Apparatus for severing packages containing granular or powder-like matter and severing the matter therefrom

Claim 1

Apparatus for removing and separating granular or powder-like matter from severable packages, said apparatus mounted on a support surface, said apparatus comprising: (a) conveyor means including a channel supported at an incline with respect to the support surface and having inlet means disposed at a relatively low position with respect to the support surface and an outlet means disposed at a relatively high position with respect to the support surface, a conveyor screw rotatively mounted within said channel and having an edge, motor means coupled to said conveyor screw for rotating said conveyor screw whereby packages disposed within said inlet means are severed and the severed packages and their matter are conveyed by said conveyor screw to said outlet means and wherein there is included a plurality of foils disposed longitudinally along the length of said channel and spaced from each other for coacting with said edge of said conveyor screw for preventing the severed packages from winding themselves about said conveyor screw and for facilitating the conveyance of the severed packages from said inlet means to said outlet means; and (b) means disposed at said outlet means for receiving and separating the matter from the severed packages and including a housing having a plurality of matter discharge openings therein, each of said matter discharge openings being of a size large enough to enable the matter removed from the packages to pass from said housing but small enough to prevent the empty packages from passing therethrough, an enlarged exit opening and means disposed within said housing for removing the empty packages from said housing and through said exit opening, while permitting the matter to pass through said plurality of said matter discharge openings.