Unitary screw conveyor apparatus

A unitary screw conveyor apparatus including an axial member extending a selected length, and a flight member which helically encircles more than 360.degree. of said axial member, said apparatus comprising:

• a multiplicity of substantially identical integrally molded plastic modules, each module including a substantially rigid and straight elongated axial member extending between a pair of ends and having an aperture of substantially uniform non-circular cross-section extending coaxially therethrough, each module further including a flight member which helically encircles not more than 360.degree. of said axial member and extends between of ends, at least one end of any one of said multiplicity of modules formed to cooperate with at least one end of an adjacent other one of said multiplicity of modules;
• said multiplicity of modules being aligned coaxially such that, at least one end of said elongated axial member of each module axially confronts one end of said elongated axial member of an adjacent module so that the confronting ends of adjacent modules include areas in contact with each other around substantially the entire perimeter of said aperture, and such that said aperture through each of said multiplicity of modules is in register with the aperture of an adjacent module;
• said areas in contact with each other around the perimeter of said aperture of each of said confronting ends of said adjacent modules being permanently bonded to each other to form a unitary screw conveyor having a substantially rigid and straight elongated axial member defining an elongated aperture of a substantially uniform non-circular cross-section extending the length thereof and including a multiplicity of flight members which cumulatively encircle more than 360.degree. of said axial member and substantially extend the length of said joined modules;
• a rigid and substantially straight drive shaft having a non-circular cross-section suitable for being received by and cooperating with said cross-section of said aperture of said modules in a non-rotatable manner, and said drive shaft extending axially through the in-register apertures of said aligned and bonded multiplicity of modules such that rotation of said drive shaft causes rotation of said unitary screw conveyor;
• means for retaining the multiplicity of permanently bonded modules on said drive shaft without bonding said modules to said drive shaft such that axial movement between said multiplicity of bonded modules and said drive shaft is limited;
• and
• means for rotatably driving said drive shaft.