Abstract: A foodstuff feeding apparatus to convey foodstuff to a metering unit from a hopper without masking or kneading the foodstuff. The apparatus includes a piston pump provided between a lower portion of a hopper and an end of a first pipe to draw foodstuff from the hopper and to press out the drawn foodstuff into the first pipe toward a metering unit. A draw-side valve is provided between the lower portion of the hopper and the piston pump, a discharge-side valve is provided between the piston pump and the first pipe, and setting is made such that when the draw-side valve is opened and the discharge-side valve is closed, the piston pump draws the foodstuff, and when the draw-side valve is closed and the discharge-side valve is opened, the piston pump presses out the foodstuff, and that the piston pump presses out the foodstuff into the first pipe.

Abstract: A foodstuff feeding apparatus to convey foodstuff to a metering unit from a hopper without masking or kneading the foodstuff. The apparatus includes a piston pump provided between a lower portion of a hopper and an end of a first pipe to draw foodstuff from the hopper and to press out the drawn foodstuff into the first pipe toward a metering unit. A draw-side valve is provided between the lower portion of the hopper and the piston pump, a discharge-side valve is provided between the piston pump and the first pipe, and setting is made such that when the draw-side valve is opened and the discharge-side valve is closed, the piston pump draws the foodstuff, and when the draw-side valve is closed and the discharge-side valve is opened, the piston pump presses out the foodstuff, and that the piston pump presses out the foodstuff into the first pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for detection of the level of a liquid metal is disclosed. The apparatus has a liquid level detecting probe provided with an exciting coil wound in a closed bottom non-magnetic sheath over the approximately whole length thereof, a level detecting coil wound in the sheath in an upper part thereof, and a temperature compensating coil wound in the sheath in a lower part thereof; a temperature control for maintaining the coils at a constant temperature; a drive circuit for supplying the exciting coil with an alternating current of a determined frequency and amplitude; and a signal processing circuit for subjecting output voltages induced in the liquid level detecting coil and in the temperature compensating coil to linear detection and then determining the ratio of the thus detected outputs, thereby detecting the level of the liquid metal.