Patent ID: 7357280

Claim:
A foodstuff feeding apparatus comprising: a hopper configured to be charged with foodstuff; a first pipe, through which foodstuff is conveyed from the hopper; a metering unit configured to divide the foodstuff conveyed through the first pipe in fixed quantities for use in a subsequent process; a piston pump provided between a lower portion of the hopper and a hopper-side end of the first pipe to draw the foodstuff from the hopper and to press out the drawn foodstuff into the first pipe; a draw-side valve provided between the lower portion of the hopper and the piston pump; and a discharge-side valve provided between the piston pump and the first pipe, wherein said apparatus is configured such that the piston pump draws the foodstuff from the hopper when the draw-side valve is opened and the discharge-side valve is closed, and the piston pump presses out the foodstuff into the first pipe when the draw-side valve is closed and the discharge-side valve is opened.