Material separating apparatus and method for using same

An apparatus, attachable to a boom of an earth moving vehicle, for placing padding material comprising:

• a support frame;
• at least one sloping wall for directing the padding material, said at least one sloping wall mounted to said support frame;
• a shaker assembly mounted to said support frame, said shaker assembly comprising a screen and a vibrating assembly mounted on the exit side of said shaker assembly for vibrating said shaker assembly, said vibrator assembly comprising a vibrator mechanism which optionally comprises a hydraulic motor for rotating an eccentric shaft;
• at least one resilient mount for mounting said shaker assembly to said support frame;
• and
• wherein said shaker assembly further comprises a shield for shielding said vibrator mechanism.

A method of padding a trench comprising the steps of:

• attaching a bucket comprising a substantially open bottom to a tractor wherein the bucket comprises a padding apparatus that comprises a support frame mounted to the bucket, the support frame having at least two sloping walls for directing material;
• a shaker assembly mounted to the support frame, the shaker assembly comprising a screen and a vibrating assembly mounted on the exit side of the shaker assembly for vibrating the shaker assembly, the vibrating assembly comprising a vibrator mechanism, and the shaker assembly further comprising a shield for shielding said vibrator mechanism;
• and at least one resilient mount for mounting the shaker assembly to said support frame;
• loading material in the bucket;
• positioning the bucket above the trench;
• activating the vibrator assembly to facilitate segregation of material and thereby allow padding material to exit the bucket and enter the trench;
• and
• optionally tilting the apparatus fore or aft to better direct padding material into the trench.