APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING VERMICULITE CULTURE FROM SUBSTRATE Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: rearing of vermiculite culture, in particular, dew worms. SUBSTANCE: method involves placing substrate 4 with vermiculite culture into housing 2; exposing surface layer to the action of radiation or mechanical stimulus 1; removing surface layer by mechanism 3 upon penetration of vermiculite culture into lower layers of substrate; filling receiver 6 with reservoir 8 positioned below housing 2, which is partially filled with artificial filler, with liquid. Artificial filler emerges to the level of grid 5. When vermiculite culture has completely transferred from substrate 4 to artificial filler, the latter is placed into liquid and mixed by mixer 10. Method further involves feeding liquid containing vermiculite culture through opening 11 into auxiliary vessel 12 upon separation of vermiculite culture from lumps 7 of filler; discharging liquid from vessel 12 through branch pipe; discharging vermiculite culture by pressing auger with variable coil spacing and collecting vermiculture juice into collector. EFFECT: increased efficiency and simplified method. 6 cl, 2 dwg