An improved feeder/conveyor includes a flexible rotating open helix screw inside a cylindrical sheathing. A motor drive is attached to the flexible rotating open helix screw above at a delivery end, and such provides the rotational speeds necessary to generate the centrifugal and lifting forces necessary. The improvements include a conical bullnose tip as a feeder that attaches to the flexible rotating open helix screw with a curved and tapered support feeder gusset. Such attachment mechanically supports and aligns the conical bullnose tip to the distal end of the flexible rotating open helix screw and a central turning axis. A nose opening in the conical bullnose tip allows either exit or entry of material freely to or from the supply bed, depending on the conveying conditions.

An improved feeder/conveyor includes a flexible rotating open helix screw inside a cylindrical sheathing. A motor drive is attached to the flexible rotating open helix screw above at a delivery end, and such provides the rotational speeds necessary to generate the centrifugal and lifting forces necessary. The improvements include a conical bullnose tip as a feeder that attaches to the flexible rotating open helix screw with a curved and tapered support feeder gusset. Such attachment mechanically supports and aligns the conical bullnose tip to the distal end of the flexible rotating open helix screw and a central turning axis. A nose opening in the conical bullnose tip allows either exit or entry of material freely to or from the supply bed, depending on the conveying conditions.

A transport device for conveying a flowable material, comprises a screw conveyor for collecting the fluid from a collecting zone and transporting the fluid to a destination zone. The screw conveyor comprises a spiral which is wound around a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and an outer casing which at least partly houses the spiral. The spiral has a plurality of turns. The outer casing has an inner surface facing respective head surfaces of at least some turns. Between two consecutive turns and the outer casing there is a compartment. The outer casing is made at least partly from a deformable polymeric material in such a way that the outer casing deforms radially and reversibly towards the outside when a solid particle of the flowable material conveyed by the spiral is interposed between a head surface of one turn and the inner surface of the outer casing, to allow the solid particle to be transferred from one compartment to a further compartment adjacent to said compartment passing between the head surface of the turn and the inner surface of the outer casing.

A transport device for conveying a flowable material, comprises a screw conveyor for collecting the fluid from a collecting zone and transporting the fluid to a destination zone. The screw conveyor comprises a spiral which is wound around a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis and an outer casing which at least partly houses the spiral. The spiral has a plurality of turns. The outer casing has an inner surface facing respective head surfaces of at least some turns. Between two consecutive turns and the outer casing there is a compartment. The outer casing is made at least partly from a deformable polymeric material in such a way that the outer casing deforms radially and reversibly towards the outside when a solid particle of the flowable material conveyed by the spiral is interposed between a head surface of one turn and the inner surface of the outer casing, to allow the solid particle to be transferred from one compartment to a further compartment adjacent to said compartment passing between the head surface of the turn and the inner surface of the outer casing.

An improved feeder/conveyor includes a flexible rotating open helix screw inside a cylindrical sheathing. A motor drive is attached to the flexible rotating open helix screw above at a delivery end, and such provides the rotational speeds necessary to generate the centrifugal and lifting forces necessary. The improvements include a conical bullnose tip as a feeder that attaches to the flexible rotating open helix screw with a curved and tapered support feeder gusset. Such attachment mechanically supports and aligns the conical bullnose tip to the distal end of the flexible rotating open helix screw and a central turning axis. A nose opening in the conical bullnose tip allows either exit or entry of material freely to or from the supply bed, depending on the conveying conditions.

An improved feeder/conveyor includes a flexible rotating open helix screw inside a cylindrical sheathing. A motor drive is attached to the flexible rotating open helix screw above at a delivery end, and such provides the rotational speeds necessary to generate the centrifugal and lifting forces necessary. The improvements include a conical bullnose tip as a feeder that attaches to the flexible rotating open helix screw with a curved and tapered support feeder gusset. Such attachment mechanically supports and aligns the conical bullnose tip to the distal end of the flexible rotating open helix screw and a central turning axis. A nose opening in the conical bullnose tip allows either exit or entry of material freely to or from the supply bed, depending on the conveying conditions.

A loose material measuring and dispensing system including a container and dispenser. The tea container serves to store the tea leaves or grounds in a storage bin prior to activation of the system. Upon activation, the dispenser measures and loads a selected amount of tea into a hopper for dispensing, such as into a waiting cup or a tea infuser. The amount of tea may be selected based upon user operation of one of a number of quantity indicating/selection buttons provided in a user interface. The container is a sealed canister, such as a bag or jug, which is preferably impermeable to light. Furthermore, the dispenser is able to operate to load a desired amount of tea (e.g. by weight), specified by the user, into the hopper. Once the desired amount of tea is loaded into the hopper, the tea may be dispensed, such as into a waiting cup or infuser below.

A loose material measuring and dispensing system including a container and dispenser. The tea container serves to store the tea leaves or grounds in a storage bin prior to activation of the system. Upon activation, the dispenser measures and loads a selected amount of tea into a hopper for dispensing, such as into a waiting cup or a tea infuser. The amount of tea may be selected based upon user operation of one of a number of quantity indicating/selection buttons provided in a user interface. The container is a sealed canister, such as a bag or jug, which is preferably impermeable to light. Furthermore, the dispenser is able to operate to load a desired amount of tea (e.g. by weight), specified by the user, into the hopper. Once the desired amount of tea is loaded into the hopper, the tea may be dispensed, such as into a waiting cup or infuser below.

Apparatus including a support; first tubular conduit of gas impermeable material having open and closed ends providing an axially disposed passageway with at least one radial outlet; a second tubular conduit of gas permeable material encompassing and spaced from such first tubular conduit, having closed ends, providing a first annular passageway communicating with the radial outlet; a third tubular conduit of gas impermeable material mounted on such support, encompassing and spaced from such second tubular conduit, providing a second annular passageway having open and closed ends and having an inlet at such closed end, a helical member mounted coaxially on such second tubular member, and a device for rotating the first tubular conduit and method using same wherein air under pressure travels from the axially disposed passageway, through the radial outlet into the first annular passageway and through the gas permeable material into the second annular passageway.

A device for metering granular or powered product having a meter housing, an auger housing positioned within the meter housing, the auger housing having an inlet opening for receiving the granular or powdered product, a rotatable spiral brush mounted within the auger housing, a first discharge outlet near one end of the auger housing for discharging granular or powdered product, and another opening near another end of the auger housing for discharging granular or powdered product not discharged through the first discharge opening. A method for metering granular or powdered product is also provided.