Patent ID: 6247397
Filing Date: 2001-06-19
Classification: B30B

Abstract:
An apparatus for separating liquid and solid substances, comprising:a pressing container into which a product to be separated is fed, said pressing container including a rotatable cylinder which is divided by a flexible diaphragm into a pressing chamber and into a second chamber, said second chamber having a pressure which is at least atmospheric pressure during a pressing operation, said pressing chamber being connected to a vacuum means adapted to generate a partial vacuum, so that said diaphragm presses against the product in said pressing chamber during the pressing operation,said apparatus further comprising a collector device including a fixed connector which is rigidly coupled to a fixed body or support of the apparatus, an air intake pipe which is connected to said cylinder and rotates therewith, a radial tubular member which is connected to and communicates with said second chamber of said pressing container and said air intake pipe, said air intake pipe being connected to a fan through an air manifold, said collector device further including an internal coaxial pipe disposed coaxially inside said air intake pipe to form therewith an annular chamber, said fan being suitable or operable to draw air from said second chamber by means of said radial tubular member, said annular chamber, and said connector, generating a partial vacuum which is suitable to bring said diaphragm to a position which adheres to internal surfaces of said pressing container.