Patent ID: 7160098

Claim:
A string hopper making machine comprising, a cylindrical dough container removably mounted in a vertical manner in a generally L-shaped frame having two spaced mutually parallel vertical side plates with a front extension portion extending forward from said frame, said container having a cylindrical well with a circular inside shoulder having a smaller diameter than said well and formed at a bottom opening therein, a horizontal support plate fixedly mounted to a lower edge of said extension portion, a container mounting opening formed in said support plate and adapted to engage with a lower portion of said container for mounting said container to said support plate; an extrusion plate removably located within said well and resting on said shoulder, said extrusion plate having extrusion openings of a selected configuration formed therein, a piston mounted on a vertical rod extending slidably in a vertical manner through a vertical channel in a guide block mounted on said frame, said rod having an upper end pivotally mounted to a front end of a lever arm, said piston adapted to engage slidably within said well, an inverted T-shaped pivot block rotatably mounted at a top portion of said frame, said pivot block having a horizontal rod with a pivot arm extending perpendicular to a middle location therein, said pivot arm having an upper free end pivotally mounted an end of a lever arm, an inverted U-shaped bracket formed at a lower surface of a front end of said lever arm, and said upper end of said vertical rod being pivotally mounted to said front end of said U-shaped bracket