Abstract: A short cut pasta treatment process utilizes a steamer (13) for steam treating short cut pasta products after extrusion and before handling. The steamer has a housing (14) in which pipes (23) with nozzles (24) are disposed, both above and below an endless belt conveyor (21) which passes through the housing. "Green" pasta is carried by the conveyor through the housing, exposing the pasta to live steam. The pasta is steam treated for a time sufficient to partially gelatinize and cook the pasta product, which reduces tackiness and strengthens the product to limit breakage. Air is then drawn by the pasta by a pair of fans (25) to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta, allowing the partially cooked pasta to be handled and stored without agglomeration. Utilizing the short cut pasta steaming process allows automation of the packaging and conveying system for producing a short cut product without requiring a costly and time consuming drying operation.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing a powdered substance, such as dried eggs, from a container and feeding the substance at a uniform rate to another location includes a rotating platform on which the container is placed, a suction pipe located over the container and having its lower end near the top surface of the powdered substance and attached to a pair of blades which support the pipe in the powdered substance, feed the powdered substance to the suction pipe and maintain the surface level of the powdered substance substantially uniform by breaking up clumps of the powdered substance.