Patent ID: 7182269

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: a basin having a bottom surface and an outer side surrounding the bottom surface, the basin being configured to contain a fluidic material within the basin; a heating element configured to heat the fluidic material within the basin; a cylinder having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the bottom end is in proximity to the bottom surface of the basin so that the cylinder extends substantially perpendicular from the bottom surface, the cylinder comprising a first external diameter at a first location and a second external diameter larger than the first external diameter at a second location that is below the first location so as to define a step sized to support a structure having an aperture with a diameter that is substantially equal to the first external diameter; an auger having a spiral flight comprising a plurality of revolutions extending along a length of the auger, wherein the auger is disposed within the cylinder; and a source of rotation coupled to the auger and configured to rotate the auger inside the cylinder, wherein the spiral flight supports the fluidic material as the auger rotates, moving the fluidic material upwardly within the cylinder.