Patent ID: 9493312
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: B65G

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a hopper; and an auger conveyor for conveying solid items, wherein the auger conveyor comprises an auger and an outlet pipe enclosing the auger along at least a part of the length of the auger, the outlet pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the outlet pipe is mounted at its inlet end to the hopper for receiving solid items from the hopper through an outlet opening near a bottom of the hopper, and the auger extends partly along at least a part of the bottom of the hopper, partly inside the outlet pipe along substantially a full length thereof, wherein at least a part of an inner surface of the hopper on a side of the hopper towards the outlet pipe includes at least an inclined part above the outlet opening that is inclined towards a direction of conveyance of the auger conveyor, and wherein a pitch of the auger increases, gradually or stepwise, along the direction of conveyance of the auger conveyor, such that the auger has an increased pitch at multiple points along the direction of conveyance.