A multi-zoned screening apparatus is disclosed for separating fiber from a liquid medium during, for example, a grain wet mill or dry grind process. The apparatus can include a housing having a first and second zone and situated adjacent one another along a length of the housing. A cylindrical screen having a plurality of openings is situated lengthwise within the housing to correspond with the first and second zones. A conveyor is situated lengthwise within the screen and includes an elongated shaft having a first and second conveyor section and along a length of the conveyor that corresponds with the first and second zones, respectively. Each conveyor section is configured to move material in a direction along a length of the screen. In one example, the first conveyor section includes vanes and a ribbon flight helically winding about the vanes, and the second conveyor section includes a plurality of paddles.

A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; an insertion port for inserting the material into the case on an airflow; a rotation member in the case for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the case on an airflow. The rotation member has a revolving axis with an axial direction along a predetermined direction from the insertion port to the discharge port, and a shaft member rotating around a rotating axis that has been set with an axial direction along the predetermined direction, while revolving around the revolving axis. The shaft member has protruding sections protruding outward and intersecting with an axial direction of the shaft member.

A separating device separates liquid absorbent fibers from a material including the liquid absorbent fibers of an absorbent article and impurities. The separating device includes: a case; an insertion port for inserting the material into the case on an airflow; a rotation member in the case for agitating and opening the material; and a discharge port for discharging the liquid absorbent fibers from inside the case on an airflow. The rotation member has a revolving axis with an axial direction along a predetermined direction from the insertion port to the discharge port, and a shaft member rotating around a rotating axis that has been set with an axial direction along the predetermined direction, while revolving around the revolving axis. The shaft member has protruding sections protruding outward and intersecting with an axial direction of the shaft member.

A material handling machine includes a substantially cylindrical tub having an inlet and outlet where the tub includes a ring configured internally to the tub. A hopper is used for directing materials entering the inlet and a grate covers the inlet for controlling the amount of material into the tub. An impeller is rotated using a motor for processing material singulated by the impeller and a basket sifts material from the impeller. The impeller is supported by the main spindle such that the at least one impeller and basket are interchangeable depending on the type of material.

A material handling machine includes a substantially cylindrical tub having an inlet and outlet where the tub includes a ring configured internally to the tub. A hopper is used for directing materials entering the inlet and a grate covers the inlet for controlling the amount of material into the tub. An impeller is rotated using a motor for processing material singulated by the impeller and a basket sifts material from the impeller. The impeller is supported by the main spindle such that the at least one impeller and basket are interchangeable depending on the type of material.

Aqueous slurry which includes solid foreign matter and paper dust is pressed by means of a screw press, provided with a mesh having openings not less than 1.5 mm and not greater than 3 mm, to separate the aqueous slurry into the solid foreign matter and the paper dust, and liquid component passing through the mesh. Then, the liquid component is sieved by means of a sieve having openings not greater than 1 mm to separate from the liquid component the solid foreign matter and the paper dust.

A grinding machine for grinding food-products, such as meat or the like, includes an orifice plate at the outlet of a grinding head. The orifice plate has collection passages that discharge a mixture of soft material and hard material through the orifice plate. A separator assembly, including a separator screw and separation chamber, is located downstream of the orifice plate for separating the soft material from the hard material. A ring adjustment assembly includes a ring valve having an internal conical portion in communication with a nose portion of the separator screw, and a ring valve carrier configured to reciprocally displace the ring valve in an axial direction relative to the separator screw so as to vary a gap between the nose portion of the separator screw and the internal conical portion of the ring valve. Adjustment of the gap distance determines an amount of the hard material that is passed toward the discharge outlet.

A grinding machine for grinding food-products, such as meat or the like, includes an orifice plate at the outlet of a grinding head. The orifice plate has collection passages that discharge a mixture of soft material and hard material through the orifice plate. A separator assembly, including a separator screw and separation chamber, is located downstream of the orifice plate for separating the soft material from the hard material. A ring adjustment assembly includes a ring valve having an internal conical portion in communication with a nose portion of the separator screw, and a ring valve carrier configured to reciprocally displace the ring valve in an axial direction relative to the separator screw so as to vary a gap between the nose portion of the separator screw and the internal conical portion of the ring valve. Adjustment of the gap distance determines an amount of the hard material that is passed toward the discharge outlet.

A food processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel defining a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and movable relative to the compartment between a first position, for food processing, and a second position, to facilitate cleaning, a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, the auger being operable to advance food product within the compartment from the inlet end of the pressure vessel toward the outlet end, and a transfer mechanism including a conduit in communication with the compartment, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge and operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product through the conduit.

A food processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel defining a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and movable relative to the compartment between a first position, for food processing, and a second position, to facilitate cleaning, a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, the auger being operable to advance food product within the compartment from the inlet end of the pressure vessel toward the outlet end, and a transfer mechanism including a conduit in communication with the compartment, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge and operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product through the conduit.