An improved rotary head extruder has at least one rotatable auger disposed within a single barrel and having an upstream end and a downstream end. The extruder has a die assembly that includes (i) a stator having a stator head at the downstream end of the at least one rotatable auger and a stationary plate surrounding an outlet end of the stator downstream from the single barrel and (ii) a rotatable plate downstream and spaced apart from the stationary plate to define a die gap. The apparatus includes a heating mechanism to maintain, within a predefined temperature range, one or more of the temperature of the die assembly or an extrudable composition disposed in the die gap.

An improved rotary head extruder has at least one rotatable auger disposed within a single barrel and having an upstream end and a downstream end. The extruder has a die assembly that includes (i) a stator having a stator head at the downstream end of the at least one rotatable auger and a stationary plate surrounding an outlet end of the stator downstream from the single barrel and (ii) a rotatable plate downstream and spaced apart from the stationary plate to define a die gap. The apparatus includes a heating mechanism to maintain, within a predefined temperature range, one or more of the temperature of the die assembly or an extrudable composition disposed in the die gap.

Popcorn machines having angled paddles and/or fluid heated troughs, and associated systems and methods of operation are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine includes a trough, a shaft extending along the trough, and a paddle assembly coupled to the shaft. The paddle assembly includes both forward-facing paddles and backward-facing paddles that can continuously move ingredients back and forth in the trough without changing the rotation direction of the shaft. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine includes one or more heating units coupled to an external surface of a trough. Heat transfer fluid can be pumped through chambers defined by the heating units to provide heat to, without mixing with, ingredients in the trough. The temperature and the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid can be controlled to provide various heating profiles along a length of the trough.

Popcorn machines having angled paddles and/or fluid heated troughs, and associated systems and methods of operation are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine includes a trough, a shaft extending along the trough, and a paddle assembly coupled to the shaft. The paddle assembly includes both forward-facing paddles and backward-facing paddles that can continuously move ingredients back and forth in the trough without changing the rotation direction of the shaft. In some embodiments, a popcorn machine includes one or more heating units coupled to an external surface of a trough. Heat transfer fluid can be pumped through chambers defined by the heating units to provide heat to, without mixing with, ingredients in the trough. The temperature and the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid can be controlled to provide various heating profiles along a length of the trough.

An apparatus for making expanded food product comprises a carriage system and a feed system. The carriage system includes a first compression head assembly adapted to compress and heat raw ingredients to provide the food product. The feed system meters and delivers the raw ingredients to the first compression head assembly. The feed system and the first compression head assembly are configured to move relative to each other. A method of expanding the food product comprises moving the first compression head assembly and the feed system relative to each other, dosing a first raw ingredients into the first compression head assembly as the first compression head assembly and the feed system move relative to each other, and cooking the food material with the first compression head assembly to provide the food product.

An apparatus for making a product, the apparatus comprises a carriage system and a controller. The carriage system includes a first compression head assembly adapted to compress and heat raw ingredients to provide the product and a moving base coupled with the first compression head assembly to move the first compression head assembly along a carriage path. The first compression head assembly includes a first platen assembly including a compression head frame, a first punch assembly, and a first actuator to move selectively the first punch assembly relative to the compression head frame. The controller has a memory with instructions stored therein and at least one processor configured to perform the instructions. The controller is configured to translate the instructions into a plurality of positions of the first punch assembly that correspond to a location of the first compression head assembly along the carriage path.

A compression head assembly comprises a first platen assembly and a second platen assembly. The first platen assembly includes a compression head frame and a first punch assembly coupled with the compression head frame. The second platen assembly includes a moving frame coupled with the compression head frame and a second punch assembly coupled with the moving frame. At least one of the punch assemblies is movable relative to the compression head frame or the moving frame to apply a compressive force between the two punch assemblies. The moving frame is movable relative to the compression head frame between a lowered position a raised position. The compression head frame and the moving frame are interlocked in the lowered position to block movement of the compression head frame relative to the moving frame in response to a compressive force applied by the punch assemblies acting on compression head frame.

A compression head assembly for making food product comprises a first platen assembly, a second platen assembly, and a moving frame actuator unit coupled with the compression head frame and the moving frame. The first platen assembly includes a compression head frame and a first punch assembly. The second platen assembly includes a moving frame coupled with the compression head frame and a second punch assembly. The second punch assembly and the first punch assembly are configured to compress and heat raw ingredients therebetween to provide the food product. The moving frame actuator unit is configured to move selectively the moving frame relative to the compression head frame to cause the second platen assembly to move relative to the first platen assembly and increase accessibility for cleaning the first platen assembly and the second platen assembly.

A compression head assembly for making a compressed product comprises a first platen assembly, a first actuator, and a first collar assembly. The first platen assembly includes a first frame and a first punch assembly having a first punch to compress and heat raw ingredients. The first actuator is coupled with the first frame and the first punch assembly to move selectively the first punch assembly relative to the first frame. The first collar assembly is coupled with the first actuator to stop the first actuator from moving the first punch assembly past a first predetermined location relative to the first platen assembly.

A platen assembly is adapted for making food product and comprises a connection manifold formed to include a manifold opening that extends axially through the connection manifold. The platen assembly comprises a punch including a cook block and a connection block that couples the punch with the connection manifold. The platen assembly comprises a ring plate spaced apart from the connection manifold and formed to include a ring plate opening that receives the cook block of the punch during operation of the platen assembly. The connection block extends away from the cook block through the manifold opening so that a gap is formed between a portion of the connection block and the connection manifold to allow the punch to move in the gap relative to the connection manifold for alignment of the cook block with the ring plate opening.