Variable rate food ingredient delivery apparatus

An apparatus for uniformly distributing a powdered or granular food product ingredient along a distribution zone of substantial length at a controlled variable rate comprising:

• a hopper for holding a supply of said ingredient to be distributed;
• a rotatable cylindrical tube extending from said hopper and communicating with the interior thereof, said tube having one or more openings through which said ingredient can pass arranged longitudinally therealong and extending through said distribution zone;
• a rotatable sleeve surrounding said tube having apertures therein, said apertures being alignable with said openings;
• means for locking said tube and said sleeve in selected rotational positions, whereby the effective size and the angular positions of said openings are adjustable;
• an auger disposed within said tube and said hopper to transport said ingredient from said hopper along said tube for distribution through said openings at a substantially uniform rate throughout said distribution zone, said auger including a central body having a relatively small diameter portion which is disposed entirely within said tube extending along said distribution zone and not extending into said hopper, said auger further comprising a land extending around said central body and defining a generally helical flute to serve as an ingredient flow path, said flute having a relatively small cross-sectional area along said large diameter portion of said central body and a relatively large cross-sectional area along said small diameter portion of said central body;
• and
• drive means for rotating said auger at a variable and adjustable speed to cause said ingredient to move longitudinally along said tube at a selected rate.

An apparatus for uniformly distributing a powdered or granular food product ingredient along a distribution zone of substantial length at a controlled variable rate comprising:

• a hopper for holding a supply of said ingredient to be distributed;
• a rotatable cylindrical tube extending from said hopper and communicating with the interior thereof, said tube having a plurality of circumferentially pointed, non-circular openings through which said ingredient can pass arranged longitudinally therealong and extending throughout said distribution zone;
• a rotatable sleeve surrounding said tube having apertures being alignable with said openings;
• means for locking said tube and said sleeve in selected rotational positions, whereby the effective size and the angular positions of said openings are adjustable;
• an auger disposed within said tube and said hopper to transport said ingredient along said tube for distribution through said openings at a substantially uniform rate throughout said distribution zone, said auger including a central body having a relatively large diameter portion which extends into said hopper and a relatively small diameter portion which is disposed entirely within said tube extending along said distribution zone and not extending into said hopper, said auger further comprising a land extending along and around said central body and defining a generally helical flute to serve as an ingredient flow path, said flute having a relatively small cross-sectional area along said large diameter portion of said central body and a relatively large cross-sectional area long said small diameter portion of said central body;
• a cylindrical chamber extending from said hopper away from said tube and in alignment therewith, said auger extending into said chamber;
• a seal disposed within said chamber and surrounding said auger at an end thereof farthest from said tube, whereby said auger tends to move said ingredient away from said seal;
• a shield disposed within said hopper, spaced from said tube and above said auger;
• and
• drive means for rotating said auger at a variable and adjustable speed to cause said ingredient to move longitudinally along said tube at a selected rate.