Patent ID: 7380674

Claim:
A method of processing and sorting aggregate material, the method comprising the acts of: providing an aggregate material processing device, said aggregate material processing device including an aggregate material holding region having a defined opening and an aggregate material size sorting device configured to be pivotably and removably placed over said defined opening of said material holding region of said aggregate material processing device, at least said aggregate material holding region configured to be moved between an aggregate material holding region filling position, a first aggregate material sorting position and a second aggregate material sorting position; causing said aggregate material processing device to move into said aggregate material holding region filling position whereby at least said aggregate material holding region engages with a supply of unsorted aggregate material such that at least a portion of said unsorted aggregate material is forced over said aggregate material size sorting device thereby causing some of said unsorted aggregate material to fall through said aggregate material size sorting device into said aggregate material holding region and some of said unsorted aggregate material to remain on a top region of said aggregate material size sorting device disposed in said opening of said aggregate material holding region; causing said aggregate material processing device to be displaced, horizontally, from a location proximate said supply of unsorted aggregate material to a first location; causing said aggregate material processing device to move in a vertical direction a first amount into said first aggregate material sorting position so as to cause said aggregate material remaining on said top region of said aggregate material sized sorting device to fall into a first sorted aggregate material store at said first location; causing said aggregate material processing device to be displaced, horizontally, from a location proximate said first sorted aggregate material store to a second location; and causing said aggregate material processing device to move in a vertical direction a second amount greater than said first amount whereby said aggregate material processing device is moved into said second aggregate material sorting position causing said aggregate material sized sorting device to be pivotably displaced away from said material holding region opening and further causing said sorted aggregate material located in said aggregate material holding region to fall from said aggregate material holding region into a second sorted aggregate material store at said second location.