Pasta, pastry, cookie, and hors d'oeuvre maker

• US 5,324,185 A
• Filed: 05/11/1993
• Issued: 06/28/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ronco Holdings Inc. (Ronco Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Popeil Pasta Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Popeil, Ronald M., Backus, Alan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHANH P
• Application Number:
  US08/059,338
• Time in Patent Office: 413 Days
• Field of Search: 425/203, 425/209, 425/311, 425/308, 425/464, 425/378.1, 425/315, 425/404, 425/403.1, 425/377, 425/205, 425/72.1, 426/516, 426/518, 426/503, 426/504, 366/79, 366/80, 366/90, 366/324
• US Class Current: 425/72.1
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 1/06 with horizontally-mounted mixing or kneading tools; Worm or screw mixers
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 1/14 Structural elements of mixing or kneading machines; Parts; Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 1/144 Discharge mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 1/149 Receptacles, e.g. provided with means for carrying or guiding fluids, e.g. coolants
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 11/20 with worms
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 3/04 Dough-extruding machines ; Hoppers with moving elements, e.g. rollers or belts as wall elements for drawing the dough

Abstract

A device to mix and extrude various ingredients including pastas, pastries, baked goods, hors d'"'"'oeuvres, and cookies. The device includes novel measuring, mixing and extrusion assembly including: an automatic measuring cup; a subassembly to continuously mix and extrude ingredients without intervening cleanings; mixing and extrusion feed subassembly for handling different consistencies of ingredients; an integrated automatic cutter; motor cooling and extruded ingredient drying device; and various safety devices.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mixing and extruding dough comprising

a) a first stepped L-shaped housing having a rear vertical portion and a forward horizontal portion having side-by-side spaces with a grill defined in its lower forward face extending across the side-by-side spaces;

b) a reversible motor mounted in one of the spaces, a fan connected to be driven by the motor for moving air through separate portions of the grill in opposite directions of flow;

c) a transmission located in the rear vertical portion connecting an output of the motor with a horizontal connection point in the rear vertical portion spaced above the forward horizontal portion;

d) a mixing bin mounted on the forward horizontal portion and engaged with the rear vertical portion;

e) an extrusion chamber extending horizontally mounted in the mixing bin partially contained in the mixing bin and partially protruding out the front thereof;

the portion of the extrusion chamber contained within the mixing bin having a top opening and bottom opening diametrically spaced, the portion of the extrusion chamber projecting out of the front having an open end, an extrusion die mounted on the open end;

f) a mixing-extrusion shaft horizontally mounted in said mixing bin having one end drivingly connected with the transmission at the horizontal connection point and having its other end received in the extrusion chamber and formed as an extrusion auger for extruding material out the die for one direction of rotation of the shaft and moving material into the mixing bin via the bottom opening for the other direction of rotation of the shaft; and

g) mixing and directing blades spatially mounted on the mixing-extrusion shaft portion contained with the mixing bin for mixing material in the mixing bin and directing same into the extrusion chamber via the top opening.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mixing bin has a cylindrical bottom and ramp like projections protrude from the bottom inner surface of the mixing bin.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mixing bin includes a top hinged lid whose upper surface is divided into two areas, one of which has a slanted surface penetrated by an array of slots.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a three position motor control switch is provided.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a cutter blade is mounted for pivotal movement such that the cutter blade sweeps the exterior face of the extrusion die.