CA1144525A

CA1144525A - Dosing device for comminuted bulk material

Info

Publication number: CA1144525A
Application number: CA000345449A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Alfredo Cavalli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-10-22
Filing date: 1980-02-12
Publication date: 1983-04-12
Also published as: IT7922926V0

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A device for measuring an exact volume of comminuted bulk material, such as flour to be fed to an extruder for the produc-tion of pasta, comprises an open-topped vessel with a hinged attachment is a flat pan, of the same diameter as the vessel, with a coarse-mesh sieve at its bottom which breaks up lumps of the material during filling and levels the contents of the vessel upon being swung aside prior to emptying.

Description

SZS

Field of the Invention My present invention relates to a device for dosing comminuted bulk material, such as flour, which is to be fed to a recipient therefor, specifically to an extruder for the production of farinaceous food items such as spaghetti, noodles, macaroni or the like, referred to hereinafter as pasta.
Background of the Invention A person desiring to make pasta, particularly a house-holder, must be able to measure accurately the amount of flour to be mixed with a given volume of water and milk, and with a specified number of eggs,- in order to obtain a product of the proper consistency. Usually, the amount of flour is measured in one or more cupfuls, yet this manner of dosing is not very accurate unless the user carefully levels the contents of a filled cup at the brim. Flour, especially when slightly moist, also tends to form lur,lps which make dosing and mixing more difficult.
Objects of the Invention The general object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide a simple device facilitating the accurate dosing of flour or similar comminuted bulk material.
A more particular object is to provide a device of this character adapted to be used as a ~itchen utensil in a pri-vate household.
Summary of the Invention A dosing device according to my invention comprises an open-topped vessel and an extension therefor, that extension having the shape of a pan with an apertured bottom in the form of a coarse-mesh sieve whose outline, preferably circular, is tl~
same as that of the vessel rim. The pan is pcripherally articulated to the vessel for horizontally swinging between a working position, in which it closely overlies ~he top thereof, and a withdrawn position exposing that open top. In its working position, therefore, the vessel can be filled through the apertured bottom with concurrent breakup of any lumps formed by the comminuted material. When the pan is then swung out into its withdrawn position, it automatically levels the contents of the vessel at the brim.
Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other features of my invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a dosing device embodying my invention, shown immediately after a filling and leveling operation; and Fig. 2 is a perspectlve view showing the emptying of the device of Fig. 1 into a pasta-producing extruder.
Specific Description In Fig. 1 I have shown a cylindrical vessel 1, of roughly the size of a coffee cup, with a closed bottom and an open top. An extension 2 hingedly attached to that vessel has the shape of a pan 7 whose diameter equals that of vessel 1 and whose bottom is a sieve in the form of a coarse-mesh grid 3 forming a sieve. A pin 9 on the outer periphery of pan 7 projects down-wardly into an eye 5 at the top of vessel 1 to form a hinge joint whereby the attachment 2 can be pivoted horizontally to lie directly above the vessel or to be offset therefrom, the latter position having been illustrated in Fig. 1.
At a location diametrically opposite the hinge joint 5, 9, vessel 1 is provided with a handle 6 and a catch 4 which releasably indexes the pan 7 in its aligned workin~ position.
In that position, vessel 1 can be filled with flour until the mass rises above the grid 3. At this point, the user may shake the vessel for a uniform settling of its contents whereupon pan 7 ~1~4S25 is swung out through about 180 to entrain the excess flour onto an underlying tray (not shown) as indicated at 10.
Fig. 2 shows how the user, after seizing the vessel 1 by its handle 6, empties it into an extruder 8 for mixing with the other ingredients required to make pasta. The pan 7 has been removed in Fig. 2, as can be readily done by merely with-drawing the pin 9 from the eye 5.
The vessel 1 and the pan 7 (including its grid 3) can be conveniently manufactured from thermoplastic sheet material by a deep-drawing and stamping process.

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Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A device for dosing comminuted bulk material to be fed to a recipient therefor, comprising an open-topped vessel and an extension thereof, said extension being a pan with a bottom in the form of a coarse-mesh sieve of the same outline as the top of said vessel, said pan being peripherally articulated to said vessel for horizontally swinging between a working position closely overlying the open top of said vessel and a withdrawn position exposing said open top for enabling a filling of said vessel through said bottom in said working posi-tion and for leveling the contents of said vessel upon subse-quent removal to said withdrawn position.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said vessel is provided at the top thereof with catch means for releasably retaining said pan in said working position.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said vessel is provided, at a location opposite said catch means, with an eye pivotally engaged by a depending pin on the outer periphery of said pan.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said vessel is provided with a handle at a location opposite the point of articulation thereof to said pan.