On-demand cooked pasta vending machine

摘要

A method and apparatus for fast-cook pasta with automatic loading for variable sized portions. An amount of bulk product is isolated in a variable sized cavity. The contents of the cavity is discharged by gravity assisted mechanisms into a cooking chamber. The cooking chamber is pressurizable and uses preheated water. After the cooking period has ended, the cooking chamber is depressurized and the cooked pasta is transferred to a postcooker via a cooker exit valve. Heat energy present in vapor created by depressurization of the cooker is used to preheat the water.