Patent ID: 8757865

Claim:
A foodstuff conveyor apparatus comprising: a foodstuff inlet; a foodstuff outlet; a conveyor chamber arranged between the foodstuff inlet and the foodstuff outlet, the conveyor chamber having a wall; a first conveyor screw extending in the conveyor chamber, the first conveyor screw having an inlet-side spindle portion, an outlet-side spindle portion, and a spindle-free portion separating the inlet-side spindle portion from the outlet-side spindle portion, and a pitch of the first conveyor screw in the outlet-side spindle portion being less than a pitch of the inlet-side spindle portion, the first conveyor screw sealed off at least in a region between the foodstuff inlet and the spindle-free portion of the first conveyor screw relative to the wall of the conveyor chamber to prevent a transfer of foodstuff from the spindle-free portion of the first conveyor screw in a direction of the foodstuff outlet; and a second conveyor screw extending in the conveyor chamber and in meshing engagement with the first conveyor screw, the second conveyor screw having an inlet-side spindle portion, an outlet-side spindle portion, and a spindle-free portion separating the inlet-side spindle portion from the outlet-side spindle portion.