An apparatus and method for breaking up clumps of grain encountered during the emptying of a grain bin includes a beater assembly having a shaft with a plurality of knives extending radially therefrom. The beater assembly is adapted to be attached to or unattached from an end of a sweep auger. The beater assembly is positioned to overlay a gated opening in the floor of the grain bin through which grain flows during unloading thereof. The same motor used to drive the bin's discharge auger located below the bins floor also is made to drive the beater assembly located above the floor by linking the shaft of the discharge auger through a pair of right angle gear boxes to the shaft of the beater assembly.

An apparatus and method for breaking up clumps of grain encountered during the emptying of a grain bin includes a beater assembly having a shaft with a plurality of knives extending radially therefrom. The beater assembly is adapted to be attached to or unattached from an end of a sweep auger. The beater assembly is positioned to overlay a gated opening in the floor of the grain bin through which grain flows during unloading thereof. The same motor used to drive the bin's discharge auger located below the bins floor also is made to drive the beater assembly located above the floor by linking the shaft of the discharge auger through a pair of right angle gear boxes to the shaft of the beater assembly.

An apparatus and method for breaking up clumps of grain encountered during the emptying of a grain bin includes a beater assembly having a shaft with a plurality of knives extending radially therefrom. The beater assembly is adapted to be attached to or unattached from an end of a sweep auger. The beater assembly is positioned to overlay a gated opening in the floor of the grain bin through which grain flows during unloading thereof. The same motor used to drive the bin's discharge auger located below the bins floor also is made to drive the beater assembly located above the floor by linking the shaft of the discharge auger through a pair of right angle gear boxes to the shaft of the beater assembly.

An apparatus and method for breaking up clumps of grain encountered during the emptying of a grain bin includes a beater assembly having a shaft with a plurality of knives extending radially therefrom. The beater assembly is adapted to be attached to or unattached from an end of a sweep auger. The beater assembly is positioned to overlay a gated opening in the floor of the grain bin through which grain flows during unloading thereof. The same motor used to drive the bin's discharge auger located below the bins floor also is made to drive the beater assembly located above the floor by linking the shaft of the discharge auger through a pair of right angle gear boxes to the shaft of the beater assembly.

A bin sweep auger unplugging system for unplugging a central unloading sump in a storage bin. The bin sweep auger unplugging system generally includes an auger having a driven shaft with auger fighting, a drive unit having a drive shaft, and a clutch connected between the drive shaft and the driven shaft. The clutch selectively transfers the rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft of the auger. The drive shaft includes a clump breakup component that breaks up the clump of granular material above the unloading sump when the drive shaft is rotated. The clutch is disengaged when breaking up a clump of granular material to prevent the rotation of the auger.

A bin sweep auger unplugging system for unplugging a central unloading sump in a storage bin. The bin sweep auger unplugging system generally includes an auger having a driven shaft with auger flighting, a drive unit having a drive shaft, and a clutch connected between the drive shaft and the driven shaft. The clutch selectively transfers the rotation of the drive shaft to the driven shaft of the auger. The drive shaft includes a clump breakup component that breaks up the clump of granular material above the unloading sump when the drive shaft is rotated. The clutch is disengaged when breaking up a clump of granular material to prevent the rotation of the auger.

An extruder (100) for use in a dispenser (1) of a loose product (30) for the preparation of beverages, comprising: a housing (110), defining a product inlet (112), a product outlet (114), and a bore (116) that interconnects the product inlet and the product outlet; a screw feeder (120) including a screw blade (124) that is both rotatably and translatably received in the bore (116), such that it is axially movable along the longitudinal axis (/) between a first position and a second position; and a first sealing device (126b) that is configured to releasably fluidtightly seal a portion of the bore (116) interconnecting the product inlet (112) and the product outlet (114) in dependence of the axial position of the screw blade (124).

An extruder (100) for use in a dispenser (1) of a loose product (30) for the preparation of beverages, comprising: a housing (110), defining a product inlet (112), a product outlet (114), and a bore (116) that interconnects the product inlet and the product outlet; a screw feeder (120) including a screw blade (124) that is both rotatably and translatably received in the bore (116), such that it is axially movable along the longitudinal axis (/) between a first position and a second position; and a first sealing device (126b) that is configured to releasably fluidtightly seal a portion of the bore (116) interconnecting the product inlet (112) and the product outlet (114) in dependence of the axial position of the screw blade (124).