Method of and apparatus for drying and conveying screenings

Abstract

A vise having vise members is provided with a vise face on each vise member. The vise faces are opposed and together define an initial vise volume having an open top for receiving loose, wet screenings. The vise faces form jaws moved relative to each other to squeeze the loose, wet screenings, which is a process of enclosing and applying force to the loose, wet screenings to compress the screenings and force the liquid out of or from the material of the screenings. The squeezing makes a loaf volume significantly smaller than the initial volume, and converts the loose wet screenings into a separate dry loaf. A platform has many separate stations. At one station (e.g., receiving & squeezing), a bottom of the trough is sieve-like for draining the liquid from the wet screenings. At another station (e.g., conveying), the bottom of the platform is closed to retain the separate dry loaf of screenings for conveying. At another station (e.g., discharge), the bottom is open to allow the discharge of one loaf of the screenings from the platform, which supports the screenings (but not the liquid) between the opposed vise faces while the vise faces move relative to each other to squeeze the screenings (allowing the liquid to drain from the squeezed screenings). The vise may be located over the flow channel of the screen so that the liquid drains out of the vise and flows directly down into the channel.