Siebenschüttler

Siebenschüttler is a device used to determine the particle-size distribution of granular materials by shaking a stack of sieves. In English contexts the term is often translated as sieve shaker. A typical instrument consists of a rigid frame, a drive mechanism (electric motor or manual crank), a set of standardized sieves with progressively finer mesh, and a collecting pan. The sample is placed on the top sieve and the drive is activated to produce controlled vibrations that encourage particles to pass through the sieve openings. The shaking is performed for a specified duration and under defined conditions to ensure repeatability.

Operation generally involves placing the sample on the top sieve, running the shaker to separate the material by size, and then drying and weighing the contents of each sieve to determine the percentage of material in each size range. The resulting data describe the particle-size distribution of the sample and are used to assess quality, performance, and process control in various industries.

Applications extend across geology and soil science for grain-size analysis, agriculture for seed and grain cleaning assessments, mining and mineral processing for ore classification, and material science for powders and aggregates testing. Shakers vary from bench-top models to large, industrial versions and may feature vertical, horizontal, or gyratory vibration patterns, along with digital controls for speed and timing.

Standards such as ISO 3310 and ASTM E11 define the specifications for test sieves and testing methods, helping ensure comparability of results. In German-speaking contexts the instrument is commonly referred to as Siebenschüttler, though in English-language literature the term sieve shaker is preferred.