Worm conveyors

Screw conveyors, also called worm conveyors, are used for materials that are free flowing. The basic principle of the screw conveyor has been known since the time of Archimedes. The modem conveyor consists of a helical screw rotating in a U-shaped trough. They can be used horizontally or, with some loss of capacity, at an incline to lift materials. Screw conveyors are less efficient than belt conveyors, due to the friction between the solids and the flights of the screw and the trough, but are cheaper and easier to maintain. They are used to convey solids over short distances, and when some elevation (lift) is required. They can also be used for delivering a metered flow of solids. 

The butter granules together with the added solutions are kneaded by rotating the vat (batch process) or by worm conveyors (continuous process). In big continuous equipment, the kneader consists of two sections. The first removes excess water at a low rotational speed, whereas the second section finely disperses the serum, added solutions and some air at a higher rotation. Perforated plates and revolving knives promote this dispersion. 

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