Sand cleaning apparatus and method

An apparatus for sifting unsifted sand located on a sandy ground surface, wherein the unsifted sand comprises sand and unwanted material, the apparatus comprising:

• an auger configured to direct the unsifted sand from the sandy ground surface towards a plurality of paddles;
• the plurality of paddles carried by one or more frames and configured to direct the unsifted sand towards a sifter, wherein the plurality of paddles are interconnected and move along a recirculating path;
• and
• the sifter configured to prevent the unwanted material from passing through the sifter,
• wherein the width of the auger is greater than the width of the plurality of paddles, such that the apparatus sifts a larger area of the sandy ground surface defined by the width of the auger as opposed to a smaller area of the sandy ground surface defined by the width of the plurality of paddles.

An apparatus for sifting unsifted sand located on a sandy ground surface, wherein the unsifted sand comprises sand and unwanted material, the apparatus comprising:

• an auger configured to direct the unsifted sand from the sandy ground surface towards at least one paddle;
• the at least one paddle configured to direct the unsifted sand towards a sifter;
• and
• the sifter configured to prevent the unwanted material from passing through the sifter;
• and
• a plurality of tracks configured to carry the auger and the at least one paddle, wherein the plurality of tracks are positioned at least partially between the at least one paddle and the sifter, such that the unsifted sand is directed towards the sifter before being rolled over by the plurality of tracks,
• wherein the width of the auger is greater than the width of the at least one paddle, such that the apparatus sifts a larger area of the sandy ground surface defined by the width of the auger as opposed to a smaller area of the sandy ground surface defined by the width of the at least one paddle.

An apparatus for sifting unsifted sand located on a sandy ground surface, wherein the unsifted sand comprises sand and unwanted material, the apparatus comprising:

• an auger configured to direct the unsifted sand from the sandy ground surface towards at least one paddle;
• the at least one paddle configured to direct the unsifted sand towards a sifter;
• and
• the sifter configured to prevent the unwanted material from passing through the sifter;
• and
• a smoother configured to smooth, along the sandy ground surface, the sand that passes through the sifter, wherein the width of the smoother is greater than the width of the sifter, such that the smoother contacts substantially all of the sand that passes through the sifter,
• wherein the width of the auger is greater than the width of the at least one paddle, such that the apparatus sifts a larger area of the sandy ground surface defined by the width of the auger as opposed to a smaller area of the sandy ground surface defined by the width of the at least one paddle.

An apparatus for cleaning a sandy ground surface, wherein the sandy ground surface comprises unsifted sand, and wherein the unsifted sand comprises sand and unwanted material, the apparatus comprising:

• one or more frames;
• a conveyor carried by the one or more frames and comprising a first portion and a second portion, wherein the conveyor is configured to transport the unsifted sand from the first portion towards the second portion, the conveyor extending along a longitudinal axis;
• a plurality of paddles carried by the one or more frames and configured to direct the unsifted sand from the sandy ground surface towards the conveyor, wherein the plurality of paddles are interconnected and move along a recirculating path, and wherein the recirculating path extends along the longitudinal axis;
• and
• a sifter carried by the one or more frames and configured to:
• receive the unsifted sand from the conveyor;
• prevent the unwanted material from passing through the sifter;
• and
• allow the sand to pass through the sifter.