Methods and apparatus for producing and dispensing preserved foodstuffs

Abstract

A packaged edible including a generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder and arranged about a longitudinal axis and a dispensing package generally enclosing the generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder, the dispensing package including a first hand engageable enclosure portion generally surrounding the generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder, a distributing and driving element arranged to rotate about the longitudinal axis and a second hand engageable element arranged for manual rotation about the longitudinal axis and arranged to rotate the distributing and driving element about the longitudinal axis in operative engagement with the generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder for dispensing the foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder in a user controllable manner.

1 . A packaged edible comprising:
 a generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder and arranged about a longitudinal axis; and   a dispensing package generally enclosing said generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder, said dispensing package including:
 a first hand engageable enclosure portion generally surrounding said generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder; 
 a distributing and driving element arranged to rotate about said longitudinal axis; and 
 a second hand engageable element arranged for manual rotation about said longitudinal axis and arranged to rotate said distributing and driving element about said longitudinal axis in operative engagement with said generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder for dispensing said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder in a user controllable manner. 
   
     
     
         2 . A packaged edible according to  claim 1  and wherein said dispensing package also comprises a piston assembly including an axial screw element and a piston, said axial screw element being rotated by rotation of said second hand engageable element about said longitudinal axis and thereby producing axial movement of said piston along said longitudinal axis to force said generally cylindrical body of a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder into said operative engagement with said distributing and driving element. 
     
     
         3 . A packaged edible according to  claim 2  wherein said dispensing package also includes an apertured dispensing grid and wherein said piston and said distributing and driving element cooperate for forcing said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder through said apertured dispensing grid in a user controllable manner. 
     
     
         4 . A packaged edible according to  claim 1  and wherein said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder includes at least one of a vegetable, a spice and an herb. 
     
     
         5 . A packaged edible according to  claim 1  and wherein said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder is in a generally solid form. 
     
     
         6 . A packaged edible according to  claim 1  and wherein said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder is in a frozen state. 
     
     
         7 . A method of producing a packaged edible comprising:
 enclosing a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder in a dispensing package including:
 a first hand engageable enclosure portion extending along a longitudinal axis and generally surrounding said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder; 
 a distributing and driving element arranged to rotate about said longitudinal axis; and 
 a second hand engageable element arranged for manual rotation about said longitudinal axis and arranged to rotate said distributing and driving element about said longitudinal axis in operative engagement with said generally foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder for dispensing said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder in a user controllable manner. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 7  and wherein said enclosing comprises filling said dispensing package with a foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder in a non-solid form and solidifying said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8  and wherein said solidifying comprises freezing said foodstuff mixed with a preserving binder. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 7  and also comprising, prior to said enclosing:
 providing unprocessed foodstuffs; 
 washing said foodstuffs; 
 thereafter at least one of chopping said foodstuffs, grinding said foodstuffs and milling said foodstuffs; and 
 thereafter mixing said foodstuffs with a preserving binder. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  and wherein said foodstuffs include at least one of a vegetable, a spice and an herb. 
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 10  and wherein said preserving binder includes olive oil. 
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a packaged edible comprising:
 mixing particles of at least one foodstuff with a preserving binder in a generally liquid form to produce a generally liquid mixture;   inserting said generally liquid mixture in a dispensing package arranged about a longitudinal axis, said dispensing package including:
 a first hand engageable enclosure portion generally enclosing said generally liquid mixture; 
 a distributing and driving element arranged to rotate about said longitudinal axis; and 
 a second hand engageable element arranged for manual rotation about said longitudinal axis and arranged to rotate said distributing and driving element about said longitudinal axis; and 
   solidifying said generally liquid mixture to produce a generally solid mixture,   said distributing and driving element being arranged to dispense said generally solid mixture when rotated in operative engagement with said generally solid mixture.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  and wherein said solidifying comprises freezing said generally liquid mixture. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  and also comprising, prior to said mixing:
 providing unprocessed foodstuffs; 
 washing said foodstuffs; and 
 thereafter at least one of chopping said foodstuffs, grinding said foodstuffs and milling said foodstuffs. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 13  and wherein said at least one foodstuff includes at least one of a vegetable, a spice and an herb. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 13  and wherein said preserving binder includes olive oil. 
     
     
         18 . A method of producing a packaged edible comprising:
 mixing particles of at least one foodstuff with a binder in a generally liquid form to produce a generally liquid mixture;   inserting said generally liquid mixture in a first hand engageable enclosure portion of a dispensing package arranged about a longitudinal axis;   solidifying said generally liquid mixture to produce a generally solid mixture;   placing a distributing and driving element arranged to rotate about said longitudinal axis onto said first hand engageable enclosure portion; and   placing a second hand engageable element arranged for manual rotation about said longitudinal axis and arranged to rotate said distributing and driving element about said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         19 . A method of producing a packaged edible according to  claim 18  and wherein said distributing and driving element is arranged to shave a surface of said generally solid mixture when rotated in operative engagement with said generally solid mixture.