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.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure relates a food processing machine utilizing components using a variety of servo motors. The combination of the servo motors provides for a food processing machine without the need for complex hydraulics or gearboxes such that durability and compactness can be realized.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure relates to an electrical servo knock out assembly for use with knock out cups in a food forming machine using an electrical linear servo motor and a return spring. The combination of the linear servo motor and return spring provides for a knock out assembly without the need for complex hydraulics or gearboxes.

The food product machine with a food supply, a rotary food pump connected to the food supply, a molding mechanism having a mold plate and a knockout drive, and a mold plate reciprocating between a fill and a discharge position. The knockout drive reciprocates a knockout plunger to discharge molded food products from the mold plate, the mold plate being reciprocated between a cavity fill position and a cavity discharge position. The machine includes a manifold connected an outlet of the food pump and having an outlet passageway connected to an inlet of the molding mechanism for filling the cavity of the mold plate. The machine can further include a fill plunger system for increasing the fill pressure of the food mass prior to filling the mold cavities. Plungers extend into the manifold to displace food mass volume and increase the pressure in the manifold.

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.

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

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

A system for forming a product from a food mass. The system includes a mould member having a multitude of cavities, in which the food mass is formed; and a feed channel that feeds the food mass into the multitude of cavities. The system includes an insert to alter the width of an exit of the feed channel. The feed channel includes an upstream edge and an opposing downstream edge, and the insert is connected to the upstream edge. The insert has a straight section that contacts the food mass flowing through the feed channel. The straight section is located downstream of a section of the insert that is tapered. A width of the feed channel in a region of the section of the insert that is tapered is greater than a width of the feed channel in a region of the straight section.

Moulding device for moulding three-dimensional food products from a mass of foodstuff which can be transferred by pumping, for example a meat mass of minced meat. The device comprises a moulding drum having a peripheral surface containing multiple series of cavities extending in the peripheral direction. The device comprises a mass feed device which is arranged in a filling position with respect to the peripheral surface of the moulding drum. The peripheral surface is embodied as a profiled peripheral surface having a shaping profile. Multiple shoe segments are provided which are arranged next to one another and which have a profiled inner side with a profile which is in meshing engagement with the shaping profile. The shoe segments have freedom of movement with respect to one another, at least in the direction of the rotation axis, in order to each remain individually aligned with respect to the profile of the section with which the inner side of the shoe segment is in meshing engagement.