Abstract: A continuous mixer (32) is disclosed which can be used for mixing of incoming product streams (22, 24) of different characteristics respectively to yield a final product stream (26) of predetermined, consistent characteristics. The mixer (32) includes an elongated housing (42) having a pair of product input ports (50, 52) and an output (64), with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable, mixing screws (44, 46) located within the housing (42). The screws (44, 46) include a series of outwardly projecting mixing elements (114) preferably of pyramidal design and arrayed in a helical pattern along the length of the screws (44,46). The mixer (32) may be used in a processing system (20,200) having individual product lines (28, 30, 204, 206) coupled to the mixer (32), and is especially useful for processing of incoming meat streams (22,24) of different fat/lean ratios, to give a final comminuted output stream (26) of an intermediate and essentially constant fat/lean ratio.

Abstract: A device for continuously mixing liquid products and/or pulverized products. The device includes at least one outer tubular casing, a mechanism for supplying products to be mixed disposed at a first end of the tubular casing, the second end of the tubular casing being open for the discharge of the mixture, a mixer member having the form of a helix of inner diameter D disposed inside the tubular casing, and a mechanism for rotating the mixer member about the axis of the tubular casing. The device further includes an elongated piece closed at its two ends, of diameter d, with d<D, and of length l less than the length L of the mixer member, the piece being mounted free inside the mixer member, and a mechanism for axially holding the cylindrical piece inside the mixer member.

Abstract: A continuous mixer (32) is disclosed which can be used for mixing of incoming product streams (22, 24) of different characteristics respectively to yield a final product stream (26) of predetermined, consistent characteristics. The mixer (32) includes an elongated housing (42) having a pair of product input ports (50,52) and an output (64), with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable, mixing screws (44,46) located within the housing (42). The screws (44, 46) include a series of outwardly projecting mixing elements (114) preferably of pyramidal design and arrayed in a helical pattern along the length ofthe screws (44,46). The mixer (32) may be used in a processing system (10) having individual product lines (28, 30) coupled to the mixer (32), and is especially useful for processing of incoming meat streams (22,24) of different fat/lean ratios, to give a final comminuted output stream (26) of an intermediate and essentially constant fat/lean ratio.

Abstract: A continuous mixer (32) is disclosed which can be used for mixing of incoming product streams (22, 24) of different characteristics respectively to yield a final product stream (26) of predetermined, consistent characteristics. The mixer (32) includes an elongated housing (42) having a pair of product input ports (50, 52) and an output (64), with a pair of elongated, axially rotatable, mixing screws (44, 46) located within the housing (42). The screws (44, 46) include a series of outwardly projecting mixing elements (114) preferably of pyramidal design and arrayed in a helical pattern along the length of the screws (44,46). The mixer (32) may be used in a processing system (20,200) having individual product lines (28, 30, 204, 206) coupled to the mixer (32), and is especially useful for processing of incoming meat streams (22,24) of different fat/lean ratios, to give a final comminuted output stream (26) of an intermediate and essentially constant fat/lean ratio.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for continuously mixing liquid products and/or pulverized products. The device comprises at least one outer tubular casing, means for supplying products to be mixed disposed at a first end of the tubular casing, the second end of the tubular casing being open for the discharge of the mixture, a mixer member having the form of a helix of inner diameter D disposed inside the tubular casing, and means for rotating the mixer member about the axis of said tubular casing. It further comprises an elongated piece closed at its two ends, of diameter d, with d<D, and of length l less than the length L of the mixer member, said piece being mounted free inside the mixer member, and means for axially holding said cylindrical piece inside the mixer member.

Abstract: A wet batch material charging apparatus having a charger screw housing having a batch material inlet and a batch material outlet, a dry batch material supply device adapted to deliver a dry batch material through the batch material inlet, a rotatable charger screw shaft having at least one screw flight disposed within the charger screw housing and adapted to convey the batch material from the batch material inlet to the batch material outlet, and a liquid supply apparatus for introducing at least one liquid into the charger screw housing. The liquid supply apparatus independently controls the liquid flow rate and the liquid flow duration based upon the batch material charging speed and rotation of the rotatable charger screw shaft.

Abstract: An ice cream mixing apparatus comprises a funnel for holding ice cream and flavor additives, an auger and a linear actuator for moving the auger into the funnel, in which position a rotation of the auger will mix the ice cream and the flavor additives. The funnel forms part of an enclosure with at least one spray nozzle for pointing a water spray at the auger for washing purposes. The auger has at least one vane in an area which is hit by the water spray during the relative movement of the funnel and auger, causing a deflection of the water spray.

Abstract: A vertical feed mixer has an auger with a center post that has an inclined upper surface that is substantially flat. Flights of varying shapes can be used. The upper part of the flight extends above the upper surface. The inclined upper surface increases the versatility and efficiency of the mixer since feed bales are unlikely to block the mixer.

Abstract: A mixer for mixing loose powder, granular and liquid materials includes a mixing chamber 8 having a rotatable shaft 4 therein. The shaft bears a plurality of radial blades for agitating the materials. Each of the radial blades 13 includes a wedge-shaped first part 14 and a second part 15 connected thereto. The first part includes a thin-edged front end 140 for penetrating the materials and the second part includes a frontal end 150 for impacting the materials. As a result, the mixer produces a high degree of homogenization with a relatively low degree of energy consumption.

Abstract: A dual shear mixing element for use in a chemical reactor. The device may be used in processes where liquids of different temperatures need to be thoroughly mixed in a short period of time and solute must stay in solution. The present invention is particularly useful in the solution polymerization of polyolefins, especially in the medium pressure process for the preparation of linear low density polyethylene.

Abstract: A developing apparatus faces an image carrier carrying an electrostatic latent image and comprises a developing section for developing the electrostatic latent image by supplying a developing agent thereto and a feeding section for feeding the developing agent to the developing section while stirring. The feeding section has a rotatable shaft member, a blade body formed spirally on an outer peripheral surface of the shaft member for feeding the developing agent in a shaft direction, and a plurality of projections located between tilted blade portions on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft member. The projections, each being placed at an interval from the tilted blade portions of the blade body and are arranged at predetermined intervals along circumference of the shaft member.

Abstract: A method of and device for removing a liquid from a resin of high melting point by means of a co-rotating twin extruder and an operation system of a liquid removal molding of a resin of high melting point by which a scaled down, highly effective, high performance and continuous stable operation of the device may be achieved.

Abstract: A mixer for particulate materials, such as soil, dirt, sand, concrete, lime, fertilizers, aggregate, and water, hitched to a skid steer motor vehicle has a bucket for accommodating the particulate materials. A pair of augers having opposite spiral flights located within the bucket are driven by a hydraulic fluid operated motor to mix the particulate materials. The operator of the vehicle controls the hydraulic motor to reverse the rotational direction of the augers to control the mixing of the particulate materials. A door mounted on the side wall of the bucket is movable with a hydraulic cylinder to an open position to allow the particulate materials to be discharged from the bucket.

Abstract: A continuous flow particulate material blender includes a tubular housing having an input on a first end of the housing and an output on a second end of the housing. A shaft is mounted for rotation within the housing and includes ribbon flighting to urge the flow of particulate material towards the output, flow bars for mixing the particulate material in the direction of the flow and retarder bars for mixing the particulate material against the flow. Located near the first end of the housing are fluid additive lines and a dry additive dispenser for supplying additives to the particulate material. An end plate is mounted on both ends of the housing. An aperture in each of the end plates receives a respective end of the shaft. Bearings mounted externally on each end of the housing support the shaft. The rotation of the shaft is driven by a motor mounted on the first end of the housing which connects to the shaft through a gearbox.

Abstract: A screw extruder (10) having a barrel (18) which has a bore (26) defining an inner surface (44) and one or more extruder screws (28), positioned within the bore (26). The extruder screw or screws (28) include a central shaft (34) and one or more screw flights (30). The extruder screw or screws (28) farther including one or more dispersive mixing elements (204), (234), (308), (406), (508), (558), which interact with the inner surface of the barrel (44) to form one or more progressively narrowing passages (46) through which material is forced into multiple regions of high elongational and shear stress (480, (120), (214), (310), (410), (510), (564).A second preferred embodiment is a screw extruder (10) having a barrel (18) having a bore (26) defining an inner surface (44) and one or more extruder screws (600), (701), positioned within the bore (26).

Abstract: A single extruder screw is presented which includes a plurality of equidistant undercut barriers disposed in a preselected pattern within the channel of an extrusion screw. The undercut barriers are disposed in the first metering stage and second metering stage and provide increased dispersive and distributed mixing for highly viscous difficult to blend materials. In another embodiment the single extruder includes a slotted blister ring, having slots and lands disposed thereon, positioned between the first metering stage and the vent zone to further increase the amount of mixing.

Abstract: The invention is for mixing at least one kind of an additive with a powdery or granular main material homogeneously so as to continuously supply the same quantitatively. A barrel comprises a front side cylindrical part, a trough part, and a rear side cylindrical part from the upstream side. A quantitative extruding zone comprises the front side cylindrical part and a quantitative extruding part having a full flight provided on the peripheral surface of the axis part of a screw, for quantitatively transporting a main material to the downstream side. A mixing zone comprises the trough part and a mixing part having an agitating blade formed zigzag on the axis part of the screw and a ribbon screw having a distance with respect to the peripheral surface of the axis part, for homogeneously dispersing additives added from additive supply openings in the main material.

Abstract: A dehydrating apparatus includes a chamber for receiving wet material to be dehydrated. A rotatably-mounted agitator is provided with the chamber. The agitator is adapted to agitate material in the chamber when the agitator rotates in a first direction and convey the material out of the chamber when the agitator rotates in the other, second direction.

Abstract: A dual shear mixing element includes an auger and an impeller for use in a chemical reactor. The device may be used in processes where liquids of different temperatures need to be thoroughly mixed in a short period of time and solute must stay in solution. The present invention is particularly useful in the solution polymerization of polyolefins, especially in the medium pressure process for the preparation of linear low density polyethylene.

Abstract: An improved asphalt paver having a remixing conveyor system that is adapted to substantially or entirely eliminating segregation in hot mix asphalt material delivered to the asphalt paver. The remixing conveying system includes at least one pair of parallelly spaced, oppositely pitched, counter-rotating hydraulically driven feed augers having remixing blades that intermittently displace portions of the hot mix asphalt material generally transversely to the direction that the feed augers convey the hot mix asphalt material from a hopper of the asphalt paver to spreading augers near the rear of the machine. Elongate members over the feed augers provide protection from impact forces and overloading and enhancing lateral extraction of hot mix asphalt material from the hopper. An optional feed screen provides flow control of the hot mix asphalt material in the hopper. A kit is provided for converting existing asphalt paving machines to have desegregating capability.

Abstract: A screw extruder (10), including a barrel (18) having a bore (26) which defines an inner surface (24). At least one extruder screw (28) is positioned within the bore (26), each screw (28) further including a central shaft (34) and at least one screw flight (30). Each screw flight (30) further includes a front pushing face (36) and a rear face (38). The profile (40) of each front pushing face (36) acts with the inner surface (24) of the barrel (18) to form a progressively narrowing passage (46) through which material is forced into multiple regions of high elongational and shear stress (48) which act to break down agglomerates of material and thus dispersively mix the material.Also presented is a screw extruder (100) having a single screw (28) which includes dispersion disks (102) which are rotationally offset from one another and whose design is not constrained by interaction with a second disk, which provides improved distributive and dispersive mixing.

Abstract: A vertical feed mixer has a mixing chamber containing a rotatable auger having a generally helical flight that is tapered to converge from bottom to top. The flight has a periphery with several successive substantially straight sections where each straight section has a blade at a trailing end thereof. A curved vertical blade is mounted on the lowermost portion of the flight near the periphery. The mixer requires much less horsepower to mix the same amount of feed as conventional mixers.

Abstract: A plasticating apparatus including a rotating screw having a helical flight disposed within and cooperating with the inner wall of a heated barrel. Solid resinous material is introduced to a helical valley extending between said flight to be heated and plasticized by said apparatus while being advanced towards an outlet opening by the rotation of said screw. The screw has a meter section for working, melting and mixing said resinous material at high temperatures. The bottom surface of the helical valley in said metering section is divided into side by side relatively shallow and relatively deep levels. Within the metering section is a transit channel having a reverse helical direction as compared with the helical direction of the flight. Because of the reverse helical direction of the transit channel, the transit channel intersects the helical flight and helical valley with the transit channel cutting therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a substance, the apparatus including a container, a tubular conduit axially disposed in a cavity of the container defining an inner tubular channel and an outer annular channel within the container, a conduit for admitting a substance into the cavity, a rotary device for circulating the substance in the cavity, an extraction conduit, a carrier shaft of the rotary device being guided in rotation by a bearing or other rotary guiding device proximate an end of the container at which the substance to be mixed is passed from the tubular channels into the annular channel.

Abstract: A mixer having a container (14), an opened topped hollow sleeve (20) adjacent the lower surface of the container, at least one opening (22) into the sleeve adjacent the lower edge thereof, a screw impeller (25) located in the sleeve and a driving device for the impeller (11) so that material to be mixed can enter the sleeve through the opening adjacent the lower end thereof, be mixed by the impeller and delivered through the open top of the sleeve. An impeller (60) can be formed with cutting blades to act to cut material passing through the sleeve as well as to mix this material.

Abstract: An improved vertical feed mixer has a mixing chamber defined by a floor, a side wall, and an open upper end through which feed material, such as hay bales, is loaded into the chamber. A vertically disposed auger with tapered flighting is rotatably mounted within the chamber for cutting, mixing, and discharging the feed material through a discharge opening near the bottom of the chamber. A plurality of hay claws prevent hay from spilling over the top edge of the mixing chamber. The hay claws also catch the hay bales, or portions thereof, to inhibit rotation of the hay with the rotating auger, thereby allowing the knife blades on the auger to cut the hay. One or more plows are attached to the auger and extend between the flighting and the floor to direct material away from the auger shaft and thereby prevent feed material from becoming plugged.

Abstract: A food processing apparatus having a tank with an inlet and an outlet, a liquid bath received therein, a rotary auger having a plurality of spaced apart flights for urging food product toward the outlet, and a baffle between a pair of adjacent auger flights for lifting and/or agitating (1) food product and (2) the liquid for increasing heat transfer between the liquid and food product, with the baffle being of substantially non-straight construction for minimizing the force of impact between food product and the baffle. Each baffle has a leading portion and a trailing portion with at least one of the portions being of non-straight construction. Preferably, each baffle has at least one bend or curve for minimizing impact force. The bend or curve is adjacent the leading portion of the baffle, which is that portion of the baffle that typically first comes into contact with food product during operation.

Abstract: A device for use with a copying machine, printer or the like transports toner from a toner storage means into the developing unit of the copying machine or printer by way of a toner transporting path including a shaft with a spiral. A toner lump loosening arrangement for loosening toner lumps before delivery to the developing unit is also positioned along the toner transporting path.

Abstract: A system for transportation of sludge material comprising an elongated tank having an arcuate bottom portion extending longitudinally of the tank and having a withdrawal port located in the arcuate bottom portion of the tank. An elongated conveyor system is disposed in the tank and comprises inner and outer auger flights mounted in the tank an axle extending longitudinally of the tank. The auger flights transcend only a minor cross sectional area of the tank and are configured to have opposing pitch slopes. The outer auger flight provides a positive pitch angle in the direction of the withdrawal port to displace sludge material toward the withdrawal port. The compound conveyor system embodies inner and outer auger flights as described previously in which at least the outer auger flight is in the form of a ribbon which is spaced axially from the axle on which it is supported and is wrapped around the axle in a manner in which the inner diameter of the ribbon flight is spaced radially from the axle.

Abstract: A process and a device are disclosed for mixing-in liquid, pourable or lumpy substances into masses of foodstuffs, in particular foams or doughs. In order to ensure that neither the structure nor the form of the substances or of the foodstuff masses are modified during the mixing process, an elongated mixing container (1) contains at least two horizontal, spiral helices (4a, 4b) that turn in opposite directions, the diameters of which partially overlap without contact and the pitches of which are inclined in the direction of transport of the material to be mixed, so that a mixing section (4d), along which the substances can be mixed without pressure into the foodstuff mass, is formed between an input (9) and an output (3).

Abstract: Extraction, especially of firm fruit such as cranberries, with improved yields of high quality, low tannin juices by using an improved countercurrent extractor employing longitudinal members positioned between adjacent flights and reinfusion of decharacterized, extracted fruit pieces with infusion syrups, such as juices from fruits other than that extracted, to produce a fruit food product of various flavors having a desired level of inherent soluble fruit component, without the need to bleed off spent syrup as a byproduct.

Abstract: A noodle machine has a housing with an upper opening, a receptacle deposited in the housing for receiving flour and water for making dough for noodles by stirring them by rotation of a stirring shaft positioned horizontally in the receptacle and rotated by a motor. A front cap with a center cylindrical portion for a screw portion of the stirring shaft fits therein to squeeze out dough to go out through a sieve with holes fixed at the front of the cylindrical portion to become noodles. And a shutter hangs at a notch at an upper side edge of the receptacle for closing an opening of a U-shaped plate of the front cap for hampering dough from moving into the screw portion and removed to let dough move through the opening of the U-shaped plate to be squeezed out of the sieve to become noodles by rotation of the screw portion.

Abstract: A kneading apparatus includes a plurality of rotatable discs mounted on a screw shaft disposed on a hollow cylinder and a plurality of fixed doughnut members mounted on an inner wall of the hollow cylinder. The rotatable discs and fixed doughnut members are arranged alternately in an extending direction of the screw shaft. Projected portions and recessed portions extending radially and alternately arranged in a circumferential direction are formed on opposing side faces of the rotatable disc and fixed doughnut members in such a manner that the depths thereof are increased in proportion to the distance from a center of the screw shaft. Accordingly, the kneading apparatus is allowed to have a small construction and yet capable of efficiently kneading the material. In addition, material is prevented from remaining locally in the apparatus, and thereby a proper shear force is applied to the entire material.

Abstract: A device for continuously blending particulate materials has a central shaft, a plurality of metering elements which are each separately metering a respective particulate material, blending element for receiving and blending the metered quantities of particulate material and including a conveyor formed as an elongate member having a rotating axis coinciding with the axis of the shaft and disposed helically in turns about and concentric to the rotating axis, a drive for rotating the elongate member to trace out an envelope shape of the helically formed elongate member, and a casing accommodating the conveyor and having a discharge and a lower portion conforming to the envelope shape of the elongate member. The conveyor rotates in the casing to generate a conveying direction, and stirring members are provided on the conveyor and extend between some of its turns.

Abstract: Spiral-shaped screw blades disposed one on another on the bottom of a mixing container are rotated at a high speed for agitating pulverulent materials including aggregate and water to form a mixture. A rapid current of the mixture of the pulverulent materials and water is brought about by the rotating screw blades and causes the aggregate in the mixture to serve as a mixing agitator like milling balls used in a ball mill, to thereby effectively break up lumps of the pulverulent material which are immiscible with water and which are inevitably formed by initially mixing the pulverulent material with water.

Abstract: An extrusion apparatus or extruder for mixing and extruding of thermo-plastic and rubber like process materials has a rotor member rotatable within the bore of a barrel member. Interposed between the feed end and the discharge end, the rotor and barrel members are provided with one or more mixing stages, consisting of process material transfers, rotor to barrel, barrel to enlarged rotor, enlarged rotor to enlarged barrel, enlarged barrel to enlarged rotor, enlarged rotor to barrel and barrel to rotor. Each process material transfer has the rotor or barrel member provided with multiple grooves which communicate with co-acting receiving rotor or barrel member multiple grooves. Each revolution of the rotor transfers process material from each sending groove to all of the co-acting receiving grooves, an action which reduces the thickness of the transferred material in the ratio of one to ten.

Abstract: A discharge chute extends between an auger and the discharge end plate of a perforated cylinder which rotates within a water-filled tank in a food processing apparatus such as a blancher or a cooler. The chute is fixed to the cylinder to rotate with the cylinder and has an inlet within the cylinder and an outlet which communicates with the exterior of the apparatus. A lifting flight extends between the perforated side wall of the cylinder and the discharge chute and is fixed to the discharge chute, such that food product advanced to the discharge end of the tank by an auger fixed to the cylinder, is engaged by the lifting flight and elevated to discharge into the chute discharge opening and then along an inclined surface within the chute to be discharged from the apparatus. The discharge assembly thus avoids any pinching of food product between rotating and nonrotating parts of the apparatus. Food product contained in pouches is protected from rupture at the discharge.

Abstract: A water tank is divided into a heated compartment and a cooled compartment by an insulated baffle. A perforated cylinder is mounted within the tank and has a first segment which extends within the heated tank compartment and a second segment which extends within the cooled tank compartment. Portions of a helical auger extend within each cylinder segment. Heated water is supplied to the heated compartment by a heated water manifold, and cooled water is supplied to the cooled compartment by a cooled water manifold. Mixing of the heated and cooled water is prevented by the insulating baffle. Food product is caused to traverse the length of the heated compartment by the auger, and is transferred over the baffle into the cooled compartment by a lifting flight which elevates food product from the water into a chute which discharges into the cooled compartment. A single, self-contained apparatus thus blanches and cools food product in a continuous process.

Abstract: A food processing apparatus such as a cooler, blancher, or cooker, has a water tank with a perforated wall drum cylinder mounted to rotate within the tank. Loose or pouch-packaged food product is introduced into the rotating cylinder and is advanced by the generally helical auger to the discharge end of the tank. The auger has radially extending folds or depressions which project axially from the auger helical surface, such that food product conveyed by the rotating auger is engaged by the projecting portions and is thereby agitated in an axial direction as it is conveyed from the tank inlet to the tank outlet. In a preferred embodiment, the depressions are disposed at 90 degrees from one another along the entire length of the auger, alternately projecting toward the inlet and the outlet.

Abstract: A screw for use in an plasticating injection apparatus includes a plurality of interrupted primary flights. An outer surface of a primary valley is formed by the primary flights and features a plurality of plateaus. The plateaus span adjacent sections of the primary flights and define shallow levels between deeper levels of the primary valleys. This depth differential contributes to a turbulent mixing action which, along with the primary and secondary valleys, contributes to improve mixing action within a metering section of the screw. The primary flights are interrupted by secondary valleys which are of opposite hand to the primary valleys.

Abstract: A screw kneader for a plastic material in which a pair of longitudinal screws are rotatably mounted in respective bores for conveying plastic material through the kneader. The screws have spaced portions for advancing the plastic material from an inlet region to an outlet region and between the spaced portions is a section with reversed threads opposing plastic flow to effect mixing of the plastic material. The threads of the intermediate section are provided with openings to permit passage of up to 20% of said plastic material in the direction of advance. Transfer elements with helical threads connect opposite ends of the threads in the intermediate section with the threads of the inlet and outlet regions. The transfer elements of the two screws mutually engage one another to strip plastic material from one another and from the walls of the bores.

Abstract: The mixer includes a chamber having first and second, side-by-side tub like cavities with first and second rotatable shafts located in the first and second cavities respectively. Each shaft has two ribbon members coupled to the shaft and which extend helically around the shaft along a substantial length of the shaft with the two ribbon members located about 180 degrees apart. The ribbon members of the two shafts do not intermesh but are located close to each other. A drive mechanism is provided for rotating the two shafts in opposite directions to cause the ribbon members of the two shafts to move toward each other below the plane of the two shafts, upward, and away from each other above the plane of the two shafts for mixing the particulate material. The ribbon members of the two shafts cause the particulate material in the two cavities to move in opposite directions along their lengths.

Abstract: Multi-screw, continuous mixing and kneading machine for plasticizable compounds with screws, which rotate in a housing and which penetrate the cylindrical housing section, enclosing the screw concerned, and exhibit feed and discharge zones and intermediate melting, mixing and kneading zones, where the feed and discharge zones are formed by intermeshing screws that rotate in the same direction, and kneading elements are disposed in the melting, mixing and kneading zones. The kneading elements comprise axially extended polygons, whose surfaces are approximately flat and whose edges travel by one another with small clearance relative to the envelopes of the respective other polygon so as not to intermesh while rotating, where the edges of the housing section enveloping them maintain a distance that is significantly greater than the clearance.

Abstract: Centrifuge for the separation of a suspension into a solids phase and at least one liquid phase, especially decantering centrifuge with separator following in alignment, full-jacket screw centrifuge or the like with screw (2) rotating at differential speed of rotation from its jacket (1), the helices (4) of which fit close against the course of the inner surface of the jacket, which narrows conically over at least some of its axial section looking toward the solids outlet (13) in particular, and between which, the hub (3) of the screw, and the jacket (1) is left the separation section (6), into which the suspension is injected, especially through a cavity (10 & 11 or 10 & 12) in the hub (3) of the screw.

Abstract: An apparatus and system is disclosed for extruding commodities such as rice bran and which includes symmetrically disposed beater bar segments on the extruder rotor that will simultaneously impact symmetrically positioned knives mounted within the extruder housing. The apparatus preferably includes a sufficient number of knives and beater bars that impacts occur more than once each ninety degrees of rotation and at substantially equal degrees of rotation from each other. The device includes a widened and lengthened extrusion gap with variable width, a generally solid extrusion rotor, and a control system for adjusting the cooking temperature by varying the width of the extrusion gap. The extruder is fed using a drag conveyor with angled blades which push the rice bran into the extruder housing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for maintaining a continuous mixing in a liquid throughout the transversal reactor space, and for simultaneously separating from the liquid either another liquid, a solid material or possibly gas. The invention also relates to an apparatus whereby the mixing is maintained and simultaneously another phase is separated from the liquid under agitation.

Abstract: A stainless steel tank has an inlet for food products such as pasta and a discharge end where the food product is discharged. A perforated cylinder is mounted to rotate within the tank and an auger is positioned within the cylinder to advance food product from the inlet to the discharge of the tank. The auger is fitted with a plurality of lifting baffles to extend radially inwardly from the cylinder between two adjacent flights of the auger to carry food products sidewardly and lift the food product out of water contained within the tank and allow the food product to tumble back into the water. Two manifolds extend into the tank beneath the perforated cylinder and have a plurality of apertures. A controller controls a supply of steam and a supply of pressurized air to selectively introduce steam and compressed air through the manifold apertures into the tank.

Abstract: Mixing device for powdered, granular and/or paste materials, having a conical mixing tank (1) with vertical axis which narrows towards the bottom, and in said mixing tank at least one mixing screw (2), which through drive units disposed outside the mixing tank (1), by means of a transmission arm (15) to be rotated in a horizontal plane, can rotate about its own axis and can revolve along the wall of the mixing tank, the shaft of the mixing screw (2) at the top end being provided with a gear wheel (3) which meshes with a gear wheel (4) with vertical shaft, which has a smaller diameter than the gear wheel (3) on the mixing screw (2) whereby the gear wheel (4) with vertical shaft is connected by means of a belt connection (7) or the like in the arm (15) to a central vertical shaft (9) which by means of a reducing transmission (10, 11, 12) is coupled to the drive unit (13) for rotation of the mixing screw (2).

Abstract: In a hydraulic screw pump, a sealing element for the peripheral edge of the rotary screw. The sealing element is formed with a channel along its length to fit over this edge of the rotary screw. The channel may be varied in depth to adjust the gap between the rotary screw and a water-carrying trough for the pump. The width of the channel may also be adjusted to accommodate rotary screws of varying thicknesses. The sealing element, thus, retains the desired width of the gap even though the edges of the rotary screw are chipped or worn away.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for varying the pressure within a screw channel which apparatus includes a shaft having a helical flight defining a channel between consecutive turns of the flight. The screw is rotatable within a barrel. A radially movable first member is disposed at a right angle to a longitudinal axis of the screw where the plasticated material has undergone partial melting. A reciprocatively movable second member is disposed within a bore through the shaft coaxial with the axis and includes a cam slidably engaged with an inner end of the first member such that the first member can be extended into the screw channel when the second member is moved in one direction and retracted from the channel when the second member is moved in another direction. At an upstream end of the second member there is provided a rotatable thrust transmitting coupling which allows rotation of the second member relative to a male threaded portion secured to the coupling and coaxial with the second member.