Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
200 words
A processing apparatus comprising a vessel having a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a bottom, said bottom including an upwardly extending divider means positioned longitudinally centrally between said sidewalls, said divider means having end walls spaced from the end walls of the vessel and sidewalls spaced from the sidewalls of the vessel, each said divider sidewall and the adjacent vessel sidewall merging into an arcuate bottom portion to form a pair of side-by-side trough portions within said vessel with connecting passages at the ends thereof, heat exchange means for heating or cooling the surfaces of the side-by-side trough portions in contact with the material and a pair of material conveying augers disposed within said trough portions, one in each trough portion, with the peripheries of the augers in close proximity with the trough portions, means for rotating said augers in close proximity with the trough portions, means for rotating said augers whereby material acted upon by the flight means of one auger is moved in a direction opposite to that which the other auger moves material whereby the material is caused to move in a circuitous path along the troughs and through the connecting end passageways.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
200 words
A processing apparatus comprising a vessel having a pair of sidewalls, a pair of end walls and a bottom, said bottom including an upwardly extending divider means positioned longitudinally centrally between said sidewalls, said divider means having end walls spaced from the end walls of the vessel and sidewalls spaced from the sidewalls of the vessel, each said divider sidewall and the adjacent vessel sidewall merging into an arcuate bottom portion to form a pair of side-by-side trough portions within said vessel with connecting passages at the ends thereof, heat exchange means for heating or cooling the surfaces of the side-by-side trough portions in contact with the material and a pair of material conveying augers disposed within said trough portions, one in each trough portion, with the peripheries of the augers in close proximity with the trough portions, means for rotating said augers in close proximity with the trough portions, means for rotating said augers whereby material acted upon by the flight means of one auger is moved in a direction opposite to that which the other auger moves material whereby the material is caused to move in a circuitous path along the troughs and through the connecting end passageways.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a product discharge outlet is provided in an end wall of the vessel adjacent the end of an auger delivering material to that end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein a closure device is provided for closing the connecting end passageway adjacent the discharge outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the heat exchange means is in the form of a double wall jacket through which a heating or cooling medium passes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the jacket includes an inner heat exchange wall and an outer wall having inwardly directed dimples with the bottoms of the dimples contacting and being welded to the heat exchange wall to form a rigid structure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a soft, resilient strip is attached to the periphery of an auger flight, said strip being adapted to scrape the heat exchange surfaces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the resilient strip is removably mounted on the auger by means of cleats.