Motion control for a material separator

Claim 2

Apparatus for generating combinations of generally horizontal and generally vertical motions to a material separator having a substantially vertical axis comprising a variable speed motor having a rotatable external body portion and a shaft passing centrally therethrough, said body portion having a generally vertical axis and mounted generally of the material separator, said shaft being operatively connected to the material separator, first tray means mounted on said rotatable external body portion and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally horizontal motion, second tray means mounted on said rotatable external body portion beneath said first tray means and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally vertical motion and means to adjust the vertical position of said motor and said first and second tray means to regulate the amount of generally vertical motion.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each said tray means has means to hold said weights at desired circumferential positions.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means to hold said weights are peg members, said weights being adapted to fit over said peg members.

Claim 5

Apparatus for generating combinations of generally horizontal and generally vertical motions to a material separator having a substantially vertical axis comprising a rotatable member having a generally vertical axis and mounted generally axially of the material separator, means to rotate said rotatable member on the axis thereof, first tray means mounted on said rotatable member and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally horizontal motion, second tray means mounted on said rotatable member beneath said first tray means and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally vertical motion, means to adjust the vertical position of said rotatable member to regulate the amount of generally vertical motion and additional means to adjustably vary the vertical position of each said tray means to said rotatable member to regulate the combinations of generally horizontal and generally vertical motions.

Claim 6

Apparatus for generating combinations of generally horizontal and generally vertical motions to a material separator having a substantially vertical axis comprising a rotatable member having a generally vertical axis and mounted generally axially of the material separator, means to rotate said rotatable member on the axis thereof, first tray means mounted on said rotatable member and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally horizontal motion, second tray means mounted on said rotatable member beneath said first tray means and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally vertical motion, means to adjust the vertical position of said rotatable member to regulate the amount of generally vertical motion and additional means to adjustably vary the vertical position of each said tray means to said rotatable member to regulate the combinations of generally horizontal and generally vertical motions.

Claim 7

Apparatus for generating combinations of generally horizontal and generally vertical motions to a material separator having a substantially vertical axis comprising a rotatable member having a generally vertical axis and mounted generally axially of the material separator, means to rotate said rotatable member on the axis thereof, first tray means mounted on said rotatable member and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally horizontal motion, second tray means mounted on said rotatable member beneath said first tray means and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally vertical motion and means to adjust the vertical position of said rotatable member and said first and second tray means to regulate the amount of generally vertical motion, said means to adjust the vertical position of said rotatable member including gross adjustment means to make large vertical adjustments and fine adjustment means to make smaller vertical adjustment, said gross adjustment means including spacer means positioned between the material separator and the apparatus for generating motion.

Claim 8

Apparatus for generating combinations of generally horizontal and generally vertical motions to a material separator having a substantially vertical axis comprising a rotatable member having a generally vertical axis and mounted generally axially of the material separator, means to rotate said rotatable member on the axis thereof, first tray means mounted on said rotatable member and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally horizontal motion, second tray means mounted on said rotatable member beneath said first tray means and adapted to hold weights thereon in circumferentially adjustable positions to generate the generally vertical motion and means to adjust the vertical position of said rotatable member and said first and second tray means to regulate the amount of generally vertical motion, said means to adjust the vertical position of said rotatable member including gross adjustment means to make large vertical adjustments and fine adjustment means to make smaller vertical adjustment, said gross adjustment means including spacer means positioned between the material separator and the apparatus for generating motion.

Claim 9

A material separator including at least one cylindrical section, a screen spanning said cylindrical section, chute means for discharging the material from said screen, a plate carrying said cylindrical section, a base, cushioning means between the base and said plate, a housing depending from said plate, a motion generator within said housing, said motion generator comprising a rotatable member including a variable speed motor having a generally vertical shaft fixed to said housing and a body portion rotatable about said shaft, said motor being mounted generally axially of said cylindrical section and said screen, first balance tray means mounted on said rotatable member, means on said first balance tray means to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varying locations, said first balance means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to direct material generally toward said chute means, second balance tray means mounted on said rotatable member below said first balance tray means, means on said second balance tray means, to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varyihg locations, said second balance tray means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to impart a generally vertical movement to the material as it passes over said screen, and means to regulate the amount of generally vertical movement imparted to the material by generally vertically moving said housing axially of said cylindrical section.

Claim 10

A material separator including at least one cylindrical section, a screen spanning said cylindrical section, chute means for discharging the material from said screen, a plate carrying said cylindrical section, a base, cushioning means between the base and said plate, a housing depending from said plate, a motion generator within said housing, said motion generator comprising a rotatable member including a variable speed motor having a generally vertical shaft fixed to said housing and a body portion rotatable about said shaft, said motor being mounted generally axially of said cylindrical section and said screen, first balance tray means mounted on said rotatable member, means on said first balance tray means to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varying locations, said first balance means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to direct material generally toward said chute means, second balance tray means mounted on said rotatable member below said first balance tray means, means on said second balance tray means, to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varyihg locations, said second balance tray means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to impart a generally vertical movement to the material as it passes over said screen, and means to regulate the amount of generally vertical movement imparted to the material by generally vertically moving said housing axially of said cylindrical section.

Claim 11

A material separator according to claim 6, said housing including a means of access to said rotatable member.

Claim 12

A material separator according to claim 6 wherein said means to generally vertically move said housing includes spacer means between said housing and said plate.

Claim 13

A material separator according to claim 6 including means to generally vertically move said rotatable member within said housing.

Claim 14

A material separator including at least one cylindrical section, a screen scanning said cylindrical section, chute means for discharging the material from said screen, a plate carrying said cylindrical section, a base, cushioning means between said base and said plate, a housing depending from said plate, a motion generator within said housing, said motion generator comprising a rotatable member having a generally vertical axis and mounted generally axially of said cylindrical section and said screen, first balance means mounted on said rotatable member, means on said first balance tray means to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varying locations, said first balance tray means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to direct material generally toward said chute means, second balance tray means mounted on said rotatable member below said first balance tray means, means on said second balance tray means to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varying locations, said second balance tray means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to impart a generally vertical movement to the material as it passes over said screen, means to regulate the amount of generally vertical movement imparted to the material by generally vertically moving said housing axially of said cylindrical section, a collar fixed to said rotatable member, threaded shaft received by said collar, and spider means mounted on said housing and receiving said threaded shaft so that rotation of said threaded shaft moves said rotatable member within said housing.

Claim 15

A material separator including at least one cylindrical section, a screen scanning said cylindrical section, chute means for discharging the material from said screen, a plate carrying said cylindrical section, a base, cushioning means between said base and said plate, a housing depending from said plate, a motion generator within said housing, said motion generator comprising a rotatable member having a generally vertical axis and mounted generally axially of said cylindrical section and said screen, first balance means mounted on said rotatable member, means on said first balance tray means to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varying locations, said first balance tray means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to direct material generally toward said chute means, second balance tray means mounted on said rotatable member below said first balance tray means, means on said second balance tray means to carry weight members thereon at circumferentially varying locations, said second balance tray means thereby acting upon rotation of said rotatable member to impart a generally vertical movement to the material as it passes over said screen, means to regulate the amount of generally vertical movement imparted to the material by generally vertically moving said housing axially of said cylindrical section, a collar fixed to said rotatable member, threaded shaft received by said collar, and spider means mounted on said housing and receiving said threaded shaft so that rotation of said threaded shaft moves said rotatable member within said housing.

Claim 16

A material separator according to claim 10 wherein said rotatable member is a generally cylindrical shaft rotatably connected to said housing and driven by a variable speed motor.