Patent ID: 6684764
Filing Date: 2004-02-03
Classification: B30B

Abstract:
An apparatus for extracting liquid from a composite mass of liquids and solids comprisinga housing having a cavity for receiving a composite mass of solids and liquid, said cavity having a longitudinal axis extending through an open end of the housing; a powered first platen is mounted to the assembly relative to the housing for movement from a retracted position away from the open end, along the longitudinal axis through the cavity, to an extended position near the open end; an extruder section connected to the housing at the open end and having opposed top and bottom walls and opposed side walls, the top, bottom, and side walls defining a channel centered on the longitudinal axis, the extruder extending to an exit opening, each of the walls having a matrix of apertures therethrough, and wherein none of the top, bottom, and side walls converge toward the longitudinal axis, but at least one of walls diverges away from the longitudinal axis in the direction from the open end toward the exit opening; and a second platen is mounted to one of the extruder walls near the exit opening for pivotable movement to restrict the cross-sectional area of the channel wherein the second platen is biased toward a position restricting the cross-sectional area of the channel.