Methods and devices heat or cool viscous materials, such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices have a heat exchanger including a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passage for a product to pass through the heat exchanger.

Methods and devices heat or cool viscous materials, such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices have a heat exchanger including a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passage for a product to pass through the heat exchanger.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for processing meat product and a method of using same is provided. A first station includes a flattener which is configured to flatten a meat product, and a scanner which is configured to scan features of the meat product after flattening. A second station is configured to dock front and rear ends of the meat product in accordance with information received from the scan of the features.

In an embodiment, a form press includes three die assemblies which form press a meat product along the height, width and length thereof. Each die assembly includes a single proportional directional valve which operates a hydraulic cylinder under control of a controller. The three die assemblies are first operated under position control, and are thereafter operated under force/position control. A controller controls each proportional directional valve based on input from a bottom-side pressure sensor, a rod-side pressure sensor, and a die assembly position sensor, in a closed-loop manner for each corresponding hydraulic cylinder.

This invention relates to a method for moulding products from a mass of food stuff, comprising: —moving a mould cavity, which is part of a mould member past a feed channel which fills the mass into the cavity, wherein the feed channel is connected to a feed pump which pumps the mass through the feed channel into the cavities. —determining and/or detecting the position of the mould cavity relative to the feed channel, controlling the desired set pressure of the pump.

This invention relates to a method for moulding products from a mass of food stuff, comprising: —moving a mould cavity, which is part of a mould member past a feed channel which fills the mass into the cavity, wherein the feed channel is connected to a feed pump which pumps the mass through the feed channel into the cavities. —determining and/or detecting the position of the mould cavity relative to the feed channel, controlling the desired set pressure of the pump.

A system for forming a food product, the system includes a mould drum that includes a multitude of cavities; a feed channel that feeds the food mass into the cavities; a seal plate located downstream of the feed channel, which seals the cavities against leakage during and/or after filling; a valve provided in the seal plate, the valve includes a piston that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position to open and close a connection between the feed channel and the cavities in the mould member. The feed channel is tapered or includes an insert that is tapered in a direction opposite a flow direction of the food mass through the feed channel. The feed channel includes a sloped wall that tapers in a direction opposite a flow direction of the food mass, and the feed channel has a straight wall downstream of the sloped wall.

A cold forming process for forming a meat patty includes heating a ground meat product to a temperature T.sub.1, wherein T.sub.1≤40° F. The ground meat product is formed into an uncooked patty at temperature T.sub.1. The uncooked patty is precooked to form a precooked patty having a skin of depth D comprising denatured protein. The skin is formed on at least an area on the outside of the precooked patty. At least a first portion of the meat product disposed beneath said skin is at approximately T.sub.1. The precooked patty is cooked to form a cooked patty, wherein said at least a first portion of the meat product is at a temperature T.sub.2. The cooked patty is then frozen and then packaged.

A cold forming process for forming a meat patty includes heating a ground meat product to a temperature T.sub.1, wherein T.sub.1≤40° F. The ground meat product is formed into an uncooked patty at temperature T.sub.1. The uncooked patty is precooked to form a precooked patty having a skin of depth D comprising denatured protein. The skin is formed on at least an area on the outside of the precooked patty. At least a first portion of the meat product disposed beneath said skin is at approximately T.sub.1. The precooked patty is cooked to form a cooked patty, wherein said at least a first portion of the meat product is at a temperature T.sub.2. The cooked patty is then frozen and then packaged.

A moulding installation and method for moulding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass are described. A revolving mould drum is provided with multiple mould cavities and a mass feed member is arranged at a fill position to transfer foodstuff mass into passing mould cavities. The foodstuff mass forms a food product in the mould cavity. A pressurized air food product ejection system includes air ducts in the mould drum that extend to the cavities and at least a portion of the surface delimiting a mould cavity is air permeable. The ejection system further includes a pressurized air source to feed pressurized air at a regulated ejection air pressure thereof to the air ducts. A controller is adapted to input at least one target parameter related to filling of the mould cavities with the foodstuff mass via the mouth of the mass feed member. The controller is adapted to automatically set an ejection air pressure by the pressurized air source on the basis of the inputted target parameter.