Deep screening is an important way to achieve the efficient classification of moist fine coal. In this process, there is often a problem of plugging of the screen surface. In this study, the rigid-flexible coupled elastic screening method was applied herein to overcome plugging. The mechanical model of plugging particles and the related mechanical equation were established, and the mechanism to overcome the plugging was clarified. The effects of material characteristics on screening performance and the related mechanisms were explored. The comparison experiment of rigid-flexible coupled elastic screening and rigid screening for 3 mm moist fine coal was carried out. Furthermore, the spatial distribution of particles during the screening process was further clarified. When the external moisture content was 11.31%, the screening efficiency reached 83.15%, and the total misplaced materials was 6.40%, which effectively improved the screening performance of moist fine coal. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.