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.

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.

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. The form press has a single hydraulic circuit which operates the die assemblies.

Device for dispensing a food item into a hot fluid comprises a bowl having a permanent base and a movable plate positioned about the permanent base. A bottom of the bowl defines an opening for receiving a shaft extending therethrough. The shaft is coupled to the movable plate. A shank is selectively engaged with the bowl, the shank having a handle at a proximal end thereof. A lever is pivotably attached to the shank. The pivotal attachment is spaced apart from the bowl. The lever is detachably coupled to the shaft to impart translation of the movable plate. During operation, the lever is manipulated from a first position to a second position to push the shaft to move the movable plate to thereby eject the food item out of the bowl and into a hot fluid.

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.

The present invention relates to a gripping device for picking up, conveying, and delivering a product, the gripping device including: a base structure which may be attached to a handling device by means of a coupling element, preferably so in a non-destructively detachable manner; at least two gripper members having each at least one bottom surface and at least one top surface, said top surface of the gripper members facing towards the coupling element and said bottom surfaces of the gripper members facing away from the coupling element; at least one drive means for reversibly moving the gripper members between a first position, in which the gripper members may be positioned on opposite sides of the product to be picked up, and a second position, in which the gripper members seize the product to be picked up; and an abutment plate which is at least approximately supported by the top surfaces of the gripper members.

The present invention relates to a system for picking up, conveying, and delivering a foodstuff product to a processing machine which preferably has an upright magazine tube, said system including: a handling device, a gripping device releasably attachable to the handling device, a transporting apparatus, and a control unit; wherein the transporting apparatus has a transporting portion on which the foodstuff product that is to be picked up by the gripping device may be positioned in a pick-up position allowing the foodstuff product to be picked up by the gripping device, and the control unit is connected at least to the handling device of the gripping device and to the transporting apparatus; wherein the control unit is configured for detecting when the foodstuff product to be picked up has reached the pick-up position.

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. The form press has a single hydraulic circuit which operates the die assemblies.

A device for producing meat products includes an assembly formed from a plurality of walls maintainable in a fixed relationship to one another during a joining operation, surfaces of the plurality of walls defining work surfaces disposed to surround raw pieces of meat placed therein to be joined. A drive mechanism is configured to drive the assembly, which can form a cooking container such as a cooking box, along a first axis in a reciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the first axis at frequency of at least 1 Hz and to drive the assembly along a second axis in a reciprocating movement of at least 10 mm along the second axis at frequency of at least 1 Hz, wherein the first axis and the second axis are angled with respect to each other, and the drive mechanism drives the assembly at different frequencies along the first and second axes.

The invention relates to a device and a method that can be carried out using said device, for producing meat products using pieces of raw meat that are joined together and subsequently cooked and/or that absorb a liquid composition. The device has working surfaces that encompass an inner volume, at least one of said working surfaces having a drive for back-and-forth motion and for pressing the at least one working surface against pieces of raw meat situated in the inner volume that is encompassed by the working surfaces.