In the processing of wood chips preparatory to introduction to a digester, it is preferred to discard those chip particles which have fibers shorter than a preset minimum length or which are in the form of flakes thinner than a preset thickness, because these are considered to be poor digesting materials. For purposes of the present description, such undesired chip particles and flakes will be called "fines."
Previously, various filtering and sorting machines have been used for removing fines, such as, for example, gyrating screens. However, these machines have been relatively inefficient respecting the percentage of fines removed and have been relatively expensive as compared to the advantage gained by removal of fines.
Accordingly, the present invention aims to provide an improved sorting machine of relatively simple, compact and economical construction which will efficiently and economically remove fines from wood chips or the like in an effective, continuous process.