Method and apparatus for separating aggregate for a concrete topping slab

An apparatus for preparing a finishing mixture from a concrete mixture for use on a concrete surface, the concrete mixture having aggregate, the apparatus comprising:

• of a wire mesh screen having a plurality of uniformly-sized screen openings from 0.19 to 0.5 inches square;
• a quadrangular guide frame connected to a periphery of the wire mesh screen, the guide frame having opposing top and bottom frame ends connected by opposing first and second guide frame sides, each guide frame side and the top guide frame end having an inward extending leg on a top surface of the screen and connected to the screen at a periphery of the screen and an upward extending leg extending above the screen along the periphery of the screen, the bottom guide frame end having a central frame opening;
• a first funnel member extending over the top surface of the screen and having a top funnel end at the first frame side and a bottom funnel end at a first side of the central frame opening;
• a second funnel member extending over the top surface of the screen and having a top funnel end at the second frame side and a bottom funnel end at a second side of the central frame opening, each funnel member extending above the top of the screen a distance of at least one inch;
• a powered vibrating unit connected to the frame to vibrate the frame;
• two bottom support legs connected to one of the bottom end frame or a bottom portion of different ones of the first and second side frames;
• and
• two top support legs connected to one of the top end frame or a top portion of different ones of the first and second side frames, with the top support legs being longer than the bottom support legs to incline the screen and frame at an angle between 10 and 45° from the horizontal, so that the top end frame is higher than the bottom end frame when a distal end of each leg rests on a horizontal support surface.