Screening machine and associated screen panel

A screen panel for selective insertion into and removal from a screening machine having a machine frame including lining rails permanently attached to the interior thereof, the screen panel comprising:

• a frame;
• a screen material defining a generally planar screening surface and securably attached to the frame, the screen material being pre-tensioned to the frame;
• a peripheral rim extending around at least a portion of the frame;
• and
• a seal member disposed on the rim for selectively engaging the lining rails of the machine frame of the screening machine when the screen panel is inserted into the screening machine;
• wherein the cross section of the rim of the screen panel has a generally horizontal first portion adapted to hold pre-tensioned wire mesh screen material, a generally vertical second portion integral with and substantially perpendicular to the first portion, and a generally horizontal third portion substantially perpendicular and integral with the second portion;
• wherein the seal member comprises a lip adjacent to the intersection of the first portion and the second portion of the rim, and the lip is adapted to fill the void between the machine frame and the screen panel when the screen panel is inserted into the screening machine.

A screening machine comprising:

• a machine frame including a lining rail and a transition cap;
• a perforate screen assembly engaging the machine frame and onto which particulate material to be screened is discharged;
• a first and a second outlet, a first portion of the particulate matter that remains atop the screen assembly being discharged through the first outlet and a second portion of the particulate material that passes through the screen assembly being discharged through the second outlet;
• and
• a driver coupled to the screen assembly adapted to impart vibratory motion to the screen assembly and promote separation of the particulate material by the screen assembly into the first and second portions;
• wherein the screen assembly further comprises at least one screen panel adapted to be selectively removed from the screening machine, the at least one screen panel having a generally planar screening surface and a screen panel frame with a peripheral rim extending around at least a portion of the screening surface and being at least partially recessed relative to the screening surface with a seal member mounted to the screen panel frame;
• a door on a lateral side of the screening machine which, when opened, provides access to laterally insert the screen panel into the screening machine;
• an actuator to selectively raise and lower the screen panel into and out of position respectively, in the screening machine for screening operations;
• wherein the lining rail and transition cap in combination define an opening within the screening machine which is sized and configured to receive therein the screening surface of the screen panel and wherein the screening surface of the screen panel is generally coplanar and forms a continuous surface with the transition cap when the screen panel is raised by the actuator into the opening;
• and
• a ball tray containing a plurality of cleaning members and underlying the screen panel, the ball tray and cleaning members moving with the screen panel.