Bidirectional fluted auger

A fluted conveyance, comprising:

• a cylinder having an outer surface, a front end, a back end, and a longitudinal rotational axis, the cylinder being configured to rotate in clockwise and counterclockwise directions;
• a plurality of clockwise-progressing flute features coupled to the outer surface of the cylinder, wherein the plurality of clockwise-progressing flute features convey a subject material toward the back end of the cylinder at a first flow rate when the cylinder is rotated clockwise and convey the subject material toward the front end of the cylinder at a second flow rate when the cylinder is rotated counterclockwise;
• and
• a plurality of counterclockwise-progressing flute features coupled to the outer surface of the cylinder, wherein the plurality of counterclockwise-progressing flute features convey the subject material toward the back end of the cylinder at a third flow rate when the cylinder is rotated counterclockwise and convey the subject material toward the front end of the cylinder at a fourth flow rate when the cylinder is rotated clockwise,
• and wherein the first flow rate is greater than the fourth flow rate to result in an overall clockwise positive flow rate of the subject material toward the back end of the cylinder when the cylinder is rotated clockwise, and the third flow rate is greater than the second flow rate to result in an overall counterclockwise positive flow rate of the subject material toward the back end of the cylinder when the cylinder is rotated counterclockwise.

A method of conveying foodstuff materials, the method comprising:

• providing a first foodstuff material into an inlet of a foodstuff conveying device, the foodstuff conveying device having the inlet, an outlet, and a rotating conveyor;
• inputting a second foodstuff material into the inlet;
• rotating clockwise the rotating conveyor, wherein the rotating clockwise results in the first and second foodstuff materials being conveyed from the inlet to the outlet;
• rotating counterclockwise the rotating conveyor, wherein the rotating counterclockwise results in the first and second foodstuff materials being conveyed from the inlet to the outlet;
• and
• collecting the first and second foodstuff materials at the outlet.