FLEXIBLE SCREW AND SCRAPER ARRANGEMENT FOR A CONTACT FRYING APPARATUS

摘要

The invention concerns an apparatus for stir-frying discrete pieces or particles of one or more foodstuffs, the apparatus comprising - a heated surface in the form of the interior surface of a substantially circular cylindrical body (14) having a first axis, - stirring means (4) comprising an axle having a second axis extending generally parallel to said first axis and one or more screw elements (5) arranged on said axle for providing a generally helical surface with a generally helical edge (5a), thereby forming a screw arranged for rotation at least partly within and in close proximity to said heated surface such that rotation of said screw transfers said discrete pieces along said cylindrical body substantially parallel to said first axis such that said screw and said heated surface form a screw conveyor, and - scraping elements (27) arranged on said helical edge for scraping said heated surface when said screw rotates so as to remove any layer of material originating from the foodstuffs and adhering to said heated surface, wherein said screw comprises one or more resiliently deformable elements (6a) adapted and arranged for allowing said helical edge with said scraping elements to move in a direction at right angles to said first axis such that if said cylindrical body because of thermal deformation deviates from extending parallel to said first axis, said scraping elements will continue to scrape substantially the entire heated surface when said screw rotates.