Apparatus for roll compacting metal and metal coated particles

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING METAL AND METAL COATED PARTICLES WHICH COMPRISES: A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY POSITIONED ROLLS MOUNTED ON ROLL SHAFTS FOR ROTATION IN A HORIZONTAL PLANE AND DEFINING A ROLL GAP THEREBETWEEN; MEANS FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE OF METAL PARTICLES FROM THE ENDS OF THE ROLL GAP WHICH COMPRISES A FREELY ROTATABLE ENDLESS BELT MOUNTED AT EACH END OF THE ROLL GAP, EACH BELT HAVING A SURFACE MAINTAINED IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SURFACES OF THE ENDS OF OPPOSING ROLLS FROM A POINT ABOVE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE ROLL GAP; A FEED HOPPER POSITIONED ABOVE SAID ROLLS HAVING A FEED THROAT EXTENDING INTO SAID ROLL GAP, MEANS ADJUSTABLE IN A VERTICAL PLANE BETWEEN SAID FEED THROAT AND THE PORTION OF THE BELT ABOVE THE ROLL GAP FOR CONTROLLING THE SURFACE AREA OF EACH BELT EXPOSED TO THE METAL PARTICLES CONTAINED IN SAID FEED THROAT WHEREBY THE RATE OF FLOW OF METAL PARTICLES INTO THE ENDS OF SAID ROLL GAP CAN BE REGULATED; AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE EXPOSED SURFACE OF ACH BELT IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH EXPOSED SURFACES OF THE OPPOSING ROLLS.