US 12,004,536 B2
Foodstuff processing apparatus
Christie Lagally, Seattle, WA (US); Julia O'Donnell, Seattle, WA (US); and Chloe Grubb, Seattle, WA (US)
Assigned to Seattle Food Tech, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed by Seattle Food Tech, Inc., Seattle, WA (US)
Filed on Aug. 4, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/880,927.
Application 17/880,927 is a continuation of application No. 17/518,568, filed on Nov. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,432,564.
Application 17/518,568 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/518,499, filed on Nov. 3, 2021, granted, now 11,432,565.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/130,369, filed on Dec. 23, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0369667 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A23J 3/00 (2006.01); A23J 3/14 (2006.01); A23J 3/22 (2006.01); A23L 27/00 (2016.01); A23L 29/212 (2016.01); B01F 23/50 (2022.01); B01F 23/53 (2022.01); B01F 27/112 (2022.01); B01F 27/17 (2022.01); B01F 27/70 (2022.01); B01F 31/445 (2022.01); B01F 35/92 (2022.01); B01F 35/90 (2022.01); B01F 101/06 (2022.01)
CPC A23J 3/227 (2013.01) [A23J 3/14 (2013.01); A23L 27/88 (2016.08); A23L 29/212 (2016.08); B01F 23/511 (2022.01); B01F 23/53 (2022.01); B01F 23/59 (2022.01); B01F 27/112 (2022.01); B01F 27/17 (2022.01); B01F 27/70 (2022.01); B01F 31/445 (2022.01); B01F 35/92 (2022.01); A23V 2002/00 (2013.01); B01F 23/565 (2022.01); B01F 2035/98 (2022.01); B01F 2101/06 (2022.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus configured to process foodstuff materials, the apparatus comprising:
an exterior tube having a foodstuff inlet and an outlet, the exterior tube defining a longitudinal axis along its center, wherein the exterior tube is configured to facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials along a material passage from the foodstuff inlet to the outlet,
a single inner shaft located within the exterior tube and extending along the longitudinal axis at the center of the exterior tube, the inner shaft combining with the exterior tube to define the material passage, wherein the inner shaft is configured to be rotationally driven, and
multiple differently shaped protrusions coupled to and extending from the inner shaft, wherein the multiple differently shaped protrusions include one or more unfilled hoops, unfilled hooks, and unfilled paddles that are configured to process the foodstuff materials when the inner shaft is rotationally driven.