A method and apparatus for shaping a strand-shaped foodstuff such as a piece of meat are disclosed. A pressing chamber is delimited by walls, at least one of which is movable by a pressing device and is configured as a ram. The pressing chamber is transitioned from an initial state with a first enclosed volume into a final state with a second enclosed volume. The apparatus is suitable for integration into a transport system by way of a feed device, by which the foodstuff is fed through a first opening cross-section to the pressing chamber, and a discharge device, by which the foodstuff is discharged from the pressing chamber through a second opening cross-section, are provided, wherein the first opening cross-section is opposite the second opening cross-section so that the foodstuff is be fed and discharged in the same direction.

An apparatus for shaping a strand-shaped foodstuff, in particular a piece of meat, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pressing chamber which is delimited by walls, at least one of which is movable by means of a pressing device and is designed as a ram, whereby the pressing chamber can be transitioned from an initial state with a first enclosed volume into a final state with a second enclosed volume. The apparatus also includes a feed device for feeding the foodstuff into the pressing chamber, and a discharge device for discharging the foodstuff from the pressing chamber. In order to provide an apparatus which is suitable for simple integration into a conveyor system, the feed device and/or the discharge device is a transport belt which at least partially covers one of the walls in an interior of the pressing chamber. In addition, a method for shaping a strand-shaped foodstuff is also disclosed.

Disclosed are 3D printing equipment, a system, and a method for food design and production. The 3D printing equipment has a bipolar microwave heating antenna for focusing heating on a material in an extrusion nozzle. The extrusion nozzle is between the anode antenna and the cathode antenna of the bipolar microwave heating antenna. The anode antenna and the cathode antenna limit a microwave electric field between them, thereby implementing focused heating on the material.

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 order to be able to change a cross section of a forming cavity at least with regard to its size, in particular also with regard to its quantitative relations, longitudinal walls circumferentially surrounding the forming cavity are movably fastened relative to a base body in such a way that they can be moved at least in groups synchronously, preferably all longitudinal walls synchronously, relative to a center of the cross section of the forming cavity by means of an actuating element.

Disclosed herein is a press mechanism for a griddle to mold a steak burger puck into a formed steak burger patty. The press mechanism can include an arm connected to a hinge. The hinge can be attached to a griddle surface. The platen can be connected to the arm and can include a concave surface to receive a steak burger puck. A platen heater can be connected to the platen to heat the platen to an operating temperature.

A food process line and method are provided for processing food in a food process line. The food process line includes at least two of the following process line stations: a food preparation station, cold store, pump station or forming station for a pumpable food mass, or a dry coater, wet coating device, fryer, heater or freezer for the discrete food products. In each process line station at least one process step is carried out, the process line station having one or more actuators and/or one or more sensors. The food process line comprises an interstation control system configured to control an actuator of a first process line station on the basis of data from a sensor of a second process line station.

A method for processing a protein-containing foodstuff portion to control the thickness. The method includes cutting a raw protein-containing foodstuff portion to make cuts on a surface of the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion, the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion has a first initial thickness; and after the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion is cut, pressing the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion, wherein after pressing a thickness of the raw protein-containing foodstuff portion is reduced from the initial thickness.

A food processing apparatus for processing food products, in particular meat products, includes a press for pressing the food products with specific pressing parameters and a control unit which is connected on its output side to the press and sets the pressing parameters. A first analyzing device for analyzing the food products before pressing and for generating corresponding first analysis parameters of the food products is provided. The first analysis parameters represent product properties of the analyzed food product. The control unit is connected to the first analyzing device and sets the pressing parameters depending on the first analysis parameters.