Patent ID: 6199780
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: B30B,B65B,Y02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for compacting particulate material of a first weight/volume ratio to a predetermined compaction degree of a predetermined ultimate weight/volume ratio, the apparatus comprising:first wall means forming a first compartment having an inlet at one end of the compartment and an outlet at a second end opposite the one end;a transfer opening, and second wall means forming a second compartment having an inlet at one end and an outlet at a second end of said second wall means, the inlet of said second compartment being in communication with the outlet of said first compartment via the transfer opening;feeding means for feeding said first compartment, said feeding means advancing the particulate material along a first path from the inlet to the outlet in said first compartment;particle pushing means within said second compartment operative to push particles of the material against each other, said particle pushing means comprising an apparatus arranged along an axis of revolution of the particle pushing means for pushing the particles against each other and allowing the particles to pass in a passage from said inlet to said outlet along said axis, said axis being parallel to said path to provide a compact configuration to the apparatus;a cover member at the outlet of said second compartment and being located at an outlet end of said passage to form with said particle pushing means an opening for egress of said particulate material at the outlet of said second compartment;urging means operatively connecting with said cover member to urge said cover member toward said particle pushing means in a direction opposite a direction of the flow of the particulate matter along said axis for adjustment of said opening at the outlet of said second compartment, and wherein said urging means is operative to maintain a predetermined value of pressure against said cover member during a flow of the particulate matter in said passage;first drive means for driving said feeding means, said feeding means extending alongside said transfer opening and parallel to a longitudinal extent of said particle pushing means to accomplish pre-compaction and uniform delivery of the particulate material into said second compartment with enlarged area for heat exchange; andsecond drive means for driving said particle pushing means independently from said feeding means;wherein operating speeds of said first and said second drive means and the pressure of said urging means are adjusted relative to each other for a uniform control of heat produced by interaction of particles of the particulate material driven by said feeding means and by said particle pushing means; andwherein in each of said first and said second compartments, the inlet port and the outlet port are spaced apart along a longitudinal dimension of the compartment, and a longitudinal wall of said first compartment faces a longitudinal wall of said second compartment to provide a compact configuration to the apparatus.