Systems, methods, and apparatus for conditioning bamboo or other types of vegetable cane are provided. In one aspect, the present technology provides a cane processing assembly for use with a substantially flattened sheet of bamboo culm or vegetable cane having a plurality of longitudinally oriented fiber bundles. The assembly comprises first and second conditioning rollers configured to apply pressure to the sheet that breaks at least some natural bonds connecting laterally adjacent fiber bundles in the sheet. The first and second conditioning rollers are adjustable relative to each other so as to vary the pressure applied to the sheet by the first and second conditioning rollers.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for conditioning bamboo or other types of vegetable cane are provided. In one aspect, the present technology provides a cane processing assembly for use with a substantially flattened sheet of bamboo culm or vegetable cane having a plurality of longitudinally oriented fiber bundles. The assembly comprises first and second conditioning rollers configured to apply pressure to the sheet that breaks at least some natural bonds connecting laterally adjacent fiber bundles in the sheet. The first and second conditioning rollers are adjustable relative to each other so as to vary the pressure applied to the sheet by the first and second conditioning rollers.

Fiberboard or chipboard is made by first comminuting vegetable starting material in a first comminutor into a stream of loose plant particles with silicate particles. Then, in a first classifier silicate particles of a diameter of less than 50 μm are separated from the plant particles of the stream. The plant particles remaining in the stream are then glue-coated, and the stream is pressed into fiberboard or chipboard.

Fiberboard or chipboard is made by first comminuting vegetable starting material in a first comminutor into a stream of loose plant particles with silicate particles. Then, in a first classifier silicate particles of a diameter of less than 50 μm are separated from the plant particles of the stream. The plant particles remaining in the stream are then glue-coated, and the stream is pressed into fiberboard or chipboard.

Embodiments according to the present invention relate to an apparatus and method for plant transportation using a smart conveyor. Embodiments of the present invention provide enhanced capabilities as a result of integrating robotic features, automations, artificial intelligence, queuing, fault control, automatic transport, scalability, safety measures, smaller footprint, and other computerized functions, along with a creative business model. In design of this invention the following high-level requirements were achieved: scalable for small, medium, and large businesses; safer than other machines in the market; sanitation consideration; simplicity in maintenance, and automated functions to reduce the need for labor (e.g., integration of robotics, AI, and/or other computerized systems).

A method and apparatus for grinding a particulate material is disclosed. The method may include providing a system including a roller mill apparatus and a hammermill apparatus, operating the roller mill apparatus and the hammermill apparatus, adjusting a feed rate of particulate material to the roller mill apparatus until power consumption by operation of the roller mill apparatus achieves a target power consumption for the roller mill apparatus, and adjusting a gap between mill rolls of the roller mill apparatus until power consumption by operation of the hammermill apparatus achieves a target power consumption for the hammermill apparatus. The system may include roller and hammermill apparatus with sensing and controlling apparatus configured to operate the roller and hammermill apparatus according to the methods disclosed.

Methods and systems for preparing ore for precious metal extraction is provided. For example, a method comprises crushing ore; grinding the crushed ore; screening the ground ore to separate ore particles into a first group of large ore particles and a first group of small ore particles; crushing the first group of large ore particles; screening the crushed ore to separate into a second group of large ore particles and a second group of small ore particles; separating the second group of small ore particles from the screen into a third group of large particles and a third group of small particles; milling the third group of large ore particles; separating milled particles into a fourth group of large particles and a fourth group of small particles; and sending the third and fourth group of small particles for further metal extraction processing.

Methods and systems for preparing ore for precious metal extraction is provided. For example, a method comprises crushing ore; grinding the crushed ore; screening the ground ore to separate ore particles into a first group of large ore particles and a first group of small ore particles; crushing the first group of large ore particles; screening the crushed ore to separate into a second group of large ore particles and a second group of small ore particles; separating the second group of small ore particles from the screen into a third group of large particles and a third group of small particles; milling the third group of large ore particles; separating milled particles into a fourth group of large particles and a fourth group of small particles; and sending the third and fourth group of small particles for further metal extraction processing.

A method can include milling a plurality of silicon particles to form a plurality of milled silicon particles. The milled silicon particles can optionally include collecting the milled silicon particles, powdering the milled silicon particles, and milling the milled silicon particles a second time.

A method can include milling a plurality of silicon particles to form a plurality of milled silicon particles. The milled silicon particles can optionally include collecting the milled silicon particles, powdering the milled silicon particles, and milling the milled silicon particles a second time.