An apparatus for outputting a solid material entrained in a fluid, the apparatus comprising a receptacle for receiving the solid material, an input for the fluid, an output for solid material, an auger for transporting the solid material from the receptacle to the output, a motor for driving the auger, wherein the motor comprises one or more cylinders each comprising a piston, a second input connected to the input so as to feed part of the fluid to the cylinders, where a cross section of a piston is at least 700 mm.sup.2 or wherein a drive transforming the reciprocating movement of each piston, relative to the cylinder, to rotation of the auger around the first axis, is configured to rotate the auger at least 20 degrees when a cylinder completes a cycle.

A screw conveyor arrangement is configured to convey a material, for example a food powder, in a processing plant. The screw conveyor arrangement comprises a casing with an internal channel, and a helical screw in the channel. A drive unit is releasably connected to a first portion of the casing to engage the helical screw. A support unit is attached to the casing and the drive unit to define a pivoting movement of the drive unit away from the first portion when the drive unit has been released from the casing. The support unit facilitates handling of the drive unit during maintenance and service, for example cleaning, and allows the drive unit to be swung away to provide access to the helical screw and the channel. The support unit may be provided for attachment to existing screw conveyors.

A screw conveyor arrangement is configured to convey a material, for example a food powder, in a processing plant. The screw conveyor arrangement comprises a casing with an internal channel, and a helical screw in the channel. A drive unit is releasably connected to a first portion of the casing to engage the helical screw. A support unit is attached to the casing and the drive unit to define a pivoting movement of the drive unit away from the first portion when the drive unit has been released from the casing. The support unit facilitates handling of the drive unit during maintenance and service, for example cleaning, and allows the drive unit to be swung away to provide access to the helical screw and the channel. The support unit may be provided for attachment to existing screw conveyors.

SELF-PROPELLED, MULTI-PURPOSE TRANSFER DEVICE, as described in the report and in the attached illustrations, is an equipment used in general agriculture and livestock activities to transfer products to another suitable equipment or place, containing the additional function of spreading products in the soil, therefore called self-propelled. The equipment presents as a differential the fact that it brings together multiple functions such as the possibility of transferring and spreading products in the field or in other applications, such as in sandpits.

SELF-PROPELLED, MULTI-PURPOSE TRANSFER DEVICE, as described in the report and in the attached illustrations, is an equipment used in general agriculture and livestock activities to transfer products to another suitable equipment or place, containing the additional function of spreading products in the soil, therefore called self-propelled. The equipment presents as a differential the fact that it brings together multiple functions such as the possibility of transferring and spreading products in the field or in other applications, such as in sandpits.

A cantilevered screw assembly comprising a speed reducer to facilitate rotation of a screw. The speed reducer may be connected to a torque arm that is adapted to control or limit undesired movement (e.g., wobbling, orbital movement, etc.) of the screw during operation. In effect, one exemplary embodiment of a speed reducer may essentially float on a pivoting torque arm (and the shaft of the screw) such that the torque arm is adapted to limit undesired movement of the speed reducer and screw. As a result, an exemplary embodiment may eliminate the need for alternative drive systems or other means to control undesired movement of the screw. An exemplary embodiment may be particularly useful for light or infrequent duty or other small-scale applications to reduce the likelihood of a breakage of a screw or another portion of a cantilevered screw assembly (e.g., the bearing(s) or bearing assembly, the gears, etc.).

A cantilevered screw assembly comprising a speed reducer to facilitate rotation of a screw. The speed reducer may be connected to a torque arm that is adapted to control or limit undesired movement (e.g., wobbling, orbital movement, etc.) of the screw during operation. In effect, one exemplary embodiment of a speed reducer may essentially float on a pivoting torque arm (and the shaft of the screw) such that the torque arm is adapted to limit undesired movement of the speed reducer and screw. As a result, an exemplary embodiment may eliminate the need for alternative drive systems or other means to control undesired movement of the screw. An exemplary embodiment may be particularly useful for light or infrequent duty or other small-scale applications to reduce the likelihood of a breakage of a screw or another portion of a cantilevered screw assembly (e.g., the bearing(s) or bearing assembly, the gears, etc.).

A coffee bean conveyance device includes a conveying unit, a coffee bean holding unit and a driving mechanism. The conveying unit is a hollow member detachably assembled to the coffee bean holding unit, such that the coffee bean holding unit and the conveying unit are internally communicable with each other. The driving mechanism is eccentrically connected to the conveying unit, such that axes of the conveying unit and driving mechanism are parallelly spaced from each other. When the driving mechanism operates, coffee beans in the coffee bean holding unit are caused to stably move into the conveying unit and a constant weight or quantity of coffee beans is continuously fed to a coffee bean grinder or a coffee bean dispenser disposed below an outlet of the conveying unit. With these arrangements, the feeding of irregular weight or quantity of coffee beans to the coffee bean grinder or dispenser is avoided.

A coffee bean conveyance device includes a conveying unit, a coffee bean holding unit and a driving mechanism. The conveying unit is a hollow member detachably assembled to the coffee bean holding unit, such that the coffee bean holding unit and the conveying unit are internally communicable with each other. The driving mechanism is eccentrically connected to the conveying unit, such that axes of the conveying unit and driving mechanism are parallelly spaced from each other. When the driving mechanism operates, coffee beans in the coffee bean holding unit are caused to stably move into the conveying unit and a constant weight or quantity of coffee beans is continuously fed to a coffee bean grinder or a coffee bean dispenser disposed below an outlet of the conveying unit. With these arrangements, the feeding of irregular weight or quantity of coffee beans to the coffee bean grinder or dispenser is avoided.

The present disclosure relates to a drive bar apparatus for use in a helical conveyor system. In one embodiment, the drive bar apparatus includes at least one tapered drive bar configured to be mounted to a central drum of the helical conveyor system. Each of the at least one tapered drive bars includes a tapered tip having a conical outer surface for urging protrusions extending from conveyor belting to be engaged by the central drum to a first side or a second side of the at least one tapered drive bar. Each of the at least one tapered drive bars further includes a bar portion extending from the tapered tip and having a varying height which increases from the tapered tip to enable the bar portion to progressively increase engagement with the protrusions as the conveyor belting moves up the central drum.