I saw this while I was bushwacking in Colorado. This machine is located in some old ranch country up in the woods. I cannot figure it out. I am offering a free Patrol part to whomever identifies it.
My take is that the shaft with the multi-start spiral gear is a drive shaft. It would have mated to another gear. The device below is funnel shaped and open on the bottom. It appears to be missing a hinged cap on top. The hing mechanism suggests to me that product was inserted into the device and then ejected to the funnel. A grain grinder perhaps. Probably hand driven as there is no power in this area.