Harden's drum-type wind shifter consists of a circulating fan, separation drum unit, conveyor, diffusion chamber, dust collector, and other components. Operating on the principles of aerodynamics, the machine utilizes controllable airflow as the sorting medium. Under the influence of this controllable airflow, materials are selected based on their density and particle size. Lighter materials, such as paper, feathers, plastic bags, and dead leaves, are carried upwards or horizontally over a greater distance, while heavier materials either fall due to the lack of supporting updraft or are propelled horizontally for a shorter distance due to inertia. Consequently, the wind separation process relies on the settling behavior of various solid waste in the air, facilitating effective classification and recycling.

The primary structure of the wind shifter comprises a feed conveyor, rotating drum, blower, heavy material conveyor belt, fan separator, settling chamber, light material conveyor belt, and dust filter.