Importance

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Abstract

A flour sifter for separating doughballs from fine particulate matter in a breading mixture, comprises a hopper for receiving the breading mixture. The lower portion of the hopper includes a sifting screen along most of the longitudinal length that is sized to allow only the fine particulate matter to pass therethrough. The hopper may be an insert for a sifter table that is readily removably mounted within a flour sifter enclosure. The hopper insert is mounted to accommodate a breading lug above the insert. A slot at one end of the hopper is large enough for the doughballs to pass therethrough. The enclosure is provided with mounting flanges to support another breading lug below the hopper insert to receive the sifted fine particulate matter. A doughball ejector chute is associated with the slot of the hopper insert to direct the doughballs from the hopper insert to a doughball collector pan. The hopper further includes an auger brush having a helical pattern of bristles along the length of the brush. The auger brush is readily removably rotationally mounted within the hopper such that said ends of the bristles rotate at least adjacent to the sifting screen. A motor and coupling mechanism rotate the auger brush within the hopper, so that as the auger brush rotates, the helical pattern of bristles urges the doughballs toward the slot in the lower portion, while the fine particulate matter of the breading mixture falls through the sifting screen.

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First Claim