Patent ID: 6598515
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: A47J,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for processing a solid or semi-solid product comprising two unfastened pieces, an upper piece and a lower piece, adapted for insertion into a vessel, wherein:said upper piece is a bottom-unloading basket having a top opening for accepting said product and a bottom opening for discharging said product directly into said vessel after a first processing operation; said lower piece is a support base configured to mate with said bottom opening of said basket, whereby when said basket and said support base are mated within said vessel, the product is prevented from exiting the basket through said bottom opening of said basket; said basket is adapted for removable insertion into said vessel, such that following completion of said first processing operation, said basket may be unmated from said support base and separately removed from said vessel, thereby causing said product to be released through said bottom opening of the basket directly into said vessel and enabling the basket to be easily removed from the vessel without also having to remove the product from the vessel; said support base is adapted for removable insertion into said vessel and has a bottom having a diameter significantly smaller than the internal diameter of the vessel, such that after removal of said basket from said vessel following completion of the first processing operation, said support base may then be easily lifted up through said released product and removed from said vessel without having to remove the product from the vessel; and following removal of said basket and said support base from said vessel, said product may then be subjected to further processing operations within said vessel.