Abstract: The invention relates to a process for regulating a grinding installation using four automatic control systems, of which one control system keeps the material level of the storage silo for the ground material constant by altering the grinding force of the roller mill. In this way, the mill throughput is altered in the event of variations in consumption in such a way that the differential mill pressure and hence the quality of the end product are kept constant.

Abstract: A tobacco shredding machine wherein an upright duct delivers particles of tobacco to the rear portion of a channel wherein the particles are converted into a continuous cake whose front end is severed by a set of orbiting knives. The lower rear portion of the duct contains a deflecting conveyor which diverts the oncoming tobacco particles from a vertical path into a horizontal path and drives the oncoming particles at a speed which is a multiple of the speed of tobacco compacting conveyors flanking the channel. The speed of the deflecting conveyor is changed in response to changes in the height of the opening between the stationary and movable sections of a mouthpiece through which the cake passes on its way into the range of the oribiting knives. This ensures that the height of the opening reassumes its normal value without changing the speed of the compacting conveyors. The deflecting conveyor is installed in a support which is removably insertable between the side walls of the duct.

Abstract: Scrap of thermosetting plastics is reclaimed and recycled by an integrally combined apparatus which includes a device for pulverizing and atomizing the scrap, and a device for blending fine powder of the scrap with virgin material of thermosetting plastic. The device for blending includes a feed screw of constant revolution speed for conveying the fine powder of scrap and a variable speed feed screw for conveying virgin material in order to obtain high blending performance.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously processing wood comprises a pressurized grinding chamber, a grinding stone which is mounted for rotation in the grinding chamber, a device for feeding wood into the grinding chamber to form a primary groundwood stock therein, and a device for discharging the primary groundwood stock from the chamber without allowing gas to escape from the chamber to atmosphere. The feeding device comprises a stationary feeding chamber provided with shutters for sequentially pressure-tightly closing the feeding chamber from the atmosphere and from the grinding chamber respectively, thereby to prevent escape of gas from the grinding chamber through the feeding device.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously processing wood comprises a pressurized grinding chamber, a grinding stone which is mounted for rotation in the grinding chamber, a device for feeding wood into the grinding chamber to form a primary groundwood stock therein, and a device for discharging the primary groundwood stock from the chamber without allowing gas to escape from the chamber to atmosphere. The discharging device comprises a stick crusher for crushing sticks present in the primary groundwood stock thereby to produce a secondary groundwood stock and an outlet for continuously discharging the secondary groundwood stock while preserving a hydraulic seal of groundwood stock thereby to maintain the groundwood stock in the apparatus under superatmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The method of forming accurate charges of rubber composed of different sorts of rubber includes the steps of preparing for each sort a series of bales stored in a ready to feed condition on separate storing conveyors, successively discharging the required number of whole bales from respective series onto a common intermediate feeding conveyor wherefrom the batches of whole bales are supplied via a switching intermediate feeding conveyor to a scaling conveyor of an automatic scale. Part of whole bales is selectively directed to a cutting machine where the bales are successively disintegrated into smaller pieces and distributed according to the rubber sorts on separate storing and dosing conveyors directed to a hopper above the scaling conveyor.

Abstract: For use in a grain feed system at a grain processing plant, the preferred and illustrated embodiment discloses a pneumatically powered control system connected to a gate in the grain processing apparatus to open the gate and further discloses a pneumatically operated grain processing apparatus. The control system responds to the presence of grain. As the grain flows through the processing equipment, the gate and processing apparatus are maintained in an operative state. On sensing the absence of grain, the sensor triggers signals which close the hopper supply system for grain and disables the grain processing equipment.

Abstract: A method for operating a crushing and grinding facility is disclosed in which crushing of mine-run material is controlled to always match grinding feed requirements while both crusher(s) (10) and grinding mills (16) operate full time and draw full power during the hours of what may be unequal length working days. The grinding mill (16) is also operated to produce the maximum output of final product that is within its existing capabilities. At each of a succession of measurement times (e.g., every 1/2 hour during a 22-hour working day of the mill), the rate of production of final product by the grinding mill (6) is ascertained (as by 21, 22, 23) and projected to the end of the mill working day.

Abstract: A breaking machine having a disintegrator module, storage shaft, and a regulating shaft. Fibers are fed into a disintegrator module of the breaking machine and are thereafter led into a storage shaft. At this point, the fibers are alternatively exited from the machine or fowarded to a regulating shaft for recycling to the disintegrator module. The cycle may be reproduced several times and is automatically controlled by a control panel where preselected digital values are set to control the operation and cycling of the machine.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the operation of centrifugal cyclones. Sensing means is disposed in the underflow spray discharge of a cyclone and is connected to electronic sensing circuitry adapted to produce a signal or alarm response when the cyclone ceases to operate in a normal manner. In one embodiment the apparatus and method employs a plurality of cyclones connected to receive feed material from a common manifolding means. Abnormal functioning of one cyclone of the group is immediately indicated by visual or audible alarm means and thereafter its sensing means may be disabled to permit the sensing circuitry to continue to be effective for the remaining cyclones. Delay means is incorporated in the circuitry to prevent a response when the abnormal condition is of short duration. One form of sensing means employs a probe which extends into the normal underflow discharge spray. Another form employs a paddle and switch assembly, with the paddle extending into the normal discharge spray.

Abstract: A bale disintegrating apparatus provides a cutter having a plurality of blades extending outwardly from an axis directed generally towards the bale with such knives being rotated about the axis for cutting the fibrous material at a face of the bale. A spider rotates about an axis generally directed towards the bale while one or more of the cutters are mounted to the spider for rotation at axes spaced from the spider axis and cut along the face of the bale. A quill is mounted upon the rotary shaft of the spider and is coupled to operate a cutter at a speed substantially different than the spider speed. The cutter is angularly oriented with respect to the spider while the spider is angularly spaced from a plane normal to the relative movement direction between the bale and the cutting assembly. A chamber surrounds the cutting assembly and a discharge conveyer while constricting panels confine the bale to be properly addressed to the cutting assembly.

Abstract: A device for the destruction of microfilm and similar data carriers with microimage impressions which is designed to shred the data carriers by means of a rotating shredding cutter in the form of a plain milling cutter whose teeth move past a transversely extending stationary cutting edge. A strip feeding unit advances the data carrier strip past this cutting edge along a guide plate, said unit including a driven endless conveying member which forms a conveying gap with the guide plate. A second stationary cutting edge forms a second cutting point behind the first cutting point. The strip feeding unit is self-contained and movable against a spring bias in relation to the main frame and its guide plate, so that a safety switch, responding to such movement, stops the device when too many data carriers are fed into the device simultaneously.

Abstract: A method of operating a milling installation to regulate the fineness of the milled product, in which the milled product emerges from the output side of a mill, e.g. a ball-type tube mill, and material to be milled is introduced at the opposite side of the mill. According to the invention, the mass output rate dm/dt or m of the product is continuously or discontinuously measured and this measurement is used to control the rate of mass output at the output side of the mill so that the output rate is held substantially constant. The invention is applicable to a through-flow (continuous open-circuit) mill in which a fresh starting material is continuously introduced into the mill and to the circulating system (continuous closed-circuit mill) in which the output of the mill is delivered to a classifier which separates the fine product from a coarse component which is recycled to the mill.

Abstract: A tobacco shredding apparatus wherein a relatively small upright duct receives tobacco from a large magazine. A system of tobacco compacting chains draws tobacco from the lower part of the duct and feeds the resulting cake into the path of orbiting shredding knives. The chains and the knives are driven by a first variable-speed motor. A conveyor which is driven by a second variable-speed motor transfers tobacco from the magazine into the duct. The volume of tobacco in the duct is monitored by a first set of photocells whose signals are used to regulate the speed of the second motor so as to maintain the volume of tobacco in the duct within a first range. The volume of tobacco in the magazine is monitored by a second set of photocells whose signals are utilized to regulate the speed of the first motor so as to maintain the volume of tobacco in the magazine within a second range. The capacity of the magazine is between five and ten times the capacity of the duct.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a roll crusher which crushes loaded material by impact and pressure, comprising a crusher housing, a loading hopper, a rotatable roll holding impacting tools, and fixed or adjustable crushing bars mounted to the crushing wall of the crusher housing, the improvement comprising two mutually oppositely rotatable rolls, each independent of the other and adapted to crush the material, mounted together with two oppositely located crushing walls in one common crusher housing, and a roof-like chute means mounted above a gap between the two rolls and adapted to distribute the material in the hopper and feed it to crushing regions.

Abstract: In the operation of a grinding plant, including a motor-driven rod mill and an arrangement for controllably supplying material to be ground to the rod mill, the supply of material to the mill is adjusted in a manner such that the power consumption of the mill motor is maintained substantially constant at a value which exceeds the power consumption of the mill motor at the occurrence of a rod-jam by approximately 0.5-2%.

Abstract: The invention relates to crop harvesting machines fitted with detector means for detecting the presence of undesirable objects such as metallic objects. The invention seeks to solve the problem of known machines in which some form of slipping clutch is provided which operates when drive is arrested due to the presence of an undesirable object and which may overheat, and the problem of normal drive being re-established without first ensuring the removal of the offending object. According to the invention a harvesting machine comprises crop processing means, feeder means for feeding crop material to the processing means, a drive train for driving the feeder means, and detector means for detecting undesirable objects passing through the feeder means, the detector means being operable upon the detection of an undesirable object to initiate instantaneous arrest of the drive to the feeder means and to break the drive train for the feeder means.

Abstract: A document shredder which comprises a strip cutter to cut waste document into strips, a chip cutter to cut the strips into chips, and a minuting device disposed downstream of the chip cutters to cut the chips into pulp-like mass. The minuting device includes a housing having a conical surface formed with cutting teeth, and a conical rotary body formed with cutting teeth in engagement the cutting teeth of the housing.

Abstract: Coal grinding apparatus for direct coal fired burner systems in which coal usage is regulated by a speed controlled roller grinding mill operated in conjunction with a speed controlled spinner separator to control the size and volume of the coal output to match the requirements of the burner, and means to transport and control the transport of the properly sized coal to the burner by either a negative or positive acting fan.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for pelleting particulate animal feed in accordance with a feed pelleting system in which the feed is fed from a bin through a mixer/conditioner, where selected amounts of heat and moisture are added to the feed, and into a pellet producing machine, wherein in accordance with the system the feed is heated by heating the mixer/conditioner using a closed circuit live steam system that returns to the heat source the condensate form by heating the mixer/conditioner, and wherein the moisture is added to the feed as it passes through the mixer/conditioner by inserting hot water at a temperature that approximates but is below that causing vaporization of the insert water, with the insert water being heated by a closed circuit live steam system that returns to the heat source the condensate formed by heating the insert water.

Abstract: A method of pulverizing is provided which allows for blending different pulverized solids before passing the pulverized solids to points of use. The method steps of pulverizing a plurality of solids feedstocks in a plurality of pulverizing sections, mixing the pulverized solids, and regulating the rates at which the solids feedstocks are fed to respective pulverizing sections.

Abstract: For control of a crushing plant to ensure both that a quota quantity of product is produced during each working period and that the product has optimum economic value by reason of small particle size, determination is made of the amount of product passed through the plant from the beginning of the period to each of a number of measurement times during the period. Each such determination gives a "still to go" quantity, hence a theoretical new feed rate to be maintained. The rate of feed of material into the plant is adjusted in correspondence with the ratio between that theoretical rate and the actual feed rate prevailing during an interval just before the measurement time.

Abstract: Power plant boiler fuel demand is transmitted as a coal feeder speed demand to a coal pulverizer control. A speed controller operates the feeder in accordance with the speed demand, and a position controller for a hot coal transport air damper positions the hot air damper to hold the mill outlet temperature to a setpoint value and to increase or decrease damper position in accordance with a feedforward signal representing the feeding speed demand. A position controller for a cold air damper regulates the total primary air flow to a value needed for safe and smooth transport of the pulverized coal to the boiler burners, and it accordingly acts as a process trim on the feedforward control applied by the hot damper controller.

Abstract: The moving parts of a tobacco cutting machine and the conveyor or conveyors which transfer tobacco to the cutting machine are driven by a variable speed motor whose speed is regulated in dependency on the volume of tobacco in a duct from which the conveyor or conveyors draw or receive tobacco for transfer into the machine. The height of the pile of tobacco in the duct is monitored by photoelectric cells which transmit signals to a speed regulator for the motor so that the speed of the motor increases and decreases when the height of the pile respectively increases and decreases. The duct receives tobacco from a magazine. Fluctuations of the height of tobacco pile in the duct are due to variations in the rate of tobacco feed from the magazine and/or to changes in size, moisture content and/or temperature of tobacco which is being supplied to the duct.

Abstract: An impacting crusher with a relatively wide rotor is adapted to receive its feed material from a relatively narrow conveyor, while establishing even distribution of wear across the rotor. Periods of operation between rotor overhaul and replacement are extended. Machines with adjustable cages may require less frequent cage adjustments, and are generally capable of a larger number of cage adjustments (with more favorable effect on machine performance). The relatively narrow conveyor feeds feed material to an enclosure which is adapted to maintain an inventory of such material and has an opening through which it discharges the material from the inventory to the rotor. The opening is elongated in a direction generally parallel to the rotor axis, is about as long as the width of the rotor, has its ends positioned substantially above the ends of the rotor, and is of substantially uniform width along its length.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for coordinating the rate of feed and the moisture content of the pulp material to the heat quotients of the mechanical energy input in a refiner system in which the moisture-containing pulp material is introduced at an adjustable rate of feed into the central portion of an axially adjustable grinding space defined between a pair of grinding discs which rotate relative to one another within a closed housing and in which grinding space the material is propelled by centrifugal force created by the rotation of the discs in an annular radial path toward the periphery of the discs while being subjected to a grinding operation in an environment of steam generated by the heat produced by friction in the grinding space.

Abstract: Grinding apparatus comprising a container, means for generating a magnetic field within the container, and means for varying the magnetic field to cause relative movement between material to be ground and grinding medium in the container, at least one of the grinding medium and material to be ground being magnetic material, and the container being substantially of non-magnetic material, such as rubber or plastics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting predetermined operating conditions of a machine driven by an electric motor, in which a filtered electric signal is utilized. The filter is designed to signal the occurrence of frequencies within a predetermined band, thereby enabling detection of an event characterized by the occurrence of such frequencies. The output of the filter can be used, for example, in a further device to operate an alarm, turn off the motor, reduce the feed to the machine, or any other suitable control action.

Abstract: The chains which condense and advance a continuous cake of compacted tobacco into the range of orbiting knives in a tobacco shredding machine are driven by a reversible prime mover independently of the motor which drives the knives. When the movement of the prime mover in a direction to advance the tobacco cake into the range of the knives is interrupted, the prime mover is automatically started in reverse so that the chains retract the leader of the cake from the range of orbiting knives and thus prevent further comminution and eventual overheating and combustion of tobacco. The operation in reverse is terminated by a time-delay device when the leader of the cake is retracted from the range of orbiting knives to an extent which insures that automatic expansion of the leader toward the knives does not suffice to permit any contact between the cake and the orbiting knives while the chains are not driven in a direction to move the cake toward the knives.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to apparatus which is particularly adapted for forming an admixture of dry materials, such as a first sound deadening, heat resistant and fire insulating fibrous material, such as paper, and a second material which makes flame resistant, such as powdered boric acid, the apparatus including conveyor means for conveying the first dry material between input and discharge points along a path of travel established by the conveyor means, means for detecting the amount of the first dry material being conveyed, means responsive to the detecting means for feeding the second dry material to the conveying means in proportion to the amount of the first dry material detected by the detecting means, and comminuting means at the discharge point for receiving the first and second materials and comminuting the same into a homogeneous admixture.

Abstract: A waste materials handling system which includes materials transporting apparatus for conveying materials being processed to a processing device such as a shredder which is subject to unexpected and relatively sudden discontinuance of operation as by clogging or other breakdown condition, the invention comprising means for detecting such breakdown and for consequently diverting flow of materials away from the apparatus without interrupting the flow of materials through the system.

Abstract: A generally vertically adjustable device is located within the discharge end of a housing such as a tubular ball mill for controlling flow into an outlet. Control of a level of accumulation in the housing, or evacution of material from the housing can be selectively effected. Operation of the device is controlled from outside of the housing, and may comprise automatic condition responsive means or manually operable means.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a grinding mill system including a ball mill, rod mill, or the like, the system being characterized by an improved, simple and highly effective proportioning feed device for automatically optimizing through-put under any of a series of differing operating conditions. The system automatically proportions raw material to be ground with partially ground but oversize materials in an efficient manner without the use of complex and expensive electronic and like sensing devices and circuits.

Abstract: A dry grinding process for reducing ore to pelletizable particles comprises grinding the ore in a size-reducing unit and classfiying the ore in a centrifugal pneumatic separator which is automatically controlled to make the coarse fraction available at a substantially constant rate. The coarse fraction is recycled to the size-reducing unit and the total rate of fed ore and recycled coarse fraction is maintained substantially constant. The ore-feeding rate is varied when, and only when, a controlled variable of the pneumatic separator has a deviation in excess of a predetermined permissible deviation.

Abstract: The moving parts of a tobacco cutting machine and the conveyor or conveyors which transfer tobacco to the cutting machine are driven by a variable speed motor whose speed is regulated in dependency on the volume of tobacco in a duct from which the conveyor or conveyors draw or receive tobacco for transfer into the machine. The height of the pile of tobacco in the duct is monitored by photoelectric cells which transmit signals to a speed regulator for the motor so that the speed of the motor increases and decreases when the height of the pile respectively increases and decreases. The duct receives tobacco at a constant rate from a metering unit. Fluctuations of the height of tobacco pile in the duct are due to changes in size, moisture content and/or temperature of tobacco which is being supplied by the metering unit. The latter can supply tobacco to the ducts of two or more discrete cutting machines and then includes a distributor which feeds tobacco to all ducts at an equal rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for crushing swarf and like materials in which the material to be crushed is received in a supply hopper which includes sensing switch means responsive to material in the hopper reaching a selective level for enabling a control circuit which controls operation of the crusher.

Abstract: A controlled system parameter is optimized by providing at periodic time intervals discrete adjustment steps derived from the difference, with alternating sign, between a constant component and a component which depends on the change of the control system parameter caused by the preceding adjustment step. An application of the method to a ball mill in a cement plant for optimizing its efficiency is shown.

Abstract: There is disclosed a process and an apparatus for comminuting solids wherein an attrition-grinding mill includes a grinding chamber having an inlet means enabling a feed slurry of a particulate solid to be comminuted to be introduced into the grinding chamber and an outlet means including a sieve for allowing therethrough a ground product slurry whilst retaining a granular grinding medium within the grinding chamber, the sieve being disposed below the surface of the contents of the grinding chamber and wherein there are first control means associated with the inlet means and/or with the outlet means of the attrition-grinding mill for controlling the relative volume flow rates of said feed slurry and said ground product slurry, and second control means associated with the outlet means of said attrition-grinding mill and responsive to changes in the volume ratio of granular grinding medium to slurry in the grinding chamber for stopping or starting the flow of ground product slurry through said outlet means.

Abstract: A system for optimizing ore throughput in an ore mill grinding system comprising means for direct weighing of the grinding system including the drive means, means for weighing the new ore input, and controller means regulating the new ore input to achieve maximum efficiency of ore grinding utilizing heuristic problem solving method which also prevents grinding system overload while permitting maximum ore throughput. Changes in grinding system parameters due to grinding media wear and ore grindability are automatically compensated by the controller means.

Abstract: A grinding plant for autogenous or semi-autogenous grinding of ores in particular, in separate mills in two steps. The second step uses material from the first step, which is provided with two outlets. The first outlet has holes for discharging relatively finely ground material to be further ground in the second step, and the second outlet has holes for discharging material containing relatively coarse pieces forming grinding media in the second step. A device is provided between the stages to control the flow of coarser material to the second step. Connected to the discharge side of the second step, which is provided with outlet holes as large as the holes for fine material in the first step, there is a means to separate material removed from the second step into a finely ground portion, which is led away, and a portion returned to the first and second steps in proportions adjustable by said means.