Extrusion processes for the production of retort-stable feed products comprise forming a mixture of feed ingredients and subjecting the mixture to specific mechanical energy (SME) and specific thermal energy (STE) inputs to achieve low SME/STE ratios, followed by retorting of the extruded products. The extrusion system (20) includes a preconditioner (22), extruder (24), and a two-stage drying assembly (26/28). The extruded products may be retorted directly from the extruder or after partial or complete drying thereof.

Extrusion processes for the production of retort-stable feed products comprise forming a mixture of feed ingredients and subjecting the mixture to specific mechanical energy (SME) and specific thermal energy (STE) inputs to achieve low SME/STE ratios, followed by retorting of the extruded products. The extrusion system (20) includes a preconditioner (22), extruder (24), and a two-stage drying assembly (26/28). The extruded products may be retorted directly from the extruder or after partial or complete drying thereof.

A meat dewatering assembly (10) includes a support frame (12), a twin screw dewatering unit (14), a drive assembly (16) coupled with the unit (14), and a perforated housing (60). The unit (14) has a pair of tapered, non-parallel, intermeshed, helically flighted screws (52, 54) presenting nip clearances (59) between the fighting (55). The drive assembly (16) serves to counter-rotate the screws (52, 54). In use, emulsified meat is passed into the housing (60) during counter-rotation of the screws (52, 54), in order to compress the meat within the clearances (59) and thereby express water from the meat. Adjustment collars (38) permit selective size alteration of the nip clearances (59).

This invention relates to a system for forming a product from a food mass, comprising a mould member (8) with a multitude of cavities (9), in which the food product is formed into for example patties and a feed channel (12) which feeds the food mass into the cavities, wherein this feed channel has a width (Wfc). The present invention further relates to a method to form a food mass into patties in the mould cavities of a mould member, wherein the food mass is fed to the mould cavities via a feed channel.

This invention relates to a system for forming a product from a food mass, comprising a mould member (8) with a multitude of cavities (9), in which the food product is formed into for example patties and a feed channel (12) which feeds the food mass into the cavities, wherein this feed channel has a width (Wfc). The present invention further relates to a method to form a food mass into patties in the mould cavities of a mould member, wherein the food mass is fed to the mould cavities via a feed channel.

The present invention relates to a mould drum for moulding products from a mass of food starting material. The mould drum comprises one or more cavities with a mould cavity wall having at least partially a porous structure, whereas each cavity is connected to a passage. The present invention further relates to a cleaning apparatus and a forming apparatus preferably provided with a cleaning device for the inventive mould drum with supporting means for supporting the axis of the drum. Additionally, the present invention relates to a process for cleaning the inventive drum.

An installation for moulding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat. The installation comprises a feed pump and a moulding device with a mobile mould member having multiple mould cavities. A mass feed member is arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mould member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet of the feed pump. The member has a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal axis and having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls, short end walls, and a bottom wall facing the mould member at the fill position along the path of the mould member. The bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge openings spanning the path of said mould cavities, so that foodstuff mass flows into each row of mould cavities via said discharge mouth. The mass feed member is provided with a single elongated plunger that is slidably received in the chamber, sliding between the lateral walls and the end walls. At least one lateral wall is provided with an introduction mouth formed by one or more introduction openings spanning a major portion of the length of said lateral wall.

A paper interleaver that is separate from the food patty molding machine for inserting a sheet of paper underneath a meat patty.

A system includes a food dispenser, a cooking surface, and an arm assembly. The arm assembly is configured to receive a food product from the food dispenser and transport the food product to the cooking surface. The arm assembly includes an arm portion, an actuator, a cylinder, and a piston. The actuator drives rotation of the arm portion about a first rotational axis. The cylinder is attached to the arm portion and is rotatable relative to the arm portion about a second rotational axis. The piston is axially movable within the cylinder. The piston includes multiple stages. At least one of the stages is movable axially relative to another of the stages between a first position and a second position.

A paper interleaver that is separate from the food patty molding machine for inserting a sheet of paper underneath a meat patty.