VOLUMETER FOR FOOD PRODUCTS
A volumeter for food products having a canister supported by a support structure, a hopper connected to the support structure, and a leveler plate slidably supported by the support structure and slidable between an open position and a closed position for controlling the flow of the food product from the hopper and into the canister and for leveling an upper end of the food product.
1 . A volumeter for food products, comprising:
a canister having an inner diameter, a volume, an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a flange extending outwardly from the open upper end;
a support structure forming a canister receiving space for receiving the flange of the canister in a way that supports the canister in the canister receiving space;
a hopper with an upper end, a lower end, and a conical portion, the upper end having a first diameter and the lower end having a second diameter less than the first diameter, the hopper connected to the support structure in a way that the hopper is supported above the canister receiving space so that the hopper is axially aligned with canister when the canister is positioned in the canister receiving space; and
a leveler plate slidably supported by the support structure, the leveler plate slidable between an open position wherein the leveler plate is removed from between the lower end of the hopper and the open upper end of the canister, and a closed position wherein the leveler plate is positioned between the lower end of the hopper and the open upper end of the canister in a way that the leveler plate stops the flow of food product from the hopper and is positioned across the open upper end of the canister in contact with the flange.
2 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the support structure has a pair of opposing grooves for receiving the flange of the canister.
3 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the support structure is formed to support the canister with the lower end of the canister suspended above a lower end of the support structure.
4 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the second diameter of the hopper is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the canister.
5 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the hopper has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the conical portion of the hopper is angled relative to a longitudinal axis at an angle in the range of from about 30° to about 50°.
6 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the leveler plate moves in a direction perpendicular to the grooves of the support structure.
7 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the food product is positioned in the hopper; and wherein the leveler plate slidable between an open position wherein the leveler plate is removed from between the lower end of the hopper and the open upper end of the canister to permit the food product to pass from the hopper and into the canister, and a closed position wherein the leveler plate is positioned between the lower end of the hopper and the open upper end of the canister in a way that the leveler plate stops the flow of the food product from the hopper and is positioned across the open upper end of the canister in contact with the flange so as to level an upper end of the food product.
8 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the food product is at least one of: a puffy food product, a crispy food product, a crunchy food product, extruded food product, direct-expanded extruded food products, a puffed food product, a popped food product, or combinations thereof.
9 . The volumeter of claim 1 , wherein the food product is a direct-expanded extruded food product.
10 . The volumeter of claim 9 , wherein the direct-expanded extruded food product is selected from a group consisting of corn, wheat, rice, potato, tapioca, oats, and protein.
11 . A method of measuring the bulk density of a food product using a volumeter, the method comprising:
obtaining a canister having an inner diameter, a volume, a weight, an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a flange extending outwardly from the open upper end;
supporting the canister below a hopper with a support structure forming a canister receiving space, the hopper having an upper end, a lower end, and a conical portion, the upper end having a first diameter and the lower end having a second diameter less than the first diameter;
closing the lower end of the hopper with a leveler plate positioned between the lower end of the hopper and the open upper end of the canister;
loading the hopper with an amount of the food product greater than the volume of the canister;
removing the leveler plate from between the lower end of the hopper and the open upper end of the canister to permit the food product to pass from the hopper and into the canister;
positioning the leveler plate between the lower end of the hopper and the open upper end of the canister in a way that the leveler plate stops the flow of the direct-expanded food product from the hopper and is positioned across the open upper end of the canister in contact with the flange so as to level an upper end of the food product;
removing the canister with the food product from the support structure; and
weighing the canister with the food product.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the second diameter of the hopper is substantially equal to the inner diameter of the canister.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the support structure further includes a pair of opposing grooves for receiving the flange of the canister.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the step of supporting the canister further comprises positioning the flange of the canister into the grooves of the support structure so that the lower end of the canister is suspended above a lower end of the support structure.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the pair of opposing grooves slidingly receive the flange of the canister.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the food product is at least one of: a puffy food product, a crispy food product, a crunchy food product, extruded food product, direct-expanded extruded food products, a puffed food product, a popped food product, or combinations thereof.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the food product is a direct-expanded extruded food product.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the direct-expanded extruded food product is selected from a group consisting of corn, wheat, rice, potato, tapioca, oats, and protein.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the volumeter is selected from the group consisting of those claimed in any one of claim 1 to claim 10 .