GB2355173A

GB2355173A - Burger forming apparatus and method

Info

Publication number: GB2355173A
Application number: GB9924601A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Delaney; Oliver St Clair Hood
Original assignee: FALCON CONCEPTS Ltd
Current assignee: FALCON CONCEPTS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-10-13
Filing date: 1999-10-18
Publication date: 2001-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-18
Also published as: GB9924601D0; IE990853A1; GB2355173B

Abstract

A burger forming apparatus 1 comprises an upper mould part 10 and a lower mould part 11 which are pushed together to form a predetermined quantity of ground meat into a burger pattie. At least one and in some cases both of the mould parts 10, 11 has a shaped projection provided by three depending arms 20 arranged in a Y shape. The arms 20 form indents which project into the body of the pattie, on forming. The Y-shaped indents render all of the pattie accessible for heating and assist in maintaining the pattie flat during cooking to achieve even and efficient cooking.

Description

2355173 A method and am)aratus for producing formed food products"

Introduction

The invention relates to food products and in particular to burger patties, especially those formed substantially from ground meat. There are several problems 'in producing high quality fresh burger patties in a cook to order restaurant environment. Generally ground meat must be formed into a 10 desired shape and cooked to customer requirements. It is extremely difficult 'in a busy restaurant environment to ensure that all burger patties are produced to a required size and effectively and efficiently cooked. One of the problems is in the efficient cooking of the burger patties. The cooking cycle is relatively long and generally not repeatable across a batch of patties. 15 This invention is directed towards providing an improved apparatus and method for preparing a burger pattle which will overcome these problems. Statements of Invention 20 According to the invention there is provided an apparatus for forming a burger pattle comprising an upper mould part and a lower mould part which define therebetween a recess for receiving ground material to be formed into a burger pattle and means for driving the mould parts together to shape the material 25 wherein at least one of the mould parts includes a pattle engaging face having a number of arms which project radially outwardly from a centre of the mould part towards a side edge thereof, the arms extending for a length of from 40 to 80% of the radius of the pattle engaging face, the arms forming indents in the burger pattle, on forming. 30

Preferably there are three arms.

Ideally the arms are arranged in a generally Y-shtpe.

The arms may be provided on only one mould oart. Alternatively, the arms are provided on both mould parts. In one case the arms of the mould parts are in alignment. In another case, the arms of the mould parts are out of alignment. 10 In a preferred embodiment the arms extend for a length of from 50 to 70% of the radius of the pattle engaging face of the mould part. Preferably the arms extend into the burger pattie, on formig, for a distance of 15 from 20 to 80% of the thickness of the pattie. In another aspect the invention provides a method for preparing a burger pattie mcludmig the step of formig a burger pattle usirig the apparatus of the mivention comprising the steps of Misertig a predetermined quality of ground material 20 between the upper and lower mould parts and drivmig the mould parts towards one another to form the material into a burger pattie shape with a number of radially extending indents, the indents extending for a length of from 50% to 80% of the radius of the burger pattie. Preferably,-.he method includes the step of cooking the burger pattle thus formed. 25 The invention further provides a burger pattle whenever prepared using an apparatus or by a method of the invention.

3- Preferably the burger pattle has a number of radial indents formed 'in one or both faces thereof, the indents extending for a length of from 50 to 80% of the radius of the pattie.

Ideal-ly the indents extend for a length of from 60 to 70% of the radius of the pattie. Preferably there are three indents in at least one face thereof. Ideally, the 'indents are arranged in a generally Y-shape. 10 In one case the indents are provided in only one face of the pattie. In another case the indents are provided Mi both faces of the pattie.

In one arrangement the indents 'in both faces are in alignment. In another arrangement the indents in both faces are out of alignment. Preferably the indents extend for a distance of ftom. 20 to 80% of the thickness of the pattie. 20 Brief Descrimion of Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying 25 drawigsMi which:-

Fig. I is a cross sectional view of a burger pattle formmig apparatus of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an upper mould part of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a lower moi-ild part; Fa 1 1 1 1 11 IZD. 4 is a perspective view from below ol a burger pattie formed us' ig the apparatus of Figs. I to 3; ZD Fig. 5 is a perspective view from above of he burger pattle of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on the lines VI - VI in Figs. 4 and 5-, Fig. 7 is a perspective view from below of another burger pattle; Fig. 8 is a perspective view from above of the burger pattie of Fig.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view on the lines IX - IX in Figs. 7 and 8 Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another burger pattle; and Fig. 11 is a. cross sectional view on the line XI - XI 'in Fig. 10.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figs. I to 6 thereof there is illustrated a former apparatus I (Figs. I to 3) for forming a Nirger pattie 2 (Figs. 4 to 6), both according to the invention.

The former apparatus I comprises an upper mould part 10 and a lower mound part 11. Drive means in the form of a pistori, only portion 12 of which is illustrated, is used to push the mould parts 10, 11 together to form a predetermined quantity of ground meat into the burger pattle 2. Each of the 5- mould parts 10, 11 have a pattle engaging face 15, 16 and a depending cylindrical wall 17, 18 and a recess 19 is defined therebetween for receiving the ground meat to be formed into a pattie 2.

5. At least one and in this case both of the mould parts 10, 11 has a shaped projection which forms indents in the faces of the burger pattie 2. In this case the shaped projection is provided by three arms 20 which are circurnferentially spaced-apart and project radially from the centre of the pattle engaging faces 15, 16. The arms 20 are arranged in a Y- shape which we have found is optimum for 10 cooking. We have also found that it is particularly important that the radial extent of each of the arms 20 extend for a length of ftorn about 40% to 80%, ideally about 60% to 70% of the radius of the mould part 10, 11 to provide optimum cooking without adversely affecting the structural integrity of the formed pattle 2. The Y-shaped indents reaches all of the pattle accessible for heating. In 15 addition, the Y-shaped 'indents assist in maintaining the pattie substantially flat during cooking thereby assisting a more even and efficient cooking. The burger pattle 2 formed using the former apparatus I described above is illustrated 'in Figs. 4 to 6 and includes Y-shaped upper and lower 'indents 30, 31 20 correspondmig to the projections 20 of the former 1. It will be noted that a significant portion of meat around the marginal edge of the burger pattle is not indented. This aids handling in the preparation, storage and cooking steps. In this case the projections 20 in the top and bottom mould parts 10, 11 are 25 aligned so that, on forming, the indents 30, 31 in the burger pattle are also aligned. We have found that this is the optimum arrangement for reducing the cooking cycle time. Referring to Figs. 7 to 9 there is illustrated another burger pattie 50 which has Y30 shaped top and bottom indents 51, 52 which are out of alignment or out of phase.

6- This arrangement also provides a reduced cooking cycle time when compared with standard burger patties of the same size.

Referring to Fig. 10 there is illustrated a furthei burger pattle 60 which has a Y shaped indent 61 on one face only. Again, a redi-iced cycle time results.

In use, burger patties are formed as described above with a separating plastics film top and bottom. The burgers are made to order or 'ust ahead of order so that ID 3 there is a small stack of burger patties available for cooking. The pattits are cooked on a hot plate.

In tests we have found that burger patties as illustrated in Fig. I to 6 are cooked through in 7 minutes 10 seconds compared with 15 minutes 28 seconds for a conventional burger of the same size but withoi,it the M'dents. This represents a very substantial and unexpected reduction in cooking cycle time without sificing the handling or organoleptic properties of the burger.

acri MZ71 17 The invention is not limited to the embodiments herem'before described which may be varied 'in detail.

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Claims

Claims

I Apparatus for forming a burger pattle comprising an upper mould part and a lower mould part which define therebetween a recess for receiving ground material to be formed into a burger pattle and means for driving the mould parts together to shape the material wherein at least one of the mould parts includes a pattle engaging face having a number of arms which project radially outwardly from a centre of the mould part towards a side edge thereof, the arms extending for a length of from 40 to 80% of the radius of the pattle engaging face, the arms forming indents in the burger pattle, on forming.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim I wherein there are three arms.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the arms are arranged in a generally Y-shape.
4. Apparatus as claimed 'in any of claims I to 3 wherein the arms may be provided on only one mould part. 20
5. Apparatus as claimed 'in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the arms are provided on both mould parts.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the arms of the mould parts are in alignment.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the arms of the mould parts may be out of alignment.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the arms extend for a length of from 50 to 70% of the radius of the pattle engaging face cf the mould part.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the arms extend into the burger pattle, on forming, for a distance of from 20 to 80% of the thickness of the pattie.
10. Apparatus for forming a burger Pattie substantially as hereinbfbre Z7 ZD described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A method for preparing a burger pattle Includig the step of forming a burger pattle using the apparatus of any preceding claim comprising, the steps of inserting a predetermined quality of ground material between the upper and lower mould parts and driving the mould parts towards one another to form the material into a burger pattle shape with a number of radially extending indents, the indents exumdmg for a length of from 50% to 80% of the radius of the burger pattle.
12. A method as claimed 'in claim I I Micludin- the step of cooking the burger pattie thus formed.
13. A method for preparing a burger pattle substantially as hereibefore described with reference to the accompanyiMg drawings.
14. A burger pattle whenever prepared using an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 or by a method as claimed iii any of claims I I to 13.

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15. A burger pattle as claimed in claim 14 having a number of radial indents formed in one or both faces thereof, the 'indents extending for a length of from 50 to 80% of the radius of the pattle.
16. A burger pattle as claimed in claim 15 wherein the indents extend for a length of from 60 to 70% of the radius of the pattle.
17. A burger pattle as claimed 'in claim 14 or 15 wherein there are three 'indents in at least one face thereof.
18. A burger pattle as claimed in claim 17 wherein the indents are arranged in a generally Y-shape.
19. A burger pattle as claimed 'in any claims 15 to IS wherein the indents may be provided in only one face of the pattle.
20. A burger pattle as claimed in any claims 15 to 18 wherein the 'indents are provided 'in both faces of the pattie.
21. A burger pattle as claimed in claim 20 wherein the indents 'in both faces may be in alignment.
22. A burger pattle as claimed in claim 20 wherein the indents 'in both faces are out of alignment.
23. A burger pattie as claimed 'in any of claims 15 to 22 wherein the indents extend for a distance of from 20 to 80% of the thickness of the pattie.
24. A burger pattle substantially as heremibefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.