BENCH INDUSTRIES 35472-2A User manual
Air Screen Machine
OWNER’S MANUAL
Manufactured in the U.S.A.
P.O. Box 3167 ~ Great Falls, MT 59403
Phone ~ 406.727.6514 ~ Toll ~ 1.800.977.6514
Web site ~ www.benchindustries.com ~ E-mail ~ brian@benchindustries.com
Serial Number _____________
INTRODUCTION
You have purchased one of the finest air screen machines on the market today.
These cleaners are a culmination of cleaning principles over a century old in
combination with all of today’s technology.
From the base model to custom designed Air Screen Machines, any separation is
Possible, with the utmost precision and 0% damage to your crop.
We use tubular steel frames and either steel or wood shoes. All components are
Easily interchanged and all pulleys and bearings are standard and can be
Purchased locally.
Some applications of the Bench Air Screen Machine are: seed plants, rice cleaning,
Cereal grains, pinto beans, peas, beet pulp, corn pellets, and all other applications
Where aspiration and sizing is needed.
In the following Set-up, Start-up, Installation, and Maintenance we provide
explanations, suggestions, and remedies to most circumstances. Should you
have additional concerns, please contact us for assistance at Bench Industries,
PO Box 3167, Great Falls, MT 59403, 406.727.6514 or e-mail us at
SETTING UP THE MACHINE
All Bench Air Screen Machines have been pre-run at the factory, but even so, once
you have received your Bench Air Screen Machine you should check for any
loosened components due to shipping.
The standard Bench Air Screen Machine, Model 35472-2A is a single shoe machine
Designed to be attached to a concrete floor or pad. If you have an unstable
Surface, a counterbalance will be required.
All bearings should be checked for grease and screen hold downs should be checked
For tension. Also set the in-feed in low position and air setting closed for start-up.
The fan is designed to mount remote usually mounting on the outside of the
Facility, or in case of a mobile unit, can be mounted off the cleaner with
Framework. Make certain air controls are open and closed as indicated on side of
Machine. (Refer to Figure 4)
The machine must be level and securely bolted down.
START-UP
Now that you are ready to operate your Bench Air Screen Machine, for your
ease, we recommend the following:
The intake hopper is designed to be fed with a spout or auger. If you gravity feed
the machine for an overhead bin directly, a hogs back must be installed in the field
to prevent excess weight on the feeder pan. The fan rotation needs to be checked
and make sure you have no restrictions in the air system.
Start the machine without any product and let it run for at least 15 minutes.
This will allow you to check for noise of loose components and to examine your
installation. Once you start product feeding into the machine start with a small
amount and slowly increase the feed.
MAINTENANCE
The bearings should be greased moderately and often, but with very small
augments. All bolts and set-screws should be checked often when first running
the machine.
If any excessive noise occurs, your machine should be shut down and inspected for
loosened parts or push-rod arms.
You should make sure the shoes are always shaking straight back and forth with
no side to side movement present. Any side-to-side movement means loose
rush rods or worn bearing and must be remedied immediately to prevent
damage to our machine.
The balls in the ball deck should be checked periodically for resilience. They should
Return at least 2/3rd when dropped on a hard surface.
PRODUCT IN-FEED
Product is metered into the Bench Air Screen Machine by way of a vibrating pan. The level is
preset at the factory, but may require some fine tuning at start-up. The level of the pan is ad-
justable through the access door at the front of the machine. There are 2 Nylock nuts that can
be raised or lowered. The volume control is mounted on the side and is easily controlled with
a hand crank. If excess weight is put on the vibratory pan, cranking will become difficult and
possibly damage the components. Should excess weight be a factor, a hogs back may need to
be installed. Variables of speed, shoe shakes, and screen sizes will all determine the volume
flowing through the machine and will impact you desired final result. Begin with a slow rate
and increase until desired capacity with quality is achieved. Do not overload the screen decks
or damage may occur.
AIR CONTROLS
Air separation on the Bench Air Screen Machine is controlled by air baffles inside the ma-
chine’s air chambers. Before the air system is sealed, check to make sure the set-screws are
tight and the baffles are in the proper setting as indicated on the handle setting. When start-
ing the product through the machine, set air on the low setting (closed) and increase slowly.
The product will then begin discharging from air settings auger under the air control settings.
Slowly change each setting until you obtain the desired result on both discharge augers. Af-
ter changing the settings, you will need to wait several minutes before actual results are no-
ticed. Air settings augers must be sealed and discharge doors free floating.
SCREEN INSTALLATION
Open the access door at the in-
take end of the Bench Air
Screen Machine. The standard
machine is equipped with two
screen layers. Scalp, and Sift.
There are two screen sections
54’ x 36’ which are placed
above the ball racks. Each ball
rack comes with 16 compart-
ments for the rubber balls for
screen cleaning. Each ball rack
needs a minimum of 5 balls per
compartment. Each deck holds
160 balls. The standard Bench
Air Screen Machine with 3
decks requires a total of 480
rubber balls.
The screen has a 1/2’ lip that is to be posi-
tioned toward the discharge end to pre-
vent any product leakage. Be certain the
rails that support the ball and screen racks
are free from debris. Now you can load
your screen and ball racks. After installa-
tion the screens should evenly spaced,
this is the proper installation. Place the
blank against the screen and ball rack.
Hold the blank tight against the screen
and adjust the push bolts against the ball
rack. As shown in Figure 1. Close the
door and latch; tighten the two hand
knobs, as shown in Figure 2. If the door
will not shut, check to see what the ob-
struction is and loosen thumb knobs and
check blanks to see if they are in properly.
After the door is closed properly, careful-
ly snug up the thumb knobs as shown in
Figure 2. If you hear a banging noise,
STOP the machine immediately and ad-
just the ball rack and screen holders.
Figure 1
Figure 2
VARIABLE SPEED SHOE SHAKE
The motor pulley is equipped with a mechanical variable speed pulley. To adjust
the speed, loosen the set-screws on pulley and loosen tension on motor mount. You can tighten
the pulley to increase speed, or loosen the pulley to decrease the speed.
The recommended speed is from 320 to 360 rpm. Excessive rpm could damage
the machine and will void the warranties.
The speed recommended is the minimum speed required to keep screens clean. Make
sure the rubber balls are working properly by judging the return bounce of 2/3rd
the distance when dropped on hard surface.
FINAL AIR COLUMN ADJUSTMENT
For Maximum efficiency of the final air column, the slide gate should be set as
Close to the top of the product discharging off the shoe as possible.
When starting a new product, the slide gate should be open far enough so the
Product doesn’t back-up into the shoe. Once capacity is set, you can fin-tune the
Air flow by turning the control handle down.
GROUNDING INSTRUCTIONS
In the event of a malfunction or breakdown, grounding provides a path of least
Resistance for electric current to reduce the risk of electric shock. This machine is
Equipped with an electric cord having equipment grounding conductor and a
Grounding plug. The plug must be plugged into a matching outlet that is properly
Installed and grounded in accordance with all local codes and ordinances.
DO NOT modify the plug provided. If the plug provided will not fit the outlet, have
The proper outlet installed by a qualified electrician. Improper connection of the
Equipment-grounding conductor can result in a risk of electric shock.
Use only 3-wire extension cords that have 3-prong grounding plugs and 3-hole
Receptacles that accept the machine’s pug. Repair or replace damaged or worn
Plugs immediately.
Check with a qualified electrician or serviceman if the grounding instructions
Are not completely understood, or if in doubt as to weather the tool is properly
Grounded.
LIMITED ONE (1) YEAR WARRANTY
You must check the bolts and bearings for possible loosening during transport.
All Bench Air Screen Machines are warranted to the original purchaser to be free
From defects in materials used in their manufacture of workman ship for a period
Of one (1) year from the date of initial retail purchase.
Labor on warranted parts will be covered for a period of one (1) year.
This warranty does not cover any parts that have been subjected to misuse,
Abuse, alteration, overload, accident or normal wear of moving parts.
Motor Warranty: All motors are subject to the same condition as machines, and
Are warranted to the original purchaser of one (1) year from the date of initial
Retail purchase. During this period, any motor found to be defective will be
Replaced or repaired at not charge.
Only Bench Industries is authorized to perform warranty service to it’s products.
The merchandise you have purchased from us has been carefully engineered and
Manufactured under the Bench Industries’ rigid quality standards and should give
You satisfactory and dependable operation. However, like all mechanical
Merchandise, it may occasionally require adjustment, replacement parts, or
Maintenance. Should you ever need assistance or parts, please contact or write to
Bench Industries, 406.727.6514, PO Box 3167, Great Falls, MT 59403
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