At times food processors have limited quantities of bulky waste materials in need of disposal. In the case of foods such as watermelon and pickles, anything from two thirds to four fifths of the material can be sewered by running it through a screw press. Because of the small tonnage, an affordable 4" or 6" screw press is all that is required to do the job.

The problem that arises is that these large pieces of waste will bridge in the inlet hopper of the press. The traditional solution to this problem has been to install a shredder that is mounted on the inlet hopper.

A more economical solution to the bridging problem has been developed in recent months. It involves using a prebreaker instead of a shredder. While this prebreaker tears the waste into bigger chunks than would be produced by a shredder, the chunks are small enough to flow into the press. The dewatering by the press is almost the same with a prebreaker as achieved with a shredder.

The prebreaker looks like a pug mill without a trough. It consists of a pair (or more) of shafts, typically 1-1/4" in diameter, with 1/4" diameter pins that are 1" long. The pins rip apart the fruit and vegetables that are dropped into the hopper.

The arrangement is good for disposing of large quantities of spoiled cantaloupe and watermelon.

Note, September 1997: The improved inlet feeding characteristics of the Series KP presses has reduced the need for the Prebreaker.