Patent ID: 11890587
Assignee: SEATTLE FOOD TECH, INC.
Field: Chemical engineering (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC B  A | IPC B

Claim 0:
1. An apparatus configured to process foodstuff materials, the apparatus comprising:
a hollow tube having an inlet and an outlet, the hollow tube defining a longitudinal central axis, wherein the hollow tube is configured to facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials from the inlet to the outlet;
a central shaft extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the central shaft is configured to be rotationally driven in clockwise and counterclockwise directions; and
a bidirectional fluted auger coupled to the central shaft proximate the outlet and configured to rotate with the central shaft when the central shaft is rotationally driven, the bidirectional fluted auger having
a flow rate limiting inner cylinder,
clockwise-progressing flute features coupled to an outer surface of the flow rate limiting inner cylinder, and
counterclockwise-progressing flute features coupled to the outer surface of the flow rate limiting inner cylinder, wherein the clockwise-progressing flute features convey the foodstuff materials toward the outlet more than the counterclockwise-progressing flute features convey the foodstuff materials away from the outlet when the bidirectional fluted auger is rotated clockwise and the counterclockwise-progressing flute features convey the foodstuff materials toward the outlet more than the clockwise-progressing flute features convey the foodstuff materials away from the outlet when the bidirectional fluted auger is rotated counterclockwise.