Patent ID: 6168410
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: A23P,B30B

Abstract:
An apparatus for the expansion and/or heat treatment of oleo resinous material, said apparatus including a substantially tubular housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, and said apparatus further including a rotatably driven screw conveyor mounted within said housing for conveying the material to be treated through the housing in a direction towards the outlet end of the housing, wherein the improvement comprises an outlet discharge device adjacent the outlet end of the housing for providing for the discharge of the material from the outlet end of the housing, said outlet discharge device comprising: (a) a main ring attached to said tubular housing at the outlet end thereof, said main ring including a first plurality of first teeth on an inner circumference of said main ring, and said main ring having a first plurality of first depressions respectively disposed between said first teeth; (b) a head including a second plurality of second teeth around a periphery of said head, said head having a second plurality of second depressions respectively disposed between said second teeth; said first plurality of said first teeth being the same in number as said second plurality of said second teeth; said first plurality of said first depressions being the same in number as said second plurality of said second depressions; and (c) actuating means attached to said head for selectively moving said head between an operating position and a cleaning position; such that, when in said operating position, said first plurality of said first teeth are in respective contact with said second plurality of said second teeth with each tooth of said first plurality of first teeth being in fixed alignment contact with its respective tooth of said second plurality of said second teeth so that said first plurality of said first depressions and said second plurality of said second depressions form substantially cylindrical passageways for the material to exit said housing therethrough; and such that, when in said cleaning position, said head is withdrawn from said main ring and from said outlet end of said housing, and said first plurality of said first teeth are remote from said second plurality of said second teeth, to allow cleaning out of said apparatus and expelling of the material.