Patent ID: 9193530
Filing Date: 2015-11-24
Classification: B65G

Abstract:
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 the solid items from the hopper through an outlet opening near the 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 the full length thereof, and wherein an inner surface of the hopper on a side of the hopper towards the outlet pipe comprises an inclined part above the outlet opening that is inclined towards the direction of conveyance of the auger conveyor, wherein at least along a part of the length of the outlet pipe enclosing the auger, the cross-sectional outline of the inner side of the outlet pipe has a substantially circular shape being superposed by a plurality of undulations, and wherein the undulations extend parallel to the longitudinal direction of the outlet pipe.