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.

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.

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.

An apparatus for shaping a strand-shaped foodstuff is disclosed. A pressing chamber is provided, which is delimited by walls, one of which is movable by means of a pressing device and is designed as a ram. The pressing chamber transitions from an initial state with a first enclosed volume into a final state with a second enclosed volume. The apparatus has a feed device for feeding the foodstuff into the pressing chamber, and a discharge device for discharging the foodstuff from the pressing chamber. For compact construction, it is provided that a ram of a first pressing device, which ram comes into contact with the foodstuff located in the pressing chamber, is coupled to at least one second pressing device movable in a different direction and/or to a wall of the pressing chamber so that the second pressing device can be moved together with the ram relative to the foodstuff.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for flattening a meat product is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor, a first stamp disposed parallel to and over the conveyor, the first stamp configured to move vertically towards and away from the conveyor, a second stamp disposed perpendicular to and over the conveyor, and a plate disposed perpendicular to the conveyor, the plate disposed parallel to the second stamp, the second stamp being configured to move horizontally towards and away from the plate.

A pressing device for pressing meat products, in particular frozen and/or partly frozen meat products, preferably fresh meat products and/or bacon, comprises a pressing chamber into which a product to be pressed can be inserted by an insertion device. The insertion device comprises a conveyor that is configured to convey the product transversely to a longitudinal direction of the pressing chamber to an insertion section, wherein the conveyor is supported at a housing of the pressing device, and wherein the conveyor is movable relative to the housing between an insertion position, in which the insertion section adjoins the conveyor, and an inactivity position in which the insertion section does not adjoin the conveyor.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for flattening a meat product is provided. The apparatus includes a conveyor, a first stamp disposed parallel to and over the conveyor, the first stamp configured to move vertically towards and away from the conveyor, a second stamp disposed perpendicular to and over the conveyor, and a plate disposed perpendicular to the conveyor, the plate disposed parallel to the second stamp, the second stamp being configured to move horizontally towards and away from the plate.

In a method for moulding food patties from a food product comprising a food mass (5) having a substantially coherent structure formed by particles of the food product that are loosely connected to each other, for example ground meat, the food product is first supplied to a supply hopper (3). Food product is moved in the supply hopper to at least one discharge opening (8) of the supply hopper, from which it is discharged. The food product that has been discharged from the discharge opening of the supply hopper is fed into at least one pump chamber (12) of a positive displacement pump system. Subsequently, the food product in the pump chamber is positively displaced to an outlet opening of the pump chamber by the positive displacement pump system (20). The food product is discharged from the outlet opening of the pump chamber, and then fed into a moulding device having a plurality of mould cavities for molding the food patties. The substantially coherent structure of at least a portion of the food mass is substantially maintained when said food mass is moved in the supply hopper to the discharge opening and also when said food mass or a portion thereof is discharged from the discharge opening of the supply hopper and fed into the pump chamber.