US3672505A - Cleaning and sorting machine for particulate materials - Google Patents

Abstract

A cleaning and sorting machine for removing particle trash, such as dockage, from desired larger particulate material of substantially uniform size, employs an elongate and generally cylindrical driven separating drum having a screen periphery of a predetermined mesh, for retaining the desired larger particles. The drum, mounted on a horizontal axis, has mounted therein a series or multiplicity of stationary slide baffles with peripheries of said baffles in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the drum and the baffles are declined from their upper portions to their lower portions in the direction of discharge of the machine, and constitute the only means for moving or progressing the particulate material from the entrance at one end of the drum to the discharge at the other end. The screen successively lifts particles over a substantial segmental area of the drum and thereafter, with gravity, dropping all particulate material upon the baffles with attendant rolling and sliding action and the said declined baffles are preferably densely perforated with sieve-like apertures of substantially the mesh of the drum screen to constitute a further separation step in the progress of all particulate material through the machine.

Description

United States Patent Feterl 1 June 27, 1972 [54] CLEANING AND SORTING MACHINE FOR PARTICULATE MATERIALS [72] Inventor: Leon G. Feterl, Salem, S. Dak. 57058 [22] Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 68,311

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 801,729, Feb. 24,

1969, abandoned.

Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Assistant Examiner-Ralph J. Hill Attorney-Williamson, Palmatier & Bains [5 7] ABSTRACT A cleaning and sorting machine for removing particle trash, such as dockage, from desired larger particulate material of substantially uniform size, employs an elongate and generally cylindrical driven separating drum having a screen periphery of a predetermined mesh, for retaining the desired larger particles. The drum, mounted on a horizontal axis, has mounted therein a series or multiplicity of stationary slide baffles with peripheries of said baffles in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the drum and the baffles are declined from their upper portions to their lower portions in the direction of discharge of the machine, and constitute the only means for moving or progressing the particulate material from the entrance at one end of the drum to the discharge at the other end. The screen successively lifts particles over a substantial segmental area of the drum and thereafter, with gravity, dropping all particulate material upon the baffles with attendant rolling and sliding action and the said declined baffles are preferably densely perforated with sieve-like apertures of substantially the mesh of the drum screen to constitute a further separation step in the progress of all particulate material through the machine. a

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATEMEDJUM? I972 SHEET 30F 3 FIE-5 INVENTOR. EON G. F'E'TERL pM rfi/lw flrrakvars CLEANING AND SORTING MACHINE FOR PARTICULATE MATERIALS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of earlier filed and copending application, Ser. No. 801,729, filed Feb. 24, 1969, now abandoned.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION This invention relates to sizing, cleaning and separating machines adapted for continuous operation to remove the somewhat finer trash and particles from a mixture which contains desired particles of a substantially uniform size and shape. While the invention has wide applicability to cleaning and sorting machines for particulate materials, it is particu larly applicable as a grain cleaner to remove weed seeds, chaff, broken kernels and other substantially fine materials (often called dockage) from an intake of harvested grain mixture.

It is an object of my invention originally disclosed in application Ser. No. 801,729, as well as in this application, to simplify rotary cleaners and separators of the prior art and to reduce the manufacturing cost thereof as well as condense and substantially decrease the space requirements for efficient separation and sorting of particulate materials with increase in the efficiency and capacity thereof.

More specifically, in the original application and in this application, it is an object to provide a machine or apparatus of the class described which employs a generally cylindrical substantially horizontal separating drum having a periphery constructed of screen and which, through cooperating materialadvancing means and baffie means, produces a multiplicity of tumbling, position-shifting actions on the material passing through the drum while nevertheless advancing the material and the clean whole particles to the discharge end of the machine without use of augers or moving conveyors.

In addition to the aforesaid objects, the disclosure of the instant application provides for additional sizing and successive discharge of the finer undesirable particles as contrasted with the entire prior art and with the disclosures of applicants original application Ser. No. 801,729.

REFERENCE TO PRIOR ART Machines and apparatus of the prior art have in general embodied two classifications. The first and earlier classification usually employed, together with a revolving screening drum with means for feeding the mixture of granular material at one end thereof and discharging the screened larger and more uniform particles at the other end, the disposition of the rotary drum in a tilted or substantially vertical position or oblique position whereby gravity was employed to advance the material from the receiving end to the discharge end.

In the second prior art classification, dependence of gravity for advancing the mixture of particles was dispensed with and a spiral or screw conveyor was employed within the screen drum to controllably advance the mixture of material from entrance to discharge. In some instances the spiral conveyor was in the form of a fluting attached to the inner periphery of the drum, while in other constructions an independent screw conveyor of spiral or broken spiral form was mounted independently within the drum and with its periphery in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the revolving screen drum. In some instances the independently driven screw conveyor was driven at similar speed to the drum and sometimes the embodiments caused differential speeds to be effective in the overall apparatus.

In all of such prior art, the utilization of any screw conveying mechanism for advancing the mixture or the material from the intake end to the discharge end of the machine necessarily caused massing up and some compaction of the unseparated material in its travel. This massing up and compaction, while eliminating the need of the action of gravity in advancing material, slowed down actual separation and discharge of the fines and, for commercial facility, required a very voluminous apparatus of greater length and/or circumference to produce the results desired.

Such prior art apparatus was inadequate in use of the sizing mesh of the peripheral revolving screen to full facility and was inadequate in its tumbling and position-changing trajectories of the variably sized and shaped particulate material during the operation thereof. The operation of the prior art, particularly when the machine is loaded to heavy capacity through its inherent structure and centrifugal force produced, has a tendency to force grain and other particles and deleterious materials into and against the screen openings thereby clogging the same because the thickness of the granular stream advanced and the intimate mixture of particles which vary substantially from the shape of the grains or kernels of the desirable material and the deleterious finer material admixed therewith.

My invention, as originally disclosed in U. S. application Ser. No. 801,729, combines with a generally horizontal revolving screen drum a multiplicity of internal slide baffles mounted in parallel stationary position and declined from their upper to their lower ends in the direction of travel of the material towards the discharge end of the machine. This new combination of cooperating elements, with the centrifugal force created by drum rotation, provides many separate particle-tumbling actions, as well as substantial changes of positions and trajectories by slide and rolling action throughout the travel of the material through the machine. Particles slide, roll and drop downwardly onto the lower portion of the screen with variable trajectories. The overall inherent functions produce an unexpected high efficicncy of removal of the undesirable particles with the sorting and discharge of the desired whole particles of uniform shape and size.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, with reference to my original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention, particularly adapted for cleaning grain;

FIG. 2 shows an end elevation of the same taken at the flowintake end and illustrating a suitable driving means for the drum;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the machine substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a transverse section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section similar to FIG. 3 illustrating the angular adjustment provided for the parallel declined slide baffles;

With reference to improvements disclosed in this continuation-in-part application:

FIG. 6 is a plan view of one of my typical preferred foraminous oblique or declined baffles removed from the machine of FIGS. 1 to 5 which, with the revolving screen drum, provides a multiplicity of additional and new sizing operations for removal of fines;

FIG. 7 is a view in partial cross section and side elevation of my new inventive concept for providing additional sizing operations applied to an old type or conventional grain cleaner where a spiral material-advancing element is supported from and connected to the interior periphery of the revolving screen drum;

FIG. 8 is a very fragmentary elevational view of a part of the spiral material-advancing means of FIG. 7 showing disposition of the classifying apertures through the spiral blade; and

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section showing the improvements of the instant application applied to an independent shaftmounted screw conveyor having its periphery concentrically arranged with the inner peripheral wall of the revolving screen.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, D indicates as an entirety the substantially cylindrical screening drum suitably mounted for bodily rotation and comprising, as shown, a rigid intake end annulus 6 provided with a diminished intake sleeve 6a and a similar discharge end annulus 7 having a rigidly connected concentric discharge sleeve 70. A multiplicity of Iongitudinal, rigid and circumferentially spaced inner connecting rods 8 interconnect the anuli 6 and 7 and reinforce the drum construction and the cylindrical screen S, which may be of any suitable type such as an interwoven wire screen having uniform rectangular mesh or, on the other hand, a foraminous metal sheet may be employed. In this connection the screen is preferably readily removable and may constitute an integral, rectangular screen sheet contoured cylindrically and having abutting longitudinal edges which are interconnected when the screen is snugly wrapped around its supporting structure. It is further reinforced by a plurality of spaced circular hoops 9 surrounding and affixed as by welding to the exteriors of the connector rods 8.

A suitable elongate frame for supporting and mounting the drum D, as well as the other components of my machine, is provided, indicated as an entirety by the letter F, and having, as shown, a pair of widely spaced upright supporting posts 10 spaced rearwardly some distance from the intake end of the drum, and a similar pair of upright supporting posts 11 disposed outwardly of the discharge end of drum D. Posts 10 are transversely interconnected at their upper portions for reinforcement and also for support of interior support rods by a pair of spaced parallel rigid crossbars 12 and 13. Similarly, the upper portions of the rear upstanding posts 11 are interconnected by transverse bars 14 and 15.

As shown, four rigid mounting shafts l6 interconnect the two ends of the general frame F and extend longitudinally throughout the entire length of drum D being positioned cross sectionally in the corners of a square figure, the center of which is coaxial with the drum. The upper pair of mounting shafts 16 at their ends are interconnected respectively with the upper crossbars 12 and 14 of the frame ends, while the lower pair of mounting shafts 16 is interconnected at its ends respectively with the crossbars 13 and 15 of the frame end structures. As shown, mounting shafts 16 near their terminal portions carry rotary rollers 17 mounted in suitable bearings, and which support and mount the drum D for rotary driving. Thus the four rollers 17, at the material intake end of the drum, engage and mount the inner periphery of the sleeve 6a affixed to annulus 6. Similarly the rollers 17 at the discharge end of the drum engage and rotatably mount and support the rigid sleeve 7a attached to annulus 7. The rollers 17 are preferably constructed of a non-resonant slightly compressible material to minimize noise during operation.

The mounting shafts 16 further serve, in the structure shown, the important function in supporting and positioning a multiplicity of preferably parallel, declined slide baffles 18 which are disposed axially of the interior of drum D and have preferably curvilinear peripheries spaced some distance inwardly of the cylindrical separating screen S. The slide baffles 18 from the entrance end of the machine are declined uniformly from upper to lower edges toward the discharge, and in the forms shown all of said slide baffles, with the exception of the outermost 18a, are of a slightly oval-shape planar construction to present peripheral edges substantially concentric with the screen S. The mounting shafts 16 pass through said slide baffles and are connected therewith to maintain the desired declined parallel positions of the baffles. The desired angulations of said baffles, with reference to the horizontal, will vary somewhat depending upon the diameter of the drum and the peripheral travel or speed thereof. I have found that variations in range between 44 and 68 is applicable. It will be understood that while all of the baffle slides 18 with the exception of the discharge end slide 18a are of planar substantially disk construction, all of the baffles may, if desired, be of slightly trough-shape (concave) on the surface thereof towards the discharge such as is shown in the end baffle plate 18a which serves as a discharge chute for the cleaned whole kernel grain.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 I illustrate a mechanism for mounting and angularly adjusting (within limits) said multiplicity of slide baffles 18. Here each baffle is provided with an upper pair of slots 18}; through which the mounting shafts 16 pass and a second lower pair of slots is provided across which and on both sides of the individual baffles abutment pins 19 are provided in shafts 16 for facilitating angular shifting of the respective baffles longitudinally of the drum. To facilitate simultaneous parallel angular shifting of all baffles a rigid longitudinal shift bar 20 extends through narrow slots 18d formed through the central and upward portions of the baffles I8 and carries pairs of transverse abutment pins 20a which are disposed respectively in close relation to and at opposite sides of the interrelated baffle 18. The shift rod 20, as shown at the discharge end of the machine extends through an elongated slot formed in a retaining plate (see FIG. 3) and has, as shown, an operating handle 20fwhich enables the bar 20 to be slightly lifted and retracted or extended. To retain the bar 20 in a desired adjusted position, suitable means is provided, such as a series of spaced notches 200, which selectively may engage with the lower edge of the slotted plate 21.

It will be understood that a screen S, having the appropriate mesh screen openings for the particular material to be separated from the dockage or trash, must be carefully selected. The screen openings should positively exclude the desirable particles of substantially uniform shape and size to be sorted, but it is of course desirable to use openings as large as possible for allowing passage of all of the undesirable trash. In the general field of grain cleaners, which constitutes only a portion of the wide use of my invention, I have found that two or three mesh sizes are needed for shelled corn which varies from small to larger kernels. Likewise, for soy beans and edible beans two screen sizes are desirable and the same applies to separation of wheat, barley, oats and milo kernels.

The rotation of drum D causes all particulate material to move and be lifted upwardly, mainly through centrifugal force. The roughened surface of screen S constitutes a lifting factor. Means for rotatably driving said drum at peripheral speeds within a predetermined range must be provided. It is desirable that such driving means do not obstruct axial entrance of material or discharge thereof at the ends of said drum. An examplary driving means is illustrated, mounted at the intake end of the machine and, as shown, connected with a large external gear ring 24 secured to the external periphery of the intake frame annulus 6. An endless driving chain 25 is entrained about external gear 24 and a small sprocket 26 affixed to a countershaft 26a which is journaled on an upstanding bracket 27 affixed to a platform 28. Bracket 27 is supported by horizontal intermediate reinforcing bars 29 and 29a of the general frame structure. Countershaft 26a carries a V-belt pulley 31a which is driven at reduced speed by a V-belt 31 and driven from the armature output pulley 32 of an electric motor M.

It will of course be understood that the harvested grain material will be introduced by a gravity feed box or conveyor axially of the open entrance end of the machine. As shown in the drawings, a declined chute 33 is provided entering the open intake end of the drum and receiving from a hopper 34. It should be understood that the slide baffle 18 closest to the entrance end of the drum may be positioned rearwardly to, of itself, constitute a chute for receiving conveyed or dropped flow grain material.

OPERATION The harvested grain containing dockage is flowed or conveyed, preferably in a substantially uniform manner substantially axially and downwardly into the intake end of the machine. The material drops by gravity upon the rotating screen S and is almost immediately engaged thereby and through centrifugal force and some effect from screen-friction, is carried upwardly in circular manner until the force of gravity causes the particles to topple and drop from an upper zone of the drum. Some of the fines are screened through the drum in said upward circular travel. The trajectories of the many particles which are dropped at the upper portion of the machine vary quite widely.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the arrow indicates clockwise rotation of the drum, and radial broken lines marked X and Z have been applied exteriorly of the drum, corresponding generally to the time numerals 11 and 4 on a conventional clock. The zone, clockwise between the lines Z and X, and throughout substantially the full length of the drum, constitutes the area where almost all of the screening and discharge of fines are effected. The rotating wide diameter screen produces a rolling and tumbling action of the particles supported thereon and the fines of varying shape work through the screen exteriorly of the machine.

The particulate material is carried upwardly by the drum to approximately the radial line X and then topple and drop through gravity upon the upper portions of baffles 18 in a zone or area corresponding to clock numerals from to 12. The particles roll and change position in their travel downwardly and forwardly over said slide baffles l8 and again are tumbled by gravity and vortex action after dropping from the peripheral, lower edges of the baffles 18 through variable trajectories.

The actions and functions previously described reoccur many times throughout the travelof the inflowing material from the intake to the discharge end, tumbling and dispersion of the various shaped particles taking place successively at the top and right hand portions of the machine, as previously described.

It will be noted that in the separate functions of each of the multiplicity of slide baffles 18, the materials including the whole kernels of the grain and various types of dockage admixed therewith are advanced longitudinally of the machine. By the time the successive tumbling, rolling and dispersing actions have taken place throughout such travel, substantially all of the undesirable dockage material has been passed through the appropriately sized screen S.

The functions and results of the machine, and operation as previously described, give unexpected efficiency in separation of the undesirable dockage materials. The discharge from the outlet end of the machine over the outermost slide baffle 180, which has coupled therewith a lower trough-like portion, causes a discharge of substantially clean, whole kernels of the cereal material.

While the foregoing description of operation relates to the grain cleaning embodiment of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, it will be understood that the operation is similar and almost identical in machines of my invention constructed for continuously sizing, sorting particles of chemical solid material, plastic or other material broadly in the class of particulate material where it is desired to remove trash and particles of generally smaller size than a selected, substantially uniform size and shape of particle.

It is of course important that the linear peripheral foot-perminute travel of the screen and drum be properly selected and maintained in relation to the materials and the spacing of the slide baffles 18. I have found that with a drum of a 3 foot diameter a range of from 38 to 42 rpms produces excellent results. With a drum having approximately an 18 inch diameter the rpm should be greater ranging from about 56 to 62 rpms.

I have found the following equation may be used to determine the rpm of various sized drums:

Where N rpm ofdrum Where R radius of drum in feet I have also found that on occasions it is desirable to somewhat vary the angulation of the slide baffles 18, which may be readily accomplished from one end of the machine by use of the adjustment bar 20 and the means for retaining the bar in the desired adjusted position. The preferred range of angulation of the slide baffles 18 with reference to the horizontal is between 44 and 68.

After review of numerous tests and reductions to practice of my invention as originally disclosed in application Ser. No. 801,729, I discovered and determined that additional steps of classification and riddance of the undesirable fines of the particle mixture could be obtained without adding parts to the structure originally disclosed.

First I discovered that by foraminating at least a plurality of the successive baffles 18, of my original invention, with a large multiplicity of sizing apertures of approximately the sizing area of the mesh of rotating drum or screen S, a fines" separation and operation could take place through each of the foraminous baffles. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, at least a majority, and preferably all, of the baffles 18 are foraminated by dense formation of sizing apertures through the sheet metal or other substantially rigid construction thereof of appropriate size, and in furthering the efficiency of this improvement I found that the bottom portion of the screen drum S, below each baffle 18, even when the machine was well loaded to capacity, had a minimal thickness of particle mixture thereon. In the rolling and dropping action of the various particles from the upper portion of the revolving screen, smaller particles, particularly since the baffles are relatively very thin, would, to a considerable extent, pass through the new sizing apertures, which are shown on the drawings as 18b, and thereafter would drop through different trajectories upon the revolving screen and many thereof would pass outwardly and be discharged in the intermediate portions of the device. In this manner the advance of the full-size desirable kernels and the reoccuring separation of fines through the baffles were shown to be, and unexpectedly so, highly effective. My tests have shown that where all of the baffles are foraminated, as shown in FIG. 6, with proper sized openings, an overall efficiency and more action is obtained in cleaning up to, I would estimate, an increase in efficiency of 15 percent.

After realizing the substantial importance of my new discoveries related to the form of the invention first disclosed in application Ser. No. 801,729, I then began testing and experimenting with prior art types of grain cleaning machinery where thin metal spiral vanes or thin axial augers were employed in combination with a rotating drum. I desired, if possible, to apply the principles of the progressive and additional sizing cycles to said prior art devices. In FIGS. 7 and 8, I illustrate a prior art construction of grain cleaning machine where affixed through in close relation to the inner peripheral wall of the rotating screen drum the continuous vane or vanes of spiral shape are employed to advance material during the sizing operation of the drum. This vane or fluting 29 in most prior art machines extends almost the full length of the rotating drum. I have built up a special spiral vane of thin metal material having a multiplicity of sizing apertures 30 made therein densely dispersed throughout its length and of a size corresponding to the mesh area size of the drum employed. I then reduced this invention or concept to successful practice and found that the substantially continuous dropping of particles from the upper portion of the screen of the drum caused a considerable amount of the particles being advanced to strike and sometimes be pushed forwardly. A considerable number of the finer and undesirable particles passed through the sizing apertures 30 of the auger. In FIG. 8, a sizeable sector of the conveyor blade or vane is shown in detail being of thin metal construction and having densely formed therein the sizing apertures 30. My reduction to practice of the devices made in conformity with the embodiment of the invention just disclosed proved to me that an increase in the fines from the introduction of the particle admixture through the first twothirds of the length of the machine amounted to 14 percent in weight and would satisfy me as to this embodiment of my improved invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, I applied the principles of my improvement invention to another type of prior art grain cleaner where a thin sheet metal auger, for advancing the particulate material, was employed having its periphery in spaced relation to the inner periphery of the screen. Here the pitch of the auger and the thinness of the blade enabled me to provide dense perforation or sizing apertures 32 throughout a substantial width of the auger material. Again, on constructively testing and introducing this embodiment of the invention to practice, I found a substantial gain in the amount of fines which were sized, first through the sizing apertures of the screw conveyor, and which then passed in short order through the meshes of the drum netting and were discharged before the advancement through the last third of the travel towards the discharge of my machine.

While the most advantageous employment of my inventive improvements was found in the combination which employed the successive declined baffle plates, as disclosed generally in FIGS, 1 to 5 of the drawings, I find that the inherent advantages of the continuous and progressive sorting out and discharge of the fines, as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, were substantial and rewarding.

Where hereafter in the appended claims the terms means progressively inclined to, and mounted within the periphery of said drum for advancing particulate material are employed, the meaning thereof shall include the progressive advancing means employed by my successive declined baffle plates as well as the spiral fluting or vane illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the invention and as well as the independent thin screw conveyor having its periphery spaced from the screen drum,

What is claimed is:

'1. A cleaning and sorting machine for removing undesirable, particulate material from desirable particles of generally uniform shape and size, having in combination:

an elongate, generally cylindrical separating drum having a periphery constructed of screen of a predetermined mesh for retaining the said desirable particles, and having a material intake end and an opposite clean-particle discharge end,

means for mounting said drum for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis,

driving means for rotating said drum within a range of predetermined speeds,

a plurality of spaced, stationary slide baffles mounted generally axially and transversely within said drum, having peripheral edges spaced inwardly some distances from said screen and declined constantly from their upper portions to their lower portions in the direction of said cleanparticle discharge,

the rotation of said drum producing centrifugal force to cause said peripheral screen to continuously lift particulate material circularly and upwardly,

and the force of gravitycausing the particles of the material to topple and drop downwardly from an upper longitudinal sector of said drum, falling upon said slide baffles and rolling and sliding downward thereon and dropping upon the lower longitudinal sector of said screen with variable trajectories and tumbling actions,

a longitudinal framework medium having end portions constituting the means for mounting said drum for rotation, and having elongate rigid means extending generally axially through said drum,

and said slide bafi'les being interconnected with and supported by said rigid means in the aforesaid spaced and declined relation.

2. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 and a framework medium for mounting and supporting said slide baffles and said drum, said framework medium including elongate rigid means extending axially through said slide baffle.

3. The structure in combination as set forth in preceding claim 2 when said framework medium comprises a plurality of rigid elongate members arranged cross sectionally in the corners of a polygon.

4. The structure in combination as set forth in preceding claim 3 further characterized by,

said rigid elongate members being disposed close to the inner peripheries of the annular ends of said drum,

and rollers mounted upon the end portions of said rigid elongate members for engaging and rotatably supporting said drum.

5. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 and means for varying the angles of declination of said slide baffles to the axis of said drum.

6. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the slide baffle at the discharge end of the machine constituting at least in part a discharge chute, the lower end of which extends through the central opening of the discharge end of said drum to the exterior thereof.

7. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide baffles are of substantially planar shape and wherein the angles of declination of said baffles to the axis of said drum are within a range of from about 44 to 68.

8. The structure and combination defined in claim 1 wherein at least a plurality of said spaced stationary slide baffles are provided with a dense multiplicity of sizing apertures similar to said drum therethrough for causing a plurality of sizing operations to take place during travel of the particulate material through the drum, a number of the finer particles dropped from the upper portion of the revolving drum upon said baffles passing through said sizing apertures and thereafter, in discharge, through the netting of said drum.

Claims (8)

1. A cleaning and sorting machine for removing undesirable, particulate material from desirable particles of generally uniform shape and size, having in combination: an elongate, generally cylindrical separating drum having a periphery constructed of screen of a predetermined mesh for retaining the said desirable particles, and having a material intake end and an opposite clean-particle discharge end, means for mounting said drum for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, driving means for rotating said drum within a range of predetermined speeds, a plurality of spaced, stationary slide baffles mounted generally axially and transversely within said drum, having peripheral edges spaced inwardly some distances from said screen and declined constantly from their upper portions to their lower portions in the direction of said clean-particle discharge, the rotation of said drum producing centrifugal force to cause said peripheral screen to continuously lift particulate material circularly and upwardly, and the force of gravity causing the particles of the material to topple and drop downwardly from an upper longitudinal sector of said drum, falling upon said slide baffles and rolling and sliding downward thereon and dropping upon the lower longitudinal sector of said screen with variable trajectories and tumbling actions, a longitudinal framework medium having end portions constituting the means for mounting said drum for rotation, and having elongate rigid means extending generally axially through said drum, and said slide baffles being interconnected with and supported by said rigid means in the aforesaid spaced and declined relation.

2. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 and a framework medium for mounting and supporting said slide baffles and said drum, said framework medium including elongate rigid means extending axially through said slide baffle.

3. The structure in combination as set forth in preceding claim 2 when said framework medium comprises a plurality of rigid elongate members arranged cross sectionally in the corners of a polygon.

4. The structure in combination as set forth in preceding claim 3 further characterized by, said rigid elongate members being disposed close to the inner peripheries of the annular ends of said drum, and rollers mounted upon the end portions of said rigid elongate members for engaging and rotatably supporting said drum.

5. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 and means for varying the angles of declination of said slide baffles to the axis of said drum.

6. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 further characterized by the slide baffle at the discharge end of the machine constituting at least in part a discharge chute, the lower end of which extends through the central opening of the discharge end of said drum to the exterior thereof.

7. The structure in combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said slide baffles are of substantially planar shape and wherein the angles of declination of said baffles to the axis of said drum are within a range of from about 44* to 68*.

8. The structure and combination defined in claim 1 wherein at least a plurality of said spaced stationary slide baffles are provided with a dense multiplicity of sizing apertures similar to said drum therethrough for causing a plurality of sizing operations to take place during travel of the particulate material through the drum, a number of the finer particles dropped from the upper portion of the revolving drum upon said baffles passing through said sizing apertures and thereafter, in dischargE, through the netting of said drum.

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