U.S. patent number RE35,331 [Application Number 08/294,961] was granted by the patent office on 1996-09-24 for material separating apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Kinematics Corporation. Invention is credited to Raymond W. Sherman.
United States Patent |
RE35,331 |
Sherman |
September 24, 1996 |
Material separating apparatus
Abstract
A material separating apparatus for separating particles up to a
preselected size from a material having particles of different
sizes therein includes a trough having a material input
longitudinally spaced from a material discharge end. The apparatus
also includes a separator having a plurality of longitudinally
spaced finger screen sections between the input end and the
discharge end and along the longitudinal axis of the trough. The
finger screen sections each have a backbone extending from side to
side across the width of the trough and also each have forwardIy
extending fingers connected at one end to the backbone. The fingers
are spaced side by side from each other by a preselected amount at
forward ends thereof sufficient to allow particles up to the
preselected size to pass through the fingers as the trough is
vibrated to cause the material to move from the input end to the
discharge end. The finger screen devices also each have the forward
ends of the fingers thereof overlapping the next forwardly adjacent
finger screen device and include a rearwardly depending leg
connected at one end to the backbone thereof. The apparatus further
includes the forward ends of the fingers being vertically spaced
above the next forwardly adjacent finger screen device by an amount
equal to the preselected amount of spacing therebetween. With this
arrangement, the material is conveyed along the trough and over
successive ones of the finger screen sections with particles up to
the preselected size falling through the finger screen as the
material moves from the input end to the discharge end of the
trough.
Inventors: |
Sherman; Raymond W.
(Barrington, IL) |
Assignee: |
General Kinematics Corporation
(Barrington, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
26968842 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/294,961 |
Filed: |
August 24, 1994 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
702145 |
May 13, 1991 |
05108589 |
Apr 28, 1992 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
209/393;
209/674 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B07B
1/12 (20130101); B07B 1/46 (20130101); B07B
1/4609 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B07B
1/12 (20060101); B07B 1/46 (20060101); B07B
001/12 (); B07B 001/46 () |
Field of
Search: |
;209/660,674,675,680,314,313,393,311,259,257,395,676 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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495405 |
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Aug 1950 |
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BE |
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2633535 |
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Jan 1990 |
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FR |
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610269 |
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Mar 1935 |
|
DE |
|
683263 |
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Nov 1939 |
|
DE |
|
140666 |
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Mar 1980 |
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DE |
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3422148 |
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Dec 1984 |
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DE |
|
40361 |
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Mar 1979 |
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JP |
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152983 |
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Jul 1961 |
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SU |
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Primary Examiner: Bollinger; David H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wood, Phillips, VanSanten, Clark
& Mortimer
Claims
I/we claim:
1. A material separating apparatus, comprising:
a trough having a material input end longitudinally spaced from a
material discharge end and including means for separating particles
up to a preselected size from a material having particles of
different sizes therein; and
means for resiliently supporting said trough relative to a
supporting surface to permit vibratory movement of said trough and
means for vibrating said trough for agitating and moving said
material from said input end toward said discharge end;
said separating means including a plurality of longitudinally
spaced finger screen means disposed between said input end and said
discharge end and along the longitudinal axis of said trough, each
of said finger screen means including a backbone extending from
side to side across the width of said trough, each of said finger
screen means also including forwardly extending fingers connected
at one end to said backbone, said fingers being spaced side by side
from each other by a preselected amount at forward ends thereof
sufficient to allow particles up to said preselected size to pass
through said fingers, said fingers of each of said finger screen
means extending forwardly and slightly upwardly relative to said
backbone of said finger screen means immediately forward thereof,
each of said finger screen means also including a rearwardly
depending leg connected at one end to said backbone, each of said
finger screen means having said forward ends of said fingers
overlapping said finger screen means immediately forward thereof,
said forward ends of said fingers being vertically spaced above
said finger screen means adjacent to and immediately forward
thereof by a spacing .[.sufficient to permit particles up.].
.Iadd.equal .Iaddend.to said preselected .[.size to pass through
the.]. .Iadd.amount of .Iaddend.spacing between adjacent ones of
said finger screen means;
whereby said material having particles of different sizes will be
conveyed along said trough and over successive ones of said finger
screen means with particles up to said preselected size falling
through said finger screen means as said material moves from said
input end to said discharge end of said trough.
2. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 1
including at least one sloping chute suspended from below said
trough for receiving particles falling through said finger screen
means.
3. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 2
including a particle conveyor below a discharge end of said chute
for independently conveying particles received from said chute to a
separate destination.
4. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
said finger screen means includes at least two longitudinally
adjacent screen regions for separating said material into at least
two separate batches.
5. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein
one of said batches is of substantially uniform smaller sized
particles and the other of said batches is of substantially uniform
larger sized particles.
6. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein
said smaller sized particles are separated from said material
upstream of where said larger sized particles are separated from
said material.
7. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
said fingers of one of said finger screen means are laterally
offset relative to said fingers of said finger screen means
immediately forward thereof.
8. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein
said finger screen means are each connected to and exclusively
supported by said trough at opposite ends of said backbone
thereof.
9. A material separating apparatus, comprising:
a trough having a material input end longitudinally spaced from a
material discharge end and including means for separating particles
up to at least two distinct preselected sizes from a material
having particles of a variety of different sizes therein; and
means for resiliently supporting said trough relative to a
supporting surface to permit vibratory movement of said trough and
means for vibrating said trough for agitating and moving said
material from said input end toward said discharge end;
said separating means including a plurality of longitudinally
spaced finger screen means disposed between said input end and said
discharge end and along the longitudinal axis of said trough, each
of said finger screen means also including a backbone extending
from side to side across the width of said trough, each of said
finger screen means also including means being formed such that
said fingers are all tapered to define gaps diverting outwardly
from said backbone to said forward ends of said fingers where said
gaps are a preselected amount sufficient to allow particles up to
one of said preselected sizes to pass through said fingers, each of
said finger screen means also including a rearwardly depending leg
connected at one end to said backbone, each of said finger screen
means having said forward ends of said fingers overlapping said
finger screen means immediately forward thereof, said forward ends
of said fingers being vertically spaced above said finger screen
means immediately forward thereof by a distance equal to said
preselected amount of spacing between adjacent fingers;
said finger screen means including at least two longitudinally
adjacent screen regions for separating said material into at least
two separate batches, one of said batches being of substantially
uniform smaller sized particles and the other of said batches being
of substantially uniform larger sized particles, said smaller sized
particles being separated from said material upstream of where said
larger sized particles are separated from said material,
whereby said material having particles of a variety of different
sizes will be conveyed along said trough and over successive ones
of said finger screen means with said smaller sized particles
falling through an upstream one of said screen regions and said
larger sized particles falling through a downstream one of said
screen regions as said material moves from said input end to said
discharge end of said trough.
10. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 9
including a sloping chute suspended from below said trough in
longitudinally spaced relationship for each of said screen regions
for receiving particles falling through each of said screen
regions.
11. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 10
including a separate particle conveyor below a discharge end of
each of said chutes for independently conveying particles received
from each of said chutes to a separate destination.
12. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein
each of said fingers of any one of said finger screens means is
laterally offset so as to be aligned with said gap between a pair
of said fingers of said finger screen means immediately forward
thereof.
13. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein
said rearwardly depending leg of each of said finger screen means
extends rearwardly and downwardly relative to said backbone to
direct said particles toward a particle receiving chute.
14. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein
said fingers of each of said finger screen means extend forwardly
and slightly upwardly relative to said backbone of said finger
screen means immediately forward thereof.
15. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein
said forward ends of adjacent ones of said fingers are spaced apart
by an equal amount for all of said finger screen means in any one
of said separate screen regions.
16. A material separating apparatus, comprising:
a trough having a material input end longitudinally spaced from a
material discharge end and including means for separating plural
sized particles into at least two batches of particles, said plural
sized particles comprising a material to be classified by size, one
of said batches of particles containing particles up to a first
preselected size and another of said batches of particles
containing particles up to a second preselected size; and
means for resiliently supporting said trough relative to a
supporting surface to permit vibratory movement of said trough and
means for vibrating said trough for agitating and moving said
material from said input end toward said discharge end;
said separating means including a plurality of longitudinally
spaced finger screen means disposed between said input end and said
discharge end and along the longitudinal .Iadd.axis of said trough,
each of said finger screen means .Iaddend.including a backbone
extending from side to side across the width of said trough, each
of said finger screen means also .[.axis of said trough, each of
said finger screen means also.]. including forwardly extending
fingers connected at one end to said backbone, each of said finger
screen means being formed such that said fingers are all tapered to
define gaps diverging outwardly to a first preselected amount of
spacing at forward ends of said fingers of a first, upstream screen
region sufficient to allow particles up to said first preselected
sizes to pass through said fingers thereof and by a second
preselected amount of spacing at forward ends of said fingers of a
second, downstream screen region sufficient to allow particles up
to said second preselected size to pass through said fingers
thereof, each of said finger screen means also including a
rearwardly depending leg connected at one end to said backbone,
each of said finger screen means having said forward ends of said
fingers overlapping said finger screen means immediately forward
thereof, said forward ends of said fingers being vertically spaced
above said finger screen means immediately forward thereof by a
distance equal to said preselected amount of spacing between
adjacent fingers;
whereby said material having plural sized particles will be
conveyed along said trough and over successive ones of said finger
screen means with particles up to said first preselected size
falling through said finger screen means of said first, upstream
screen region, particles up to said second preselected size falling
through said second, downstream screen region and particles larger
than said second preselected size being discharged from said
discharge end of said trough as said material moves from said input
end to said discharge end of said trough.
17. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 16
wherein said finger screen means are each connected to and
exclusively supported by said trough at opposite ends of said
backbone thereof.
18. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 16
including a sloping chute suspended from below said trough in
longitudinally spaced relationship for each of said screen regions
for receiving particles falling through said finger screen
means.
19. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 18
including a separate particle conveyor below a discharge end of
each of said chutes for independently conveying particles received
from each of said chutes to a separate destination.
20. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 16
wherein each of said fingers of said finger screen means is
laterally offset in alignment with a gap between a pair of said
fingers of said finger screen means immediately forward
thereof.
21. The material separating apparatus as defined in claim 16
wherein said fingers of each of said finger screen means extend
forwardly and slightly upwardly relative to said backbone of said
finger screen means immediately forward thereof.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to a material separating
apparatus and, more particularly, to an apparatus for separating
particles up to a preselected size from a material having particles
of different sizes therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many separating devices employ a screen over which material is
moved so that the smaller particles may pass through the screen
while the larger particles pass therealong. Such screens are often
subject to excessive wear and are subject to damage due to the
clogging of the screen by the particles themselves. Furthermore,
the material must often be recirculated over the screen in order to
effectively filter out a high ratio of particles of the size
attempted to be separated therefrom.
To overcome this problem, a separator with a plurality of screens,
preferably inclined and overlying each other in series, was
proposed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,232,431. While highly satisfactory for
its intended purpose, there has remained a need for material
separating or classifying apparatus for difficult materials which
would catch in typical wire mesh or perforated screen type devices.
Specifically, there are a number of difficult materials that are
not readily separable by any apparatus that is presently
commercially available.
In this connection, it would be desirable to be able to classify or
separate such materials in a continuous process. Among the
materials to which this would apply, and by way of example only, is
shredded auto scrap residue, building demolition materials, wood
refuse including bark, municipal solid wastes, solid-fluid
mixtures, biomass fuels. and the like. For all such materials, the
apparatus should be non-bending, self-relieving, and stay clean
without "porcupining."
The present invention is directed to overcoming the above stated
problems and accomplishing the stated objects by providing a unique
material separating apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is used in a material separating
apparatus for separating particles of different sizes from a
material. The apparatus in which the invention is used includes a
trough having a material input end longitudinally spaced from a
material discharge end together with means for separating particles
up to the preselected size from a material having particles of
different sizes therein. The separating means includes in plurality
of longitudinally spaced finger screen means disposed between the
input end and the discharge end and along the longitudinal axis of
the trough. Each of the finger screen means includes a backbone
extending from side to side across the width of the trough and also
includes forwardly extending fingers connected at one end to the
backbone. The fingers are spaced side by side from each other by a
preselected amount at forward ends thereof sufficient to allow
particles up to the preselected size to pass through the fingers.
Each of the finger screen means has forward ends of its fingers
overlapping the next forwardly adjacent finger screen means and
includes a rearwardly depending leg connected at one end to its
backbone. The apparatus in which the invention is used also has the
forward ends of the fingers vertically spaced above the finger
screen means immediately forward thereof by an distance equal to
the preselected amount of spacing between the fingers. With this
arrangement, the material will be conveyed along the trough and
over successive ones of the finger screen means with particles up
to the preselected size falling through one of the finger screen
means as the moves from the input end to the discharge end of the
trough.
To accomplish the objectives of the invention, the apparatus will
include means for resiliently supporting the trough relative to a
supporting surface to permit vibratory movement of the trough
together with means for vibrating the trough for agitating and
moving the material from the input end toward the discharge
agitating and moving the material from the input end toward the
discharge end.
The invention is particularly useful for separating particles up to
at least two distinct preselected sizes from a material having
particles of a variety of different sizes therein. The apparatus
then preferably includes at least two longitudinally adjacent
screen regions, each of which is made up of the finger screen
means, for separating the material into at least two separate
batches, one of which is of substantially uniform smaller sized
particles and the other of which is of substantially uniform larger
sized particles. For this application, the smaller sized particles
are separated from the material upstream of where the larger sized
particles are separated from the material with any remaining
material being discharged at the discharge end of the trough.
In the preferred embodiment, a sloping chute is suspended from
below the trough for each of the longitudinally adjacent screen
regions to receive particles falling therethrough. With this
arrangement, a separate particle conveyor is also provided below a
discharge end each of the chutes for conveying particles received
in the chutes to separate destinations.
Preferably, each of the fingers of any one of the finger screen
means is laterally offset so as to be aligned with a gap between a
pair of the fingers of the finger screen means immediately forward
thereof. It is also advantageous for the fingers of each of the
finger screen means to extend forwardly and slightly upwardly
relative to the backbone of the finger screen means immediately
forward thereof. As for the rearwardly depending legs, they each
extend rearwardly and downwardly relative to the backbone of the
corresponding finger screen means to direct the particles toward
one of the particle receiving chutes.
In a highly preferred embodiment, the fingers are spaced from each
other by a tapering amount defining a gap diverging outwardly from
the backbone to the forward ends thereof. Thus, the maximum spacing
between the adjacent fingers, i.e., the spacing at the forward ends
thereof, is equal to the vertical spacing or distance between the
forward ends of the fingers and the finger screen means immediately
forward thereof. By utilizing a diverging gap between the fingers,
particles up to a preselected size are either freed to fall into a
sloping chute or caused to continue to move with the material
toward the discharge end of the trough.
An additional feature of the invention involves the fact that the
finger screen means being connected to the trough. More
specifically, the backbone of each of the finger screen means is
connected directly to the trough at opposite ends thereof whereby
the finger screen means are exclusively supported by the trough. In
this manner, there need be no underdeck cross supports that might
serve to cause hang-ups.
Still other objects, advantages and features of the invention will
be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a material separating
apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the material separating
apparatus of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the material separating apparatus of FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view illustrating the a pair of
longitudinally adjacent finger screen sections;
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a single finger screen section;
and
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the relationship of a
plurality of finger screen sections.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, the reference
numeral 10 designates generally a material separating apparatus in
accordance with the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a
trough generally designated 12 having a material input end as at 14
longitudinally spaced from a material discharge end as at 16
together with means for separating particles up to a preselected
size from a material having particles of different sizes therein.
In particular, the separating means includes a plurality of finger
screen means or sections 18 disposed between the input end 14 and
the discharge end 16 along the longitudinal axis 20 of the trough
12.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 4 through 6, the finger screen
sections 18 each include a backbone 22 extending from side to side
across the width of the trough 12 (see, also, FIGS. 2 and 3). Each
of the finger screen sections 18 also includes forwardly extending
fingers 24 connected at one end 24a to the backbone 22 and spaced
side by side from each other by a preselected amount at forward
ends 24b thereof sufficient to allow particles up to the
preselected size to pass through the fingers 24. As shown, the
finger screen sections 18 also includes a rearwardly depending leg
26 connected at one end 26a to the backbone 22.
Referring to FIG. 4, the finger screen sections 18 are arranged
such that the forward ends 24b of the fingers 24 overlap the finger
screen section 18 immediately forward thereof. It should be noted
in this connection that the forward ends 24b of the fingers 24 are
vertically spaced above the next forwardly adjacent finger screen
section 18 by a distance equal to the preselected amount of spacing
between the fingers 24. In this manner, particles up to the
preselected size will readily fall through the finger screen
sections 18 as the material moves from the input end 14 to the
discharge end 16 of the trough 17.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the trough 12 is resiliently supported
by means of a plurality of springs 28 which are disposed between
spring seats as at 30 on the bottom of the trough 12 and a tubular
frame structure generally designated 32 which is secured to a
supporting surface 33. In addition, the apparatus 10 includes means
for vibrating the trough 12 for agitating and moving the material
therealong. In this connection, the vibrating means preferably
includes a high frequency vibration generator 34 mounted to the
trough 12 on a supporting frame 36 so as to impart vibrational
forces causing movement of the material along the longitudinal axis
20 from the input end 14 toward the discharge end 16 of the trough
12.
As will appreciated, the material will be conveyed along the trough
12 and over successive ones of the finger screen sections 18 as it
moves from the input end 14 toward the discharge end 16. As the
material is conveyed therealong, particles up to the preselected
size, i.e., the size which corresponds to the preselected spacing
between the forward ends 24b of the fingers 24 as well as the
vertical spacing between the forward ends 24b of the fingers 24 and
the next forwardly adjacent of the finger screen sections 18, will
fall through the finger screen sections 18 into at least one
sloping chute such as 38 provided for purposes of collecting and
conveying the falling particles. As shown, the sloping chute 38 is
suspended from below the trough 12 to receive such particles and a
particle conveyor such as 40 is provided below a discharge end 38a
of the chute 38 for independently conveying such particles to a
separate destination.
As will be appreciated by referring to FIG. 1 finger screen
sections 18 are preferably provided in at least two longitudinally
adjacent screen regions S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 for separating the
material into at least two separate batches of different sized
particles. One of the batches is of substantially uniform smaller
sized particles and the other of the batches is of substantially
uniform larger sized particles. More specifically, the smaller
sized particles are separated from the material at an upstream
point, i.e., in screen region S.sub.1, whereas the larger sized
particles are separated from the material at a downstream point.
i.e., in screen region S.sub.2.
With this arrangement, it is possible to separate particles up to
at least two distinct preselected sizes from a material having
particles of a variety of different sizes therein. In other words,
the material will be conveyed along the trough 12 and over
successive ones of the finger screen sections 18. As this occurs,
all of the smaller sized particles fall through the finger screen
sections 18 in the upstream screen region S.sub.1 while all of the
larger sized particles fall through the finger screen sections 18
in the downstream screen region S.sub.2.
With this arrangement, there will be sloping chutes 38 and 42
suspended from below the trough 12 in longitudinally spaced
relationship for each of the screen regions S.sub.1 and S.sub.2.
These sloping chutes will receive particles falling through the
finger screen sections 18 in the respective screen regions S.sub.1
and S.sub.2. Further, there will be separate particle conveyors 40
and 44 below discharge ends 38a and 42a for independently conveying
particles received from each of the chutes 38 and 42 to separate
destinations.
Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the fingers 24 are
spaced from each other by a tapering amount defining a gap 46
diverting outwardly from the backbone 22 to the forward ends 24b
thereof. It will also be appreciated by referring specifically to
FIG. 6 and also FIG. 3, that the fingers 24 of any one of the
finger screen sections 18 are laterally offset so as to be aligned
with the gap 46 between a pair of the fingers 24 of the finger
screen section 18 immediately forward thereof. In other words, the
fingers 24 of adjacent ones of the finger screen sections 18 are
staggered in a manner making it possible to eliminate material
"bypass".
As will be appreciated by referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the
finger screen sections 18 are each connected to and exclusively
supported by opposite sides 12a and 12b of the trough 12. More
specifically, the finger screen sections 18 are so connected at
opposite ends of the backbone 22 thereof. By so configuring and
securing the finger screen sections 18, it is possible to avoid
underdeck cross supports that might otherwise be capable of causing
hang-ups.
As best shown in FIG. 4, the rearwardly depending leg 26 of each of
the finger screen sections 18 extends rearwardly and downwardly
relative to the backbone 22 which causes particles to be directed
toward one of the particle receiving chutes 38 and 42. As also
shown in FIG. 4, the fingers 24 of each of the finger screen
sections 18 extend forwardly and slightly upwardly relative to the
backbone 22 of the finger screen section 18 immediately forward
thereof.
With this arrangement unique arrangement of finger screen sections
18, the present invention has provided what can be characterized as
a "cascading action finger-screen."
While not previously mentioned, the forward ends 24b of adjacent
ones of the fingers 24 are spaced apart by an equal amount for all
of the finger screen sections 18 in any one of the separate screen
regions such as S.sub.1 and S.sub.2 (see FIGS. 1 and 6). The degree
of separation, as previously mentioned, is the same as the vertical
spacing between the forward ends 24b of the fingers 24 and the next
sections 18. With this arrangement, there are unobstructed openings
to allow "free fall" of the appropriately sized particles as the
material is conveyed from the input end 14 toward the discharge end
16 of the trough 12.
Referrings to FIGS. 1 and 3, the material separating apparatus 10
is particularly well suited for separating plural sized particles
into at least two batches of particles. It will be appreciated that
the plural sized particles comprise a material to be classified by
size. In this connection, one of the batches of particles will
contain particles up to a first preselected size and another of the
batches of particles will contain particles up to a second
preselected size.
With this understanding, the fingers 24 are spaced side by side
from each other by a first (smaller) preselected amount at forward
ends 24b of the first, upstream screen regions S.sub.1 of finger
screen sections 18 sufficient to allow particles up to the first
preselected size to pass through the fingers 24 thereof. In like
fashion, the fingers 24 are spaced side by side from each other by
a second (larger) amount at forward ends 24b of the section,
downstream screen region S.sub.2 of finger screen sections 18
sufficient to allow particles up to the second preselected size to
pass through the fingers 24 thereof.
As a result, the material having plural sized particles will be
conveyed along the trough and over successive ones of the finger
screen sections 18 with particles up to the first preselected size
falling through the finger screen sections 18 of the first,
upstream screen section S.sub.1, particles up to the second
preselected size falling through the second, downstream screen
region S.sub.2, and particles larger than the second preselected
size being discharged from the discharge end 16 of the trough 12
onto a material conveyor 46 as the material moves from the input
end 14 to the discharge end 16 of the trough 12.
With this understanding of the invention, the material separating
apparatus is a non-bending, self-relieving design which stays clean
without "porcupining." The diverging gaps between fingers which
gradually increase in width free on-size pieces to allow them to
drop through or continue to be conveyed, and the design of the
fingers provides a "camming" action for longer pieces which will
not completely pass through thereby avoiding wedging. Moreover,
modular self-contained sections are utilized for quick and easy
replacement, the apparatus can be custom built in a variety of
sizes and materials, and multiple size particle separation can be
accomplished on a single deck
While in the foregoing there has been set forth a preferred
embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the details
herein given are for purposes of illustration only and the
invention is to be limited solely by the spirit and scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *