Mushroom compost compacting system and method

Abstract

A mushroom compost compacting system and method includes a roller assembly mounted to a compost receptacle to form a nip, and a web or conveyor to convey mushroom compost to the nip. Mushroom compost is compacted at the nip from an initial compost height to a final compost height. The roller assembly has a roller, a shaft, and fixtures coupled to each end of the shaft. The fixtures are adjustable to define the roller nip height. In one embodiment, the fixtures are mounted to sleeves that engage the sidewalls of the compost receptacle. In another embodiment, the ends of the fixtures are mounted to a support, which may be a joist or a separate channel extending under the floor portion of the compost receptacle, or which may be a post that forms support structure for the compost receptacle.

1 . A portable roller assembly for compacting mushroom compost, comprising:
 a roller adapted for rotation on a shaft;   a first fixture coupled to a first end of the shaft, wherein the first fixture is adapted for height adjustment of the roller and the shaft in reference to a floor portion of a compost receptacle for holding mushroom compost to create a nip between the roller and the floor portion of the compost receptacle, wherein the first fixture comprises:
 a first end coupled to the first end of the shaft, 
 a mid-section coupled to a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is adapted to removably mount onto a first sidewall of the compost receptacle, and 
 a second end adapted to mount onto a support of the compost receptacle; and 
   a second fixture coupled to a second end of the shaft, wherein the second fixture is adapted for height adjustment of the roller and the shaft in reference to the floor portion of the compost receptacle, wherein the second fixture comprises:
 a first end coupled to the second end of the shaft; 
 a mid-section coupled to a second sleeve, wherein the second sleeve is adapted to removably mount onto a second sidewall of the compost receptacle, and 
 a second end adapted to mount onto the support of the compost receptacle. 
   
     
     
         2 . The roller assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support is a channel member positioned under the floor portion of the compost receptacle, and coupled to the second ends of the first and second fixtures. 
     
     
         3 . The roller assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support is a joist supporting the floor portion of the compost receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The roller assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the support is a post associated with the compost receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The roller assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a motor coupled to the shaft for rotation of the roller. 
     
     
         6 . The roller assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising nip height adjustment means. 
     
     
         7 . A method for compacting mushroom compost, comprising:
 introducing a quantity of pre-spawned Phase II mushroom compost or spawn run Phase III mushroom compost onto a web that is disposed over a floor portion of a mushroom compost receptacle and traversable into a nip formed between a roller and the floor portion of the mushroom compost receptacle;   conveying the web and quantity of mushroom compost through the nip; and   rotating the roller to compress the mushroom compost.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the compost is compacted from an initial height of about 15 or about 16 inches to a compacted height of about 6 to about 9 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the roller is in a roller assembly that includes sleeves for removably engaging the roller assembly onto sidewalls of the mushroom compost receptacle. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the roller is in a roller assembly that includes fixtures for removably engaging the roller assembly to support posts of the mushroom compost receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein rotating the roller is with a motor. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising supporting the floor portion of the mushroom compost receptacle below the nip.