An element for a counter-rotating twin screw processor having a pair of screw shafts is disclosed. The element comprises an axial bore for mounting on a screw shaft. The element further comprises multiple lobes and defines a first outer diameter (FOD), a second outer diameter (SOD), a first inner diameter (FID) and a second inner diameter (SID). The FOD is larger than the SOD, the FID is larger than the SID, and a radial center distance a between the screw shafts is defined by (FOD+SID)/2. At least one lobe has a cross sectional profile in the radial plane defining a first segment extending from the FOD to the FID and a second segment extending from the FOD to the SID, or the first segment extending from the SOD to the FID and the second segment extending from the SOD to the SID.

Coned augers for bulk mixers are described. The coned augers comprise first end and second end an auger post having a first end opposite a second end; fighting extending along and about the auger post, the pitch oriented to move bulk material generally from the first end toward the second end during operation of the auger; a coned section along the auger post, the coned section comprising a first cone protruding about the periphery of the auger post, the first cone having a tapered end opposite a wide end. Mixers comprising the coned augers are also described.

Coned augers for bulk mixers are described. The coned augers comprise first end and second end an auger post having a first end opposite a second end; fighting extending along and about the auger post, the pitch oriented to move bulk material generally from the first end toward the second end during operation of the auger; a coned section along the auger post, the coned section comprising a first cone protruding about the periphery of the auger post, the first cone having a tapered end opposite a wide end. Mixers comprising the coned augers are also described.

An electrode slurry manufacturing apparatus includes a material loading unit, a feeder unit, and a multi-screw kneader. The material loading unit puts a plurality of types of electrode materials collectively into the feeder unit. The feeder unit includes an inlet opening, an agitation chamber, a discharge opening, a feeding blade, and a spiral shaped blade. Into the inlet opening, the electrode materials are loaded from the material loading unit. The electrode materials are agitated in the agitation chamber. The discharge opening is disposed in a bottom part of the agitation chamber. The feeding blade is mounted to a shaft disposed on the bottom part of the agitation chamber. The feeding blade feeds the electrode materials to the discharge opening. The spiral shaped blade is disposed above the feeding blade and is mounted to the shaft.

Apparatus and methods for food production including a food preconditioner (228) operable to heat and partially pre-cook food ingredients, and a twin screw extruder (20) operable to further cook the preconditioned ingredients to create final food products. The extruder (20) includes a pair of hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) having elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) is also of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes forward, reverse pitch sections (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the extruders (20), without adding additional moisture.

Apparatus and methods for food production including a food preconditioner (228) operable to heat and partially pre-cook food ingredients, and a twin screw extruder (20) operable to further cook the preconditioned ingredients to create final food products. The extruder (20) includes a pair of hollow core extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) having elongated hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192) equipped with helical fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) along the lengths thereof. The fighting (132, 134, 194) is also of hollow construction which communicates with the hollow core shafts (54, 128, 130, 192). The fighting (56, 132, 134, 194) also includes forward, reverse pitch sections (64, 162, 216). The extrusion screws (50, 52, 124, 126, 190) are designed to impart high levels of thermal energy into materials being processed in the extruders (20), without adding additional moisture.

A twin-screw extruder comprises: a barrel having a space formed therein; a left screw and a right screw received in the space; and a drive mechanism for rotating the left screw and right screw, wherein the left screw comprises a left fiberization screw, the right screw comprises a right fiberization screw, wherein a compression space is formed between the left fiberization screw and the right fiberization screw in which the powder is compressed, wherein each of the left fiberization screw and the right fiberization screw includes: a hollow portion connected to a shaft; and a screw portion formed on an outer circumference of the hollow portion, and wherein the screw portion has a flight groove recessed therein through which the powder passes axially.

A twin-screw extruder comprises: a barrel having a space formed therein; a left screw and a right screw received in the space; and a drive mechanism for rotating the left screw and right screw, wherein the left screw comprises a left fiberization screw, the right screw comprises a right fiberization screw, wherein a compression space is formed between the left fiberization screw and the right fiberization screw in which the powder is compressed, wherein each of the left fiberization screw and the right fiberization screw includes: a hollow portion connected to a shaft; and a screw portion formed on an outer circumference of the hollow portion, and wherein the screw portion has a flight groove recessed therein through which the powder passes axially.

An extruder includes: a supply module; a mixing module to form an electrode slurry by mixing an active material, a binder, and a conductive material from the supply module; a discharge module to discharge the electrode slurry; and a sensor to measure a characteristic value of the electrode slurry. The mixing module includes a first screw and a second screw, the first screw and the second screw including screw threads on an outer circumference thereof to rotate to engage with each other; a barrel including a first barrel and a second barrel accommodating the first screw and the second screw, respectively, and facing each other to form a hole through which the electrode slurry is transmitted; a first gap adjustment module to adjust a gap between the first barrel and the second barrel; and a control module to control the first gap adjustment module based on the measured characteristic value.

An extruder includes: a supply module; a mixing module to form an electrode slurry by mixing an active material, a binder, and a conductive material from the supply module; a discharge module to discharge the electrode slurry; and a sensor to measure a characteristic value of the electrode slurry. The mixing module includes a first screw and a second screw, the first screw and the second screw including screw threads on an outer circumference thereof to rotate to engage with each other; a barrel including a first barrel and a second barrel accommodating the first screw and the second screw, respectively, and facing each other to form a hole through which the electrode slurry is transmitted; a first gap adjustment module to adjust a gap between the first barrel and the second barrel; and a control module to control the first gap adjustment module based on the measured characteristic value.