Apparatus for mixing a comminuted food material and a liquid

Abstract

Apparatus and method of mixing a comminuted food material and a liquid to form a solid food article includes a rotary measuring wheel for dispensing the food material from a storage bin in discrete measured quantities and a rotary peristaltic pump for dispensing the liquid from a storage tank in respective discrete measured quantities. The wheel and pump are coaxially joined for unitary dispensing rotation and a micro-processor controlled arrangement actuates and deactuates a predetermined number of revolutions thereof to effect simultaneous dispensing respectively sequentially of respective predetermined pluralities of the discrete measured quantities of food material and liquid. A chute arrangement receives the dispensed quantities and directs the food material gravitationally downwardly through a central passageway while directing the liquid through apertures arranged to sprayingly emit the liquid convergingly toward the gravitational path of the food material. A driven rotary arrangement of mold assemblies is arranged to sequentially index the mold assemblies into and out of a receiving position beneath the chute arrangement for filling thereof by the dispensed materials. Each mold assembly includes a resistive heating arrangement adapted to cook the material received. Alternatively, a single mold may be provided operatively to sequentially form and deposit uncooked molded material into a separate cooking unit.