An apparatus can include an outer housing, a first processing shaft and a second processing shaft. The outer housing can include first, second, and third inlet regions and an outlet. Both processing shafts can be proximate and parallel to each other extending through the outer housing and can be configured to rotate within the outer housing to mix and convey foodstuff materials from the first, second, and third inlet regions to the outlet. The first processing shaft can have a first fluted infeed portion proximate the first inlet region and a first mixing portion extending from the third inlet region to the outlet. The second processing shaft can have a second fluted infeed portion proximate the second inlet region and a second mixing portion extending from the third inlet region to the outlet. At least a portion of the first and second processing shafts can be asymmetric.

The invention relates to a rotary shaft (23) for processing foodstuffs, wherein the rotary shaft (23) has a rotation axis and the rotary shaft comprises at least one tool (11). The at least one tool (11) extends along the rotation axis. The tool (11) further has an airfoil profile such that the tool comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge are different.

A zero contact double screw and ergonomic double screw housing combination for foodstuff mixers and portioning devices. The system includes a multi-prong support segment at the discharge end of the double screw and double screw housing which connects and secures the double screw to the double screw housing to support and space the double screw apart from the surrounding double screw housing in a configuration which eliminates contact between the outer surface of the double screw and the inner surface of the double screw housing. The housing has an exterior portion with scooped out portions providing for substantially reduced thickness, volume, and mass, while remaining configured to provide durability and longevity of use similar to that of a screw housing that is substantially fully cylindrical throughout its diameter.

A zero contact double screw and ergonomic double screw housing combination for foodstuff mixers and portioning devices. The system includes a multi-prong support segment at the discharge end of the double screw and double screw housing which connects and secures the double screw to the double screw housing to support and space the double screw apart from the surrounding double screw housing in a configuration which eliminates contact between the outer surface of the double screw and the inner surface of the double screw housing. The housing has an exterior portion with scooped out portions providing for substantially reduced thickness, volume, and mass, while remaining configured to provide durability and longevity of use similar to that of a screw housing that is substantially fully cylindrical throughout its diameter.

A kneading machine for food doughs includes a kneading machine frame with a lower portion and a head portion attached to the lower portion. A kneading bowl can be arranged on the lower portion, a drive to rotate the kneading bowl is provided, and a kneading tool and a drive to drive the kneading tool are held on the head portion. Safety-relevant components of the kneading machine are surrounded by a housing and a major portion of the kneading machine frame is exposed. The exposed kneading machine frame includes struts between which respective free spaces are defined. The kneading machine includes a removable cover which covers at least a major portion of the free spaces defined by the exposed kneading machine frame towards an outside. The cover is fastened to the kneading machine frame and/or the housing by connections which can be released without tools.

A direct drive batch mixing system including a vessel having an interior region for receiving a batch, a direct drive electric motor attached to at least one rigid point, a multi-axis load cell located between the motor and the rigid point to provide signals representing forces and moments in multiple axes, and an impeller located within the interior region of the vessel and engaged with the motor such that the motor rotates the impeller. Forces and loads on the impeller are directly supported by the motor and measured by the multi-axis load cell. In some embodiments, a programmable controller generates control signals that control the motor's speed (RPM), torque and direction of rotation, and receives feedback signals for adjusting the motor's speed and/or torque and/or direction of rotation.

There are provided a straining mechanism and a screw extruder including the straining mechanism, which can minimize material passing resistance in a breaker plate even, in a large-sized apparatus having high throughput, and which can improve the throughput by suppressing load power of the apparatus and heat generation of a material. For this purpose, a backup plate having an opening rate higher than an opening rate of a breaker plate and supporting the breaker plate is installed on a rear surface side of the breaker plate supporting a screen mesh.

There are provided a straining mechanism and a screw extruder including the straining mechanism, which can minimize material passing resistance in a breaker plate even, in a large-sized apparatus having high throughput, and which can improve the throughput by suppressing load power of the apparatus and heat generation of a material. For this purpose, a backup plate having an opening rate higher than an opening rate of a breaker plate and supporting the breaker plate is installed on a rear surface side of the breaker plate supporting a screen mesh.

The invention relates to a heatable mixer (1) for composite products based on thermoplastic material(s), having an elongated structure defining a longitudinal processing path between an inlet and an outlet and comprising a heated trough (3) wherein two mutually interpenetrating parallel twin screws (4 and 4) are mounted, forming member(s) for dimensionally reducing, heating and moving the products to be treated which are inserted at the inlet, each screw (4, 4′) comprising a heated and driven support shaft (5) arranged in the travelling direction (DT). Mixer (1) characterised in that the thread (4″) of each screw (4, 4) is an interrupted or discontinuous thread and comprises, over at least a major portion of the length of the relevant screw (4, 4′), a plurality of first blades (6) in the form of flat and smooth plates which are separated from each other axially and radially and all arranged according to a constant.

The invention relates to a heatable mixer (1) for composite products based on thermoplastic material(s), having an elongated structure defining a longitudinal processing path between an inlet and an outlet and comprising a heated trough (3) wherein two mutually interpenetrating parallel twin screws (4 and 4) are mounted, forming member(s) for dimensionally reducing, heating and moving the products to be treated which are inserted at the inlet, each screw (4, 4′) comprising a heated and driven support shaft (5) arranged in the travelling direction (DT). Mixer (1) characterised in that the thread (4″) of each screw (4, 4) is an interrupted or discontinuous thread and comprises, over at least a major portion of the length of the relevant screw (4, 4′), a plurality of first blades (6) in the form of flat and smooth plates which are separated from each other axially and radially and all arranged according to a constant.