Apparatus for producing and collecting a liquid extract and a dry by-product from a mash

An apparatus for producing and collecting a liquid extract and a dry by-product from a mash of material, comprising:

• an extraction chamber, the chamber including a material inlet opening for filling the chamber with the mash and a liquid outlet opening for collecting the liquid extract, means for compressing the mash within the extraction chamber to extract the liquid and form a pressed dry by-product therefrom, a by-product outlet opening, the compressing means including a screw conveyor axially positioned within the extraction chamber, means for rotating the screw conveyor to move fibrous material from the filler opening toward the by-product outlet opening of the extraction chamber, an index wheel, means for rotatably mounting the wheel to the extraction chamber in proximity to the by-product outlet opening to collect the dry by-product, the index wheel including a plurality of work stations, each work station of the index wheel including a concavity opening toward the by-product outlet opening of the chamber, the wheel including a cycle of rotation during which each concavity is positioned in corresponding relationship to the by-product outlet opening of the chamber and the mash is compressed into the concavity by rotation of the screw conveyor within the chamber, and means for expelling the by-product from the index wheel, the expelling means including a plunger axially movable within each concavity, each plunger including a head located within the concavity, a push rod connected to each head and extending axially into the concavity, each push rod providing a cam follower, and plunger actuator means for moving the plunger to expell the compressed by-product, the plunger actuator means including a cam surface, the cam follower of each push rod engaging and following the cam surface when the wheel is rotated to axially move the head of the plunger within the concavity and expel the dry by-product.