Patent ID: 8191466

Claim:
A food processing apparatus comprising: a tank having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, the tank having an inner wall defining a compartment and including a solid, imperforate wall portion, fluid being contained in the compartment; a rotatable auger mounted in the compartment, the auger for advancing food product within the compartment from the inlet end toward the outlet end, the auger including flights having a flight wall with a radial edge, the flight wall separating a first auger section from a second auger section, a clearance space being defined between the radial edge of the flights and the solid, imperforate wall portion of the inner wall; wherein the clearance space inhibits the flow of fluid between the first auger section and the second auger section, wherein one of the inner wall and the flight wall includes a perforated wall portion, and wherein flow of fluid between the first auger section and the second auger section is provided through the perforated wall portion, and a transfer mechanism positioned at the outlet end of the tank, the transfer mechanism including a conduit at least partially positioned in the tank and including a first end portion configured to be in communication with the compartment and a second end portion, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit between the first end portion and the second end portion, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge, the pressurized fluid source operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product from the first end portion of the conduit toward the second end portion of the conduit.