Oliver Platinum Series User manual

Platinum Series
Gravity Separators
Version 1.0 | 1/5/23
Oliver Manufacturing Company •27151 Harris Road •La Junta, CO 81050 •(888) 254
-
7814 •olivermanufacturing.com
Operations manual

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Voyager GVX Gravity Separators - Reference Manual Version I
Revision Table
Section Revision Date
Main Section: Introduction: Installation and Functional Operation
Setting up the Machine from HMI
Modes of Operation
1 October 2012
Appendix A: The PanelView 800 2 October 2018
Appendix B: MicroLogix 1400 Programmable Logic Controller 1 October 2012
Appendix C: Variable Frequency Drive PF525 2 October 2020
Appendix D: Basic Trouble Shooting 1 October 2012
Appendix E: Remote Control of the Machine 1 October 2012
Appendix F: Parts 1 October 2012
Program Versions for which this Manual Version is Applicable
Starting Revision Ending revision
HMI: 01-20-2020
PLC: 01-20-2020
Present Revision
Present Revision

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Important information about the Operating Instructions
The Voyager GVX Series of Gravity Separators is comprised of three different
models: GVX1040, GVX1050, and GVX1060. The primary difference between them
is the number of fans that supply the air flow and the length of the deck.
The GVX1040 has three fans, the GVX1050 has four fans and the GVX1060 has five
fans. The length of the deck is proportional to the number of fans.
The Platinum Maxi-Cap Series of Gravity Separators is comprised of four different
models: 2400P (3 fans), 3000P With (3 fans with a wider deck), 3600P (4 fans),
and 4800P (5 fans). The length of the deck is proportional to the number of fans.
The Platinum Maxi-Cap Retrofit Series of Gravity Separators is comprised of four
different models: 2400U (1 fan, 3 dampers), 3000U With (1 fan, 3 dampers with
a wider deck), 3600P (1 fan 4 dampers), and 4800P (1 fan, 4 dampers). The
length of the deck is proportional to the number of fans.
Unless otherwise noted, the Operating Instructions apply to all three models.
These instructions will be updated as required. Updated documentation will be sent
to all current owners of a Voyager GVX Series Gravity Separator.

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Congratulations!
You have just purchased a well-built machine that will earn substantial profits for you, if you
take the time right now to understand the Oliver Voyager GVX Series Gravity Separator and
how it works.
The Voyager GXV Series is the next generation of Oliver Gravity Separators. Many of the
manual adjustments on previous machines are now done hydraulically and controlled by a
“touch-screen” and a joy stick. Instead of changing adjustments each time for different
materials, you simply store the adjustments (called a “recipe”) in the Voyager GVX memory
the first time you separate the material. In the future, when you need to separate the
material again, simply select the recipe and all of the adjustments will be made
automatically.
This manual contains new and valuable information that both experienced and
inexperienced gravity operators need to read. Please take a few minutes to read the
instructions to help eliminate many of the problems frequently encountered.
Keep in mind at all times that the Oliver Gravity Separator is not a "cure-all" for the
processor’s problems. The gravity separator is a specialized piece of machinery designed
to separate particles of similar size that differ in specific density.
Oliver Gravity Separators should not be used as a cleaning machine to remove dust, dirt,
sticks and other refuse frequently found in harvested crops. The gravity separator should
not be used as a sizing machine. Screening machines can do this more efficiently.

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I. Introduction: Installation and Functional Operation ................................................................ 9
I. Installation .................................................................................................................... 9
I. Foundation Requirements ............................................................................................. 9
II. Handling ................................................................................................................... 9
III. Protecting the Deck ................................................................................................... 9
IV. Electrical Requirements .............................................................................................. 9
V. Clean Air Source........................................................................................................10
II. Functional Operation of the Voyager GVX Gravity Separator ...............................................11
I. The Process of Stratification .........................................................................................11
II. What a Gravity Separator can and cannot separate ........................................................13
I Rule 1.....................................................................................................................13
II. Rule 2...................................................................................................................14
III. Rule 3 .................................................................................................................14
III. How the Voyager Controls Separation .........................................................................15
I. The Deck................................................................................................................15
II. The Feeder ............................................................................................................17
III. The Fans..............................................................................................................17
IV. Increasing Capacity with the High Gates ...................................................................19
V. Removing Heavy foreign Materials.............................................................................20
VI. Product Separation ................................................................................................20
III. Control Components of the FBD.....................................................................................21
IV. Safety Considerations...................................................................................................23
II. Setting up the Machine from the HMI .................................................................................24
I. Choosing the Machine Model and Options..........................................................................24
II. Calibrating the Machine .................................................................................................28
I. The side tilt and end raise calibration ............................................................................28
II. Calibrating actuator components .................................................................................29
III. Setting the Trim Options ..............................................................................................32
IV. Language Selection......................................................................................................33
III. Modes of Operation ........................................................................................................34
I. Automatic Mode ............................................................................................................34
I. Machine Settings ........................................................................................................35
I. Fan or Damper Control .............................................................................................35
II. End Raise Control ...................................................................................................36
III. Deck Speed Control ...............................................................................................36
IV. Actuators .............................................................................................................36

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V. Starting the Machine ...............................................................................................36
VI. Faults ..................................................................................................................36
VII. Faulting on Power Cycling the Machine ....................................................................38
VIII. Deprecated Screens – The Deck, Fan, and Actuator screens ......................................39
II. Recipes....................................................................................................................40
I. Loading a Stored Recipe ...........................................................................................41
II. Saving a New Recipe ..............................................................................................42
III. Altering a Stored Recipe.........................................................................................45
IV. Deleting a Stored Recipe ........................................................................................46
II. Manual Mode ...............................................................................................................48
I. Maintenance Screen....................................................................................................48
I. Faults on the Maintenance Screen..............................................................................49
II. PLC and HMI Battery Status.....................................................................................49
III. Bearing Greasing Interval.......................................................................................50
IV. Total Hours on Machine and Current Batch Time ........................................................51
II. Fan Diagnostics.........................................................................................................51
I. Starting the Fans.....................................................................................................52
II. Fan VFD error codes and faults.................................................................................53
III. Deck Diagnostics......................................................................................................54
I. Deck End Raise .......................................................................................................54
II. Deck Shake or Speed..............................................................................................55
III. Hydraulics............................................................................................................56
III. Remote Mode .............................................................................................................57
IV. The Joystick................................................................................................................57
IV. Initial Setup and Startup .................................................................................................58

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Figure 1: The stratification process (a) mixed product on deck with air off or low (b) stratified product
due to air flow from fans (c) too much air flow and remixing of product.......................................11
Figure 2: Stratification followed by separation of the vertical layers into horizontally separate grades
as the particles travel down the deck......................................................................................12
Figure 3: The Forces of Separation due to side tilt, air flow, and deck vibration.............................13
Figure 4: Particles of same size but different specific gravities....................................................13
Figure 5: Particles of same specific gravity but smaller size from left to right................................14
Figure 6: Particles of differing size AND specific gravity from left to right. ....................................14
Figure 7: Different Side Tilt Positions and their effect of stratification and separation.....................15
Figure 8: End Raise (a) too little end raise to keep up with feed rate (b) right amount of end raise to
balance the feed rate (c) too much end raise for the feed rate to keep up with .............................16
Figure 9: Effect of various Deck Speeds on separation with a constant Side Tilt ............................17
Figure 10: Air flow example Voyager 1050 ..............................................................................18
-Figure 11: Effects of Air Speed on Separation .........................................................................18
Figure 12: Cutout vs Capacity (a) cutout open too wide for capacity (b) cutout not open far enough
for capacity ........................................................................................................................19
Figure 13: The Programmable Logic Controller – Micrologix 1400 ...............................................21
Figure 14: The Human Machine Interface PV800 ......................................................................21
Figure 15: Powerflex 525 Variable Frequency Drive ..................................................................22
Figure 16: Main Screen to Login ............................................................................................24
Figure 17: Login and Keyboard ..............................................................................................24
Figure 18: Oliver User proceeding to Machine Options...............................................................25
Figure 19: Voyager and Maxi-Cap Machine Option Choices.........................................................25
Figure 20: Selecting Gate Options ..........................................................................................26
Figure 21: Oliver User going from Login to Deck Calibration Screen ............................................28
Figure 22: Deck Calibration with Hydraulics on.........................................................................29
Figure 23: Login to Actuator Calibrate ....................................................................................30
Figure 24: Actuator Calibration Screens ..................................................................................30
Figure 25: Oliver User Going From Login To Trim Values ...........................................................32
Figure 26: Trim Values Screen...............................................................................................32
Figure 27: Selecting Languages for HMI ..................................................................................33
Figure 28: Automatic Mode Main Screen .................................................................................34
Figure 29: Controlling Auto Mode from Machine Settings ...........................................................35
Figure 30: Changing fan 1 speed with keypad..........................................................................35
Figure 31: Deck End Raise Positions .......................................................................................36
Figure 32: Deck End Raise Faulted Indicator............................................................................37
Figure 33: Entire Machine Faulted with Indicators.....................................................................38
Figure 34: Deprecated Screens..............................................................................................39
Figure 35: Going to View Settings ..........................................................................................40
Figure 36: Clicking on Active Recipe .......................................................................................40
Figure 37: Entering user name and password for Recipes ..........................................................41
Figure 38: Machine Recipes Screen ........................................................................................41
Figure 39: Changing Recipes .................................................................................................42
Figure 40: Hitting enter to highlight recipe ..............................................................................42
Figure 41: Saving a new recipe..............................................................................................43
Figure 42: Save Recipes Screen.............................................................................................43
Figure 43: Save New Recipe Screen .......................................................................................44
Figure 44: Keyboard for naming recipe ...................................................................................44
Figure 45: Altering a stored recipe step 1................................................................................45

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Figure 46: Altering a stored recipe step 2................................................................................45
Figure 47: Selecting Recipe to Delete .....................................................................................46
Figure 48: Highlighting the recipe to delete .............................................................................46
Figure 49: Are you sure you want to Delete? ...........................................................................47
Figure 50: Main Screen in Manual Mode ..................................................................................48
Figure 51: Maintenance screen when not faulted. .....................................................................48
Figure 52: Maintenance Screen When Machine is Faulted...........................................................49
Figure 53: Various possible battery status screens....................................................................50
Figure 54: Alarm to grease the bearings at 2000 hours .............................................................50
Figure 55: From Maintenance to Fan diagnostics ......................................................................51
Figure 56: Motor Diagnostics Screen Left and Right Hand ..........................................................51
Figure 57: Changing the Fan speed Manual Mode .....................................................................52
Figure 58: Fan1 Turned on Manual Mode.................................................................................52
Figure 59: Fan 1 Faulted Manual Mode....................................................................................53
Figure 60: Going from Maintenance to Deck Diagnostics............................................................54
Figure 61: The Deck Diagnostics Screen..................................................................................54
Figure 62: Changing Deck Speed Manual Mode ........................................................................55
Figure 63: Deck Shake on Manual Mode..................................................................................56

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I. Introduction: Installation and Functional Operation
This manual contains several different sections. The first section will describe the installation
procedure for the machine. Next, the functional operation and initial setup of the machine will be
described. Then the operation of the machine in its various modes will be discussed. Finally, several
attached appendices will be provided for description of related functions such as programming the
PLC and HMI.
I. Installation
This section explains the installation requirements for the Voyager GVX and Maxi-Cap Gravity
Separators. Your Gravity Separator will have been tested for more than 50 hours of operation at our
facility to ensure the quality of the machine. Take care not to do anything that would damage it or
compromise it.
I. Foundation Requirements
A solid, level foundation is required for safe and proper operation of the Gravity Separator. Vibrations
from flooring can cause damage to the machine and upset the separation dynamics of the machine. A
six-inch concrete slab is ideal but not essential. The Voyager is fully counterbalanced to keep external
vibrations to a minimum. However, the accuracy of the counterbalancing system is affected by the
weight of the product on the deck and thus is dependent on the capacity and type of product being
dried. Therefore we recommend that the Voyager be firmly attached to the floor. Please contact the
factory or your Oliver representative for recommendations. When positioning the Voyager, be sure
that you leave adequate clearance to operate the controls, open the electrical cabinet and remove
the deck for changing or cleaning.
II. Handling
The Voyager GVX Gravity Separator weighs between 4,000 to 6,000 pounds depending on the model
and accessories ordered with it. The Maxi-Cap Platinum machines weigh between 6,000 and 10,000
pounds depending on model and accessories. Be sure that the handling equipment is adequate for
the load. While handling the machine take extra care not to damage the deck, the air filters or any
other parts of the machine. The fork tubes are designed to be used with 8-foot long forks (or fork
extensions). Picking up the machine with shorter forks may damage the tubes. The fan motors are
mounted on the tubes so any damage can have serious consequences for machine functionality. The
machine is also equipped with lifting lugs at the corners of the mainframe which may be used to hoist
the machine into place.
III. Protecting the Deck
The deck is the portion of the machine that actually contacts the product during the drying process.
Take extra care not to damage it. During construction and installation, it is very common for
contractors to use the surface of the deck as a work space or storage space for items they do not
need. Please discourage this practice! The deck is designed to support a relatively uniform load of
product over its entire surface. Storage of concentrated loads on the deck has resulted in bent or
broken deck frames and in damage to the wire overcovers. We recommend that a non-combustible
surface such as a sheet of 22-gage steel be placed over the deck to protect it until the Dryer is ready
for to be used. Do not weld anything to the machine as the sensitive control electronics
could be seriously damaged. If it is necessary to weld or cut above the machine during installation
take extra care to prevent damage from falling debris or sparks.
IV. Electrical Requirements
The Voyager GVX and Maxi-Cap Platinum Gravity Separators comes with a complete electrical
cabinet that is wired to all of the external electrical components such as the motors, hydraulic
cylinders sensors, and dust hood light. Typically the only wiring the electrician installing the

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machine needs to worry about is the running of the power source to the electrical cabinet. Typical
voltages would be 230V and 460V, three phase, at 60Hz. Other voltages are possible, but need to
be addressed when the order is placed.
Voyager GVX Series Gravity Separator Electrical Requirements
Machine GVX1040 GVX1050 GVX1060
Circuit Size 240V 85 Amps 240V 90 Amps 240V 115 Amps
380V 380V 60 Amps 380V
480V 50 Amps 480V 50 Amps 480V 70 Amps
600V 40 Amps
Maxi-Cap Platinum Gravity Separator Electrical Requirements
Machine 2400P 3000P 3600P 4800P
Circuit Size 208/230V 95 amps 208/230V 95 amps 208/230V 110 amps 208-230V 125 amps
460V 60 amps 460V 60 amps 460V 70 amps 460V 80 amps
Maxi-Cap Platinum Retrofit Gravity Separator Electrical Requirements
Machine 2400U 3000U 3600U 4800U
Circuit Size
Table 1: Model Voltages and Total Amp Draws
NOTE: As of November 1st 2012, the warranty covering the PLC and VFDs will become void
if the electrician enters the cabinet from the top. The PLC and VFDs will suffer damage if
dust or debris from drilling into the cabinet enters the air vents on the units. The
electrician must enter the cabinet either from the bottom, or from the bottom of either side
panel, below the vents on the VFD. Failure to do this will result in voiding the warranty on
the PLC and the VFDs.
V. Clean Air Source
The Voyager GVX and Maxi-Cap Platinum Gravity Separators require a clean air source in order to
keep the deck from being contaminated by dust blown in through the fans. The air chest comes
supplied with air filters for a machine is that is going to be bolted down to a solid slab foundation. For
those who want to use an external air filtration source, it is also possible to either raise the machine,
or to suspend it over a space where the air is being pumped in. If you need consultation on how to
get clean air to your machine, please call the Oliver team.

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II. Functional Operation of the Voyager GVX Gravity Separator
The Voyager GVX series of Gravity Separators is a new line of gravity separator from Oliver that
takes the rugged base of previous separators and adds to it quieter fans and better balance as well
as a never before seen automation package that make the Voyager the Cadillac of Gravity
Separators. There is no finer machine in the world.
The Voyager operates on a concept discovered by Archimedes, a Greek philosopher and
mathematician, who discovered that “All bodies, floating in or submerged in a liquid, are buoyed up
by a force exactly equal to the weight of the liquid they displace.” The specific Gravity of a particle is
the ratio of its density to some standard substance, which is water that has a specific gravity of one.
Everything with a specific gravity greater than one floats in water, and everything with less than a
specific gravity of one sinks.
In the case of the Voyager, the liquid is the air blown by the fans, and the bodies are the particles
being separated. What Archimedes was getting at is that we can use air to lift the particles on the
deck, and that the amount of air needed is related to the specific gravity of the particles that need to
be lifted. Because air is lighter than water, there will be a greater relative difference between the
particles of differing weights. That is what makes the Gravity Separator such a sensitive and precise
machine.
I. The Process of Stratification
Before a product can be separated by weight the product must be fluidized and then stratified
vertically. On Gravity Separators lighter particles are moved upward through the fluidized bed.
Heavier particles sink downward. This produces stratified layers with lighter particles in the upper
layers and the heavier particles in the lower layers. Air is used as the fluidizing medium for the
process of stratification. Stratification occurs by forcing air upward through the particle mixture so
that the particles rise or fall by their weight relative to the air flow.
Consider a voyager machine where product has been added to the deck, but the fans are off. The
product will sit in a mixed group of lighter and heavier particles. Once air is applied, the lighter
particles will start to float, and the heavier ones will stay on the deck. If too much air is applied, then
all of the particles will start to float, and the particles will begin to remix. This process is shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 1: The stratification process (a) mixed product on deck with air off or low (b) stratified
product due to air flow from fans (c) too much air flow and remixing of product.

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In addition to the air causing a lifting action to the particles, putting them into a quasi-fluidic state,
the deck also vibrates. The vibration of the deck helps to stratify the particles by moving the particles
that are lighter from around the heavier ones. Once the combination of the two mechanisms of air
flow and deck vibration has stratified the material, only then can the particles be separated properly.
The area in which this stratification occurs is the stratifying area, and it should be kept as small as
possible, and should never be larger than 1/3 of the deck surface. The size of the area it will take to
make the stratification a success is dependent upon the product being separated and the difficulty in
separating the heavier from lighter particles and how large a volume of the product is put on the
deck at one time. The closer the heavier particles are in weight the lighter particles, the large the
area will be.
Once the product has been properly stratified, the tilt of the deck comes into play. The vibration of
the deck begins to push the heavier particles, which are in contact with the deck and each other,
towards the high side of the deck. At the same time, the lighter particles, which are floating and do
not contact the deck, are drawn downwards by gravity. As the product continues to move down the
deck towards the discharge end, the vibration of the deck gradually converts the vertically stratified
material into horizontally graded product. This process of first separating the particles into vertical
stratification with air flow and deck vibration, then using the deck side tilt and end raise to
complement the deck vibration to separate the particles into heavy, medium, and lightweight
particles across the deck is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Stratification followed by separation of the vertical layers into horizontally separate grades
as the particles travel down the deck.
Figure 2 shows a very ideal concept of what a separation will look like. Rarely is it that easy to
separate the particles, and there will still be some vertical stratification even towards the end of the
deck. Typically the area of stratification will not be clearly defined. It will have to be assumed to be
within an area 5 to 15 square feet around the feeder.
As the particles travel down the deck, they are acted upon by three forces. The first two forces are
due to gravity. Once is cause by the acceleration of gravity due to the mass of the particles, i.e the
weight, and the other is due to the pull of gravity across the deck towards the downhill direction of
the deck. The third force is a combination of the vibration and a resistance due to the friction of the
deck opposing the sliding action of the particles in the downhill direction. These forces will interact in
such a way that separation actually starts to occur before stratification is finished. This results in
lighter particles being trapped and sent to the high side of the deck. This makes it important to
stratify the product as quickly as possible. The best way to stratify the particles before they start to
separate is by adding air flow, but not to the point of boiling and remixing the product.. The forces
just mentioned are shown in Figure 3.

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UNIFORM
REGULATEDAIRFLOW
UNDERCOVER
OVERCOVER
PARTICLE
TILTVIBRATION
PARTICLE
WEIGHT
DIRECTIONOF
VIBRATION
Figure 3: The Forces of Separation due to side tilt, air flow, and deck vibration.
In general the product will be separated into three categories; (1) a heavy or acceptable product, (2)
a light or reject product, and (3) a small middling product. If there are other heavy trash objects or
dirt, these will be separated into a fourth product.
II. What a Gravity Separator can and cannot separate
I Rule 1
Particles of the same size but differing specific gravities can be separated.
HEAVY LIGHT
Figure 4: Particles of same size but different specific gravities
An example of this process would be the separation of similar size seeds where the lighter seeds
have been hollowed out by lack of development or insects.

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II. Rule 2
Particles of the same specific gravity but different sizes will be graded according to the size of the
particles.
Figure 5: Particles of same specific gravity but smaller size from left to right
An example of this would be the elimination of shriveled corn kernels from the whole corn kernels of
the same density.
III. Rule 3
Particles differing in both specific gravities and size cannot be efficiently separated on a gravity
separator.
Figure 6: Particles of differing size AND specific gravity from left to right.
An example of this would be the different size and densities of corn on every ear of corn. Some
kernels are bigger and others smaller. Because of growing conditions, one bushel of corn may have a
different seed weight than another bushel. Because of this, separation of kernels that have not been
sized on a size right machine often gives unsatisfactory results.

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III. How the Voyager Controls Separation
The main parts of the Voyager gravity table are the deck, the feeder, and the fans. Each one provides
several degrees of freedom to the separation process.
I. The Deck
The Deck on the Voyager gives the most degrees of freedom to the separation process. Each
controllable feature of the deck gives a different degree of control to the process.
The Side tilt, or the Slope of the deck between the high side and the low side, allows the product to
be separated by the vibration because gravity will pull down the lighter particles while the heavier
particles are forced to the high side of the deck by the vibration of the deck and the friction that
resists the falling motion of gravity. If there is not enough side tilt, the product will all gather at the
high side because there is no gravity to pull down the lighter particles to the low side of the deck. If
there is too much side tilt, the product will not reach the high side and will all slide towards the low
side. In both of the case of the tilt being too extreme, proper stratification never really happens. If
the side tilt is correct, there will be a good separation as the product will stratify and then separate
out properly.
Figure 7: Different Side Tilt Positions and their effect of stratification and separation

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The End Raise, or the slope from the feed end to the discharge end, controls how fast the product
moves down the deck. As will be seen, this is directly related to the feed rate. If there is not enough
end raise, i.e the slope is too small, the product coming in on the feed end will bunch up and
stratification will not occur well. If there is the proper amount of end raise, there will be a level
amount of product across the deck, and stratification will occur and then separation. If there is too
much end raise the feed rate will not keep up with how fast the product is moving down the deck,
and there will be no stratification or proper separation. This is illustrated in Figure 8.
Figure 8: End Raise (a) too little end raise to keep up with feed rate (b) right amount of end raise to
balance the feed rate (c) too much end raise for the feed rate to keep up with
Deck vibration/speed is tied directly to the side tilt. Like the side tilt, having extreme setting will
cause the same separation issues that Side Tilt causes, but in the opposite sense. Whereas too much
side tilt will allow gravity to pull the particles down to the low side of the deck, too much deck speed
will send them too far to the high side. Likewise, while too little side tilt will cause the particles to
bunch up at the high side and not separate correctly, too little deck speed will cause them to bunch
up towards the low side. This is shown in Figure 9. The assumption in the figure is that the deck side
tilt is kept constant while the deck speed is varied. The two of the them are coupled, and in reality
there will not be separated effects as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 8.

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Figure 9: Effect of various Deck Speeds on separation with a constant Side Tilt
The side tilt and end raise are controlled through hydraulic cylinders and valves. The Deck vibration is
controlled by the eccentric motor which is driven by a Variable Frequency Drive.
II. The Feeder
The Feeder controls the flow rate of seed onto the deck. It is critical that the feeder provides a
continuous and not an alternating flow. Surges in the flow rate will cause non-optimal separation. The
minimum feed rate is the rate that will keep the deck completely covered while also being as low as
possible. This will provide the optimal separation. The feeder is controlled by either air aspiration, a
vibratory type control, or by linear actuators.
III. The Fans
The fans push the air through the particles, putting them into a pseudo-fluidic state. Too much air
and the particles remix. Too little air and the product is sluggish, piling up the particles at the high
side of the deck. The Fans are all controlled independently by their own Variable Frequency Drives.

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Figure 10: Air flow example Voyager 1050
-Figure 11: Effects of Air Speed on Separation

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IV. Increasing Capacity with the High Gates
The high gates, also referred to as cutout gates, can also be used to increase capacity. This is done
by opening the cutouts slowly and allowing heavy particles of the product to go into the blender. This
will allow more capacity to be put onto the deck through the feed rate. Always open the cutout gates
after a good separation has been achieved with all the other control variables on the machine. Then
slowly open the cutout gates, starting with the one closest to the discharge end of the deck. You will
notice, as you open the gates, that there will be a change in the air flow balance on the deck. You will
have to change the airflow on the deck to balance the separation.
It is possible to open the cutout gates too far. If the gates are open too far, then the heavy particles
will all leave the deck early, and the middle weight particles will tend to go to the part of the deck
where the heavy particles once were, and can even go far enough over to be taken out by the cutout
gate at the discharge end.
The cutout gates are designed to add a little bit of capacity to the deck. They may not be able to be
opened all the way and still maintain a good separation of the product. Maximizing capacity on the
deck may not be the best practice for the product you are separating. Always use the quality of
separation as a gauge for hoe much capacity should be on the deck.
The cutouts are also able to be used to shift the product separation back and forth over the deck. As
the heavy particles are removed from the deck, the middle and lighter particles thin out, and
separation becomes easier for more difficult products. Again, as mentioned above, opening the gates
too far will take product off the deck too fast, and the separation will not occur at the discharge end
of the deck as it should. If not open far enough, and the capacity is increased, the heavy particles will
spill over too far into the middling and light particles.
Figure 12: Cutout vs Capacity (a) cutout open too wide for capacity (b) cutout not open far enough
for capacity