Improvements in or in relation to the preparation and delivery of sugar cane to a sugar mill

Abstract

A cane shredder input is optimized for any given load condition comprising a feeder upstream of the shredder to controllably deliver cane downstream from the feeder in order to reduce shredder drive load fluctuations. A “kicker” (26) with curved end knives gives full coverage across the width of the cane carrier, and is driven clockwise at about 175 rpm. A magnetic shredder and milling tandem protector pulls metal out of the cane above a backward inclined chute (27). The chute has a viewing window (28) and a cane height sensor (29). The backward directed chute aids in cane striking its front wall (30) and the working face of the chute height control device. A tooth feeder shredder rotor (31) is located in a shredder housing (32). The shredder housing (32) is a convolute in configuration. Sitting directly atop the shredder housing (32) is a tooth feeder (33), in this case having tooth feeder wheels (34) and (35). The feeder operates as a speed baffle to the shredder so that cane is delivered at an optimal rate. The throughput through the factory is based on the speed of the feeder.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.