Abstract: A food mixing machine (20) has an agitator (25) to mix food in a cup (C). A cup holder (31) is provided with a flexible boot (32) which receives the cup (C). The cup holder (31) is moveable through an opening (90) in the machine (20) and carries a gripping assembly (33) and an actuator assembly (34). The actuator assembly (34) is moveable relative to the gripping assembly (33) and is biased by springs (35) to maintain fingers (56) of the gripping assembly (33) in engagement with the cup (C). When it is desired to release the cup (C), a release assembly (80) overcomes the bias of the springs (35). As the cup holder (31) moves through the opening (90), the area between the cup holder (31) and the opening (90) is sealed by a seal assembly (91) so that food materials cannot go through the opening (90).

Abstract: A mixing apparatus including a frame, a housing, and a pair of thrust generators are disclosed. The housing is pivotably mounted to the frame and is movable between a retracted position substantially parallel with the frame and an extended position substantially perpendicular to the frame. The thrust generators are opposingly mounted to the housing and face opposite directions both when the housing is in the retracted position and when the housing is in the extended position. Various mixing and disposal methods are also described.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus including a frame, a housing, and a pair of thrust generators are disclosed. The housing is pivotably mounted to the frame and is movable between a retracted position substantially parallel with the frame and an extended position substantially perpendicular to the frame. The thrust generators are opposingly mounted to the housing and face opposite directions both when the housing is in the retracted position and when the housing is in the extended position. Various mixing and disposal methods are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning and mixing a flat bed composting mass includes an even number of mixing worms that each rotate about a vertical shaft. The end of each vertical shaft may include a wear-resistant element on its end which serves to protect the shaft during operation. The vertical shafts may also be hollow and include an air hole for transmitting air into the composting mass. The pair of mixing worms preferably rotate in opposite directions to lift the composting mass upwardly from the bottom of the mass.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for slurrying waste materials and drill cuttings. The apparatus includes a pump having a chamber an inlet opening into the bottom of the chamber, an impeller, an outlet on one side of the chamber for removal of material into a discharge line, and circumferentially spaced circulation ports in the chamber side. The impeller extends below the chamber and breaks up debris in addition to drawing material into the pump chamber. The pump may be rotated by a swivel connection and moved and manipulated in the tank by a crane arm, or it may be suspended by cable or other means. The pump stirs up a slurry by rotating the impeller, opening the circulation ports at least partially so that the material entering the bottom inlet to the chamber and being agitated by the impeller is forced out of the circulation ports.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing fodder with another consumable material wherein a hopper having two compartments is drawn by a tractor or similar vehicle or is self-propelled. Two parallel feeding channels are provided in front of a plurality of animal's stalls in a building and a tractor together with a hopper move between the two feeding channels. There is a discharge device from each of the compartments of the hopper which extend outwardly into the feed channels to receive fodder from one compartment and another consumable material from the other compartment which are mixed together by mixing devices extending outwardly into the feed channels behind the discharge devices. The mixing device is powered by a power take-off shaft from the tractor and rotates to mix the fodder and other consumable material together. The rotation may be about vertical axes or horizontal axes, the latter extending either in the direction of travel of the tractor or transverse thereto.

Abstract: An aerobic fermentation promoting device, a fermentation system and organic compost prepared by the system. The device promotes aerobic fermentation of compost materials by periodically mixing the compost materials together and by letting the compost materials come into contact with the outside air. The device is installed in a fermentation tank and has a rotatable screw conveyor unit, at least one bucket elevator, a drive unit and a steering unit. The compost is produced by charging moisture control materials in the tank, uniformly spraying excrement on the surface of the moisture control materials, mixing the compost materials together using the fermentation promoting device after lapse of four to seven days since spraying of the excrement, and adding new moisture control materials and new excrement to existing compost materials.

Abstract: The fermentation apparatus according to the invention is of a vertically oriented, multistage type comprising one or more fermentation tanks, an outlet port provided at the top of the fermentation tank, a maturation tank disposed below the fermentation tank, and a preliminary fermentation tank disposed below the maturation tank. Each fermentation tank includes a support member rotatable in the circumferential direction, an agitation member removably connected to the support member and including a plurality of agitation blades rotatable in the horizontal direction relative to the bottom surface of the fermentation apparatus, a gas intake device disposed below the agitation member, a transfer opening member for open-close movement, and a filter member provided at the top of the fermentation tank.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of using an apparatus is provided for the accelerated bioremediation of treated contaminated material. The material is treated with chemical and/or biological amendments for facilitating accelerated bioremediation thereof. The apparatus comprises a system for for generating a treated contaminated material entraining air stream at a predetermined velocity for entraining the treated contaminate material therein for microenfractionating the treated contaminated material. In this way, accelerated bioremediation is facilitated. In another form of the invention, a method of accelerated bioremediation of treated contaminated material is provided.

Abstract: A compost curing system utilizing a compost turner of generally V-shaped configuration, one leg of the "V" being formed by counter-rotating ribbon augers and the other leg of the "V" being formed by pair of over-under conveyors, the lower conveyor being adjustably extendable to vary the throw of the conveyor system. The legs of the "V" are piviotally interconnected to permit their angular adjustment and are pivotally mounted on a frame structure for attachment to a motorized conveyance. The system includes means for injecting air into compost undergoing treatment and air collection and air treatment apparatus for controlling the temperature of process air emanating from the compost pile for reuse and for deodorizing the air prior to its release to the atmosphere.

Abstract: One type of plant for transporting, handling and processing materials such as sand, gravel, crushed aggregate, soil, peat and recoverable excavated material. A screening plant for particularly screening of said materials comprises at least one feed station onto or into which material to be screened is brought or fed for discharge onto a screen conveyor which feeds the material to a further station such as a screening device wherein screening is carried out. In order to permit mixing principally everywhere mixing is necessary or convenient, the screening plant is also provided with at least one mixing device positionable in at least one operating position and an inoperative or rest position, when in operating position, the mixing device permits mixing of two or more of the above materials which have been supplied to the screening plant when these materials pass the mixing device.

Abstract: The composting of waste material in a batch mode is accomplished by microbiological aerobic activity in a closed cylindrical vessel. The batch composting facility comprises bottom aeration (18) and an agitation auger mechanism (1) to ensure both aerobic and homogeneous composting conditions.

Abstract: Method, system and apparatus are disclosed for in-vessel composting of organic material. A compost handling apparatus moves forwardly through a bed of composting material in an elongate open bay. Specifically, an agitator comprises a feed belt such as a transversely mounted cylindrical drum, which feeds composting material to a conveyor which lifts the material and projects it rearwardly behind the agitator. A regulator, such as an adjustable deflector, controls the discharge of composting material by the conveyor. The deflector is adjusted as the agitator moves forward through the composting material to develop a level bed in the bay behind the agitator. A sensor may be employed to generate a depth signal corresponding to the depth of the composting material for controlling the deflector.

Abstract: A composting machine is used with an elongated reactor with flails mounted in a frame that moves longitudinally from a finishing end to a starting end during a processing pass. The flails move the organic material in the reactor along the reactor toward the finishing end. The flails are radially mounted on a shaft and the shaft rotates during the processing pass causing the flails to rotate as well. During a return pass, the flails can be made to occupy a horizontal plane so that the frame can return to the finishing end without raising the shaft vertically. Further, a skirt can be mounted adjacent to the flails to limit the distance that the material is moved by the flails. The distance of the skirt from a leading edge of the flails can be increased during the processing pass from the finishing end to the starting end. This allows the machine to be much more efficient as the level of the organic material can be maintained nearly constant from the starting end to the finishing end.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus for turning, and otherwise agitating, compost materials in an elongated windrow, is described. The invention includes a chute structure, that can be moved into, and along, the windrow. A toothed drum, at the leading end of the chute structure, penetrates the compost material, and throws it upwardly, and rearwardly, onto an inclined conveyor. The conveyor transports the materials upwardly to a discharge point, located at the trailing end of the chute structure. Gravitational forces cause the materials to intermittently fall back toward the drum, thereby churning and mixing the materials. Pressurized air is continually sprayed onto the materials on the conveyor, in order to aerate the materials while they are being churned and transported.

Abstract: A compost handling machine comprising a carriage to support the machine for movement along a composting bay, and a compost agitating and conveying assembly to agitate compost in, and to move the compost along, the bay. The agitating and conveying assembly includes a conveyor subassembly and a drum subassembly. The conveyor subassembly includes a plurality of lifting cleats that, in use, are moved around a closed path to lift compost in the bay and move the compost rearwardly therein. The drum subassembly includes an agitating drum extending between and supported by a pair of support arms, and the drum is rotated to agitate and comminute the compost in the bay.

Abstract: A compost turner including a rotatable mandrel supported by a shaft and at least one bearing includes a guard for reducing the tendency of polymeric garbage bags to wrap around the mandrel shaft and foul the bearing. The guard includes stationary cutting members mounted to a bearing support and rotating cutting members mounted to the mandrel which interact with the stationary guard members to shred garbage bags into harmless pieces.

Abstract: A mobile device for turning over or mixing accumulations of organic waste materials, such as compost at fixed dump sites, having a steerable chassis with working tracks enabling it to advance through the accumulations of material. The device has a mechanism for mixing the waste picked up while it drives through the waste, and after being thoroughly mixed, redepositing the waste behind the device. The device includes a clearing mechanism disposed on the front side of the chassis and in the area in front of each of the working tracks of the chassis, for clearing a track path as the chassis moves through the waste material. The clearing mechanism avoids the need for laying down separate tracks and comprises a mixing mechanism with a guide shield disposed in front of the intake in the mixing mechanism and clearing tools disposed on a guide surface with the mixing mechanism.

Abstract: A compost handling machine comprising a carriage to support the machine for movement along a composting bay, and a compost agitating and conveying assembly to agitate compost in, and to move the compost along the bay. The agitating and conveying assembly includes a conveyor subassembly and a drum subassembly. The conveyor subassembly includes a plurality of lifting cleats that, in use, are moved around a closed path to lift compost in the bay and move the compost rearwardly therein. The drum subassembly includes an agitating drum extending between and supported by a pair of support arms, and the drum is rotated to agitate and comminute the compost in the bay.

Abstract: Crude oils and other oleaginous substances which have washed onto and soaked thoroughly into coarse bottom sediments such as sand beaches and sediments forming the bottom of certain holding ponds may be released for recovery by mechanical or hydraulic plowing of the relatively loose sediments followed by hydraulic agitation of the sediments to permit the substances to float to the surface of the body of water. Shallow water beach areas may be plowed by a conventional crawler tractor having an array of ripper teeth fitted with hydraulic jet nozzles for severely agitating the sands which are plowed by the ripper teeth. A submersible pump or pump intake is preferably supported spaced from the normal path of the tractor and in the body of water to collect relatively clean water for discharge through the nozzles.

Abstract: A compost turning machine which travels along the ground and straddles a compost windrow, and which carries a rotating drum for turning the composting material. An adjustable auger system is located outboard and ahead of the rotating drum to collect composting material and deposit it in the path of the rotating drum. Each auger is independently driven by a hydraulic motor and can be individually raised or lowered as required.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating traffic surfaces is disclosed in which, in lieu of preparing a batch of coating material, the coating ingredients are independently deposited on the traffic surface and a rotary tool with depending blades is brought into contact with the surface to be coated to effectively mix the ingredients while upon the surface so as to rapidly produce, distribute and apply a uniform composition. The apparatus aspect is represented by a machine in which there are various tanks and hoppers for the individual ingredients, with operator accessible controls for starting, stopping and metering such deposits. In addition the machine carries means for rotatably driving the tool, and for raising and lowering the tool to control the nature of blade contact with the surface being coated.

Abstract: A composting method uses an "H"-shaped apparatus comprising four rotatable paddles disposed at each terminal end of the "H"-shaped arrangement, the apparatus as a whole being reversibly movable in the direction of the horizontal bar of the "H" shape. A plurality of composting sections are arranged in a row along and at opposite sides of the horizontal bar. The composting operation is performed for the plurality of sections according to a predetermined schedule so that, when the apparatus is under operation, four sections are simultaneously under operation, one of the four sections may be receiving material and three sections are simultaneously under agitation by the paddles and at the other section or sections the material may be taken away.

Abstract: A compost processing machine for separating, mixing and stacking compost includes a pick-up drum at its forward end which picks up the compost and discharges it to feed means which in turn feeds the compost to a beater drum at the back end of the machine with the feed means and beater drum being formed in three distinct sections so as to provide a staggered type of feeding from the feed means to the beater drum and then a staggered type of discharge from the beater drum to the pile of compost being formed therefrom.

Abstract: Apparatus for the dry salting of plastic or pliable curd for cheese production comprises a hopper for the salt, dispensing means at the hopper outlet for sprinkling the salt onto the plastic curd, a comb member disposed downstream of the dispensing means and cooperating therewith, and means for operating the comb in such a manner that it penetrates into the curd in order to introduce the salt uniformly therein.

Abstract: Self-propelled windrowing apparatus having a forward material treatment housing carrying an elevating structure formed as a drum carrying a plurality of pivotal flails. The flails serve to shred and aerate biodegradable waste and elevate it to a collection auger which manipulates the elevated material to a transfer conveyor mounted within the chassis of the apparatus. The transfer conveyor moves the material to a pivotal windrowing conveyor mounted rearwardly of the apparatus which serves to form symmetrical windrow piles of material.

Abstract: Windrowing apparatus utilizing a windrowing conveyor which confronts an elongate row of biodegradable material for agitating and transferring it. The apparatus has two rearwardly disposed drive wheels which are fixed to a rigid frame and are selectively driven by hydraulic motors. The wheels have fixed axes to carry out pivotal turns. A third wheel forwardly disposed in a location remote from the row of material being windrowed provides the third component of a three point support. An internal combustion engine is mounted on the rigid frame to provide a primary source of power to hydraulic motors driving the rear wheels and the conveyor itself.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for more efficiently agitating and intermixing organic waste material in a containing vessel includes a rotary cutting assembly which is vertically advanced downwardly into an accumulated quantity of organic waste material. The rotary cutting assembly separates an end portion of an accumulation of material from the remainder of the material and intermixes the separated portion with ambient air. The separated portion of material is then transported to a new location in the containing vessel.

Abstract: Windrowing apparatus for laterally transferring an elongate row of waste material wherein a windrow conveyor is supported for movement by three pivotally mounted and freely rotatable wheels. The apparatus may be coupled or decoupled from a conventional front end loader and the wheels are so spaced and positioned as to permit the windrow conveyor to confront a row of waste while remaining protected from "climbing up" on the waste material. Considerably improved flexibility in the operation of a windrowing facility is effected with the apparatus.

Abstract: According to this invention, when the area to be treated is accessible, the procedure involves breaking up the soil to be treated by a continuous, forward-moving mixing process down to a chosen depth. A first vertical section of a determined width is followed, with simultaneous forward injection of the reagent. This is continued until the first section has been completed, at which time a second lateral section is begun in the same way. This second section will be exactly adjacent to the first one, which will be in the process of hardening, and the following sections will be completed in the same way until the entire area to be treated has been mixed to the desired depth.