Home pasta maker

A pasta maker, comprising:

• structure including walls defining upper and lower chambers having a communicating passageway therebetween, said upper chamber presenting an inlet for introduction of pasta making ingredients thereinto, said lower chamber presenting an outlet adapted to receive a pasta forming die;
• a rotatable mixing element within said upper chamber for mixing of said ingredients therein;
• a rotatable auger within said lower chamber for conveying said ingredients towards and through said die;
• an apertured slide valve plate;
• and
• means removably and shiftably mounting said valve plate within said passageway for selective shifting movement thereof between a first mixing position blocking communication between said chambers to permit thorough mixing of the ingredients in the upper chamber, a second feeding position wherein the plate aperture is in registry with said passageway for communicating the chambers and permitting passage of the mixed ingredients from the upper to the lower chamber, and a third cleaning position wherein the plate is detached from said passageway-defining structure,
• said valve plate mounting means including means for releasably holding said plate in said second position against inadvertent detaching movement thereof to said third position while permitting substantially unrestrained movement of the plate from said second to said first position,
• said mixing element, upon said rotation thereof and when mixed pasta making ingredients are in the upper chamber, urging said plate in a direction to prevent said movement of the plate from the second to the first position thereof,
• whereby the rotation of said mixing element and the movement of said mixed ingredients, and said holding means, cooperatively maintain the plate in said second position thereof during feeding of the mixed ingredients from the upper to the lower chamber.