Patent ID: 6817286
Filing Date: 2004-11-16
Classification: A01G

Abstract:
A mushroom compost compacting assembly comprising a feed hopper unit, a mixer unit, a conveyor unit, a compactor unit, said units being separate and distinct from each other, said feed hopper unit being detachably connected to and communicating with said mixer unit to feed compost from said feed hopper unit to said mixer unit, said mixer unit being detachably connected to and communicating with said conveyor unit and said, compactor unit to feed compost from said mixer unit to said conveyor unit and to said compactor unit, said mixer unit including at least one rotatable shaft extending across said mixer unit, a plurality of spaced tines on said shaft for spreading the compost received from said feed hopper unit, said feed hopper unit having a bottom, said mixer unit having a top, at least a portion of said feed hopper bottom being open, at least a portion of said mixer unit top being open and being in flow communication with said open portion of said mixer unit, said mixer unit having a bottom, said conveyor unit having a top, a conveyor in said conveyor unit located, below said mixer unit and below said compactor unit, said conveyor having a receiving end below said mixer unit and a discharge end below said compactor unit, said top of said conveyor unit being open above said receiving end of said conveyor, said bottom of said mixer unit being open and in flow communication with said open top of said conveyor unit above said receiving end of said conveyor unit, a side wall at said discharge end of said conveyor for discharging compost from said conveyor unit, said mixer unit having an-outlet side located at said compactor unit, said compactor unit having an inlet side located at said mixer unit, said mixer unit outlet side and said compactor unit inlet side being open and in flow communication, a plurality of parallel compactor drums in said compactor unit, each of said compactor drums having a plurality of spaced parallel longitudinal ribs-on its outer surface for compacting compost received from said mixer unit, said compactor unit having a discharge side remote from said inlet side, and a discharge opening in said discharge side for discharging compacted compost from compactor unit on top of the compost discharged from said conveyor unit.