CA2639884C - Device for portioning free-flowing food or consumable substances - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for apportioning pourable foodstuffs or semi-luxury products, for example cut tobacco, coffee powder or tea, having a holder for the foodstuffs or semi-luxury products and an apportioning arrangement, characterized in that the holder has at least two interacting holder parts (102, 114) which can be moved in relation to one another and, together, form the apportioning arrangement, the foodstuffs or semi-luxury products being accommodated in a holder part (102), and in that one of the holder parts (102), or both of these parts or a plurality thereof, is or are assigned a means (116, 118) for actuating the apportioning apparatus.

Description

Applicant: British American Tobacco (Germany) GmbH

Device for portioning free-flowing food or consumable substances The invention relates to a device for portioning free-flowing food or consumable substances, for example cut tobacco, coffee powder or tea, with a supply chamber for the food or consumable substance and a portioning device.

A device of this type is known from patent specification DE 32 47 370 Al.

The invention relates primarily to the subject of cigarettes rolled from cut tobacco, especially fine cut tobacco, by the final consumer. The background to this is that industrially produced cigarettes are subject to higher taxation than cut tobacco and are therefore very much more expensive. Consumers who are cost-conscious smokers therefore take the trouble to roll their own cigarettes from cut tobacco.

A device enabling loose cut tobacco to be placed in a tube is known from patent specification DE 32 47 370 Al, for example. The device has a funnel-shaped supply container. Provided underneath the supply container is a portioning chamber for the cut tobacco. The cut tobacco is combed from the supply container into the portioning chamber by means of a pinion shaft which has four teeth directed radially outwards distributed at a distance from one another on the circumference. A helical spring is disposed in the portioning chamber so that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis.
When the helical spring is rotated about its longitudinal axis, the cut tobacco is pressed in the axial direction of the helical spring out of the portioning chamber, initially into a funnel-shaped tube portion tapering in the direction away from the portioning chamber and from there into a cylindrical tube portion. As a result, the cut tobacco is shaped into a tobacco strand. The tube is attached to an outlet end of the cylindrical tube portion and when the helical spring is turned farther, the front end of the tobacco strand is pushed into the tube. As soon as the tube is completely full of cut tobacco, it is pushed down from the outlet end by continuing to turn the helical spring, due to the conveying movement of the tobacco strand induced as a result, and drops off once it has been completely filled. The next tube can now be attached and filled.

Manipulating the above-mentioned device is tiresome, especially because the tobacco firstly has to be dispensed from a storage container into the funnel-shaped supply container. The supply container of the device is open and the tobacco stored in it can dry out. Due to the fact that the portioning chamber and the actual tobacco shaping system comprising the funnel-shaped and cylindrical tube portions are dispensed in an axial arrangement one after the other, the device is very long. The device is therefore only suitable for rolling cigarettes by the end consumer at home, who must then prepare his daily requirement beforehand and store them separately, for example.

Against this background, the objective of this invention is to propose a device for portioning free-flowing and consumable substances that is compact and easy to operate, and which can also be easily used "away from home".

In accordance with this invention there is provided device for portioning free-flowing food or consumable substances, such as cut tobacco, coffee powder or tea for example, with a container for the food or consumable substance and a portioning device, characterized in that the container comprises at least two co-operating container parts displaceable relative to one another, which together constitute the portioning device, and the food or consumable substance is accommodated in one container part; and one of the container parts or both or several container parts are provided with a means for operating the portioning device.

The numerous advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of different embodiments. Several such embodiments will also be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. The invention may incorporate all of the described features, either alone or in any expedient combination. Of the drawings:

2a Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an embodiment of a device proposed by the invention with a rotating drum and a housing for the rotating drum;

Figs. 2 to 4 illustrate possible embodiments of portion containers;

Fig. 5 illustrates how portions can be prepared with the aid of the device proposed by the invention;

Fig. 6 illustrates how portions can be prepared with a slightly modified device proposed by the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a view of a rotating drum and a housing;

Figs. 8 to 10 illustrate another embodiment of device proposed by the invention;

Fig. 11 illustrates a food or consumable substance packaging for an embodiment of the type illustrated in Figures 8 to 10;

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate other embodiments of a device proposed by the invention;

Figs. 14 to 16 illustrate a device proposed by the invention with a pressing head lock (lock mechanism);

Figs. 17 to 19 illustrate another embodiment of a device proposed by the invention;

Figs. 20 to 22 illustrate embodiments of the device proposed by the invention with an alternative lock mechanism;

Fig. 23 is a side view illustrating an example of another embodiment for a device incorporating the features proposed by the invention;

Fig. 24 is a cross-section through the device illustrated in Fig. 23 in the plane indicated by II - II;

Fig. 25 shows a detail of the device shown in Figs. 23 and 24 from the cross-section illustrated in Fig. 24;

Fig. 26 is a side view illustrating an example of another embodiment of a device incorporating the features proposed by the invention;

Fig. 27 is a cross-section in the plane V - V showing the device illustrated in Fig. 26 in a first operating position;

Fig. 28 is a cross-section in the plane V - V showing the device illustrated in Fig. 26 in a second operating position;

Fig. 29 is a cross-section in the plane V - V showing the device illustrated in Fig. 26 in a third operating position;

Fig. 30 is a cross-section in the plane V - V showing the device illustrated in Fig. 26 in a fourth operating position;

Fig. 31 is a cross-section in the plane V - V showing the device illustrated in Fig. 26 in a fifth operating position;

Fig. 32 is a side view of the device illustrated in Fig. 26 whilst it is being operated;

Fig. 33 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 26 whilst it is being operated;

Figs. 34 and 35 illustrate an embodiment of the device proposed by the invention with a bag-type container part for the food or consumable substance;

Fig. 36 illustrates an alternative drum design;

Figs. 37 to 39 illustrate an embodiment of a device proposed by the invention in which a rotating drum essentially constitutes the portion packaging itself;

Figs. 40 and 41 illustrate two embodiments proposed as variants of the devices illustrated in Figures 8 to 13;

Figs. 42 to 46 illustrate another embodiment of the device proposed by the invention, whereby the food or consumable substance is combed into a pressing head co-operating piece;

Figures 47 and 48 illustrate another embodiment of the invention for a portion packaging attachment outside the housing or device;

Figures 49 to 51 illustrate an embodiment of the device proposed by the invention with a portion packaging attached to the top;

Figure 52 illustrates another embodiment of a device proposed by the invention;

Figure 53 illustrates a different embodiment of the portion packaging for a device proposed by the invention;

Figure 54 illustrates an embodiment of the device proposed by the invention with a tubular portion packaging; and Figures 55 and 56 illustrate two embodiments of the invention at different stages of production.

A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 1 and denoted by reference number 100. It comprises a housing 114, a rotating drum 102 and a container 108. The embodiments described now and below are devices for portioning cut tobacco for roll-your-own cigarettes. This should be construed as nothing more than an example and it would naturally be possible to make modifications to enable other free-flowing food and consumable substances to be prepared or portioned.

As above, the container 108 illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 will also continue to be referred to as a tobacco portion or a tobacco portion packaging. It comprises two lids 110, 112 and a wall 118 and is of an essentially cylindrical shape. The lids 110, 112 may be made from a more solid material, preferably plastic or stiff cardboard, optionally with a coating (to protect against moisture from outside and to prevent the tobacco from losing moisture). The cylindrical wall 118 is made from a flexible foil material, paper material or plastic skin, which is preferably sufficiently stiff for the shape of the packaging to be preserved due solely to its stability, and to be so even if several containers 108 are stacked one on top of the other. The sealing foil 124, on the other hand, should be deformable so that it is pulled off together with the cylindrical wall 118 and can be removed from the housing. It may also be provided in the form of an appropriate paper/foil or a cardboard material (coating).

Also illustrated in Figure 1 is a rotating drum, which in this instance is designed so that it can be flipped open. The rotating drum is denoted by reference number and is designed to accommodate the container 108 so that it can then be introduced into the housing 114 together with the container. It has elongate cut-outs or orifices 132 disposed on its circumference 104, in this instance extending at an angle.
It can be rotated in the housing 114 by means of a handle 116, 118 - comprising two parts in this instance. The bottom part of the drum 102 is denoted by reference number 106.

Figure 1 also illustrates the portioning means of the device proposed by the invention. It comprises the orifices 132 on the one hand and a portioning chamber 134 on the other hand; a more detailed description of how the portioning means operates will be given later.

In order to be able to prepare portions of tobacco from the container 108, the cylindrical wall 118 must be removed, i.e. pulled out of the device to the outside. To this end, it has perforations in the region of its end faces, i.e. at the edge 120, the top perforations being indicated by reference number 121 in Figure 2 and Figure 3.
These may also simply be weakened areas of the material or breaking points.
These perforations or breaking points 121 break open when a tab of the cylindrical wall is pulled, which is denoted by reference number 125 in Figures 2 and 3 and may protrude out from the housing 114 (slot 127 in Figure 1) when the container 108 is inserted in the housing 114 together with the drum 102.

In principle, it is also possible for the material of the cylindrical wall 118 and the lids 110, 112 to be joined by adhesive, welding or such like and to be designed so that this join is severed when subjected to a specifically directed stress, in particular a tensile stress. Once the tab has been pulled off, the tobacco is freely exposed in the rotating drum 102 in the housing 114 and can be portioned.

As may also be seen from Figure 4, the lids 110, 112 have special contours so that they can be correctly inserted in the rotating drum 102 or housing 114. These contours 128 may also fulfil locking functions, which will be explained in more detail later.

Figure 5 illustrates in three steps A, B and C and with details on an enlarged scale how a quantity of tobacco is portioned by means of a device proposed by the invention.

The quantity of tobacco 136 lying free in the rotating drum 102, once the foil 118 or an additional foil 124 (Figure 3) has been pulled off, is mixed by rotating the drum 102 in the housing 114 and some of it may drop through the orifices 132 down into the portioning chamber 134. The orifices 132 are preferably of an elongate or helical shape and are disposed across the entire circumference or a part of it. This results in longer tobacco fibres being cut. The details shown on a larger scale in diagrams A
and B illustrate how the portioning chamber 134 is filled with tobacco and the detail shown on a larger scale in part B more specifically illustrates how cutting occurs.
The severed part of the tobacco portion is denoted by reference number 140.
The part of the tobacco portion 140 in the portioning chamber 134 can be compressed by means of a pressing head 130 until it assumes the form of a tobacco strand in the circular strand-forming chamber 138 when the pressing head 130 has moved fully to the right-hand side in the direction indicated by arrow 142 (Figure 5C). The portioning and compressing operations therefore take place in the base of the housing and end when a tobacco strand has been formed from the severed part of the tobacco portion 140.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Figure 6. The illustrated device also comprises the housing 114 and the rotating drum 102 but an additions' preliminary portioning chamber denoted by reference number 144 is provided between the portioning chamber in which the severed part of the tobacco portion is compressed into a strand by the pressing head 130. As may be seen from the next series of diagrams shown in Figure 6, the drum 102 is firstly rotated, with the pressing head 130 closed, until a part of the tobacco portion is disposed in the preliminary portioning chamber 144 and lies on top of the front end of the pressing head 130.
Once the preliminary portioning chamber 144 has been well filled, the pressing head 130 can be pulled back as indicated by arrow 146 and the part drops into the actual main portioning and compressing chamber (compression shaft). If the pressing head 130 is then moved back to the right in the direction of the strand-forming chamber as indicated by arrow 142, the strand is formed as described above.

Figure 7 provides a view of the rotating drum from an angle and cut open so that the individual parts of the housing 114 are also visible, namely the portioning chamber 134 and the pressing head 130. The drum 102 with the end face 117 and handle 119 is used to convey the tobacco to the portioning chamber 134. The handle 119 is therefore provided as a means of rotating the drum and, depending on the tobacco used, it would be conceivable to have a system whereby several rotations, one rotation or only partial rotations are needed in order to fill the portioning chamber 134 with tobacco for a cigarette as the tobacco passes through the orifices 132.

As mentioned above, however, the drum is also used to sever tobacco fibres that are too long and, to this end, the slots through which the tobacco passes are of a cutter-shaped design, especially at the outer edges where they are directed towards the portioning chamber 134. Depending on the material used for the drum, it may be expedient to provide additional struts 115 on the drum in order to increase mechanical strength and better control the distribution of the tobacco. These are disposed across the diameter or preferably in a spiral shape, which means that the same position of the portioning chamber does not always remain covered.
Another option would be to provide means to facilitate the conveying movement of the transport, in other words means acting as a driver, for example inwardly projecting ribs or struts.

Another design of the device proposed by the invention will now be explained with reference to Figures 8 to 11. With this design, portioning and compression of the food or consumable substance takes place in the drum.

Figure 8 also illustrates different stages of the portioning operation, namely in steps A to E. The device itself is denoted by reference number 150 and it has the housing 152 and the rotatable drum 154 disposed in it. On its internal circumference, the drum has inwardly projecting struts 156.

A tobacco portion, which is illustrated in Figure 11 for example, is introduced into the drum 154. It also has lids, one of which is denoted by reference number 182, and at the centre of the lid 182 a centring projection 184 for centring the tobacco portion in the housing 152. Again disposed on the external wall 180 is a tab 160, which can be torn off at the top through a slot in the housing 152 - see Figure 8A. When the external wall 180 is pulled off, the tobacco portion 158 in the interior of the rotating drum 154 settles and already drops slightly down, as may be seen from the part 162.

Once the external wall 180 has been pulled off, the portioning operation can be performed by rotating the drum 154 and the tobacco moves underneath the shaping piece 168. The resultant effect may be seen from Figures 8B to 8E and from Figures 9 and 10, whilst Figure 10 more specifically illustrates a portion of the drum interior, denoted by reference number 178, which serves as the portioning chamber in this instance. When the housing 152 is now pressed downwards in its bottom guide (not shown by reference number), a pressing head 164, 166 can be pushed up through the opening 170 relative to it and it thus presses a quantity of tobacco into the shaping piece 168, and does so by means of its concave front face 172 (Figure 8D).
By the time the drum reaches the bottom, the strand 174 has been formed between the shaping piece 168 and the concave front face 172 of the pressing head 166 and can be pushed out, for example into a cigarette tube. Naturally, it would also be possible to generate the relative movement between the housing and the pressing head in some other way, for example by means of a stationary housing and a moving pressing head. Embodiments of this type are illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 illustrates a pressing head 199 mounted so as to be displaceable in the housing 192 in which the drum 194 with the inner struts 196 is disposed.
The head 199 may be pushed laterally onto the shaping piece 198 in order to form the strand in the device 190. The device 200 illustrated in Figure 13 comprising the drum 204, struts 206, housing 202, stand base 203, co-operating piece 208 and pressing head 209 operates in a similar way. In this instance, the pressing head 209 is pushed onto the co-operating piece 208 from underneath, at an angle, in order to form the strand.

The orifices for the pressing head are disposed in the housings and also in the drums, and are distributed around the circumference of the latter. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 8, the pressing head is able to pass through two oppositely lying, defined positions, and in Figure 13, four positions are possible. By way of example, reference number 205 indicates an orifice in the drum. The tobacco portion packaging (Figure 11) has a cut-out 186 so that it can be inserted in the drum and in the housing around the shaping piece.

Figures 17 to 19 illustrate an embodiment of the invention with a different packaging for the food or consumable substance, in particular the cut tobacco.

The purpose of the lock mechanism illustrated in Figures 14 to 16 is to ensure that the device can not be operated unless the correct packaging of food or consumable substance is inserted, thereby preventing the device from being damaged and reducing the risk of injury to the end user when the device is open. As may be seen from Figure 14, a lock 214 is disposed in the housing, which is pushed towards the right of the drawing by means of a spring 216 - see also the diagram on a larger scale shown in Figure 15. In this state, the arm 218 is also pushed to the right through the cut-out 224 of the lock 214 and the same also applies to the vertically extending arm provided on the end of the lock body 220, which prevents the pressing head 219 from being operated. As illustrated in Figure 16. when the associated drum with the co-operating container is inserted in the device or housing, contoured projections 222 (conforming to the contours 128 illustrated in Figure 4, for example) press the lock at the cut-out 224 to the left against the spring pressure and the pressing head 219 is released so that it can move. Fitted with the associated container 226, the device can then be operated correctly.

In the case of the devices described so far, the drum and the housing, and in particular also the tobacco container or tobacco portion, constitute the parts accommodating the device or container. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 17 to 19, only a part of the tobacco portion packaging is used for this purpose when the device is placed in the operation-ready state. These parts of the device are illustrated in Figure 17 and represent an example of how the portion packaging can be attached to the outside of the device. The portion packaging comprises a container 234 (supply container) and a lid 232. The lid 232 is provided with projections 252 and 253. The co-operating housing is denoted by reference number 240 and accommodates a drum 248, but has two cut-outs 236 and 238 in its end face. The lid 232 can be pushed into these cut-outs by means of its projections 252, 253. Once pushed in, it can be rotated so that the projections 252, 253 are moved behind the front screen 242 of the drum 248 in the housing (in the manner of a rotary seating).

The way this device is used is as follows. The container 234 is separated from the lid 232 and the drum 242 is filled with tobacco. The lid 232 is then inserted from the front by fitting the projections 252, 253 in the cut-outs 236, 238 and locked by turning it. The interior of the drum 248 is now closed and the device can be used. To provide a safety feature and prevent the device from being operated with lids from other tobacco portions which could cause damage, a locking lug 244 is provided behind the front screen of the drum 248, as may be seen from Figure 19. When the lid is inserted and turned, the projection 252 is able to release the locking pin 244, which locks the drum due to the spring biasing action so that the device is ready for use. This locking mechanism based on the design of the locking pin 244 and a co-operating design of the projection 252 is such that the pin 244 is not released unless the lid has been fitted correctly. When all the tobacco in the interior of the drum has been used, the lid is removed again and breaks the projection 252.
The contour of the lid is therefore designed so that the user can only remove the lid from the original position (the position illustrated in Figure 19A), and in this original position the locking element 244 locks the drum and the device housing to one another again. It is important to return to the original position because the preliminary portioning chamber 256 is closed here so that no tobacco is able to get into it during the filling operation.

Figures 20 to 22 illustrate how a packaging (container) for the food or consumable portion (tobacco portion) can be fitted inside the device as well as a different locking option. The left-hand part of Figure 20 illustrates a container 260 with a lid 262 and the oppositely lying lid 264, as well as the removable wall 266. Attached to the lid 262 is a catch lug 268 and, as may be seen on the right-hand side of the drawing, this catch lug is disposed so that it sits centrally in the housing 270 when the container 260 is disposed in the drum 272. This may also be seen in the two diagrams of Figure 21, where a cut-out 274 in the housing 270 may also be seen on the right-hand side, in which the catch lug 268 is able to latch.

As may best be seen from Figure 22, the cut-out 274 has a shoulder, behind which it becomes larger, and the front catch-part of the centring projection 268 is able to locate behind this shoulder. At the front, the projection 268 has a slightly bigger truncated cone, so that it can latch behind the shoulder in the cut-out 274.
The latched state is illustrated in the right-hand diagram of Figure 22 and ensures that the device can be operated without friction and no other packaging containers which might damage the device can be used with it. Once the drum is empty, it is removed and as it is removed, the projection tears off at its front portion and can be removed through the cut-out 274.

The container of a different embodiment proposed by the invention illustrated in Figs. 23 to 33 comprises a container 20 and a releasable lid 21 which can fitted on the container 20, and this embodiment is based on two container parts of the container of the device. The container 20 is filled with tobacco 22, more specifically fine cut tobacco 22. The tobacco 22 is indicated by a honeycomb pattern in Figs. 24, 25 and 27.

Disposed inside the container 20 is a device for shaping a tobacco strand from the cut tobacco 22, which is operated by means of a mechanism in the lid 21. It differs in the embodiments illustrated as examples.

In the case of the embodiment illustrated as an example in Figs. 23 to 25, a portion 23 of the actual supply chamber 24 for the tobacco 22 is partitioned off by a wall 25.
In its middle region, the wall 25 forms a hopper 26 and a portioning chamber 27 at the side underneath the hopper 26. Disposed in the region where the hopper 26 merges with the portioning chamber 27 is a comb roller 28 with four combs 29 distributed equidistantly on the circumference. By turning the comb roller 28 about its longitudinal axis, the tobacco 22 is combed out of the hopper 26 into the portioning chamber 27, thereby filling the portioning chamber 27. As this takes place, the tobacco 22 is also lightly compressed inside the portioning chamber 27.

In order to operate the comb roller 28, it has a pinion 30 on its lid-side end face. The pinion 30 meshes with an idler gear 31, which in turn meshes with a gear 32.
Disposed on the internal face of the lid 21 is a circular arc-shaped toothed rack 33, which in turn meshes with the gear 32. When the lid 21 is turned relative to the container 20, the toothed rack 33 rotates the gear 32, which transmits this rotating movement via the idler gear 31 to the pinion 30. Also disposed underneath the gear 32 is a roller 34 with nubs, part of which extends through the hopper 26. In the diagram illustrated in Figs. 24 and 25, the roller with nubs 34 rotates in the anti-clockwise direction and hence opposite the tobacco 22 as it drops through. Due to the nubs distributed on the circumference of the roller with nubs 34, the cut tobacco 22 is loosened inside the hopper 26 and hence ultimately also inside the supply chamber 24 and is able to flow efficiently through the hopper 26 .

Once the portioning chamber 27 has been completely filled with cut tobacco 22 combed in by the comb roller 28, which is guaranteed by an appropriate translation ratio between the pinion 30, idler gear 31 and gear 32, the foremost tooth 35 of the toothed rack 33 moves into engagement with a pinion segment 36. On the bottom face of the pinion segment 36 is a wall portion 37 integrally formed on the pinion segment 36. The wall portion 37 extends across the entire height of the portioning chamber 27 and lies with its external face against the portion of the wall 25 associated with the portioning chamber 27. As soon as the toothed rack 24 engages with the pinion segment 26, the pinion segment 36 and with it the wall portion rotates in the clockwise direction in the diagrams shown in Figs. 24 and 25, causing an opening 38 of the portioning chamber 27 facing the hopper 26 to be closed.
The front edge of the wall portion 37, as viewed in the closing direction, is provided with a cutter, which cuts off any protruding tobacco 22 as the opening 38 is closed.

The cigarettes strand is now fully formed inside the portioning chamber 27. In this position, an opening in the lid 21 moves so that it sits congruently with the portioning chamber 27. Another opening is provided in the base 40 of the container aligned with the portioning chamber 27. The tobacco strand can now be pushed into a cigarette tube, as will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment illustrated as an example in Figs. 26 to 33.

In the embodiment illustrated as an example in Figs. 26 to 33, a first wedge-shaped portion 41 is disposed on the wall of the container 20 and joined to the container 20.
A second wedge-shaped portion 42 is joined to the lid 21 but also extends across the entire length into the container 20. The walls 25 of the wedge-shaped portions 41 and 42 pointing towards the supply chamber 24 together form a filling hopper for the cut tobacco 22. The wedge-shaped portions 41, 42 are designed so that they taper away from one another so that the walls 25 directed towards the supply chamber 24 run towards the wall of the container 20.

A portioning chamber 43 is formed between the wedge-shaped portions 41, 42.
The mutually facing terminal ends of the wedge-shaped portions 41, 42 respectively form a half-shell 44, 45, the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the tobacco strand to be formed. Provided on the side of the wedge-shaped portion 42 co-operating with the lid and pointing towards the supply chamber 24 is a spring element 46. It in turn extends across the entire length of the container 20.
With its rear end 47, it butts against the wall of the container 20 and is bent outwards at the oppositely lying end as viewed in the radial direction of the container, thereby forming a slide 48 extending into the portioning chamber 43. As may be seen from Fig. 27, the spring element 46 has an operating lug 49 on its side facing away from the end 47, which co-operates with a ramp 50 (see also Fig. 33). The operating lug 49 and the ramp 50 are therefore disposed in the region of the lid 21 only, and the ramp 50 is connected to the container 20 so that it can not rotate.

The distance between the half-shell 44 and the slide 48, and hence between the two half-shells 44 and 45, can be set by the user by pushing one of the two wedge-shaped portions 41 or 42, in this particular instance the wedge-shaped portion co-operating with the container 20. With a shorter distance, a smaller quantity of tobacco will drop into the portioning chamber 43, in which case the tobacco 20 will also be less firmly pressed when forming the tobacco strand. This feature therefore allows the user to adjust the pressing of the tobacco to suit his wishes.
Catch markings 57 on the wedge-shaped portion 41 co-operating with the container 20 are used to set the distance between the half-shells 44, 45, which co-operate with a catch lug 58 assigned to the wedge-shaped portion 42 associated with the lid 21.
Fig. 27 illustrates the initial position for shaping a cigarette strand. As may be seen from Figs. 22 and 33, the container 20 lies with its wall surface on a table 51 or similar. The portioning chamber 43 is therefore disposed at the lowest possible position on the table 51 so that the cut tobacco 24 drops into the portioning chamber 43 between the half-shell 44 and the slide 48 (Fig. 27). The lid is now turned relative to the container 20 in the clockwise direction in the diagram illustrated in Figs. 27 to 31 and 33. The wedge-shaped portion 42 co-operating with the lid 21 therefore moves towards the other wedge-shaped portion 41. As soon as the operating lug engages with the ramp 50, the spring element 46 is pushed upwards away from the wedge-shaped portion 42, as illustrated in Fig. 29. As a result, the slide 48 slides out of the portioning chamber 43 and the tobacco 22 is able to move into the space between the slide 48 and half-shell 45. The lid 21 is turned further, which causes a web 52 of the wedge-shaped portion 42 co-operating with the lid 21 to move into abutment with the wall 25 of the other wedge-shaped portion 41 facing the supply chamber 24. The front end of the web 52 is again designed as a cutter 53 and cuts off any protruding cut tobacco. The portioning chamber 43 is now closed off from the supply chamber 24. The lid 21 is turned farther as far as a stop until only a circular cylindrical space is left free, as may be seen from Fig. 9, and the tobacco strand is fully formed. Now or at a later point in time, a tobacco tube 54 is fitted on an appropriate holder and the tobacco strand is pushed into the tube 54 by means of a pin 55.

The tube 45 in this instance is disposed in the base 40 of the container 21 and the slide 55 is disposed in the lid 21. A reverse arrangement would naturally also be possible. The advantage of the latter is that the opening in the lid 21 with the holder for the tube 54 can be simultaneously closed by a flag or similar on the top edge region of the container 20 when the lid is fully turned back (Fig. 27), whereas the base-end opening is closed by the pin 55. At the same time, this prevents air from getting into the container 20 when the device is not being used. This keeps the tobacco 22 stored in the container 20 fresh 22. The slide 48 may also advantageously be used as a closure element because if designed accordingly, it may prevent air from being exchanged between the space between the slide 48 and the half-shell 45 on the one hand and between the half-shell 44 and the slide 48 and hence supply chamber 24 on the other hand.

The tobacco strand is pushed into the tube 54 in the same manner as described above in connection with the embodiment illustrated as an example in Figs. 23 to 26. Whilst the device is not in use, the pin 55 can be pushed in and stored inside the portioning chamber 27 respectively 43. However, a separate chamber 56 may be provided, as illustrated in Figs. 24 and 26. In addition or as an alternative, tubes 54 may also be stored in the area not being used. Another option is to reserve a part of the supply chamber 24 to store tubes 54.

It goes without saying that the invention is not restricted to filling cigarette tubes 54 with tobacco 22. On the contrary, any free-flowing food and consumable substances can be portioned and formed into any shape required and optionally even pressed if necessary. The shape of the formed or pressed products is not restricted to a circular cylindrical cross-section. Instead, shapes of any type are possible.
Examples of applications for the invention outside the cigarette industry are portioning coffee or tea, for example. For example, coffee pads or similar may be filled with ground coffee. Especially in the case of coffee or tea, it is of particular advantage if there is only an extremely small exchange of air between the ambient environment and the supply chamber 24 during handling because coffee or tea are known to deteriorate on exposure to oxygen and lose flavour.

Figures 34 and 35 illustrate a variant of the embodiments illustrated in Figures 17 to 19. In this instance, the tobacco portion packaging 281 does not comprise a lid and a container but a lid 282 and a bag 280 with a converging bag end 284. In the right-hand drawing of Figure 34, the tobacco portion packaging 281 is illustrated in two parts and is designed to be accommodated in a device of the type illustrated in Figure 35. In Figure 35, the housing is denoted by reference number 286 and has a cut-out 288 in the rear housing wall. In this embodiment, the tobacco portion packaging is inserted in the housing 286 with the drum 287 lying in it, and the converging bag end 284 is guided through the cut-out 288 of the rear housing wall.
The lid 282 is locked in the drum 287 by turning it and again, a lock element is released (see Figure 19). The bag as a whole can be removed from the housing through the cut-out 288. By pulling on the bag end 284, the connection between the bag 280 and the lid 282 is released so that the tobacco lying in the interior of the drum 287 is released into the drum. During this operation, the device is advantageously positioned vertically in order to make better use of the force of gravity when getting the tobacco out. The resultant hole in the device can be closed with a lid.

When the tobacco in the interior has been used, the lid can be removed again and as it is so, the locking lug breaks again, whilst the lock mechanism operates as described in connection with Figure 19.

Figure 36 illustrates an alternative design of a drum 290 with a differently shaped opening 292 for the food or consumable substance lying inside. In this instance, the drum 290, which can be rotated by means of the handle 294, preferably has prism-shaped cut-outs 292 and this design results in an even more oblique disposition of the obliquely extending edge pieces, which is of advantage in cutting off long tobacco fibres.

Figures 37 to 39 illustrate an embodiment of the device proposed by the invention in which the tobacco portion packaging is essentially formed by the drum. The tobacco portion packaging 300 has a drum part 302, a lid 306 and a foil 304 with a tab and is designed to be introduced into the housing 314, which again has a lock of the type described above in connection with Figures 14 to 16, namely a lock for the pressing head 310. The drum packaging therefore comprises at least three parts and, as illustrated in the two left-hand diagrams of Figure 38, is inserted in the housing 314. As this happens, the lock element 308 is released as described above.
When the packaging 300 is inserted in the housing 314, a catch pin 316 locks in the contoured projection 312 in a cut-out 320. The packaging 300 is therefore centred in the device and can be turned. The foil 304 can then be torn off by the tab 318 through an opening in the housing. In this embodiment, a part of the packaging 300, namely the portion 322 (Figure 37), protrudes out of the housing 314 so that this part can be used as a grip for turning the drum 302.

The contour of the housing denoted by reference number 312 is designed so that the user can not insert a packaging type that is not intended for use with the system, thereby preventing damage (due to the wrong fittings) and poor results when portioning the tobacco.

Once the tobacco has been used, the packaging 300 is removed again and the locking pin 316 is torn off.

Figures 40 and 41 illustrate two variants of the devices illustrated in Figures 8 to 13.
Here too, the tobacco is pressed into a shaping piece by a pressing head in order to shape the strand. Illustrated in the devices 330 and 340 respectively are the housing 332, 342, the drum 334, 344, mixing struts 338, 348, a transfer strut 346 as well as the tobacco portion 336. Each of these embodiments has attachments 339, 349 on the shaping pieces 335, 345, which improve the flow of tobacco as the drum is being rotated. In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 40, the attachment 339 is of a symmetrical design so that the drum rotates in both directions and can effectively push the tobacco underneath the co-operating piece 335. The embodiment illustrated in Figure 41 is "one-sided"; when the drum is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, the tobacco can effectively be moved from the bottom face in front of the co-operating piece 345. Both embodiments have cutting edges on the attachments in front of the region of the co-operating piece, denoted respectively by reference numbers 337 and 347. The purpose of these cutting edges is to sever long tobacco fibres so that the tobacco can be transferred by the respective pressing head 333, 343 without friction.

Another device proposed by the invention is illustrated in Figures 42 to 46 and the drawings in this instance show the sequence of the operating procedure. The device 350 again comprises a housing 352 with drum 354 and inner conveying struts 356 which move and mix the tobacco in the compressing zone 357. The tobacco is denoted by reference number 360 and the drum rotates in the manner described in the first instance in connection with Figure 43. Accordingly, the tobacco is fed from underneath, across a plate 362, in order to enter the compressing zone 357, where it runs against the stop 359 of the compressing piece 358. As may be seen from Figures 44 to 46, when the drum is rotated farther in the direction indicated by the arrow, more and more tobacco is then moved into the compressing zone 357 until enough tobacco has accumulated there and the housing 352 can be moved down onto the pressing head 364 in order to form the strand 366. The strand can then be transferred by means of a slide into a tube, which sits on a grommet, for example. In the case of this embodiment, it is naturally also possible to opt for a system whereby, instead of the housing sliding, the pressing head 364 slides as well or alternatively is the only sliding part.

Figure 47 illustrates two variants 370, 380 of another portion packaging for another embodiment proposed by the invention. In the case o the two-part variant, the packaging comprises a container 374, on the top edge of which projections 376 are provided, as well as a seal 372 terminating at the top. The container may be made from a cardboard packaging material which seals in the flavour, which may be wound in particular, or alternatively may be an injection moulded or deep-drawn carton. The seal 372 is a punched aluminium, plastic or paper foil, for example.

The three-part variant 380 of this embodiment has a container 384, a flange 386 on which projections are provided and also a seal 382. The same materials as those mentioned above may be used for the container 384 and seal 382; the flange is an injection moulded element or a punched cardboard element, for example.

The right-hand diagram of Figure 47 illustrates how the portion packaging 370 is mounted on the housing 400 of the device and details of this may be seen in a state just before fitting in Figure 48. The orifices 402 and 404 in the drum front screen may also be seen here, in which the projections 376 and 374 can be inserted when the portion packaging 370 is fitted on the device.

The operating sequence in this instance is as follows. The seal 372 respectively 382 is detached from the container 374, 384 and the container is inserted by introducing the projections 376 and 374 through the orifice 402, 404. The container 370 is then locked by turning it and a locking element which has secured the housing and drum to one another until this point in time is in turn released. This enables the drum to be rotated. The lock element and its orifice in the projection 376 operate in the same way as described above in connection with Figure 19 and reference may therefore be made to this part of the description. The portion is transferred from the container to the drum by tilting the device or positioning it at an angle. Once the portion in the interior has been used, the container is removed again, causing a locking lug on the projection 376 to break off, thereby ensuring that the device can not be filled or operated other than in the intended manner. The explanations given with respect to Figure 19 apply accordingly.

Figures 49 to 51 illustrate an embodiment of the device proposed by the invention with a portion packaging fitted on the top. The portion packaging again comprises a container 412, which has a curved guide flange 416 on its bottom region and which can be closed from the bottom by means of a seal 418. The container may be a cardboard packaging which seals in the flavour, and may be folded and/or bonded in particular, or may be an injection moulded or deep drawn carton. The seal may be a punched aluminium, plastic or paper foil. A three-part portion packaging of the design illustrated in Figure 47 would also be conceivable. Another option would be to provide a portion packaging whereby the lid or another element is used as a "key". All systems designed for fitting the packaging from the side could also be used in a system with a connection from the top, for example.

On the right-hand side of Figure 49, the device proposed by the invention is illustrated in the assembled state in which the container 412 is mounted on the top of the housing 410, which is closed off by the wall 414 at its end face.

Figure 50 illustrates details of how the housing 410 is connected, based on a top opening 424 through which the drum 422 can be seen. The top opening 424 has a guide seat 420 into which the guide flange 416 can be pushed. When pushed in, the container 412 therefore sits on the housing 410 and the front portion of the seal 418 projects outwards and can be pulled off from the front so that the contents of the portion packaging are able to drop down into the housing 410 or drum 422.

Again with this embodiment, a latch or lock may be provided, which protects against incorrect use. Details of this may be seen in Figure 51, where diagrams A, B, C and D illustrate the sequence. Diagrams A and B illustrate the container 412 before it is pushed onto the housing 410 and the detail illustrated on a larger scale in diagram B
shows how a spring 428 is provided in a top grip 426, and the spring 428 pushes a lock 430 down, which locates in a cut-out of the drum 422 and itself has an orifice 429.

As may be seen from diagrams B, C and D, a releasing lug 432 is provided on the rear face of the container 412, which moves into the gap underneath the top grip 426, thereby pushing the lock element 430 upwards against the tensioning force of the spring so that the drum is released and can rotate. The lock element 430 then moves into the top cut-out 433 of the releasing lug 432.

Once the seal 418 has been removed, the contents of the portion packaging (container 412) drop through the cut-outs into the drum 422. It would also be conceivable for the drum 422 to be of the type whereby a type of lid has to be opened for this operation, in which case it may be of a two-part design, for example.
During the entire portioning process, the container 412 remains on the housing and once the tobacco in the drum has been used up, the container is removed again. As this happens, the releasing lug 432 breaks off. This prevents the container 412 from being used again in a manner for which it was not designed.

Figure 52 illustrates the device 440, which is a variant of the device 340 illustrated in Figure 41. A ram 443 moves in the housing 442 in order to transfer tobacco from the portioning region 446 into the shaping piece 447. To this end, the drum 445 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow and conveys the tobacco into the region 446 due to its inner struts. An attachment 448 is mounted on the shaping piece 447, which in this instance is of a design incorporating lobes, and its bottom tip assumes the role of portioning the tobacco which is conveyed onwards by means of the struts. In its top region, the lobe 448 with a concave shape facing the drum internal wall forms a region 444 denoted by broken lines, which acts as a sort of supply chamber. Tobacco that has already been moved forwards and pushed beyond the region 446 is disposed in this supply chamber and some of the tobacco is able to fall back out of the supply chamber 444 into the region 446, from where it can be used by the pressing head 443 to form the strand. This arrangement results in more uniform portioning.

Figure 53 illustrates a different embodiment for the portion packaging in a device proposed by the invention with a housing 460 and a drum 459. The inserted packaging may be seen on the left-hand side and an exploded view is shown on the right. The device 450 has the top lid 452 incorporating a cut-out, indicated by arrow 453. The portion of food or consumable substance or cut tobacco is packed in a container 457, the bottom end 458 of which is able to fit through a slot 451 at the bottom in the housing base. A key element 456 is moved so that it lies in the region of the cut-out and is attached by two breaking points, a top breaking point 454 and a bottom breaking point 455. The container is what is known as a "flow pack" and the key element may be an injection moulded or cardboard element.

During use, the top portion of the container 457 is firstly inserted in the lid 452. Once the lid and the container 457 are mutually affixed to one another, they are inserted together in the drum 459 in the housing 460, as a result of which the bottom packaging end 458 projects out of the housing through the slot 451. The key element 456 engages with the drum 459, where it releases a lock element of the same design as that described in more detail in connection with Figure 19. The drum 459 can now be rotated. By pulling off the bottom packaging end 458, the contents are free to drop into the drum 459, causing the top breaking point 455 to tear off. The entire flow pack container 457 can now be removed from the device (pulled out from underneath).

The key element 456 remains between the drum/housing and the lid and connects them to one another. Once the portion in the interior has been used up, the lid 452 is removed from the device. The key element 456 therefore tears off the bottom breaking point 455. The lock element is able to latch again and the device can be used again, but only as intended, with another portion packaging of the same design.

Figure 54 illustrates a different embodiment of the device proposed by the invention with a tubular portion packaging 470, which has certain similarities to the variants illustrated in Figures 17 to 19 and may also incorporate the same features.
The sequence is illustrated by diagrams A, B and C takes place in this order.

The portion, in particular the tobacco portion, 471 is accommodated in the tubular container 470, which is closed by the seal 474 as illustrated on the right-hand side in diagram A and on the left hand-side by the lid 472. This tube may be fitted on the drum 478 in the housing 476 as illustrated in diagram B, and the diameter of the drum 476 corresponds to the diameter of the tube 470. Once the seal 474 has been removed, the tobacco 471 can be pushed into the interior of the drum 478 by moving the lid 472 forward in the tube, to the right-hand side in the diagram, pushing it through the tube 470. When the tobacco 471 has been moved into the drum interior as illustrated in diagram C, the lid 472 may be used to close the device and again acts as a key element (see the lock of Figure 19).

Figures 55 and 56 illustrate two different embodiments of the device proposed by the invention, diagrams A to D showing the sequence of production steps involved.
The embodiments are similar in principle, except that the tobacco is moved in different ways. Each of the devices comprises the housing 481, 491 with a rotating outer drum 482, 492 and a stationary inner drum 483, 493. A cross-section 480, is used in each case to transfer the tobacco 487, 497 as the strand is being formed.
In the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 55, radially projecting cutting heads 486 are provided internally on the outer drum 482 and are disposed between cutting orifices 484, and portioning chambers 488 are formed between these cutting heads.

As may also be seen from diagrams B, C and D of Figure 55, the tobacco drops through the cutting orifices 484 and is conveyed onwards by the cutting heads when rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow. Individual portions are created and when a portion has been moved to the region 485 on the transfer cross-section 480, it can be transferred to the strand-forming operation (for example by a pressing ram, although this is not illustrated here).

The sequence is similar in the case of the device illustrated in Figure 56 except that in this instance, as may be seen in diagrams B and C, only a single concave cutting projection 496 extends round the stationary inner drum 493 and "gathers in"
the tobacco, which is pressed through or drops through the orifices 494. When the cutting projection 496 arrives underneath the region 495 in front of the transfer cross-section 490, it has gathered in enough tobacco and this tobacco can be transferred for forming the strand.

Claims (37)

1. Device for portioning free-flowing food or consumable substances, such as cut tobacco, coffee powder or tea for example, with a container for the food or consumable substance and a portioning device, characterised in that - the container comprises at least two co-operating container parts (102, 114) displaceable relative to one another, which together constitute the portioning device, and the food or consumable substance is accommodated in one container part (102); and - one of the container parts (102) or both or several container parts are provided with a means (116, 118) for operating the portioning device.

2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the means (116, 118) for operating the portioning device co-operates with the container part (102) in which the food or consumable substance is accommodated.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the operating means (116, 118) is a means for moving the container parts (102, 114) relative to one another, in particular for moving one of the container parts relative to another stationary one.

4. Device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the container or container parts comprises or comprise a rotating drum (102), in which a portion of the food or consumable substance can be accommodated, and a housing (114) for the rotating drum (102).

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the rotating drum (102) has orifices (132) for portion amounts in its circumference, in particular elongate orifices (132) extending along the circumference, in particular elongate orifices extending longitudinally specifically at an angle.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that circumferentially extending webs (115) are provided in the orifices (132), which sub-divide the orifices (132) into halves, thirds or quarters in particular, and the webs (115) specifically connect and support rotating drum parts between the orifices.

7. Device as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the rotating drum (102) forms a housing for a container (108) or a bag (280) containing the portion, and the rotating drum (102) is specifically designed so that it can be flipped open.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the container (108) has a paper, cardboard or foil material on its circumference (118), which can be removed from the rotating drum (102) and/or the housing (114) through an opening in them, and a gripping tab (125) is specifically provided on the circumferential material, which projects out through the opening.

9. Device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterised in that breaking points, in particular circumferentially extending or perforated tear-off edges (121), are provided in the circumferential material, especially in the region of the end faces and of lids (110, 112) of the container (108) disposed there.

10. Device as claimed in one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the container has lids (110, 112) on its end faces, incorporating guide or retaining elements (128) for guiding or retaining the container in the rotating drum or housing.

11. Device as claimed in one of claims 5 to 10, characterised in that the housing (114) has a portioning chamber (134) in its bottom region for portion amounts that have passed through the orifices (132).

12. Device as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the outer edges of the orifices (132) together with the top edges of the portioning chamber (134) form a cutting mechanism for the portion amounts as they arrive in the portioning chamber.

13. Device as claimed in claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the portioning chamber (134) forms a shaping wall at one end and is open towards a guide passage for a pressing head (130) at the other end, and the pressing head (130) in turn forms a shaping wall at its end face, which forms a strand-forming chamber (138) in conjunction with the shaping wall of the portioning chamber when the pressing head is pushed in.

14. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterised in that a slide is provided, by means of which the shaped strand can be pushed out of the strand-forming chamber (138), in particular into a tube fitted on a grommet, which is disposed on the end of the strand-forming chamber remote from the slide.

15. Device as claimed in one of claims 11 to 14, characterised in that a preliminary portioning chamber (144) for the portion amounts passing through the orifices (132) is provided in front of the portioning chamber (134), and in particular the top face of the pressing head (130) forms the bottom boundary of the preliminary portioning chamber (144).

16. Device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that a shaping piece (168), in particular a concave shaping piece, is provided in the interior of the housing (152) for shaping a pressed portion amount, and the housing and drum (154) have a passage for a pressing head (166) which can be moved towards the shaping piece (168) and forms a strand-forming chamber (174) in conjunction with it.

17. Device as claimed in claim 16, characterised in that the rotating drum (154) has struts (156) projecting inwards on its internal circumference, which are used to convey portions of the food or consumable substance in front of the shaping piece (168).

18. Device as claimed in claim 16 or 17, characterised in that a container containing the food or consumable substance which can be introduced into the rotating drum (154) has a cut-out (186) in the region of the shaping piece (168) and the pressing head path, as well as a circumferential casing (180) which can be removed from or taken out of the rotating drum.

19. Device as claimed in one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the rotating drum (242) or the housing (240) affords a mount for the lid (232) of a supply container (234), and the rotating drum (248) is able to pick up the portion from the container (234), and the lid (232) of the container forms the closure of the rotating drum (248) at one end.

20. Device as claimed in claim 19, characterised in that the container lid (232) has contoured elements (252, 253), in particular projections, which co-operate with co-operating pieces (236, 238) on the rotating drum end face or housing end face so that the lid can be fitted on the rotating drum (248) or on the housing (240) in only one position.

21. Device as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that the container lid (232) is fitted so that it can be displaced in its seat in the rotating drum (242) or in the housing (240), and an opening element for a drum rotary lock (244) is provided in the lid seat, and the container lid (232) is turned in its seat, causing the lock element (244) to open, in particular by means of a contoured element (252).

22. Device as claimed in one of claims 1 to 21, characterised in that elements of the container parts, in particular at least two co-operating elements, form a lock mechanism which prevents the portioning device from being operated if the elements or housing parts are not disposed in a predefined position with respect to one another.

23. Device as claimed in claim 22, characterised in that the lock mechanism comprises a lock (214) which is able to prevent the movement of a pressing head (219) for the food or consumable substance, and the lock (214) is released by assembling the container parts, in particular by inserting the container.

24. Device as claimed in claim 22 or 23, characterised in that the lock mechanism has a centring projection (268) on the end face of a container part, in particular on a lid of the container, and a latching and mount for the centring projection on another container part, in particular on the housing, and the centring projection breaks off when the container parts are separated, especially when the container is removed from the rotating drum or the rotating drum is removed from the housing.

25. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the container has a supply chamber for the food or consumable substance and the supply chamber (24) is disposed in a container (20) which can be closed by means of a lid (21), and the lid (21) is provided with means for operating the portioning device.

26. Device as claimed in claim 25, characterised in that the portioning device can be operated by turning the lid (21).

27. Device as claimed in claim 25 or 26, characterised in that a base (40) with an opening is provided, through which the portioned food or consumable substance can be pushed out by means of a pin (55).

28. Device as claimed in claim 27, characterised in that the opening can be opened and closed by turning the lid (21).

29. Device as claimed in one of claims 25 to 28, characterised in that the container (20) is provided with a portioning chamber (27, 43) that is partitioned off from the supply chamber (24).

30. Device as claimed in claim 29, characterised in that means (37), (52) are provided for closing the portioning chamber (27, 43) with a cutter (39, 53).

31. Device as claimed in one of claims 25 to 30, characterised in that the food or consumable substance can be conveyed out of the supply chamber (24) into the portioning chamber (27) by a conveyor element, in particular by means of a comb roller (28).

32. Device as claimed in claim 31, characterised in that the conveyor element is operated by means of a pinion (30) which is operated by a toothed rack (33) on the lid (21).

33. Device as claimed in claim 32, characterised by a roller with nubs (34) which can be operated via a gear (32) by means of the toothed rack (33).

34. Device as claimed in one of claims 29 to 33 characterised in that the means (37) for closing the portioning chamber (27) can be operated by the toothed rack (33) as soon as the portioning chamber (27) has been completely filled.

35. Device as claimed in one of claims 25 to 30, characterised in that the container (20) on the one hand and the lid (21) on the other hand are provided with shaping means (44, 45) for shaping the food or consumable substance, between which the portioning chamber (43) is formed.

36. Device as claimed in claim 35, characterised in that the shaping means (44, 45) can be moved towards one another by turning the lid (21), as a result of which the portioned food or consumable substance can be shaped.

37. Device as claimed in claim 35 or 36, characterised in that the distance between the shaping means (44, 45) can be adjusted.