GB2212096A

GB2212096A - Food moulder

Info

Publication number: GB2212096A
Application number: GB8825810A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Beresford Nicholson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-11-06
Filing date: 1988-11-04
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Also published as: GB8825810D0; GB2212096B

Abstract

A food moulder (10) which is intended to prepare food product which can be moulded around carrier sticks in order to form a kebab-type product. The food moulder comprises a moulding box (11) for receiving extrudable food product, moulding apertures (13) arranged to mould the food product upon extrusion into a plurality of separate elongate food elements, a piston (15) slidable within the moulding box (11) in order to extrude the food product through the moulding apertures (13), and guide means (16, 17) provided on the face of the piston to receive the ends of the carrier sticks each introduced in use through a respective moulding aperture (13) and through the unextruded food product in the moulding box (11). The arrangement is such that, upon extrusion, each separate elongate food element is moulded substantially uniformally around its respective carrier stick, to form a kebab-type food product. <IMAGE>

Description

FOOD MOULDER This invention relates to a food moulder for preparing food products moulded around carrier sticks.

In this specification, the term "carrier sticks" is intended to refer to suitable sticks for bearing kebab type products, and including wooden or plastics sticks and skewers (usually of metal).

The invention has been developed primarily in connection with the moulding of an extrudable food product, such as minced meat, around carrier sticks so as to form grillsticks, satay or Kofta kebabs, which are a kebab type product suitable for cooking under a grille, on a barbecue, or in an oven or microwave oven.

Grillsticks or satay is usually formed from minced and seasoned beef, pork, lamb or chicken, and often the moulding of the meat around carrier sticks is carried out entirely by manual operations, which is a time consuming and tedious task, especially when large volumes are required e.g. for the fast food trade.

It is, however, known to provide a moulder which comprises a cup-shaped base into which the minced meat is pressed, and a lid having moulding apertures through which the meat is extruded so as to mould the required shape of the finished product. To cause the extruded product to be moulded simultaneously around respective carrier sticks, and therefore to partly automate the process, the carrier sticks are inserted individually through the moulding apertures and through the bulk minced meat prior to the extrusion process.However, there is no guidance for the insertion of the sticks (and particularly for reception of the lower ends of the sticks), and which is carried out purely by eye, and therefore it is very difficult to obtain substantially central mounting of the sticks within the extruded products, which is a desirable requirement both from the point of view of a pleasing visual presentation of the product to customers, and also to obtain uniform cooking of the product. There is also the disadvantage that during the extrusion process the sticks move up with the meat.

The present invention has therefore been developed with a view to provide a food moulder having improved guidance for the introduction of sticks in the extrudable food product, and to ensure that the sticks remain in position during extrusion of the product.

According to the invention there is provided a food moulder for preparing food product moulded around carrier sticks, and comprising: a moulding box for receiving extrudable food product; moulding apertures arranged to mould the food product, upon extrusion, into a plurality of separate elongate food elements; a piston relatively slidable within the moulding box and operable, upon relative displacement of the box and piston, to extrude the food product through the moulding apertures; and, guide means provided on the face of the piston to receive the ends of carrier sticks each introduced in use through a respective moulding aperture and through the unextruded food product in the moulding box, the arrangement being such that, upon extrusion, each separate elongate food element is moulded substantially uniformly around its respective carrier stick.

Thus, as will usually be the requirement, each carrier stick can be moulded in position substantially centrally within each extruded food element, and this provides a visually pleasing presentation, and also a readily cooked product.

Preferably, the moulding apertures are formed in a separate moulding plate which is detachably mounted at one end of the moulding box. and if different shaped extruded food elements are required, it is preferred that a number of separate moulding plates be provided, having moulding apertures of different size.

The guide means preferably takes the form of a series of receiving holes arranged at the end face of the piston, each corresponding to a respective moulding aperture and corresponding stick received by the hole, and conveniently a surrounding guide surface is arranged around each hole so as to guide the inserted end of a respective carrier stick to enter the hole. Each guide surface may be formed by a generally cup shaped recess.

The holes and guide surfaces of the guide means will correspond to any particular array of moulding apertures, and preferably a plurality of guide means is provided, each corresponding to a respective moulding plate. Therefore, it is convenient for the guide means to be replacably mounted at the end face of the piston.

The guide means may comprise a separate guide plate, preferably moulded in plastics material, and which is detachably mounted in one end of the piston.

To effect extrusion of the food product, it is preferred that the piston is fixed on a suitable support surface, and then the moulding box is pressed downwardly.

To facilitate this downward movement, external push handles may be provided on the moulding box.

Any number of moulding apertures may be provided in the moulding plate, though in practice there will be a limit to the number of elongate food elements which can be extruded by purely manual operations.

For larger scale production, the food moulder will be suitably enlarged from the manual version, and preferably suitable power operated elements are coupled with the relatively moving parts (the piston and the moulding box) to carry out large scale extrusion of elongate food products. There may also be provided an overhead dispenser, stocked automatically by magazines, having a required array of carrier sticks and which can be lowered automatically so as to introduce the sticks through the moulding apertures and the unextruded food product, and then to be received and guided by the guide means into required positions within the moulding box.

The moulding box and the piston may take any convenient shape, in cross section, and in one preferred embodiment each is of rectangular cross section. This ensures that the moulding apertures in the moulding plate and the receiving holes in the guide plate can be arranged in aligned pairs, and for this aligment to be maintained during extrusion of food around each stick.

In an alternative embodiment, the moulding box and the piston are of curved cross section, and preferably circular. To maintain correct initial assembly of the piston and moulding box, so that the receiving holes and the moulding apertures are in alignment, it is preferred that interengaging guide surfaces are provided on the external surface of the piston and the internal surface of the moulding box. These guide surfaces are so arranged as to bring the matching pairs of receiving holes and moulding apertures into alignment, upon suitable relative angular adjustment of the piston and the moulding box. The surfaces also maintain the correct alignment during extrusion, so that substantially uniform application of moulded food takes place around each stick.

In a convenient arrangement, one or more longitudinal grooves, preferably a V groove is arranged in the wall of each of the moulding box and piston. There may be four grooves arranged at uniform angular spacings about the peripheries of the moulding box and piston.

A food moulder according to the invention is particularly suitable for producing grillsticks and satay.

Two embodiments of food moulder according to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the component parts of the first embodiment of food moulder in assembled form; Figure 2 is a plan view corresponding to Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the component parts of the food moulder; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on A-A in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on B-B in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a plan view of the second embodiment of food moulder; Figure 7 is an underplan view of the second embodiment; Figure 8 is a section taken on A-A in Figure 6; Figure 9 is a section taken on B-B in Figure 6; and, Figure 10 is a side view of the second embodiment.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the first embodiment of food moulder according to the invention is designated generally by reference 10 and is intended to prepare food product which is moulded around carrier sticks, such as grillsticks or satay. The food moulder 10 comprises a rectangular moulding box 11, which serves to receive a charge of an extrudable food product, such as minced beef, pork, lamb or chicken. The moulding box 11 is shown in the exploded view of Figure 3, and will normally be inverted, from the position illustrated, in order to receive a charge of extrudable food product. Moulding apertures are arranged to mould the food product, upon extrusion, into a plurality of separate elongate food elements.In the illustrated embodiment, the moulding apertures are formed in a separate moulding plate 12 having circular apertures 13, and which is replacably mounted at the open end 14 of the moulding box 11. The moulding box 11 is hollow and open at each end, but at the end 14 there is provided a retaining flange for holding the moulding plate 12 in position against it.

Upon charging of the moulding box 11 with extrudable food product, it can then be inverted to the position shown in Figure 3, and the nature of the food product will be such that it is retained within the moulding box in this position.

The food moulder also includes a piston type component 15 which is slidable within the moulding box 11, upon relative displacement of the box and piston. Usually, this relative movement will take place by arranging the piston 15 on a suitable support surface, and then applying downward pressure to the moulding box 11. This then causes the food product in the moulding box 11 to be extruded through the moulding apertures 13, thereby to form extruded elongate food product.

To enable the extruded food product to be moulded around respective carrier sticks, such carrier sticks are introduced, one through each moulding aperture 13, are pressed through the unextruded food product in the moulding box 11, and are then received by guide means provided on the face of the piston component 15.

The guide means takes the form of a series of receiving holes 16 arranged at the end face of the piston 15, with each hole 16 corresponding to a respective moulding aperture 13 and receiving the inserted end of a respective carrier stick. To guide the entrance of the carrier stick into each hole, a surrounding guide surface 17 is provided, which is generally in the form of a cupshaped recess.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the guide holes 16 and guide surfaces 17 are provided in a separate guide plate 18 which is detachably mounted in the open upper end 19 of the piston 15. A limiting plate 20 is detachably mounted on a supporting ledge 21 arranged internally of the piston 15, and the guide plate 18 is then securely mounted in position on the plate 20 and within the open end 19 of the piston 15. The guide plate 18 is preferably moulded of suitable high density plastics material. The purpose of the limiting plate 20 is to limit the insertion of the carrier sticks, which pass downwardly through the holes 16 until they engage the upper surface of the limiting plate 20.

This therefore enables the carrier sticks to project uniformly above the moulding plate 12. Through-holes 16 are provided in the guide plate 18, for hygiene purposes, to enable the guide plate to be thoroughly cleaned when required.

Push handles 22 are mounted externally on the moulding box 11, and upon downward movement of the moulding box 11, the food product in the moulding box is then extruded through the moulding apertures 13. Prior to this extrusion, the carrier sticks will have been mounted in position, after being guided into suitable positions by the guide plate 18, and therefore separate elongate food elements which are extruded are moulded substantially uniformally around each carrier stick.

The moulding plate 12 and guide plate 18 shown in Figures 1 to 3 are suitable for forming relatively large cross section elongate food products, such as grillsticks.

The constructional details of the moulding plate 12 and guide plate 18 are also shown in more detail in Figures 4 and 5.

If it is required to form extruded food product of different cross section e.g. smaller cross section, such as to be suitable for making satay, a moulding plate may be provided having a much greater number of smaller moulding apertures.

The illustrated embodiments are primarily intended for manual operation, but for larger scale production, e.g. for the fast food trade or for supply to supermarkets, the food moulder can be suitably enlarged from the manual version, and provided with power operated elements coupled with the relatively moving parts, namely the piston and the moulding box, to carry out large scale extrusion of elongate food products.

Although not shown, for the large scale version, an overhead dispenser may be provided, stocked automatically by magazines, having a required array of carrier sticks and which can be lowered automatically so as to introduce the sticks through the moulding apertures and through the food product to be received by the respective guide surfaces and guide holes.

Referring now to Figures 6 to 10, the second embodiment of food moulder is designated generally by reference 30, and comprises a circular moulding box 31 in which a circular piston 32 is slidable. A circular moulding plate 33 and a guide plate 34 correspond with the moulding plate 12 and the guide plate 18 of the first embodiment. A circular push handle 35 is provided on the moulding box 31, and serves to cause extrusion of the food product around each stick when inserted into one of the guide holes in guide plate 33 and through a respective one of the moulding apertures in the moulding plate 34.

To ensure that the moulding box 31 and piston 32 are in correct angular alignment, so as to align each receiving hole in guide plate 33 with a respective one of the moulding apertures, guide surfaces are provided on the outer surface of the piston 32 and the inner surface of the moulding box 31. These take the form of four V-notches 36 arranged about the peripheries, and extending axially throughout at least the major part of the height of the moulding box 31 and piston 32. so as to maintain alignment during extrusion.

Claims

1. A food moulder for preparing food product moulded around carrier sticks, and comprising: a moulding box for receiving extrudable food product; moulding apertures arranged to mould the food product, upon extrusion, into a plurality of separate elongate food elements; a piston relatively slidable within the moulding box and operable, upon relative displacement of the box and piston, to extrude the food product through the moulding apertures; and, guide means provided on the face of the piston to receive the ends of carrier sticks each introduced in use through a respective moulding aperture and through the unextruded food product in the moulding box, the arrangement being such that, upon extrusion, each separate elongate food element is moulded substantially uniformly around its respective carrier stick.

2. A food moulder according to Claim 1, in which the moulding apertures are formed in a separate moulding plate which is detachably mounted at one end of the moulding box.

3. A food moulder according to Claim 2, including a set of separate moulding plates, having moulding apertures of different size.

4. A food moulder according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide means comprises a series of receiving holes arranged at the end face of said piston, each corresponding to a respective moulding aperture and corresponding stick received by the hole.

5. A food moulder according to Claim 4, in which a surrounding guide surface is arranged around each hole so as to guide the inserted end of a respective carrier stick to enter the hole.

6. A food moulder according to Claim 5, in which each guide surface is formed by a generally cup-shaped recess.

7. A food moulder according to any one of the preceding claims, including a plurality of guide means each corresponding to a respective moulding plate.

8. A food moulder according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the guide means comprises a separate guide plate moulded in plastics material, and detachably mounted in one end of the piston.

9. A food moulder according to any one of the preceding claims, including external push handles provided on the moulding box.

10. A food moulder.according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the moulding box and the piston are each of rectangular cross-section.

11. A food moulder according to any one of Claims 1 to 9, in which the moulding box and the piston are of curved cross-section.

12. A food moulder according to Claim 11, in which interengaging guide surfaces are provided on the external surface of the piston and on the interal surface of the moulding box, to maintain the receiving holes and the moulding apertures in alignment.

13. A food moulder according to Claim 12, in which the guide surfaces are formed by one or more longitudinal grooves arranged in the wall of each of the moulding box and the piston.

14. A food moulder according to Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in either of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.