Abstract: An extrusion plate (1) for food paste, such as pasta, has a plurality of extrusion channels (3) each having an inlet section (4) and an outlet section (5) which are each of frustoconical shape having their bases meet to form a constriction (6). The discharge outlet is a larger diameter than the inlet and the cross-section of the channel (3) in the discharge section (5) increases in the direction of discharge of the pasta product so as to vary as a function of the stress associated with the pasta during its passage through the discharge section.

Abstract: In an apparatus for preparing fresh food paste of the type including a vessel having a bottom and forming a mixing and kneading chamber, the vessel having a closed side wall of circular cross section which is symmetrical about an axis passing centrally through the chamber, a rotatable member mounted within the chamber for rotation about the vertical axis, a drive for rotating the member in a given direction, blades located within the chamber and operatively connected to the rotatable member in a position extending away from the vertical axis, wherein the improvement comprises: the blades including a kneading blade extending into close confronting space relation with the vessel side wall and having a lower surface with leading and trailing edges defined by the given direction of rotation, the trailing edge having a normal position adjacent the vessel bottom and being moveable away from the bottom and the leading edge being positioned at a substantially greater distance from the bottom than the normal position