows the destructuring apparatus to be configured for a maximum feed rate.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with an improvement in the mechanical treatment of wood fibers, the improvement consisting in applying a large amount of energy at low intensity in the first stage of refining of the wood chips, and a small amount of energy at high intensity in the second stage. The present improvement allows a reduction in energy consumption as high as 18%.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing printed waste paper, in particular waste paper containing at least 80% newsprint or magazine paper by digestion, various cleaning steps, flotation or washing and disintegrating, the latter with a high consistency of at least 20%, and possibly bleaching. The invention is characterized by the fact that a final second disintegrating step, arranged possibly before a bleaching step, with treatment of the waste paper under strong kneading action of individual bar-shaped or block-shaped kneading elements of both the stator and the rotor of the disintegrating machine which are arranged in a kneading chamber thereof which is delimited by two concentric cylindrical surfaces, at temperatures between 20.degree. and 110.degree. C., and preferably 38.degree. to 65.degree. C., and with a specific power consumption of between 30 and 100, and preferably 80, kilowatt hours/ton oven-dried pulp.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ensilage slicing attachment for slicing compacted ensilage. The device is particularly adapted for attachment to a skid steer loader. It is especially useful in an open pit, trench, or bunker silos in which compacted ensilage may be sliced from a vertical compacted facing to produce a forkable product. The attachment typically includes a hydraulically driven reel equipped with flat slicing blades (such as sickle blades) which perpendicularly extend outwardly from the reel. The slicing blades are staggered so as to create uniform and even slicing action. Particularly effective are staggered slicing blades which transversely cut against the ensilage facing at a lateral spacing of about one to about two inches per reel revolution. The skid steer boom serves to sweep the reel along the face while slicing depth may be controlled by forward and backward movement.

Abstract: A process for producing cellulose acetate from a hard, low-grade pulp sheet having a high sheet density on an industrial scale without impairing the acetylation reactivity of the pulp, characterized in that a pulp sheet having a sheet density of at least 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 is used as the cellulose material and the pulp sheet is disintegrated while feeding less than 40 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight (in terms of oven-dry weight) of the pulp sheet, of water into the disintegrating section of a disintegrator in the step of disintegrating the material. The present process is economically advantageous because the drying and humidity controlling steps are simplified due to the quantity of water to be fed being small.

Abstract: An apparatus for fragmenting a block of frozen vegetable tissue such as peat moss, without causing wide-spread damage to the individual vegetable fibers, comprising a pair of planar jaw members movable between opened and closed positions. Each jaw member has a grating-like configuration defining a plurality of discharge apertures in a spaced apart relationship and also comprises projecting crushing teeth. In the closed position, the jaw members are in a mating relationship, whereby the crushing teeth of each jaw member deeply penetrate the discharge apertures of the opposite jaw member. In operation, a block of frozen vegetable tissue is loaded between the jaw members while they are in the opened position. The jaw members are closed for bursting into fragments the block of frozen vegetable tissue under the effect of multiple pressure points created by the crushing teeth on the block surface and for expelling the fragments through the discharge apertures.

Abstract: A method is provided for filtering shredded cellulose-based material, for example to enable the formation of a mixture containing cellulose dispersed in a solvent for cellulose such as amine oxide. The shredding operation creates both fine particles of cellulosic material ("pulp dust") and large particles of cellulosic material, The shredded cellulosic material is passed through a separator to separate the pulp dust from the large particles of cellulosic material and the pulp dust is subsequently recovered in a filtering process.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of refining pulp stock in which the pulp material to be ground is introduced into a grinding space located between a first rotatable grinding device carried by a shaft and being axially displaceable by a servo motor, and a second non-rotatable grinding device. The servo motor is actuated by pressurized fluid for adjusting and controlling the grinding space, producing a grinding pressure between the first and the second grinding devices and for preventing axial displacement of the first rotatable grinding device relative to the second non-rotatable grinding device in response to fluctuating axial grinding forces. The second non-rotatable grinding device comprises a plurality of concentrically arranged annular grinding members, at least one of which is axially adjustable by a setting device.

Abstract: A method of producing bamboo fibers comprese a first step of crushing bamboo in the direction of growth thereof by a rolling machine; a second step of fiberizing the crushed bamboo, obtained in the first step, by a hammer-mill-type grinding machine; and a third step of separating an inner thin skin portion of the bamboo, mixed in with the bamboo fibers obtained in the second step, from the bamboo fibers.

Abstract: A process for the production of mechanically disassembled cellulose and the resultant product, referred to as microdenominated cellulose (MDC). The product is characterized by a settled volume of greater than 50%, as determined on the basis of a 1% by weight suspension in water after twenty-four hours, and a water retention value of over 350%. MDC is useful as an ingredient in foods, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Abstract: A method of creating a comminuted feedstock of wood pulp for use in a processing plant which includes the steps of mounting a plurality of rolls of wood pulp sheet material of a first range of properties in a first roll stand, drawing sheet material off each roll in the first roll stand and laying the sheet materials one on the other to create a first pluri-layer web, withdrawing the first pluri-layer web from the first roll stand and leading it to a cutting area of a shredding mill, acting on the first pluri-layer web in the cutting area with rotating hooked disc cutters to tear platelets from the first pluri-layer web and to pass the torn platelets to an outlet of the shredding mill, pneumatically conveying the torn platelets away from the outlet using a fan with a bladed member rotating in a fan casing, and beating the torn platelets with the bladed member as they are conveyed through the fan casing to separate the torn platelets into pieces torn from the individual layers making up the first pluri-layer w

Abstract: In a refiner having ribbed refining disks to form a refining zone between such disks, the refining spaces of such disks including radial ribs forming grooves between them, which grooves are blocked at intervals by dams connecting the ribs at opposite sides of the grooves, and intergroove slots connect neighboring grooves in an arrangement to provide venting passages for steam forming a zigzag course which bypasses the refining zone between the refining disks.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing animal bedding material in which waste cellulosic fibrous material, such as waste paper, is finely shredded after which any metal component is removed and the shredded material is then thoroughly mixed with calcium oxide and water until a temperature of the mixture of about 120.degree. F. to 140.degree. F. is achieved after which the mixture is neutralized with silica diatomite plankton or non-swelling clay in a ratio to obtain a final mixture having a neutral pH and drying the final mixture to obtain a product useful for bedding for animals.