Foodstuff dispensing machine and dehydrated foodstuff container

Abstract

A stand alone container for housing dehydrated foodstuff and for use in a foodstuff machine has a continuous sidewall with first and second ends forming a storage area. A piston is complementarily positioned within the sidewall proximate the first end and is slidable with respect to the sidewall. The container contains dehydrated foodstuff located in the storage area and a removable cover positioned proximate the second end. The foodstuff machine includes a machine housing having an access opening for receiving the container having dehydrated foodstuff therein. A hydrating and positioning system moves from a loading position when the container is in the access opening to a hydrating position with the container second end above the first end and then to a transfer position where the first end is positioned above the second end. A liquid dispenser is positioned above the container when the container is in the hydrating position. The foodstuff machine has a transfer arm having an operative end for receiving the container and is movable from a first position that supports the container in the transfer position to an extrusion position where the container is located over a cooking station. A piston rod is operatively associated with the piston in the container and moves to force the piston toward the second end of the container to force hydrated foodstuff through the die to form uncooked strips which drop into the cooking station.

1 . A stand alone container for housing dehydrated foodstuff and for use in a foodstuff machine, the container comprising:
 a continuous sidewall having first and second ends forming a storage area;   a piston complementarily positioned within the sidewall proximate the first end and being slidable with respect to the sidewall;   dehydrated foodstuff located in the storage area; and   a removable cover positioned proximate the second end.   
   
   
       2 . The container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a die plate mounted proximate the second end, the die plate comprising one or more die openings. 
   
   
       3 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein the die plate is fixedly attached to the container. 
   
   
       4 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the dehydrated foodstuff includes granules comprised of potato. 
   
   
       5 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall is generally cylindrical in shape. 
   
   
       6 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein the sidewall, piston, and die plate are constructed of a polymeric material. 
   
   
       7 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the container and die plate includes an outwardly extending flange. 
   
   
       8 . The container according to  claim 2 , further comprising a water soluble film positioned between the foodstuff and the die plate. 
   
   
       9 . The container according to  claim 8 , wherein the water soluble film covers each of the one or more die openings. 
   
   
       10 . The container according to  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a thin, flexible sheet. 
   
   
       11 . The container according to  claim 2 , wherein the die openings are generally X-shaped. 
   
   
       12 . A foodstuff machine for hydrating, extruding and cooking foodstuff from a container, the container having a continuous sidewall with first and second ends forming a storage area and a piston complementarily positioned within the sidewall proximate the first end and being slidable with respect to the sidewall, the container including dehydrated foodstuff located in the storage area, the foodstuff machine comprising:
 a machine housing having an access opening for receiving a container having dehydrated foodstuff therein;   a hydrating and positioning system movable from a loading position when the container is in the access opening to a hydrating position with the container second end above the first end and then to a transfer position wherein the first end is positioned above the second end;   a liquid dispenser positioned above the container when the container is in the hydrating position;   a transfer arm having an operative end for receiving the container and being movable from a first position that supports the container in the transfer position to an extrusion position wherein the container is located over a cooking station; and   a piston rod operatively associated with the piston in the container and movable to force the piston toward the second end of the container to force hydrated foodstuff through the die to form uncooked strips which drop into the cooking station.   
   
   
       13 . The foodstuff machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the hydrating and positioning system comprises a rotatable carriage. 
   
   
       14 . The foodstuff machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the rotatable carriage moves 360 degrees from the loading position to the hydrating position to the transfer position and back to the loading position. 
   
   
       15 . The foodstuff machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the hydrating and positioning system includes a cam which contacts the container to invert the container as it moves from the hydrating position to the transfer position. 
   
   
       16 . The foodstuff machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the cooking station comprises:
 a pot of hot cooking liquid located below the container in the extrusion position; and   a basket positioned in the pot and hot cooking liquid for receiving the uncooked strips and for retaining the strips therein until cooked to a desired consistency.   
   
   
       17 . The foodstuff machine according to  claim 16 , further comprising a pivot arm secured to the basket lifting the basket from the pot when the strips have attained the desired consistency. 
   
   
       18 . A method of making extruded and cooked foodstuff, the steps comprising:
 a) providing a plurality of containers containing dehydrated foodstuff;   b) selecting a container from the plurality of containers;   c) removing a removable cover from an outside of the container;   c) placing the container inside a housing of a foodstuff machine configured to receive the container;   d) activating a mechanism to move the container to a hydration position and adding liquid to the dehydrated foodstuff to form a mixture in the container;   e) transferring the container to an extrusion position and urging the mixture from the container through a die plate to form extruded strips;   f) cooking the extruded strips to form cooked strips; and   g) removing the cooked strips from the inside of the housing.   
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the method comprises transferring the container to an extrusion position and urging the mixture from the container through a die plate fixedly attached to the container. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the method comprises activating a mechanism to move the container to a hydration position and adding liquid to the container to at least partially dissolve a water-soluble film attached to the container and to form a mixture of the liquid, the dehydrated foodstuff, and the dissolved water-soluble film. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 18  wherein the extruded and cooked foodstuff is generally X-shaped in cross-section.