Patent attributes
A foodstuff feeding apparatus to convey foodstuff to a metering unit from a hopper without masking or kneading the foodstuff. The apparatus includes a piston pump provided between a lower portion of a hopper and an end of a first pipe to draw foodstuff from the hopper and to press out the drawn foodstuff into the first pipe toward a metering unit. A draw-side valve is provided between the lower portion of the hopper and the piston pump, a discharge-side valve is provided between the piston pump and the first pipe, and setting is made such that when the draw-side valve is opened and the discharge-side valve is closed, the piston pump draws the foodstuff, and when the draw-side valve is closed and the discharge-side valve is opened, the piston pump presses out the foodstuff, and that the piston pump presses out the foodstuff into the first pipe.
