Technical Field

The present invention relates to waste mills and more particularly but not exclusively to horizontal waste mills into which there is fed vegetation including portions of tree stems and trunks.

Background of the Invention

Previously available horizontal waste mills are limited in respect of the size of material that can be reduced by the waste mill. Basically the position of the engine which drives the hammer mill limits the height of die feed wheel and the diameter of the hammer mill. Still further, the feed conveyor enters the machine from the front and the out feed conveyor extends from the rear of the machine. Accordingly, areas in front and rear of the machine are off limits for safety reasons.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.

Summary of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a waste mill comprising: a base; a hammer mill mounted on the base and having a rotor mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis; a feed roller adjacent the hammer mill to aid in delivering in a feed direction material to be milled by the rotor; a feed conveyor extending to the hammer mill and cooperating with the feed roller in delivering material to the rotor; and an out feed conveyor to receive material from the hammer mill and extending beneath the rotor and feed conveyor and discharging milled material in the opposite direction to said feed direction.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which schematically depicts in side elevation a waste mill.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a waste mill 10.

The waste mill 10 is mounted on a trailer 1 1 of an articulated vehicle having a prime mover 12. As an alternative arrangement, the mill 10 may be mounted on the load

receiving tray of a motor lorry. The waste mill 10 has a base 13 which supports a hammer mill 14. The hammer mill 14 includes a rotor 15 which is mounted for rotation about a generally horizontal axis extending transverse of the trailer 1 1. The hammer mill 14 has a screen 16 through which the milled material passes. Extending to the hammer mill 14 is an infeed conveyor 17 which conveys material in the direction 18 towards the rotor 15.

Mounted adjacent the hammer mill 14 is a feed roller 19 which is illustrated in a raised position A and a lowered position B. The feed roller 19 is movably mounted on the base 13 so that the feed roller 19 can accommodate a variety of sizes of material to be delivered to the rotor 15. In the raised position A even large tree portions can be fed to the hammer mill 14. The feed roller 19 rotates about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the rotor 15. Movement of the roller 19 is along an arcuate path extending around the rotor 15.

Also mounted on the base 1 1 is an out feed conveyor 20 which is located beneath the in feed conveyor 17 so that loose material that falls through the conveyor 17 lands on the conveyor 20 and is transported to the elevating conveyor 21. The elevating conveyor 21 delivers the processed material to a bin, a vehicle for transportation purposes, or to a stockpile. The conveyors 20 and 21 are driven in the direction of the arrows 26. The milled material passes through the screen 16 of the hammer mill 14 and falls onto the out feed conveyor 20.

The elevating conveyor 21 is movably mounted on the base 13 so as to be movable between the operative position A and the transport position B.

The rotor 15 and feed roller 19 rotate about transverse axes, while the conveyors 17, 20 and 21 convey material longitudinally.

Because the hammer mill 14 is basically rearwardly facing so as to receive material from the conveyor 17, and the out feed conveyor 20 delivers material to the rear, the rear of the waste mill 10 can be made "off limits" to personnel. This leaves the forward end of the mill 10 relatively safe and the engine 23 in a cleaner more dust free area away from the processed material.

A still further advantage is that the engine 23 is displaced forward of the hammer mill 14 and not beneath the hammer mill 14. This enables the hammer mill 14, and more particularly the screen 16, to be positioned at a raised location which enhances the rate of production. The mill 14, conveyors 17, 20 and 21 , and feed roller 19 are driven by the motor 23. The roller 19 is driven in the direction of the arrow 24 while the rotor 15 is driven in the direction of the arrow 25.

Because the conveyor 17 is located above the conveyor 20, the conveyor 17 can act as a screen through which loose material can pass to be delivered to the conveyor 20.