EP1385687A1

EP1385687A1 - Multi-row food patty-molding apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP1385687A1
Application number: EP02717486A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Scott A. Lindee; Glenn Sandberg
Original assignee: Formax Inc
Current assignee: Formax Inc
Priority date: 2001-02-22
Filing date: 2002-02-21
Publication date: 2004-02-04
Also published as: WO2002068172A1; EP1385687A4; CA2439105C; CA2439105A1

Abstract

A mold plate assembly for a patty-forming apparatus includes a reciprocating mold plate (132) having patty-forming cavities (140a, 140b) with at least two rows of cavities aligned in a longitudinal direction, and a fill plate (172) arranged facing the mold plate. The mold plate reciprocates between a cavity fill position and a patty discharge or knock-out position. Fill slots (178) are arranged through the fill plate to fill food product into said mold cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position. According to one embodiment, a valve plate (190) is provided facing the fill plate and having valve openings (216, 218) corresponding to the fill openings of the fill plate. Accordingly to another embodiment, the mold plate assembly includes a fill hole located rearwardly of the cavities. The assembly includes a top fill plate structure (332) arranged facing the mold plate. Outlet slots (335) are arranged through the top fill plate structure to deliver food product into mold cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position.

Description

MULTI-ROW FOOD PATTY-MOLDING APPARATUS

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to food patty-molding machines. The invention particularly relates to food patty-molding machines which incorporate a reciprocating mold plate having patty-forming cavities which are cyclically filled to form patties, and then emptied, the patties being discharged to a patty-receiving area.

Background of the Invention

Food patty-forming or molding machines are described, for example, in U.S. Patents 3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821 ,376. A typical food patty-forming machine or apparatus 20 is illustrated in Figure 1. This machine is described in detail in U.S. Patent 3,887,964 and has been marketed as the FORMAX 26 machine by Formax, Inc., of Mokena, Illinois. Molding machine 20 includes a machine base 21 which supports the operating mechanisms of the machine and contains hydraulic actuating systems, electrical actuating systems, and most of the machine controls.

The food patty-molding machine 20 includes a supply means 24 for storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground beef, fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like, to the processing mechanisms of the machine. Supply means 24 includes a large food product storage hopper 25 that supplies a food pump system 26. System 26 includes two alternately operating food pumps (one shown); other machines typically include only a single food pump. The two food pumps continuously pump food, under pressure, into a valve manifold connected to a cyclically operable molding station 28. Molding station 28 includes a multi-cavity mold plate 32 that moves cyclically between a fill position, shown in Figure 1 , and a discharge position in which its mold cavities are outside of station 28, aligned with a set of knock-out cups 33.

Food supply means 24 includes a conveyor belt 31 that extends completely across the bottom of hopper 25. In Figure 1 , a limited supply of food product 38 is shown in hopper 25; a much greater supply could be stored in the hopper without exceeding its capacity. The forward end of hopper 25 communicates with a vertical hopper outlet 39 that leads downwardly into two pump chambers; only one pump chamber 69 is shown. Three motors drive three vertical feed screws. Only one motor 47 and one feed screw 53 are shown in Figure 1.

The upper part of a pump housing 71 comprises a plate 81 that supports the mold plate 32. The mold plate 32 includes a plurality of individual mold cavities 86 distributed in a single row across the width of the mold plate; mold cavities 86 are alignable with the manifold outlet fill passage 79. A mold cover 82 is disposed immediately above mold plate 32, closing off the top of each of the mold cavities 86. The mold cover 82 may include a conventional breather plate. Suitable spacers (not shown) are provided to maintain the spacing between the cover 82 and the support plate 81 , essentially equal to the thickness of the mold plate 32. A housing 88 is positioned over the cover plate 82. The housing 88 encloses the operating mechanism (not shown) for the knock-out cups 33.

In the operation of the patty-molding machine 20, a supply of ground meat or other moldable food product 38 is placed into the hopper 25, and is advanced toward the hopper outlet 39 by the conveyor 31. Whenever one of the food pump plungers, such as the plunger 68, is retracted to expose a pump cavity (e.g., the cavity 69), the vertical feed screws 53 aligned with that pump cavity are actuated to feed the food product into the pump cavity.

In Figure 1 , pumping system 26 is illustrated with the mold plate 32 in its fill position, and with the pump 61 pumping the moldable food product through the manifold 27. The pump 61 , as shown, has just begun its pumping stroke, and has compressed the food product in pump cavity 69, forcing it under pressure into the manifold 27. As operation of the machine 20 continues, the plunger 68 advances and food product flows into the mold cavities 126, there is a relatively constant pressure on the food product and chamber 69, manifold 27, fill passage 79, and cavities 86.

In describing the operation of molding mechanism 28, and particularly the mold plate 32, it is convenient to start with the mold plate 32 in the fill position in Figure 1. In each molding cycle, mold plate 32 remains in this fill position for a limited dwell interval. As the mold cavities 86 move into the fill position, one of the two food pumps of machine 20 pumps food product through manifold 27 and fill passage 79, filling the mold cavities. To assure complete filling of the mold cavities, the food pump must apply a substantial pressure to the food product.

Following the fill dwell interval, mold plate 32 is moved outwardly, to the right from its fill position, as shown in Figure 1 , until it reaches a discharge position with its mold cavities 86 aligned with knock-out cups 33. As mold plate 32 moves toward its discharge position, mold cavities 86 all move clear of fill passage 79 before any part of those cavities projects out of mold station 28, beyond support plate 81 and cover 82. Thus, the food pump in machine 20, as shown in Figure 1 , remains sealed off at all times. A second dwell interval occurs at the discharge position of mold plate 32, during which knock-out cups 33 move downwardly through the mold cavities, discharging the molded food patties onto a patty-receiving area, e.g. a take off conveyor (not shown).

Following discharge of the molded food patties, mold plate 32 is moved back toward its fill position so that mold cavities 86 can again be filled with food product. Again, mold cavities 86 are completely inside molding mechanism 28, sealed off, before they come into alignment with fill passage 79.

Although a single fill passage 79 is shown in Figure 1 , it is also known to provide multiple fill orifices which together are substantially coextensive with the area of the cavities, such as described in U.S. Patents 4,356,595; 4,821 ,376 and 4,372,008.

The present inventor has recognized that the throughput (quantity of patties per time period of machine operation), of food patties formed by the aforementioned food patty-forming machine is limited by the speed of the machine and the number of cavities that can be aligned across the single row. The present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable that the throughput of such a machine be increased, while maintaining a consistent quality of the patties formed by such a machine.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides an improved food patty-forming apparatus of the aforementioned type having a reciprocating mold plate, and which includes two or more rows of cavities, for example, forward and rearward rows, which are substantially aligned along a reciprocation direction of the mold plate. The two or more rows of cavities are filled with food product from two or more corresponding forward and rearward rows of fill openings, which communicate food product through one face side of the respective cavities.

According to one aspect of the invention, a valve plate is arranged to reciprocate between an open and closed position, to control food product flow between food product fill openings and the cavities. The valve plate reciprocates to open the two rows of cavities to respective two rows of fill openings in a synchronized fashion such that the two rows of cavities are supplied with food product in identical, consistent fashion. In this regard, the rearward row of cavities is not thereby exposed to the open forward fill openings during retraction of the rearward cavities during mold plate reciprocation. Thus, the forward row of cavities is exposed to only the open forward fill openings during the filling interval; and the rearward row of cavities is exposed to only the open rearward fill openings during the filling interval. In this way, the rearward row of cavities which pass over the forward fill openings is not over-filled or over-pressured by being exposed to the forward fill openings before or after filling by the corresponding rearward fill openings. According to another embodiment of the invention, a mold plate assembly is provided for a patty-forming apparatus that includes a reciprocating mold plate having patty-forming cavities, with at least two rows of cavities substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction. The mold plate reciprocates between a cavity fill position and a patty discharge or knock-out position. The mold plate includes a fill hole. The assembly includes a top fill plate structure and a bottom fill plate arranged facing opposite sides of the mold plate. Front and rear outlet slots are arranged through the top fill plate structure to fill food product into the mold cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position. During filling of food product into the cavities, a pressurized food product flow distribution path is established through the bottom fill plate, through the fill hole of the mold plate, through the top fill plate structure, through the outlet slots, and into the cavities. The fill hole is reciprocated between an open and a closed position with the reciprocating mold plate, to either allow food product into the mold cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position, or to prevent pressurized flow through the fill openings when the mold plate is in the closed position.

According to this aspect of the invention, the rearward row of cavities is not thereby exposed to pressurized food product from front outlet slots during retraction or extension of the rearward cavities during mold plate reciprocation. Thus, the forward row of mold cavities is exposed to only the pressurized front outlet slots during the filling interval; and the rearward row of cavities is exposed to only the pressurized front outlet slots during the filling interval. In this way, the rearward row of cavities which pass by the front outlet slots is not over-filled or over-pressured by being exposed to pressurized front outlet slots before or after filling by the corresponding rear outlet slots. According to any embodiments of the invention, the production of food patties by the patty-forming apparatus per operating period is effectively doubled compared to an apparatus with a single row of mold cavities. The mold plate assembly allows for the use of multiple rows of cavities in the mold plate and ensures consistent filling in both the rearward and forward rows of cavities. Each row of cavities is filled simultaneously without any row of cavities being over-filled, or over-pressured. The resultant food patties will have a consistent quality and density, and a resultant consistent cooking time.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a prior art food patty-molding machine;

FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a first embodiment food patty- forming apparatus according to the present invention, with the apparatus mold plate in a knock-out position;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2, but with the apparatus mold plate in a filling position;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; FIGURE 5a is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 with the apparatus mold plate at an intermediate position between the knock-out position and the filling position;

FIGURE 5b is a fragmentary, enlarged, diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 with the apparatus mold plate in a filling position;

FIGURE 5c is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 with the apparatus mold plate shown in an intermediate position between the filling position and the knock-out position;

FIGURE 6 is a chart of the mold plate and valve plate cycles for the apparatus of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a second embodiment food patty-

forming apparatus according to the present invention, with the apparatus mold plate in

a knock-out position;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the mold insert plate, mold valve plate

and mold plate of FIGURE 7, with the mold plate in the knock-out position;

FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the food patty-forming apparatus

of FIGURE 7, with the apparatus mold plate in a retracted position;

FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the mold insert plate, mold valve

plate and mold plate of FIGURE 9, with the mold plate in the retracted position;

FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken approximately as indicated by lines 11-11 in FIGURE 8, with the valve plate in a closed condition; and FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken approximately as indicated by lines 12-12 in FIGURE 10, with the valve plate in an open condition.

FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a third embodiment patty-

forming apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus mold plate shown in a

knock-out position;

FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of

FIGURE 13 with the apparatus mold plate retracted a distance rearwardly toward a fill

position;

FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of

FIGURE 14, with the apparatus mold plate moved a further distance, nearing a fully

retracted position;

FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of

FIGURE 15, moved a further distance, with the apparatus mold plate at a fully retracted

position;

FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of

FIGURE 16 with the apparatus mold plate moved a distance toward the knock-out

position; and

FIGURE 18 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of

FIGURE 17 with the apparatus mold plate moved a further distance toward the knock¬

out position. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a first embodiment food patty-forming apparatus 120 of the present invention. Except as otherwise described herein, the apparatus 120 is of a type such as described in U.S. Patents 3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821 ,376, herein incorporated by reference.

The apparatus 120 includes a supply apparatus 124 for storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground beef, fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like to the processing mechanism of the apparatus. The supply apparatus 124 includes a storage hopper (not shown) and a food pump system 126. The supply apparatus can be as disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,356,595 and 4,372,008 herein incorporated by reference. The apparatus includes a mold plate 132 that moves cyclically between a discharge or knock-out position shown in FIGURE 2 and a fill position shown in FIGURE 3. In the discharge position, two rows of food patties 140a, 140b which occupy two rows of mold cavities, front mold cavities 142a, and rear mold cavities 142b, respectively, within the mold plate 132, are discharged by downward movement of two rows of knock-out cups 146a, 146b, respectively. The food patties can be delivered to a take-off conveyor such as shown in Figure 7. The mold plate 132 is guided for reciprocation between a support plate 158 and a cover plate or breather plate 164. The cover plate 164 provides breather holes 168 and an associated air channel 169 flow connected to the breather holes for allowing the expulsion of air during filling of the two rows of mold cavities 142a, 142b. Breather hole

locations and patterns are disclosed in the patent application "Improved Patty-Forming

Mold Plate Assembly," U.S. Serial No. 09/545,804, filed April 8, 2000, and herein ^'

incorporated by reference.

A fill plate 172 is fit within the support plate 158 and includes a top surface 173 which is planar with a contiguous top surface 174 of the support plate 158. The fill plate 172 includes a forward row of fill openings, such as fill slots 176, and a rearward row of fill openings, such as fill slots 178, where "forward" and "rearward" refer to the reciprocation direction L of the mold plate 132 from the fill position toward the discharge

position.

A valve plate 190 is arranged beneath the fill plate 172. The valve plate 190 is reciprocatable along the reciprocation direction L of the mold plate 132. In this regard, a pair of reciprocation mechanisms 208 are used to precisely reciprocate the valve plate 190. The valve plate 190 includes forward and rearward rows of valve openings such as forward valve slots 216, and rearward valve slots 218. The slots are oblong in the transverse direction, having substantially the same size and shape as corresponding overlying fill slots. The valve slots include flared bottom edges. In the valve plate position shown in FIGURE 2, the slots 216, 218 are effectively closed at their top ends by the fill plate 172. Each reciprocation mechanism 208 includes a vertically disposed shaft 226 which has a horizontally disposed cam 230 connected thereto at top end of the shaft 208. The cam 230 is positioned within a circular bearing 236 fit within the valve plate 190. Rotation of the shaft 226 causes rotation of the cam 230 and reciprocation of the valve plate 190. In the disclosed exemplary embodiment, the shaft 226 is oscillated over an arc of 180°, rather than being continuously rotated.

A housing 250 of the food product delivery system 126 underlies and supports the support plate 158. Food product is pumped under pressure through a delivery channel 254, and then through a valve cylinder 256. Food product from the valve cylinder is pressurized into an expanded fill passage 260. In the discharge position shown in FIGURE 2, no food product can be delivered from the fill passage 260 through the valve plate 190 due to the solid features of the overhead fill plate 172, when the mold plate 132 is in its discharge or knock-out position.

The apparatus 120 is shown in FIGURE 3 with the mold plate 132 in the completely retracted, fill position. At this position, the fill slots 176, 178 are in registry with the two rows of cavities 142a, 142b respectively. Additionally, in the fill position illustrated, the reciprocating mechanism 208 has moved the valve plate 190 to the left to cause a registry between the respective fill slots 176, 178 and the valve slots 216, 218. Thus, pressurized food product can flow from the expanded fill passage 260 through the valve slots 216, 218, the fill slots 176, 178 and into the two rows of cavities 142a, 142b.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the fill plate 172 overlying the valve plate 190. The two rows of cavities 142a, 142b of the mold plate 132 are shown in phantom in the fill position over the feed slot plate 172, for reference. According to the embodiment, two rows of cavities 142a, 142b are utilized, each row having six cavities. It is of course encompassed by the invention that more rows, and/or more or less cavities per row, could be used.

The direction of reciprocation L is indicated on the left side of FIGURE 4. The fill plate 172 is fixedly connected to the support plate 158 by a plurality of fasteners 270. The valve plate 190 is shown dashed and located below the fill plate 172. The reciprocation mechanism 208 includes two shafts 226 connected respectively to the two cams 230.

Referring to FIGURES 2 and 4, the shafts 226 are connected to gears 276 arranged below the cams 230. A two-way cylinder 280 is provided below the fill plate 172 and arranged extending laterally. The two-way cylinder 280 includes a first output shaft 282 and an opposite, second output shaft 284. The output shafts 282, 284 are fastened to an internal piston (not shown) of the cylinder 280 and are fastened externally thereof to racks 288, 290 respectively. The racks 288, 290 have toothed regions 291 , 292 that are respectively enmeshed with the gears 276. Thus, when the piston within the cylinder 280 and the shafts 282, 284 move from right to left, the racks 288, 290 move from right to left which causes counterclockwise rotation of the gears 276, counterclockwise rotation of the shafts 226, and counterclockwise rotation of the cams 230. The cams 230 rotate within the bearings 236 which causes corresponding translation of the plate 190 along the reciprocation direction L. When the two-way cylinder 280 reverses direction and moves from left to right, the opposite translation of the valve plate 190 occurs. The cylinder 280 is controlled by the apparatus control C for synchronized oscillation.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the fill slots 176, 178 are not in registry with the valve slots 216, 218. The mold plate 132 shown in FIGURE 4 is in the knock-out position or discharge position, as also shown in FIGURE 2. When the reciprocating mechanism rotates the cams 230 180° from the position shown, the valve slots 216, 218 will be in registry with the fill slots 176, 178 respectively, and the cavities 142a, 142b will be located as shown in phantom.

For simplicity, the valve slots 216 carry the same reference number across the transverse row of valve slots, and the valve slots 218 carry the same reference number across the second row of valve slots. Likewise, the fill slots 176 use the same reference number across the first row of fill slots, and the fill slots 178 carry the same reference number across the second row of fill slots.

FIGURE 5a illustrates the mold plate 132 after having the patties 140a, 140b removed by the cups 146a, 146b and being retracted toward the fill position, at the last moment before the fill slots 176, 178 begin to register with the valve slots 216, 218, by action of the cams 230. At this point, a trailing edge 142c of the rearward cavity 142b has just passed the forward fill slot 176. The mold plate 132 is moving from right to left in FIGURE 5a.

FIGURE 5b illustrates the fill position wherein the mold plate has moved from the position shown in FIGURE 5a to its most retracted fill position of FIGURE 5b. During the travel from the position shown in FIGURE 5a to the position shown in FIGURE 5b, the valve slots 216, 218 have moved to become fully in registry with the fill slots 176, 178 and pressurized food product has passed into the cavities 142a, 142b. After a dwell time in the position shown in FIGURE 5b, the mold plate begins to translate toward the knock-out or discharge position.

In FIGURE 5c the mold plate 132 is moving from the fill position toward the knock-out position. By the time the mold plate 132 has moved to the extent that the edge 142c of the rearward mold cavity 142b has reached the fill slot 176, the valve plate 190 has been shifted from left to right by the cam 230 such that the valve slot 216, 218 are closed off from the fill slots 176, 178, respectively. In this way, the rearward food patty 140b is not again subjected to a filling pressure from the fill slot 176 as it passes thereby.

As set forth in U.S. Patents 4,356,595 and 4,821 ,376, and 4,372,008, the quality of the molded food patties can be improved by relieving the pressure on the food product and the pump cavity and in the fill passage throughout a substantial portion of the molding cycle. The valve plate 190 is also used to facilitate the control of the food product pressure. The preferred pressure relationship of the embodiment is illustrated in FIGURE 6 as a function of the mold plate cycle timing.

In FIGURE 6, the phantom line curve 321 shows the cyclic movement of the mold plate 132. The solid line curve 322 illustrates the pressure applied to the food product in the fill passage 260 of the apparatus 120.

As indicated in FIGURE 6, a given maximum fill pressure 323 is applied to the food product in fill passage 260 during the fill dwell interval 326, to assure complete filling of the mold cavities 142a, 142b. Immediately following the fill dwell interval 326, in a succeeding transition interval 327 in which mold plate 132 is moving away from its fill position but a part of each mold cavity 142 remains in communication with the fill slots, the pressure on the food product is reduced to an intermediate pressure 324 much less than the fill pressure 323. Typically, pressure 324 may be approximately 20% of fill pressure 323, though this value may vary depending upon the nature of the food product and the size and configuration of the mold cavities. Intermediate pressure 324 should be sufficient to preclude back flow of food product from the mold cavities into the fill passage 260 during the transition interval 327. This requirement can be met by maintaining intermediate pressure 324 in a range of about 10% to 50% of the maximum fill pressure 323, in most instances.

As also indicated in FIGURE 6, the pressure on the food product is preferably retained at or below the intermediate pressure 324 during the remainder of the cycle. That is, during extended interval 325 until near the end of the mold cycle, pressure on the food product remains at, or below, intermediate pressure 324. The pressure relief interval 325 may be maintained through a major portion of the mold plate cycle.

FIGURES 2 through 5c illustrate the apparatus 120 having a fill plate 172 with a single oblong fill slot 176, 178 per each mold cavity 142a, 142b, and a valve plate also with a single oblong opening 216, 218 per each mold cavity 142a, 142b. However, for some food products, a multi-orifice fill opening into the molding cavities is preferred in order to achieve uniform patty texture and subsequent minimal cooking shrinkage. Accordingly, it is also encompassed by the invention to use a multi-orifice fill plate with an underlying multi-orifice valve plate as illustrated in FIGURES 7 through 12.

FIGURES 7 through 12 illustrate a second embodiment apparatus 330. The apparatus utilizes a perforated, multi-orifice fill plate 332 having fill orifices 333, recessed within slots 335, in lieu of the slotted fill plate 172 of the first described embodiment. The fill plate 332 is located in a position below the mold plate 132 and at least partially within a recess 337 on the support plate 158. The fill orifices 333 are open (via the slots 335) to a face of the cavities 142a, 142b in the fill position. A valve plate 340 is supported for horizontal reciprocal movement by the support plate 158 beneath the fill plate 332. The valve plate 340 includes valve orifices 342 which are registerable with the fill plate orifices 333 in a fill position of the valve plate 340.

Whereas in the first illustrated embodiment the valve plate190 was arranged to translate longitudinally (along the direction of mold plate reciprocation), the valve plate 340 of the alternate embodiment is arranged to be translated laterally to register the valve orifices 342 with the fill orifices 333 or alternately to close the fill orifices 333 with solid portions of the valve plate 340.

It is however also encompassed by the invention to arrange the valve plate 190 of the first embodiment to reciprocate laterally, and to arrange the valve plate 340 of the second embodiment to reciprocate longitudinally.

To move the valve plate from a fill or open position to a closed position, a hydraulic cylinder 350 (shown schematically in FIGURES 8 and 10) can be used which is operationally connected to the valve plate 340. The hydraulic cylinder can be pneumatically driven or hydraulic fluid driven. The valve plate is guided to reciprocate horizontally between the fill plate 332 and the support plate 158, by force from the hydraulic cylinder 350. The hydraulic cylinder is controlled to create a cyclic or oscillating lateral force on the valve plate 340, synchronized with the reciprocation of the mold plate 132. In this regard, the hydraulic cylinder can be a bidirectionally acting cylinder ("two way cylinder") or can be a single direction cylinder ("one way cylinder") combined with a return spring. Alternatively, instead of a single hydraulic cylinder, multiple hydraulic cylinders can be used. Furthermore, other motive devices can be used such as a cam arrangement driven hydraulically or driven by an electric motor, or by a linear electric motor or positioner, or other known device. The operation and timing of the valve plate 340 is effectively the same as the operation described above associated with FIGURES 5a through 6.

The apparatus 330 includes a cover plate 360 overlying a top breather plate 362

and a bottom breather plate 364. The breather plates 362, 364 include breather holes

368, 370 arranged to register with the cavities 142a, 142b, respectively during filling of

the cavities with food product, and breather channels 372, 374 in flow communication

with the respective breather holes 368, 370. The breather holes 368, 370 and

channels 372, 374 are used to remove air from the cavities during filling of the cavities

with pressurized food product.

FIGURES 7, 8 and 11 illustrate the apparatus 330 with the mold plate 132 in the

discharge or knock-out stage or position. The knock-out cups 146a, 146b are shown in

a downward position, having just discharged patties 140a, 140b from cavities 142a,

142b, respectively. The patties 140a, 140b can be deposited on a product conveyor

375 to move to a collection area for packaging. The fill plate orifices 333 (shown in

FIGURE 8 as open circles) are out of registry with the valve plate holes 342 (shown

schematically in FIGURE 8 as solid circles), i.e., the valve plate 340 is in the closed

position. FIGURES 9, 10 and 12 illustrate the apparatus 330 with the mold plate 132

retracted in the fill stage or position. The valve plate 340 has been shifted laterally

inwardly (upwardly in FIGURE 10) by a distance x, and all of the valve plate holes 342

now register with, or are superimposed by the fill plate orifices 333. This shift

establishes a flow path of pressurized food product from the fill passage 260, through

the valve plate 340, through the fill plate 332, and into the cavities 142a, 142b.

FIGURE 11 illustrates the relationship between the valve plate 340 and of the fill

plate 332. The valve plate holes 342 are not in registry with the orifices 333 of the fill

plate, i.e., the valve plate is in the closed position.

FIGURE 12 illustrates the relationship between the valve plate 340 and of the fill

plate 332 wherein the mold plate 132 is in the retracted position, and the valve plate is

in the open position. The valve plate 340 has been shifted and the valve plate holes

342 to are in registry with the fill plate orifices 333.

FIGURE 13 illustrates a third embodiment food patty-forming apparatus 1120 of the present invention. Except as otherwise described herein, the apparatus 1120 is of a type such as described in U.S. Patents 3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821 ,376, herein incorporated by reference.

The apparatus 1120 includes a supply apparatus 1124 for storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground beef, fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like to the processing mechanism of the apparatus. The supply apparatus 1124 includes a storage hopper (not shown) and a food product pump system 1126. The supply apparatus can be as disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,356,595 or 4,372,008 herein incorporated by reference. The apparatus includes a mold plate 1132 that moves cyclically between a discharge or knock-out position shown in FIGURE 13 and a fill position or stage shown in FIGURES 15 and 16. In the discharge position, two rows of food patties 1140a, 1140b which occupy two rows of mold cavities, front mold cavities 1142a, and rear mold cavities 1142b, respectively, within the mold plate 1132, are discharged by downward movement of two rows of corresponding knock-out cups 1146a, 1146b, respectively. The food patties can be delivered onto a take-off conveyor 1175.

According to the embodiment, two rows of cavities, front cavities 1142a and rear cavities 1142b, are utilized, each row having six cavities (not shown). It is of course encompassed by the invention that more rows, and/or more or less cavities per row, could be used.

The mold plate 1132 is guided for reciprocal movement by a support plate 1158, a bottom fill plate 1172, and a top fill plate structure 1162. A cover plate 1164

overlies the top fill plate structure 1162. The top fill plate structure 1162 includes a top

fill plate 1168, and a breather plate 1174. The breather plate 1174 includes breather

holes 1180, 1182 in air communication with the front and rear cavities 1142a, 1142b

respectively, and with lateral air channels 1183a, 1184a and longitudinal air channels

1183b, 1184b, respectively. The breather holes are recessed in dished areas 1180a,

1182a. Breather hole locations and patterns are disclosed in the patent application

"Improved Patty-Forming Mold Plate Assembly," U.S. Serial No. 09/545,804, filed April

8, 2000, and herein incorporated by reference. The channels 1183a, 1183b are formed into a top surface of the breather plate 1174, and the channels 1184a, 1184b are

formed into a bottom surface of the top fill plate 1168. The top fill plate 1168 includes

an overhead fill cavity 1186 partly defined by the cover plate 1164. The breather plate

1174 includes a fill opening 1190 and a front outlet slot 1192 and a rear outlet slot

1194, all open to the fill cavity 1186 of the top fill plate 1168.

Below the mold plate 1132 is the bottom fill plate 1172. The bottom fill plate

1172 is fit on, and partly recessed within, the support plate 1158, and includes a top surface 1198 which is planar with a contiguous top surface 1204 of the support plate 1158. The bottom fill plate 1172 is mounted to the support plate 1158 by a plurality of fasteners 1270. The bottom fill plate 1172 includes a fill delivery channel 1206 open at

an outlet 1207 at a top end, and flow connected at a bottom end to the pump system

1126.

The mold plate includes a fill hole 208 located rearwardly of the two rows of

cavities 1142a, 1142b. In the position shown in FIGURE 13, a solid portion 1212 of the

mold plate 1132 is interposed between the fill opening 1190 and the fill delivery channel

1206, blocking food product communication therebetween. When the mold plate 1132

is in the position shown in FIGURE 13, food product under reduced (or zero) pressure

is effectively trapped above the mold plate 1132 within the fill opening 1190, the fill

cavity 1186, and the front and rear outlet slots 1192, 1194 (indicated in the FIGURES

by speckling).

For simplicity, only one longitudinally arranged pair of the cavities 1142a, 1142b and one set of corresponding features, such as the knock-out cups 1146a, 1146b, groups of breather holes 1180, 1182, channels 1183a, 1183b, 1184a, 1184b, fill hole 1208, delivery channel 1206, fill inlet 1190, fill cavity 1186, and front and rear outlet slots 1192, 1194, are shown and described. Given that the front and rear cavities 1142a, 1142b would advantageously be multiplied across the width of the mold plate 1132, the corresponding features can also be multiplied across the apparatus in like fashion. Alternatively, some corresponding features, such as the cavity 1186, could possibly be shared by more than one pair of cavities 1142a, 1142b across the rows.

A housing 1250 of the food product pump system 1126 underlies and supports the support plate 1158. Food product is pumped under pressure through a delivery channel 1254, and then through a valve cylinder 1256. Food product from the valve cylinder is pressurized into an expanded fill passage 1260.

As the mold plate is retracted from right to left in the direction L, as illustrated

progressively in FIGURES 13 through 16, the fill hole 1208 is eventually positioned

between the inlet fill opening 1190 and the fill delivery channel 1206. Pressurized food

product can then begin to pass (FIGURE 15) from the expanded fill passage 1260,

through the fill delivery channel 1206 and out of the outlet 1207, through the fill hole

1208, through the fill opening 1190, into the overhead cavity 1186, through the front

and rear outlet slots 1192, 1194 and into the mold plate cavities 1142a, 1142b.

As illustrated in FIGURE 17, the mold plate has begun to move toward the

knock-out position. Before the rear cavities 1142b are exposed to the front outlet slot

1192, the mold plate solid portion 1212 closes off the fill opening 1190 from the fill

delivery channel 1206. Thus, the strategic location of the mold plate fill hole 1208, the delivery channel 1206 and the fill opening 1190 ensure that the rear cavities 1142b are

not subjected to pressurized food product from the front outlet slots 1192 when passing

thereby from either forward or reverse direction. The front cavities 1142a are only fed

by pressurized food product by the front outlet slots 1192 and that the rear cavities

1142b are only fed by pressurized food product by the rear outlet slots 1194.

FIGURE 18 shows the mold plate 1132 extended toward the knock-out or discharge position, nearing the position shown in FIGURE 13, wherein the cycle is repeated.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.

Claims

THE INVENTION CLAIMED IS:

1. An improved food product patty-forming apparatus, comprising: a mold plate arranged to be reciprocated in a longitudinal direction between a forward, discharge position and a rearward, fill position, and having two rows of mold cavities through a thickness thereof, said rows extending in a lateral direction; a food product delivery channel having two rows of fill openings, a forward row of fill openings and a rearward row of fill openings that are openable to communicate food product into said two rows of cavities, respectively; and a valve arranged in said food product delivery channel, said valve operable to cyclically open and close at least said forward row of fill openings.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said rows of cavities are straight rows.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises a valve plate that is arranged to reciprocate in said longitudinal direction.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises a valve plate that is arranged to reciprocate in a lateral direction.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises a valve plate and said apparatus comprising a mechanism for reciprocating said valve plate, said mechanism comprising a reversible piston/cylinder device and at least one cam in engagement with said valve plate, said reversible piston/cylinder device connected to said cam to rotate said cam, rotation of said cam causing reciprocation of said valve plate.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said valve comprises a valve plate and said apparatus comprising a mechanism for reciprocating said valve plate, said mechanism comprising a pair of cams and a reversible piston/cylinder device connected to said pair of cams to rotate said cams, said pair of cams in engagement with said valve plate, and spaced apart laterally, to oscillate said valve plate upon rotation of said cams.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said fill openings are elongated slots.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , where said valve comprises valve openings and said fill openings each contain plural orifices which communicate into each cavity.

9. A food patty-molding apparatus, comprising: a apparatus frame; a mold plate having at least two cavities and mounted to reciprocate with respect to said frame in a longitudinal direction to position said two cavities between a rearward, fill position and a forward, mold patty knock-out position, said two cavities being aligned along the longitudinal direction; a food product delivery channel mounted to said frame and having respective rearward and forward fill openings into said two cavities, when said mold plate is in said fill position; and a valve plate arranged between said mold plate and said fill openings, said valve plate reciprocable to selectively open and close at least said forward row of fill openings.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, comprising a reciprocation mechanism which is configured to oscillate said valve plate.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said reciprocation mechanism comprises a reversible piston/cylinder device and at least one cam in engagement with said valve plate, said reversible piston/cylinder device connected to said cam to rotate said cam, rotation of said cam causing reciprocation of said valve plate to rotate said cams.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said valve plate includes valve openings which are registerable with said fill openings.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said valve openings have open areas coextensive with said fill openings.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said fill openings and said valve openings are elongated slots.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said valve opening and said fill openings each contain plural orifices which communicate into each cavity.

16. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said valve plate is reciprocable longitudinally in a direction of mold plate movement.

17. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said valve plate is reciprocable laterally of a direction of mold plate movement.

18. A patty-forming apparatus, comprising:

a reciprocating mold plate having front and rear rows of mold cavities and a fill

hole, said mold plate arranged to reciprocate between a mold cavity fill position and a

mold cavity discharge position;

a food product delivery path having an inlet and front and rear outlets, said front

and rear outlets in fluid communication with said front and rear rows of mold cavities

when said mold plate is in said fill position;

a food product feed system having an outlet for delivering pressurized food

product; and in said mold cavity fill position, said outlet connected via said fill hole to said inlet

for delivering pressurized food product from said food product feed system into said

delivery path, and out of said front and rear outlets into said front and rear rows of

cavities, and in said mold cavity discharge position said mold plate blocking flow from

said outlet.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said rows of cavities are straight rows.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said fill hole is arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said food product delivery path is arranged above the mold plate.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said food product feed system is arranged below said mold plate.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18, comprising a breather plate arranged above the mold plate and having breather holes open into said front and rear rows of cavities, and air discharge channels in fluid communication with said breather holes.

24. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said fill hole is circular.

25. The apparatus according to claim 18, comprising front and rear knock-out cups arranged to vertically reciprocate to remove patties from said front and rear mold cavities at said discharge position.

26. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said fill hole is arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities, said food product delivery path is arranged above the mold plate, said food product feed system is arranged below said mold plate, and comprising a breather plate arranged above the mold plate and having breather holes open into said front and rear rows of cavities and air discharge channels in fluid communication with said breather holes.

27. A patty-forming apparatus, comprising:

a bottom fill plate having a food product delivery channel communicating with a

source of pressurized food product;

a mold plate reciprocally mounted over said bottom fill plate and having at least

a first and a second row of cavities, and a fill hole;

a top fill plate structure arranged overlying said mold plate and providing a fill

channel, said fill channel being arranged to be in fluid communication with said first and

second mold cavities when said mold plate is in a fill position; and in said fill position, said food product delivery channel is in fluid communication

with said fill hole, said fill channel and said first and second rows of the cavities, and

when said mold plate is in a discharge position, said fill hole is no longer in fluid

communication with said delivery channel and said mold plate blocks said delivery

channel.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said rows of cavities are straight rows.

29. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said fill hole is arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities.

30. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said top fill plate structure includes a breather plate, said breather plate having first and second groups of breather holes open into said first and second rows of cavities respectively, and air discharge channels in air communication with said breather holes.

31. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said fill hole is circular.

32. The apparatus according to claim 27, comprising front and rear knock-out cups arranged to vertically reciprocate to remove patties from said first and second mold cavities at said discharge position.

33. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said fill hole is arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities, wherein said first and second rows of cavities are straight rows, wherein said top fill plate structure includes a breather plate, said breather plate having first and second groups of breather holes open into said first and second rows of cavities respectively, and air discharge channels in air communication with said breather holes, and wherein said apparatus comprises front and rear knock-out cups arranged to vertically reciprocate to remove patties from said first and second mold cavities at said discharge position.