GB2461493A - Forming food materials into three dimensional shapes - Google Patents

Abstract

Food materials are shaped into three dimensional shapes that may be made to duplicate the appearance of a variety of natural and non-natural food products. In one embodiment, the food material mix is fed through entrance F and pushed, by a piston C, into a moulding cavity, defined by a moving plunger former B and a pair of separable lower quarter blocks D and E. Upon the forming of the shaped product, the blocks D and E part to release the shaped product on to a conveyor or directly in on trays. Piston C moves back to allow mix for the next product. Release may be assisted by air pressure through the plunger or by moving the plunger down to a second lower step to create a knock off effect. The object is for producing, at continuous high speeds, food products in a variety of shapes. A combined heating system and TEFLON (RTM) coating provide a release. A water or vegetable spray can also be sprayed on to surfaces to enhance release.

Description

Description: Back ground of the invention.

Machines for forming and extruding food shapes based on various food base and mixtures are well known technology. Most of these machines can form patty, nugget, oval, and to some degree three dimensional shapes such as curved tops and bases to try to resemble certain steak shapes.

However these shapes are limfted as they normally must glide in and out from filling positions or be rolled in channels. The food industry is demanding a larger variety of shapes and more advanced control of product texture and weight.

For example processors want to be able to shape prawn shapes out of non prawn type materials such as Surimi type mixes as certain religions do not eat prawn or shell fish. The vegetarian markets are looking to shape chicken drum stick and other meat/poultry fillet' shapes from vegetarian base mixes.

Additionally food processors wish to be able to use their forming or extruding machines for a wide variety of products. The object with this invention is to be able to expand the range of shapes with short change over time and also to be able to use the forming machine or extruder as it is normally used in production.

r Further object for this invention is that it can form three dimensional shapes on a r continuous production receiving a food based mixture continuously and forming and ejecting continuously.

Summary of the invention.

The invention is based on a treble chamber forming cavity. The three parts can be divided in a multitude of options for example upper half, 2 lower quarters, or upper third one lower half and one lower eighth. Or one upper half one lower half and one stationery base wall. The food mix to be shaped is introduced in exact volume by individual pistons to each chamber shoot and the upper plunger then moves the volume down to the position where it matches with 2 lower chamber cavities.

The 2 or I lower chamber cavities moves away and the finalised shape can either be ejected or moved further down to be ejected.

Key notes for drawing pages Page 1 Figure 1 an exploded view of a ball forming device.

A. Main assembly block for forming device (blue co'our).

B. Upper plunger and half of forming shape (magenta-red colour).

C. Volume portioning piston (purple colour).

E. Lower forming quarter block (green colour).

F. Second lower forming quarter b'ock (blue colour).

G. Entrance for food mix to be formed.

0) The slot in main assembly A. can be in a large variety of shapes to suit dftferent o plunger shapes.

r Plunger B. can be made to suit virtually any 3 dimensional shape.

Lower forming quarter blocks D. & E. can a'so be made to form virtual'y any 3 dimensional shapes.

Page 2

Typical sequence description.

Piston C. moves forward a precise length to give the required volume.

Upper half p'unger and former B. is waiting for mx to be injected.

Lower Quarter forming blocks D. & E. are in there closed forming position waiting for B. to come down.

Page 3.

Typical sequence description.

Upper half p'unger and former B. moves down and forms injected mix with lower Quarter forming blocks D. & E. are in there dosed forming position Piston C. moves back to aflow mix in for next product.

Key notes for drawing pages Page 4

Typical sequence description.

Lower Quarter forming blocks D. & E. open to allow formed product to be ejected.

Upper half plunger and former B. moves down and ejects the formed mix with movement and air cushion in to either trays or to conveyer for further process Piston C. moves back to aUow mix in for next product.

Mix is pumped in through hole F. Page 5 Sequence showing solution for 3 dimensional Prawn shape first part lower quarters closed and mix is being injected Plunger B. and upper half former moves down to form prawn shape ) Lower quarters move apart to allow prawn shape to move down Plunger B. and upper half former moves down to ejection position -. Prawn shape is ejected by either movement or air ejectors machined in to upper N. haft former.

(\j Page 6 Sequence showing solution for 3 dimensional Pyramid shape first part lower quarters closed and mix is being injected only one lower section move to allow ejection of formed product.

Plunger B. and upper half former moves down to form Pyramid shape Lower shape move apart to allow Pyramid shape to move down Plunger B. and upper half former moves down to ejection position Pyramid shape is ejected by either movement or air ejectors machined in to upper half former.

Page 7 Most 3 Dimensional shapes can be formed as long as they can be separated in ha'ves or thirds or similar proportions.

Such as coned, cubed, human, animal, fish, prawn virtually al shapes.

Mussel, Clam, Shark, Whale, Starfish, Seahorse, Cat, Mouse etc.