A method for cleaning and/or evaluating a food products mould drum and a combination of such a food products mould drum and a mould drum cleaning and/or evaluating device are disclosed. The mould drum cleaning and/or evaluating device includes one or more pressure housings arranged against the outside of and over one or more mould cavities and form, together with the mould drum, an outside chamber. The outside chamber includes a chamber port connectable to a pressure line of a fluid circuit, and the mould drum includes a passage port connectable to a return line of the fluid circuit. Cleaning/evaluating occurs by allowing a pressurized fluid stream to enter via the chamber port into mould cavities and then via a wall part porous structure through a passage, and exit via the passage port to the return line of the fluid circuit.

The invention provides a method for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mould cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mould cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mould a moulded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the moulded three-dimensional product from the mould cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the moulded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.

A method of moulding products from a mass of food stuff. The method includes providing a pump, which pumps the mass towards a mould member, providing detection means, which detects unwanted objects in the mass, removing a portion of the mass via a valve in case an unwanted object is detected, moving a mould cavity, which is part of the mould member past a feed channel, wherein the feed channel is connected to a feed pump, filling the mass into the mould cavity to form a product until a predetermined filling pressure is reached, ejecting a gas through a porous sidewall and/or a porous bottom of the mould cavity to eject the product, wherein no ejection gas is provided when the predetermined filling pressure has not been reached.

A food processing system that includes at least one food and/or feed processing device and at least one cleaning device. The at least one food and/or feed processing device includes at least one part with a surface which during use will come in contact with a food product. The at least one cleaning device is configured for cleaning at least the surface. The at least one cleaning device includes means for providing a cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid is a plasma activated substance. The at least one cleaning device comprises or is coupled to a device for preparing the plasma activated substance and is provided in a porous structure of the device.

The present invention relates to a food forming drum comprising a multitude of rows product cavities, each row comprising a multitude of product cavities, wherein the product cavities are provided as one or more at least partially porous members made from a porous material with interconnecting pores. The present invention further relates to a food forming apparatus comprising a food forming drum and a porous member. Additionally, the present invention relates to a movable unit to transport a drum and a method to change a drum or clean the food forming apparatus.

A rotary molding system configured to mold food products includes a fill plate through which food product is configured to pass, a cylindrical rotatable drum having mold cavities into which the food product is configured to be deposited, and a platen mounted within the drum. The platen has a plurality of passageways configured to be in communication with the mold cavities. Drum roller supports and rollers are provided on the platen. The extends partially outwardly from the platen and are in contact with the drum.

The invention relates to the design of a food forming drum (2) which will be used for moulding food in shaped products. The application field wherein the drum will operate is the field of human consumption and pet food and reaches from meat products (poultry, pork, beef, etc), meat replacement products, fish, dairy to potatoes and vegetables products. Particularly, the present invention relates to a food forming drum comprising an inner member (24) with an inner cylinder (16) and a multitude of ribs (17) extending in radial direction from the inner cylinder and with at least one porous member, made from a porous material with interconnecting pores, connected to the ribs and wherein a multitude of rows with product cavities, each row comprising one or a multitude of product cavities, are provided in the porous member(s). The present invention further relates to a method to produce such drums.

A method for cleaning and/or evaluating a food products mould drum and a combination of such a food products mould drum and a mould drum cleaning and/or evaluating device are disclosed. The mould drum cleaning and/or evaluating device includes one or more pressure housings arranged against the outside of and over one or more mould cavities and form, together with the mould drum, an outside chamber. The outside chamber includes a chamber port connectable to a pressure line of a fluid circuit, and the mould drum includes a passage port connectable to a return line of the fluid circuit. Cleaning/evaluating occurs by allowing a pressurized fluid stream to enter via the chamber port into mould cavities and then via a wall part porous structure through a passage, and exit via the passage port to the return line of the fluid circuit.

A rotary molding system for use in a patty forming machine and configured to mold food products and a fill plate for use within the rotary molding system are provided. A replaceable wear plate is provided which seats between a reciprocating stripper plate and a fill plate. Each plate has holes through which food product passes. A drum having mold cavities receives the food product from the fill plate.

A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.