Method and apparatus for producing compacted particulate articles

Apparatus for producing compacted particulate articles comprising:

• a) means for extruding mixtures of particulate materials and binders;
• b) means for introducing said mixtures in their extruded form to a briquetting press;
• c) at least one briquetting press comprising;
• (1) a pair of compaction wheels rotatable in opposite directions, one to the other;
• (2) a plurality of die pockets formed in mating surfaces of said compaction wheels, said die pocket being numbered and arranged to correspond as said compaction wheels are rotated, said die pockets being formed from a resilient polymer material;
• and
• (3) means to rotate said compaction wheels;
• d) means for introducing a top layer of polymer film onto said mixtures in their extruded form;
• e) means for introducing a bottom layer of polymer film onto said mixtures in their extruded form, said top layer, said mixtures in their extruded form and said bottom layer, in that order, forming a sandwich;
• f) means for introducing said sandwich to said corresponding die pockets as said compaction wheels are rotated to produce compacted particulate articles with both a top and bottom layer of acutely deformed polymer film thereon;
• g) means for diverting said top layer upwardly, under longitudinal tension, away from said compacted particulate articles as said acute deformation of said top layer tends to return it to its original state thus producing discrete surface movement in respect to any portion of the surface of said top layer still in contact with one or more of said compacted particulate articles, the combination of said discrete surface movement and gravity, resulting from said upward drawing of said top layer, effecting a decrease in the adherence of said one or more of said compacted particulate articles still in contact with said surface of said top layer;
• h) means for peeling said top layer away from said one or more of said compacted particulate articles still in contact with said surface of said top layer;
• i) means for diverting said bottom layer downwardly, under longitudinal tension, as said acute deformation of said top layer tends to return to its original state thus producing discrete surface movement in respect to any portion of the surface of said bottom layer to which one or more of said compacted particulate articles adhere to, said discrete surface movement effecting a decrease in the adherence of said one or more of said compacted particulate articles;
• j) Means for imposing longitudinal tension on both said top layer and said bottom layer producing discrete surface movement in respect to portions of the surfaces of both said top layer and said bottom layer in contact with said compacted particulate articles, effecting a decrease in the adherence thereof to said portions of said surfaces of both said top layer and said bottom layer;
• k) Means for peeling said bottom layer away from said contact with said compacted particulate articles, said means for peeling which comprises;
• (1) means for draping said bottom layer so as to peel the edges thereof away from said compacted particulate articles;
• (2) means for substantially further diverting said bottom layer to a direction which is substantially vertical;
• said further diverting in combination with gravity contributing to said peeling;
• and
• (3) means for twisting said bottom layer effecting a peeling of said bottom layer away from said compacted particulate article.