NL2018037B1 - Moulding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass - Google Patents

Abstract

An installation for moulding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat. The installation comprises a feed pump and a moulding device with a mobile mould member having multiple mould cavities. A mass feed member is arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mould member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet of the feed pump. The member has a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal axis and having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls, short end walls, and a bottom wall facing the mould member at the fill position along the path of the mould member. The bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge openings spanning the path of said mould cavities, so that foodstuff mass flows into each row of mould cavities via said discharge mouth. The mass feed member is provided with a single elongated plunger that is slidably received in the chamber, sliding between the lateral walls and the end walls. At least one lateral wall is provided with an introduction mouth formed by one or more introduction openings spanning a major portion of the length of said lateral wall.

Description

Patent center

The Netherlands

Θ 2018037 (21) Application number: 2018037 © Application submitted: 21/12/2016

BI PATENT @ Int. CL:

A22C 7/00 (2017.01)

Application registered: (73) Patent holder (s): 28/06/2018 Marei Townsend Further Processing B.V. in BOXMEER. (43) Application published: (72) Inventor (s): Patent granted: Albertus Dunnewind in WAGENINGEN. 28/06/2018 Johannes Martinus Meulendijks in DEURNE. Thomas Willem Dekker in NIJMEGEN. (45) Patent issued: Tihomir Tubic in BOXMEER. 05/07/2018 (74) Agent: ir. H.V. Mertens et al. In Rijswijk.

(54) MOLDING FOOD PRODUCTS FROM A PUMPABLE FOODSTUFF MASS (57) An installation for molding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat. The installation comprises a feed pump and a molding device with a mobile mold member having multiple mold cavities. A mass feed member is arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mold member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet or the feed pump. The member has a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal axis and having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls, short end walls, and a bottom wall facing the mold member at the fill position along the path of the mold member. The bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge opening stress the path of said mold cavities, so that foodstuff mass flows into each row of mold cavities via said discharge mouth. The mass feed member is provided with a single elongated plunger that is slidably received in the chamber, sliding between the lateral walls and the end walls. At least one lateral wall is provided with an introduction mouth formed by one or more introduction opening tension a major portion of the length of said lateral wall.

NL BI 2018037

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

P32165NL00

MOLDING FOOD PRODUCTS FROM A PUMPABLE FOODSTUFF MASS

The present invention relates to installations and methods for molding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass, e.g. ground meat. The invention is advantageously employed for the manufacture of meat products from a pumpable meat mass, e.g., a ground beef mass, for the manufacture of meat patties.

A known method for manufacture of eg meat patties, eg as disclosed in WO2015 / 012690, see eg figures 1, 12, 13 after, involves the use of an installation having a frame and a mold drum with an outer circumferential drum surface and a longitudinal drum rotation axis. This axis is horizontal. The drum is rotatably supported by the frame to revolve about the drum rotation axis. The drum has in the drum surface rows of multiple mold cavities, each having a filling opening for the introduction of foodstuff mass, e.g. ground beef mass, into the mold cavity. A mold drum drive is coupled to the drum to drive the drum in a rotation direction.

A mass feed member is stationary arranged at a fill position. This mass feed member is connected to the outlet or the feed pump. The mass feed member has a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal axis. This housing has a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls having a length and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, short end walls interconnecting said lateral walls at respective longitudinal ends, and a bottom wall facing the mold drum.

The bottom wall is provided with an approved discharge mouth formed by multiple discharge orifices. The totality of the discharge mouth span the path of the multiple mold cavities in the rows, so that foodstuff mass flows from said one chamber into the mold cavities that make up a row through the discharge mouth. The mass feed member is thus adapted to transfer foodstuff mass from the chamber into the passing rows of mold cavities or the mold drum when the filling opening or a row of mold cavities are in communication with the discharge mouth at said fill position.

The mass that has been filled into a mold cavity remains in said cavity for a while as the drum is moved towards a release or ejection position of the formed products. In install the installation has a closure member that extends in downstream direction from the mass feed member at the fill position and temporarily keeps the filled mold cavities

-2closed downstream or the fill position, e.g. to allow the mass to become a more coherent food product.

The mass in the mold cavity forms the food product, e.g. the meat patty.

The known installation comprises a feed pump that is connected to the inlet or the mass feed member.

A food product release or knockout mechanism is provided, e.g. associated with the mold drum, and is adapted to cause or facilitate removal of the food product at a product removal position that is downstream of the fill position. It is for example known to provide air channels in the drum that extend to the cavities and allow to selectively introduce air that has been supplied from a manifold at a head end of the drum through said channels to between the drum and the product in order to facilitate the release from the mold cavity. Other release or removal mechanisms, e.g. using a mechanical ejector, are also known in the art.

The production of molded food products, e.g. or meat patties, with such installations generally includes:

driving the drum in its rotation direction, e.g. in a continuous, non-interrupted manner or in a manner with cyclic variation or drum rotation speed, or even in a start-stop manner;

- operating the feed pump so as to feed foodstuff mass to the mass feed member and establish a foodstuff mass pressure in the chamber of said mass feed member by means of said feed pump,

- transfer of pressurized foodstuff mass through the mouth into each passing mold cavity,

- release of the molded products from the mold cavities.

As discussed in WO2015 / 012690 the use of long drums with multiple cavities in each row, e.g. drums or 500 mm length or more, e.g. or 1000 mm or even more, allows to achieve increased capacity. Whether the mold cavities are arranged in straight or rectilinear rows or multiple mold cavities, said rows being parallel to the drum axis with the rows being offset from one another in circumferential direction. It is also common in such prior art mold drums that all mold cavities are or identical dimensions, e.g., circular contoured cavities, although other variant with non-identical cavities are known as well. Examples of known high capacity food product molding installations and methods are found in e.g. WO 0030458 and WO2004002229.

-3In general drum type molding installations allow for a high production capacity compared to well-known slide-plate molding devices, a cyclically driven mold plate with a row of mold cavities is cycled back and forth between a fill position and a release or knock- out position. At the fill position the row of mold cavities in the reciprocating plate is filled with foodstuff mass. This is for example illustrated in US 4356595.

In WO2015 / 012690 the issue of non-uniformity or the finally obtained food products is addressed, e.g. with regard to their appearance and shape. For instance in practical use of a high capacity drum mold device it has been observed that in a batch of circular meat patties that are made of ground meat there are visible deviations from the circular contour of the mold cavities. These shape deviations are also non-consistent within the batch.

In WO2015 / 012690 it is proposed to provide mobile grinders that subject the foodstuff mass in the mass feed member to a grinding step prior to transfer into the mold cavities. Whilst this approach offers advantages, the grinding effectively changes the composition of the foodstuff mass which requires that the earlier preparation of the mass takes said final grinding into account. This may be difficult in practice, e.g., as it differs significantly from current practice.

Therefore, as an alternative to said grinding solution or in order to be combined therewith, the present invention aims to propose measures that resolve, or at least reduce, undesirable non-uniformity of molded food products, for example of products that have been obtained with a high capacity drum molding installation. The non-uniformity may relate to the shape but also to other aspects of the product, e.g. the composition, such as the density, which may influence other aspects like the later cooking or frying, or the taste in general.

The present invention among others aims to provide measures that allow for enhanced versatility and / or control with regard to the characteristics of the formed product, e.g. in view of the above-mentioned density, texture, taste, frying behavior, etc.

The present invention also aims to provide alternative mass feed members to be used in a molding device for food products, which mass feed members may be used to attain one or more of the above aims.

The invention is primarily aimed at products formed from ground meat mass, e.g., beef, poultry meat, pork meat, but is also an interest in other foodstuff masses, e.g., fibrous foodstuff masses. For example the foodstuff mass may include, or primarily be composed of,

- foodstuff like fish meat, potatoes, rice, (leguminous) vegetables (e.g. soy), seaweeds, nuts, fungi, etc.

According to a first aspect of the invention provides an installation for molding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat, including the installation comprises:

- a feed pump for the foodstuff mass,

- a feed pump drive,

- a molding device including:

- a frame,

- a mobile mold member having multiple mold cavities, each having a filling opening for the introduction of foodstuff mass into the mold cavity, the mold member is movably supported by the frame to move along a path, and the multiple mold cavities are arranged in a pattern that includes mold cavities arranged at distinct positions in a perpendicular axis direction which is perpendicular to the path of the mold member,

- a mold member drive adapted to move the mold member along said path,

- a mass feed member arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mold member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet of the feed pump, said mass feed member having a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal chamber axis extending in said perpendicular axis direction, said housing having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls having a length and generally parallel to said longitudinal chamber axis, short end walls interconnecting said lateral walls at respective longitudinal ends thereof, a bottom wall facing the mold member said bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge opening stress the path of said multiple mold cavities in said perpendicular axis direction, so that foodstuff mass flows into said mold cavities via said discharge mouth during operation of the molding device, featured in that mass feed member is provided with a single elongated plunger that is slidably r eceived in said chamber, sliding between said lateral walls and said end walls, generally opposite the

-5bottom wall, in a range of travel or said plunger relative to said bottom wall, said range of travel being bounded by an upper limit and a lower limit, in the installation comprising a plunger pressurizing assembly adapted to cause said plunger to be biased towards said bottom wall at a controllable pressure, at least one lateral wall is provided with an introduction mouth for introduction of food stuff mass into the chamber, said introduction mouth being formed by one or more introduction opening tension at least a major portion of the length or said lateral wall, eg said one or more introduction opening combined having a length of about the length of the chamber, said lateral walls and end walls each having a portion that extends above said introduction mouth, the installation comprises a plunger position sensor that is adapted to provide a plunger position signal corresponding to one or more positions of said plunger, eg including an upper position and a lower position of said plunger, including the installation comprising a controller which is linked to said plunger pressurizing assembly, to said plunger position sensor, and to said feed pump, which controller is adapted to input a target fill pressure for the foodstuff mass in the chamber of the mass feed member and / or in the mold cavities, and the controller is adapted, eg a computerized controller is programmed, to operate the plunger pressurizing assembly such that said foodstuff mass within said chamber is kept pressurized at a substantially constant pressure by means of said single elongated plunger on the basis of the input target fill pressure, said said controller is adapted to control the introduction of foodstuff mass into the chamber on the basis of the plunger position signal, said said introduction of foodstuff mass by means of the feed pump causes the plunger to move away from the bottom wall.

For example the controller is programmed to start the introduction of foodstuff mass when said plunger reaches a predetermined lower position near or at a lower limit or said range of travel and said introduction being stopped when said plunger reached an upper position near or at an upper limit or said range of travel.

-6It has been found that the combination of technical features listed in the characterizing portion of the claim provides enhanced uniformity of the shape of the products as well as enhanced quality, e.g. in terms of texture, density, etc.

The single elongated plunger as it was a movable roof of the chamber, that constantly comes down on all of the foodstuff mass in the chamber. The mass is generally introduced into the chamber over the whole length of the lateral wall chamber, at least over the majority of said length, e.g. at least 75% thereafter, and in a generally sideways direction. In contrast, introducing the mass from above via a narrow inlet and pressurizing the foodstuff mass with multiple circular plungers in a row over the length of the chamber as proposed in US5 618 571 and US 5 795 610 does create locally significant pressurization variations and undue shear in the mass and thus seems to be the problems addressed above.

Repeated filling of cavities, e.g., rows of cavities, causes the chamber to become less full and the plunger to sink into the chamber. This is sensed by the position sensor and at a suitable moment, e.g. when reaching a preset lower limit of the range of travel, the feed pump has started to refill the chamber. The feed pump is embodied to fill said chamber while the plunger keeps the mass pressurized as the process of filling or mold cavities is continued during the refilling of the chamber. The filling is continued until a preset level of the plunger is reached, e.g. detected by the position sensor. As the inflow or mass into the chamber is via the lengthy introduction mouth in a lateral wall, this inflow does not unduly disturb the homogeneity of the mass in the chamber in a manner so that this does not impair the product uniformity and quality, eg when seen of the mold cavities in a row and / or comparing one row of products to a later molded row of products.

In variant it is envisaged that even in the lower limit position the plunger does not block the introduction opening, so that this opening remains in open communication with the chamber at all times. For example no overlap will occur between the plunger in or near its lower limit and the introduction opening. Or, in other outlines, the plunger could overlap or obscure a part of the introduction mouth, so reducing its effective outflow yet no closing or blocking said outflow. These arrangements guarantee the effective inflow of mass into the chamber via the introduction mouth once the controller has been established on the basis of the plunger position signal that the chamber needs to be replenished with foodstuff mass.

In practice the chamber may e.g. have a length between 500 and 1000 mm, e.g. with a width between 100 and 250 mm. For example the width of the chamber is between 120 and 180 mm.

-7For example the introduction mouth is embodied as a singular slot in the lateral wall, said slot having a length generally corresponding to the length of the chamber and having a height that may be in practical execution may between 20 and 60 mm. For example the introduction mouth has a height between of 30 mm plus the thickness in mm or the thickest products to be produced with the installation.

In the introduction the mouth has a lower edge that is vertically spaced from the bottom wall 36 of the chamber, e.g. said vertical spacing being between 20 and 50 mm in practical. In combination with a lowermost position of the plunger such that the outflow of mass from the introduction mouth is never fully blocked, eg at most the plunger overlapping a top region of the introduction mouth in its lowermost position, this vertical spacing of the introduction mouth serves to keep a portion or mass above the discharge mouth that is not unduly affected by the inflow or mass into the chamber.

The range of travel or the plunger in practical or the first aspect of the invention may be between 50 and 150 mm.

In view of uniformity of the pressurization of the mass within the chamber and the desired outflow via the discharge mouth it is preferred that, considering said plunger has an imaginary unobstructed projection on the bottom wall seen in direction of travel or said plunger, to locate the discharge mouth fully within this imaginary unobstructed projection of the plunger. So the plunger most effective acts to press the mass into the one or more opening of the discharge mouth, with the single plunger acting on all or said mass in the chamber in an even manner.

In an embodiment the direction of travel or the plunger, perpendicular is the bottom wall of the mass feed member housing. For example the direction of travel or the plunger is vertical.

In an embodiment the plunger comprises a metal plunger body that is covered on a side facing the chamber by a plastic cover member, like a tray, said plastic cover member possibly simultaneously forming a peripheral seal between said plunger body and the housing or one or more separate sealing members being arranged around the periphery of the plunger to seal relative to the lateral walls and the end walls of the housing.

Preferably the face of the plunger is substantially planar and oriented at the right angles to the travel direction of the plunger.

-8In an embodiment the lateral walls and the end walls of the mass feed member housing are made of metal, e.g. or stainless steel, e.g. a cast or welded metal housing structure. In an embodiment the bottom wall comprises a slot in which an exchangeable mouth body can be arranged, allowing to change the discharge mouth without having to change the entire mass feed member, eg when also exchanging the mold member for another mold member, eg one drum for a drum with another pattern of mold cavities and shapes of mold cavities.

In an embodiment a lateral wall comprises an exchangeable introduction mouth body forming the introduction mouth, e.g. allowing to change the effective opening of the introduction mouth by replacing one such mouth body for another mouth body. For example one could provide introduction mouth bodies of plastic, which are retained in a mass feed member housing of metal. It may be easier to provide the desired introduction mouth in a plastic body than in a metal housing.

In another embodiment one could envisage that the housing of the mass feed member, eg of metal, is adapted to mount therein an exchangeable body forming both the discharge mouth and the introduction mouth of the mass feed member, eg said exchangeable body being made at least in part of plastic.

In an embodiment it is envisaged that the mass feed member is housing and plunger are both, preferably as a unit, exchangeable mounted in the molding device, allowing to change this corresponding set of components, eg as a unit, for another set of mass feed member housing and plunger, eg dependent on the type of foodstuff mass to be handled by the installation.

In an embodiment the introduction mouth, a singular elongated slotted passage or a series of passages is distributed along the length of the lateral wall. The extension in longitudinal direction optimally equals the length of the plunger, so that mass flows evenly distributed into the chamber underneath the plunger. The length of the introduction mouth may be shorter when needed, e.g. in view of structural restraints, yet preferably at least 75% of the length of the plunger.

In an embodiment the pressurizing assembly is embodied to provide a substantially constant pressurization over the range of travel of the plunger, enhancing uniformity, texture, and quality of the molded products, e.g. when making products of ground meat.

-9In an edition the pressurizing assembly is adapted to create an adjustable pressure of the mass in the chamber up to 15 or 20 bars, eg the controller allowing setting this pressure in a range or up to 20 bars, eg the pressure being set to above 10 bars when use is made of an original mouth body, eg for handling or ground beef and desiring to produce homestyle type meat patties.

In a very practical embodiment the pressurizing assembly comprises one or more pneumatic actuators, so setting an air pressure for said one or more actuators creates the pressurization of the mass in the chamber. This can be effectively done in practice, using an air compressor, a pressure vessel filled by said compressor, and an air pressure regulator to cause air at an adjustable pressure to be supplied to said one or more pneumatic actuators. The air pressure regulator can be or an electronic type linked to a computerized controller.

In an embodiment the one or more pneumatic actuators or the pressurizing assembly engage on a lever arm structure that is hinged to the frame at a hinge point. This lever arm structure being connected to said plunger so as to obtain amplification of a force actuated by the one or more pneumatic actuators, e.g. in view of obtaining a mass pressure above 10 bars in the chamber.

In an embodiment the bottom wall has a exchangeable discharge mouth body is received so as to allow exchange of one discharge mouth body for another discharge mouth body having a different discharge mouth, eg a discharge mouth body having an approved discharge mouth and a discharge mouth body having a single rectilinear slot discharge mouth.

In an embodiment, eg for handling ground beef, the bottom wall of the housing of the mass feed member is provided with an identified mouth body having multiple outlet orifices forming the discharge mouth so that said foodstuff mass flows into each mold cavity via multiple outlet orifices .

In an embodiment the original mouth body is associated with an original valve plate having multiple orifices, which valve plate is movable by a valve plate actuator in its plane between opened and closed positions said said orifices are already aligned and non-aligned with said orifices in said mouth body.

-10 In an embodiment of the mold member, e.g. a molding drum, multiple mold cavities are arranged in one or more rows of multiple mold cavities, where each row is arranged perpendicular to the path of the mold member. When use is made of a plate valve, the controller is then preferably linked to the plate valve actuator and is adapted to bring this valve in opened position when a row of mold cavities is aligned with said original mouth body so said said foodstuff mass flows into this row of mold cavities and adapted to bring the valve into closed position after filling or said row of mold cavities has been completed.

In an embodiment, the mold member is a reciprocating mold plate having one or more rows of mold cavities as is known in the art.

In a preferred embodiment the mold member is a mold drum, which mold drum has an outer circumferential drum surface and a horizontal longitudinal drum rotation axis, the drum is rotatably supported by the frame to revolve about the horizontal axis, has the mold drum has said drum surface said pattern of multiple mold cavities, which pattern includes multiple rows of mold cavities, which rows are spaced apart in circumferential direction and generally parallel to said drum rotation axis, where each row comprises multiple cavities at said distinct perpendicular axis positions.

As is apparent from the description of the prior art both in drum molding devices and in plate member molding devices it is well known to have a pattern of mold cavities so that - a perpendicular to the path of the mobile mold member - there are cavities at spaced apart locations.

In a practical embodiment the mold cavity pattern is composed of mold cavities or identical dimensions, e.g. to mold meat patties with circular contour.

With regard to the pattern of mold cavities this invention allows for all sorts of patterns including the presently most common design of mold drums for high capacity molding devices, which drums have a pattern of rectilinear rows of mold cavities, which rows are parallel to the drum rotation axis, in combination with a mouth, eg single slot or certified, or the mass feed member that is essentially parallel to the rotation axis. This design entails that in each row the multiple mold cavities come into communication with the mouth of the mass feed member at the same time and the filling events take place simultaneously.

-11One can also envisaged that at one such "perpendicular axis locations" the one or more cavities are differently shaped than at one or more other "perpendicular axis locations". For example for small size products, e.g. nuggets or narrower soup meat products, this may be of interest and a deliberately selected variety of molded products can be created which may be attractive to consumers.

Other patterns, e.g. with the mold cavities or a drum arranged in a pattern of helically extending rows or a staggered arrangement, with one cavity being offset in circumferential direction with regard to the axially neighboring cavity, are also possible.

In an embodiment - in a drum molding device - the drum is driven in its rotation direction in a continuous, non-interrupted manner. This is possibly at a constant rotational speed during a revolution of the drum, but one can also envisaged a drum drive and controller that cause a periodic variation of the drum rotational speed during a revolution, eg increasing the drum speed in an approach period when a row of cavities to be filled nears the discharge mouth or is already in first overlap therewith and slowing down or stopping the drum when the major portion or the filling event takes place, eg when the effective filling opening formed by the overlap of the mouth and the filling opening of the mold cavity is the greatest.

In an embodiment the controller is linked to the drive, e.g. including a servo-controlled electric motor, or the mold drum, the controller is adapted to stop or lower the rotation speed when a row of mold cavities is aligned with the discharge mouth. This allows the filling event to take place virtually with the mold cavity at standstill or moving slowly.

In an embodiment the feed pump is a positive displacement feed pump, e.g. a rotary vane pump, a rotary lobe pump, a piston pump.

In an embodiment the housing has an introduction mouth in each lateral wall, where a valve is associated with each or said introduction mouths, which valve is operable to open and close the respective introduction mouth. Each valve comprises a valve actuator.

In an embodiment a first piston pump is mounted on a first lateral wall of the housing and a second piston pump is mounted on a second lateral wall of the housing. Herein each of said first and second piston pumps preferably has a single pump piston that is reciprocable in a pump chamber having a length in said longitudinal direction that substantially satisfies said length of said introduction mouth.

-12In another embodiment the two introduction mouths are connected to a common manifold that connects to a single pump, e.g. a vane pump or the like. The use of piston pumps, each connected directly to a respective introduction mouth and preferably having a single plunger with a length that is substantially to the length of the introduction mouth.

First and second piston pumps are arranged in a V relative to the mass feed member housing provided with two introduction opening at opposite sides of the chamber, the first and second piston pumps are each connected to a respective foodstuff mass inlet duct. These inlet ducts are preferably arranged in an inverted V and adjoin one another at a common hopper that is adapted to receive therein a supply of a foodstuff mass. This embodiment resembles the V-arrangement of pumps and common hopper as disclosed in WO2015 / 012690 which is incorporated by reference.

Technical features discussed in said W02015 / 012690 may be incorporated in the present invention, eg the inlet ducts each having a length in the longitudinal direction of the mass feed member that is substantially agreed to the length of the introduction mouth to which the respective piston pump is connected.

In an embodiment the discharge mouth is composed of multiple outlet orifices, preferably rather small diameter orifices, for example having a diameter in the range between 2 and 6 millimeters. The original can for example also be distributed over the length of the mouth, e.g. in a rectangular grid, or may be grouped, e.g. in circular groups, e.g. corresponding to the location of the circumferential arrays or mold cavities on the drum.

The outlet orifices in the original mouth body are advantageously dimensioned and oriented so as to obtain a desired inflow or mass into the mold cavity. For example some of the outlet orifices may have an inclination so that the mass enters into the mold cavity at an oblique angle, eg some outlet orifices having a component that is directed counter to the mold member motion and / or some orifices may have an inclination directed along the mold member motion. Some outlet orifices may be directed at right angles to the path of the mold member motion. Some outlet orifices may be directed to emit mass towards a circumferential wall portion of the mold cavity, whereas other outlet orifices are directed to emit mass towards a centrally located bottom wall portion of the mold cavity.

The skilled person may also vary the cross-section and cross-sectional shape of the outlet orifices, eg with smaller orifices that provide the mass to form an outer region of the product (eg a circumferential region of a meat patty) and with larger orifices that provide mass to

-13form an inner region of the product. Also the cross-section and orientation may vary over the length of an outlet orifice, e.g. with sections that are angled with respect to one another.

In a further advantageous embodiment of an original mouth body is provided with a valve, e.g. incorporated in the original mouth body, which valve is adapted to open and close orifices in the original mouth body. This allows a valve action that is used to trigger the start of a filling event.

In a practical embodiment the valve comprises an original valve plate that is movable in its plane between an opened and closed position. For example the original valve plate is also allows to avoid any clogging or official and so-called reliable passage or mass through the mouth body into the mold cavities. The motion of the valve plate between its opened and closed position may be in the aforementioned perpendicular axis direction, but could for example also be at right angles thereto so in the direction of the path of motion of the mold member.

The valve plate orifices may be similar in cross-section to the adjoining outlet orifices in the mouth body, but one can also envisage that the valve plate orifices are differently shaped, eg slotted orifices in the valve plate and cylindrical orifices in the mouth body with the slots being longer than the diameter of the outlet orifices. For example the slotted orifices extend with their length in the mentioned perpendicular axis direction.

In a practical design the original mouth body comprises a plastic original body part that forms an outlet face of the mouth body that is adjacent the path of the mold member, eg having a curved outlet face corresponding to the curvature of a mobile mold member embodied as a drum. The plastic embodiment allows for ease of manufacture and avoids and wear of the mobile mold member.

In an embodiment the installation comprises a foodstuff mass pressure sensor that is adapted to sense the current pressure of the foodstuff mass in the chamber of the mass feed member, preferably the sensor being arranged directly on or in the chamber. The installation comprises a controller that is connected to said foodstuff mass pressure sensor, preferably an electronic controller.

An embodiment comprises selecting a target pressure or target pressure range for the foodstuff mass in the chamber, eg based on test runs performed with such foodstuff mass on the device, or based on historical data (eg from the manufacturer of the device or other food product) manufacturers) and setting the pressurizing assembly accordingly.

-14As explained the mold drum devices are predominantly chosen for their high capacity. This capacity can be extended among others by increasing the length of the drum so as to mold more food products with a single drum. This is seen as beneficial for large capacity food producing installations, e.g. as the molded food products may be received on a conveyor of significant width, e.g. or 0.8 or 1.0 meter that passes into a further treatment device, e.g. into an oven or a fryer. The method according to the invention may include the step of conveying the formed products to an oven or fryer, and subjecting the products therein to an oven treatment or frying the product.

In view of increasing the length of the drum the invention, in an embodiment thereof, envisages an installation including not just a single mass feed member at the fill position, but with at least a first and a second mass feed members that are arranged at the fill position in side by side arrangement. Herein each mass feed member has a chamber therein for the mass that is separated from the chamber of the other mass feed member, possibly with a first and a second pump respectively connected to the first and second mass feed member, or, with multiple mass feed members connected to the same pump. The installation has a single mold drum with a first section of the drum surface passing along the first mass feed member and a second section passing along the second mass feed member during revolution of the drum. The mold cavities of said single drum are filled by said first and second mass feed members, each of the first section and the second section of the drum surface have multiple mold cavities that are arranged in a mold cavities pattern for each drum surface section with cavities at multiple (at least two, eg four or more) longitudinal positions when viewed in longitudinal direction of the drum and at multiple circumferential position when viewed in circumferential position of the drum.

The first aspect of the invention also relates to a method for molding or three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat, use is made or an installation as described.

The feed pump is operated so as to feed foodstuff mass to the mass feed member. The pump is preferably a positive displacement pump, e.g. a rotor pump having a rotor with vanes that revolves in a pump chamber having an inlet and an outlet, or a rotary lobe pump, or a piston pump, etc.

-15 The feed pump may be connected to its inlet to a hopper that is adapted to receive therein a batch of pumpable foodstuff mass, e.g. ground meat. The hopper may be evacuated to reduce the inclusion of air in the mass.

In a practically preferred embodiment of the invention the mass feed member comprises a funnel body that connects to the introduction mouth or the mass feed member. The funnel body, for example, has main walls or substantially triangular shape that are connected along their sides, with the inlet arranged at an apex or said main walls that is located opposite said lateral wall containing said introduction mouth.

The present invention also relates to a method for molding meat products, e.g. hamburger patties, from a pumpable ground meat mass, using is made from a molding installation for molding meat products from a pumpable ground meat mass.

The present invention also relates to an installation having a computer control for the drum rotation, operation of the pump, said control eg being programmed to perform the inventive methods, eg with a memory containing predetermined routines that make the installation perform the inventive methods for selected foodstuff masses and products to be formed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention provides an installation for molding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat, including the installation comprises:

- a feed pump for the foodstuff mass,

- a feed pump drive,

- a molding device including:

- a frame,

- a mobile mold member having multiple mold cavities, each having a filling opening for the introduction of foodstuff mass into the mold cavity, the mold member is movably supported by the frame to move along a path, the multiple mold cavities are arranged in one or more rows of multiple cavities, the cavities in a row are located at distinct positions in a perpendicular axis direction which is perpendicular to the path of the mold member,

- a mold member drive for moving the mold member along a path,

-16- a mass feed member arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mold member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet of the feed pump, said mass feed member having a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal axis extending in said perpendicular axis direction, said housing having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls having a length and generally parallel to said longitudinal axis, short end walls interconnecting said lateral walls at respective longitudinal ends thereof, a bottom wall facing the mold member at the fill position along the path of the mold member, and said bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge opening tension the path of said one or more rows of multiple mold cavities, so that foodstuff mass flows into each row of mold cavities via said discharge mouth, characterized in that the mass feed member is provided with a single elongated plunger that is slidably received said said, sliding between said lateral walls and said end walls, generally opposite the bottom wall, in which the mass feed member comprises a plunger pulsing assembly adapted to cause periodic pulsating motions or said plunger in a range of travel or said plunger towards said bottom wall in synchronicity with the successive alignments of successive rows of mold cavities with said discharge mouth, said at least one lateral wall is provided with an introduction mouth formed by one or more introduction opening tension a major portion of the length of said lateral wall, said lateral wall having a portion that extends above said introduction mouth, said the mass feed member further comprises a valve associated with said introduction mouth and operable to open and close said introduction mouth, said valve including a valve actuator, requiring the installation comprises a controller which is linked to said plunger pulsing assembly, to said valve actuator, and to said feed pump which controller is adapted, e.g. a computerized controller is programmed to operate said valve so that said valve opens and closes in synchronicity with the successive alignments of rows of mold cavities with said discharge mouth and with successive pulse motions of the

-17 plunger, such said valve is closed when a row of mold cavities is aligned with said discharge mouth, and the controller is adapted to operate the plunger pulsing assembly such that, with said valve being closed, the single elongated plunger performs a pulse motion towards said bottom wall causing a pressure pulse in said foodstuff mass in said chamber and transfer of foodstuff mass into the row of mold cavities that is aligned with said discharge mouth, which controller is adapted to open the valve between successive pulse motions of the plunger and operate the feed pump such that said feed pump then replenishes the chamber with said foodstuff mass.

As will be appreciated the mass feed member of this installation is also provided with a plunger that slides in the housing as described with reference to the first aspect of the invention.

In contrast to keeping the mass in the chamber pressurized by a pressurizing assembly as in the first aspect of the invention, the second aspect provides for the creation of pressure pulses on the mass in the chamber which is effectively closed at the introduction mouth so that said pressure pulse is not dampened by mass present in the trajectory between the introduction mouth and the feed pump. The pulses are timed or synchronized with the filling of rows of cavities, so that each pulse causes the filling of a row of cavities. This approach may be advantageous for certain foodstuff masses and / or products to be formed, e.g. at high production rates. For example the approach may be advantageous for production of homestyle ground meat patties, while the mouth is an original mouth so that the patty is basically composed of small columns of ground meat.

In an embodiment the plunger pulsing assembly comprises one or more pneumatic bellow actuators, which are known for their ability to create repeated high impact forces on demand. One drawback of this pneumatic pulsing is the corresponding consumption use of pressurized air yet the use of pneumatics is practically simple and robust. In comparison the setting of pressure by means of one or more pneumatic actuators in the pressurizing assembly hardly consumes pressurized air.

-18 The pulsing of the second aspect of the invention may also be caused by some nonpneumatic mechanical drive, e.g. using an eccentric mechanism, for the plunger, e.g. with an adjustable stroke length or the pulse motion effected by the plunger.

A third aspect of the invention relates to an installation for molding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat, including the installation comprises:

- a feed pump for the foodstuff mass,

- a feed pump drive,

- a molding device including:

- a frame,

- a mobile mold member having multiple mold cavities, each having a filling opening for the introduction of foodstuff mass into the mold cavity, the mold member is movably supported by the frame to move along a path, and the multiple mold cavities are arranged in a pattern that includes mold cavities arranged at distinct positions in a perpendicular axis direction which is perpendicular to the path of the mold member,

- a mold member drive adapted to move the mold member along said path,

- a mass feed member arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mold member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet of the feed pump, said mass feed member having a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal chamber axis extending in said perpendicular axis direction, said housing having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls having a length and generally parallel to said longitudinal chamber axis, short end walls interconnecting said lateral walls at respective longitudinal ends thereof, a bottom wall facing the mold member said bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge opening stress the path of said multiple mold cavities in said perpendicular axis direction, so that foodstuff mass flows into said mold cavities via said discharge mouth during operation of the molding device, characterized in that

-19the mass feed member is provided with an operable chamber pressurization member, eg a single plunger or multiple plungers (eg in a row), that is operable and operated to pressurize the mass within the chamber, eg performing a constant pressurization or a pulsing as described, following the housing of the mass feed member has a first introduction mouth in first lateral wall and a second introduction mouth in second lateral wall and a first valve is associated with said first introduction mouth and a second valve with said second introduction mouth, each or said first and second valve being controllable independently from the other valve to open and close the respective introduction mouth, each or said first and second valves including a respective valve actuator.

In the third aspect of the invention, for example, the operable chamber pressurization member can be different than a single plunger, e.g., multiple plungers, e.g., multiple plungers acting simultaneously. In another embodiment, for example, the operable chamber pressure member is an elongated and elastically expandable hollow member within the chamber that is expanded, e.g., periodically, by internal fluid pressure.

Preferably, in said third aspect of the invention, a first piston pump is mounted on the first lateral wall of the housing and a second piston pump is mounted on the second lateral wall of said housing, each of said first and second piston pumps preferably has a single pump piston that is reciprocable in a pump chamber, preferably each piston having a length in said longitudinal direction that substantially agreed to said length of said introduction mouth.

Preferably, in said third aspect of the invention, each introduction mouth is formed by one or more introduction opening tension at least a major portion of the respective lateral wall, eg said one or more introduction opening combined having a length of about the length of the chamber.

Preferably the operable pressure member is a single plunger as discussed with reference to the first and / or second aspect of the invention.

Preferably the installation comprises a plunger position sensor that is adapted to provide a plunger position signal corresponding to one or more positions of said plunger, e.g. including an upper position and a lower position or said plunger.

-20For example the installation comprises a controller as described with reference to the first or second aspect of the invention.

It will be appreciated that the installation, eg the mold member, the mass feed member, the plunger, the discharge mouth, etc. or the installation of the second or third aspect of the invention may include one or more features as discussed with reference to any of the other aspects of the invention.

The aspects and optional details of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a molding installation according to the invention for molding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass;

fig. 2 illustrates schematically a front view of the molding device of the installation of figure 1, fig. 3 shows schematically a longitudinal section of the mass feed member of the molding installation of figure 1, as well as a row of mold cavities of the mold drum, fig. 4 shows on a greater scale a detail of figure 3, fig. 5 shows in perspective view the metal orificed mouth body part of the mass feed member of figure 3, fig. 6 shows an end portion of the mass feed member of figure 3 in longitudinal section, fig. 7 shows the mass feed member of figure 3 in transverse section as well as a portion of the mold drum, fig. 8 illustrates schematically a top view on the mass feed member, funnel, and pressurizing assembly of the installation of figure 1, fig. 9 illustrate schematically another embodiment of a molding installation according to the invention for molding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass, fig. 10 illustrates schematically an embodiment of an installation for mo ulding food products according to the second aspect of the invention.

Figure 1 schematically depicts a high capacity installation for the molding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from a ground meat mass, e.g. ground red meat for the production of hamburger patties.

A batch of ground meat mass, e.g., beef, pork, or poultry meat, is commonly prepared in a grinding process (not shown) with a meat grinding device. A batch of ground meat is then e.g. loaded into a (wheeled) bin and - possibly after some storage time in a cold storage transported to the installation as shown in figure 1.

-21In this example it is illustrated that the installation 1 may include a hopper 2 that is adapted to receive one or more batches of the mass of pumpable foodstuff material, e.g. ground meat.

In this example it is illustrated that an optional hopper discharge assembly is associated with the hopper 1 to assist in discharging the mass from the hopper 2. In this example one or more motor driven augers 3 with motor M3 are mounted at the bottom of the hopper 2.

Instead of loading a hopper 2 of the installation with bin loads of foodstuff mass, the loading of the installation may be conducted via a pipe connecting to the installation, e.g. to a hopper.

The installation further comprises a feed pump 5, e.g. positive displacement, here a rotary vane pump. In other expands the feed pump may be a rotary lobe pump, a piston pump, etc. The pump 5 has a pump housing 6 with an inlet 7 receiving the mass from the hopper 2, here via the auger 3. The feed pump housing 6 further has an outlet 8 for outputting the mass.

The pump 5 shown is a pump with a rotor having multiples vanes 9 disposed in a pump cavity or a pump housing. Such rotor pumps, e.g. supplied by Risco (Italy), are known for pumping ground meat and other pumpable foodstuff masses.

A pump drive motor (e.g., electric, shown at MP) is provided for driving the pump.

The pump 5 forms pump chambers, shown in the figure between neighboring vanes 9, that are each successively in communication with the pump inlet 6 for the introduction of mass into the pump chamber and with the pump outlet 7 for the discharge of mass from the pump chamber. The effective volume of the pump chamber reduced from the position to the pump inlet to the position to the pump outlet, so that the mass is effectively released from the pump chamber when the pump is in operation. An example of such a pump is disclosed in US4761121.

The pump 5 may instead of a vane pump also be embodied as a different type of pump, e.g. as a piston pump having one or more reciprocating pistons.

The installation 1 further comprises a molding device 20 including:

- a frame 21,

- a mold member 22, here embodied as a mold drum 22,

-22- a mold member drive MD,

- a mass feed member 30,

- a pressurizing assembly 50

- a molded products conveyor 80.

The drum 22 is embodied to rotate or revolve as the drum 22 is rotatably supported by the frame 21, eg the drum 22 being mounted on a shaft that is supported by one or both ends in a bearing 10 that is carried by the frame 21 or the device 20.

The mold drum 22 has an outer circumferential drum surface 23 and a longitudinal drum rotation axis 24. The drum 22 is rotatably supported by the frame 21 to revolve about the drum rotation axis, here - as is preferred - a horizontal axis.

The mold drum 22 has in the drum surface 23 multiple mold cavities 25, each cavity 25 having a filling opening in the plane of the surface 23 for the introduction of foodstuff mass into the mold cavity and for the later removal or release of the product from the cavity 25.

In the depicted example the cavities 25 are embodied as individual recesses in the outer surface 23 of the drum body, having a bottom opposite the filling opening of the cavity 25.

Preferably the device 20 and drum 22 are designed to allow an easy exchange or one drum for another drum having a different pattern and shape of mold cavities so as to allow the production of different food products with the installation.

The mold member drive MD is adapted to move the mold member along a path, here a circular path about the axis 24. The path includes a fill position for filling the mass into a mold cavity at mass feed member 30 that is arranged stationary at said fill position and a product release position for releasing a molded product from the mold cavity, here at or near the lower section of the circular path. In this example the formed products are delivered on conveyor 80 that extends below the drum 22.

The ejection of a product from a mold cavity may be facilitated / performed by means of the cavity being bounded by porous material wall parts through which pressurized gas, e.g. air, is expelled to release the product from the cavity. The cavity could also be embodied to include a piston type bottom as is also known in the art. Here, as known, the drum is provided with air channels 22a, one for each row of mold cavities 25, into which air is blown

-23at the release position. This burst of air passes through the respective channel 22a and then through the porous material wall parts or the associated row of mold cavities.

In yet another embodiment the drum is embodied as a hollow tubular member with the cavities each being formed as an opening that extends through the wall of the tubular member. At the interior side of the tubular drum member this molding device comprises a bottom member that is stationary mounted in the frame and opposite from the mass feed member. This bottom member forms a bottom of the cavity opposite the filling opening of the cavity. In such a design, the ejection of a formed product may e.g. be done by a mechanical knockout member that knocks the formed product out of the cavity.

The mold member drive MD is preferably an electric drive, e.g. including a servo-controlled electric motor, allowing for a variable and controllable drum rotation speed. In use of the installation 1 it is envisaged that the drum 22 is driven in a continuous, non-interrupted manner, so without starting and stopping during a revolution or the drum 22 in order to achieve a high production capacity. It is possible that the drum 22 is driven at a constant speed during normal production (e.g. with an acceleration when starting production). Here after it is assumed that the speed of the drum 22 is periodically varied during a revolution of the drum, yet preferably without stopping and starting.

In general terms the mass feed member 30 is adapted to transfer the foodstuff mass into a mold cavity or the mold member in a corresponding mold cavity filling event that is defined by the moment of first flow of foodstuff mass into the mold cavity 25 and the moment if the mold cavity has been fully filled and flow or foodstuff mass therein is terminated.

The mass feed member 30 has a housing 31 defining an elongated chamber 32 with a longitudinal axis. The housing 31 has a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls 33 having a length and generally parallel to this longitudinal axis. Short end walls 34 interconnect the long lateral walls 33 at respective longitudinal ends thereof. Further the housing 31 comprises a bottom wall that faces the mold drum 22 at the fill position.

In the examples shown the bottom wall 36 is provided with a slot over at least the length of the chamber, and in this slot a discharge mouth body is arranged that forms an orificed discharge mouth tension the path of the rows of multiple mold cavities at distinct perpendicular axis positions of the drum, so that food stuff mass flows into the mold cavities

-24via said orificed discharge mouth. In another design the discharge mouth is composed as a single elongated slotted opening, e.g. rectilinear.

The mass feed member 30 is provided with a single elongated plunger 40 that is slidably received in the chamber, sliding between the lateral walls 32 and the end walls 33, generally opposite the bottom wall 34, in a range of travel of the plunger 40 relative to the bottom wall 34. As the mass feed member is usually located on the top of the drum, possibly at some inclination, one might say that the plunger travels up and down in the chamber.

The installation comprises a plunger pressurizing assembly 50 that is adapted to cause the plunger 40 to be biased towards the bottom wall 34 at a controllable pressure.

In figures 1 - 8, only one lateral wall 33 is provided with an introduction mouth 35 formed by one or more introduction opening, here one elongated slotted opening, that span or span a major portion of the length of said lateral wall, preferably about the length of the chamber 32. This lateral wall 32 as well as the opposed lateral wall 33 and the end walls 34, all have a portion that extends above the introduction mouth 35.

The range of travel of the plunger 40 is above the introduction mouth 35, so that in this range the plunger 40 does not block the introduction mouth 35 and unduly affects the inflow of mass via said introduction opening by means of the feed pump 5.

The installation further comprises a plunger position sensor 43 that is adapted to provide a plunger position signal corresponding to one or more positions of said plunger, e.g. including an upper position and a lower position of the plunger 40.

The installation comprises a controller 90 which is linked to the plunger pressurizing assembly 50, to the plunger position sensor 44, and to the feed pump 5.

The controller 90 is adapted to input a target fill pressure for the foodstuff mass in the chamber 31 of the mass feed member and / or in the mold cavities 25.

The plunger pressurizing assembly 50 is adapted to constantly pressurize the foodstuff mass in the chamber 31 by means of this single elongated plunger 40 on the basis of the input target fill pressure.

-25 The controller 90 is adapted, eg a computerized controller is programmed, to operate the feed pump 5 on the basis of the plunger position signal such that the plunger 40 remains in said range of travel during operation of the installation, eg said feed pump 5 being started when plunger 40 reaches a lower position near or at a lower limit or said range of travel and the feed pump 5 being stopped when said plunger reaches an upper position near or at an upper limit or said range.

As is illustrated in figures 1 - 7, 9, 10the original mouth body is a composite body with parts 36a, 36b - as preferred - and comprises a metal or ceramic original mouth body part 36a that forms the valve side face of the mouth body and a plastic mouth body part 36b that adjoins the original body part 36a so that said orifices 37b therein a continuation of orifices 37a. Effectively the plastic body part 36b forms the outlet face of the mouth body that faces the mobile mold member 22. This is for example advantageous when the mold member, here drum 22, has a metal surface or metal surface parts engaging the outlet face of the body.

The discharge mouth here is thus formed by a multitude of outlet orifices 37b so that each cavity 25 is filled via multiple outlet orifices 37b, eg cylindrical bores at various angles to obtain a desired inflow of the mass into a mold cavity 25. Other cross- sectional shapes of the outlet orifices 37b are also possible.

It will be appreciated that the rotation of the drum 22 causes at some point in time that the row of mold cavities 25 is aligned with the outlet face of the mouth and the discharge mouth. Along the effective outflow opening the ground mass can flow into the mold cavities.

It is noted that in a practical embodiment of a drum molding device the filling events or rows of cavities 25 that take place at the mass feed member can succeed one another at a very high pace, eg each 0.5 seconds or even each 0.25 seconds a new filling event. This means in practice that the intermediate period between filling events can have a duration between, for example, 0.1 and 0.3 seconds.

As can be seen in the example the drum 22 is provided with a pattern of multiple mold cavities 25 with cavities 25 in rows at distinct perpendicular axis positions when seen perpendicular to the path of the mold member, so here at different positions relative to the length of the drum 22. In more detail the drum 22, as is a common embodiment in the art, is

-26provided with arrays or multiple cavities 25 when seen in circumferential direction of the drum 22, with axial spacing between adjacent arrays when seen in axial direction of the drum.

The cavities in adjacent arrays on the drum 22 are aligned in rows that are parallel to the axis

24. However, it is also possible to have the cavities in a non-parallel arrangement, e.g. in staggered rows when viewed in longitudinal direction on the drum or in spiraling lines.

As indicated above it is envisaged, as is known in the art, that is the mold member, e.g., the drum 22, is exchangeable for another mold member, having a different pattern and / or shape or mold cavities.

As is preferred the mass feed member 30 may seally engage onto the drum surface 23, eg around the discharge mouth, to avoid leakage or mass between the drum and the mass feed member 30. For example one or more drum engaging seal members 39 are provided .

As depicted there is no upstream closure member for the cavities in the drum, as it is envisaged that the filling event only occurs when the entire cavities are effectively aligned with the certified outlets. In alternative variant, eg with a singular slot as discharge mouth and continuous speed drive of the drum, one may envisaged the provision of an upstream closure member for the mold cavities, eg a flexible plate that is pressed against the drum with an adjustable force in an elastic manner, eg using pneumatics.

As depicted here there is no downstream closure member for the cavities in the drum, as it is envisaged that the filling event only occurs when the entire cavities are effectively aligned with the identified outlets and as relaxation of the mass in the cavities 25 is allowed once the cavities are moved away from the fill position.

Depicted is a flexing resilient flap 38 that is secured at one end to the housing 31 and flexes under the influence of the relaxing mass filled in the cavities 25. This aides the controlled relaxation of the mass.

Provision of a downstream closure member that extends in downstream direction from the mouth of the mass feed member serves to keep the filled cavities closed for a while as the filled cavities move away from the fill position. This allows the mass to become a more coherent food product when desired.

The mass in the mold cavity forms the food product, e.g. the meat patty.

Optional details of a mold drum 22, mass feed member 30, and any closure member, are e.g. disclosed in WO00 / 30548 and in WO2004 / 002229.

For example, the one or more closure members may each include a semi-circular plate member, preferably or flexible design, that is urgent in sealing contact with the surface 23 by one or more actuators, eg pneumatic actuators, eg with transverse lamellae between the plate member and the one or more actuators. This is known in the art.

The pump 5 advances the foodstuff mass through the tube or hose 63 towards the mass feed member 30.

By suitable control of the pump 5, e.g. of the pump rotor speed, e.g. using a controllable electric pump drive motor MP, the output or mass can be controlled by the pump.

At the release position that is downstream or the fill position the formed product P, here meat product P, is released from the mold cavity 25, eg to be transported onward on a conveyor 80, eg to other downstream equipment, eg an oven, a fryer, etc.

The installation may include a controllable vacuum assembly, e.g., integrated with the pump. 5 as is known in the art. This vacuum assembly may be adapted to cause controlled evacuation of air from the mass at one or more locations in the trajectory of the mass from the hopper 2 to and including the pump chamber at a position where it is in communication with the pump inlet of the positive displacement pump. As preferred, this vacuum assembly comprises a vacuum pump, e.g., an electrically operated vacuum pump.

If desired a vacuum may have been created in the hopper 2 as is known in the art. A vacuum may also be created in any passage between the hopper 1 and the pump inlet 6, e.g., in a duct into which one or more augers 3 or a feed assembly extend.

With reference to figure 9 we will now, among others, elucidate the third aspect of the invention.

It is illustrated in figure 9 that the housing 130 of the mass feed member has an introduction mouth 135 in each lateral wall 133 thereof. For each introduction mouth 135 there is a dedicated valve 161,162.

-28Preferably each valve 161, 162 arranged to govern flow through an introduction mouth, when at all present, is a rotary tube valve as is schematically indicated in figure 9. Such a valve has an elongated substantial cylindrical valve body that is rotatably received in a bore, here in the housing of the mass feed member, and that has an elongated axial slot through the rotary cylindrical body that is in an opened angular position is aligned with the inlet and outlet so that mass may pass from the respective pump into the chamber 32 for its replenishment (right-hand side of figure 9) and in a closed angular position (left-hand side of figure 9) the lock of the rotary tube valve is disconnected from the inlet and outlet so that the valve is effectively closed.

For each valve 161, 162 a corresponding valve actuator 161a, 162 a is provided that is linked to the controller 90. Thereby, upon signals from the controller 90, each of the valves 161, 162 is operable to open and close the respective introduction mouth.

Figure 9 also illustrates that a first piston pump 105 is mounted on the first lateral wall of the housing and a second piston pump 106 is mounted on the second lateral wall of the housing.

As is preferred each of the first and second piston pumps 105, 106 has a single pump piston 107,108 that is reciprocable in a pump chamber by an actuator, e.g., pneumatic cylinder (s) 105a, 106a. The operation of the pumps 105, 106, including the piston actuators 105a, 106a, is controlled by controller 90.

As is preferred each pump piston 107, 108 has a length in the longitudinal direction, so here is right angles to the plane of the figure, that is substantially required to the length of the introduction mouth 135 along the main axis of the chamber 32 so that the mass is pushed over a whole front into and through the introduction mouth 135 and into the chamber 32 underneath the then upward moving plunger 40, avoiding undue shear etc. within the mass, eg in the ground meat mass.

In figure 9 it is further illustrated that the first and second piston pumps 105, 106 are arranged in a V relative to the mass feed member housing 130. In another arrangement, the piston pumps 105, 106 are located in a common plane, eg perpendicular to the motion path of the plunger 40.

The first and second piston pumps 105, 106 are each connected to a respective inlet duct 110,111 and, as preferred, these inlet ducts are arranged in an inverted V and adjoin at their

-29upper ends a common hopper 112. This hopper is adapted to receive therein a supply of a foodstuff mass. At each pump chamber inlet of the pumps 105, 106 a non-depicted sliding valve member may be present.

It is preferred for the mass to flow into the opened and empty pump chamber of the piston pumps 105, 106 purely on the basis of gravity, so without an external force being exerted on the mass that may cause undue pressurization prior to entry into the piston pump 105, 106.

As preferred the inlet ducts 110, 111 or the piston pumps 105, 106 each have a length in said longitudinal direction that is substantially agreed to said length or said introduction mouth.

It will be appreciated that in an operation of the installation of figure 9 according to the first aspect of the invention, the controller 90 is adapted, eg a computerized controller is programmed, to operate the piston pumps 105, 106 on the basis of the plunger position signal from sensor 44 such that the plunger 40 remains in the mentioned range of travel during operation of the installation. For example one piston pump will be operated to feed mass into the chamber 32 via the respective then opened valve while the other piston pump will be disconnected from the chamber 32 via its respective then closed valve allowing said other piston pump to retract the piston for a renewed filling of the pump chamber with foodstuff mass. By repeating this sequence alternating for the left-hand and right-hand piston pump a continuous and high-capacity operation can be achieved while the plunger 40 maintains the desired pressurization of the mass in the chamber 32.

As discussed the timing and control of the filling of a row of mold cavities, for example with the drum 22 being revolved in intermittent mode by the drive MD, can be in governed by a plate valve 36c controlling the opening and closing of the orificed mouth body 36a, b. It will be appreciated that the actuator or valve 36c is then also connected to controller 90.

The presence of the original mouth body 36a, b optimizes the installation for the production of, for example, home-style meat patties out of ground meat. As discussed instead of the original design of the mouth body, one could provide for a singular slot mouth through which a row of mold cavities if filled. One can envisage that the row is a straight row parallel to the axis 24 of the drum, but one can also provide for a spiral or helical row or some staggered arrangements of the cavities in a row.

-30It is that, if desired, yet not preferred the plunger 40 could have been replaced by a series of plungers acting on the mass in the chamber 32 to obtain pressurization of some other arrangement that causes such pressurization.

If desired the installation of figure 9 can also be embodied according to the second aspect of the invention and operated accordingly.

With reference to figure 10 now the second aspect of the invention will be elucidated.

Figure 10 shows schematically an installation for molding of three dimensional products P from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material. For example, as preferred, the installation is operated to make home-style meat patties out of ground meat.

The installation comprises hopper 2, feed pump 5 for the foodstuff mass, and feed pump drive MP. These components may have one or more of the features discussed above.

The installation further comprises a molding device 20 including:

- a frame 21,

- a mobile mold member 22 here embodied as a mold drum,

- a mold member drive MD for moving the mold member along a path, here rotation of the drum, possibly stepwise,

- a mass feed member 30 with a plunger 40 arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mold member,

- a valve 60 associated with the introduction mouth in the mass feed member and a valve actuator 65,

- a plunger pulsing assembly 70 adapted to cause periodic pulsing motions of the plunger 40,

- a molded products conveyor 80.

The drum 22 is embodied to rotate or revolve as the drum 22 is rotatably supported by the frame 21, eg the drum 22 being mounted on a shaft that is supported by one or both ends in a bearing 10 that is carried by the frame 21 or the device 20.

The mold drum 22 has an outer circumferential drum surface 23 and a longitudinal drum rotation axis 24. The drum 22 is rotatably supported by the frame 21 to revolve about the drum rotation axis, here - as is preferred - a horizontal axis.

-31The mold drum 22 has in the drum surface 23 multiple mold cavities 25, each cavity 25 having a filling opening in the plane of the surface 23 for the introduction of foodstuff mass into the mold cavity and for the later removal or release of the product from the cavity 25.

In the depicted example the cavities 25 are embodied as individual recesses in the outer surface 23 of the drum body, having a bottom opposite the filling opening of the cavity 25.

The multiple mold cavities 25 are arranged in rows of multiple cavities, the cavities in a row are located at distinct positions in a perpendicular axis direction, so perpendicular to the plane of figure 10 and generally parallel to the axis 24. In vary the cavities of a row are perfectly aligned parallel to the axis 24, in another embodiment the cavities may be staggered within a row.

The ejection of products P from a row of mold cavities may be facilitated / performed by means of the cavities being bounded by porous material wall parts through which pressurized gas, e.g. air, has been released to release the product P from the respective cavity. The cavity could also be embodied to include a piston type bottom as is also known in the art. Here, as known, the drum is provided with air channels 22a, one for each row of mold cavities 25, into which air is blown at the release position above the conveyor 80. This burst of air passes through the respective channel 22a and then through the porous material wall parts of the associated row of mold cavities 25.

The mold member drive MD is preferably an electric drive, e.g. including a servo-controlled electric motor, allowing for a variable and controllable drum rotation speed. In use of the installation depicted in figure 10 it is envisaged that the drum 22 is driven in a non-continuous, more or less interrupted manner, so with periodic starting and stopping, or at least periodic slowing down and accelerating, during a revolution of the drum 22 in synchronization with a row becoming aligned with the discharge mouth of the mass feed member 30. So it is envisaged that the drive MD causes the row of mold cavities to be at a complete standstill or at a low rotational speed during the filling process or the respective row. In order to optimize production speed the drum is then accelerated to move a further row of cavities into alignment with the discharge mouth. Current servo-controlled electric motors allow for such periodic motion of the mold drum 22.

In general terms the mass feed member 30 is adapted to transfer the foodstuff mass into a row of mold cavities or the mold member 22 in a corresponding mold cavities filling event that is defined by the moment of first flow of foodstuff mass into the row of mold cavities 25

-32and the moment in which the mold cavities have been fully filled and flow or foodstuff mass therein is terminated.

The mass feed member 30 has a housing 31 defining an elongated chamber 32 with a longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the circular path of the drum and parallel to the axis 24 of the drum 22.

The housing 31 has a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls 33 having a length and generally parallel to this longitudinal axis. Short end walls 34 interconnect the long lateral walls 33 at respective longitudinal ends thereof. Further the housing 31 comprises a bottom wall 36 that faces the mold drum 22 at the fill position.

In the example shown in figure 10, as preferred in the context of the second aspect of the invention, the bottom wall 36 is provided with a slot over at least the length of the chamber, and in this slot a discharge mouth body is arranged that forms an orificated discharge mouth stress the path of the rows of multiple mold cavities 25, so that foodstuff mass flows into the mold cavities or a row via said approved discharge mouth.

The mass feed member 30 is provided with a single elongated plunger 40 that is slidably received in the chamber, sliding between the lateral walls 32 and the end walls 33, generally opposite the bottom wall 36, in a range of travel of the plunger 40 relative to the bottom wall 36. As the mass feed member, common will be located on the top of the horizontal axis type drum 22, possibly at some inclination relative to vertical, one might say that the plunger travels up and down in the chamber.

It is illustrated in figure 10 that one lateral wall 33 is provided with an introduction mouth 35 formed by one or more introduction opening, here one elongated slotted opening, that span or span a major portion of the length of said lateral wall, preferably about the length of the chamber 32. This lateral wall 32 as well as the opposed lateral wall 33 and the end walls 34, all have a portion that extends above the introduction mouth 35.

The valve 60 is provided to open and close this mouth 35 on demand by means of valve actuator 65.

The installation further comprises the plunger pulsing assembly 70 that is adapted to cause periodic pulsing motions of the plunger 40 in a range of travel of the plunger 40 towards the

-33bottom wall in synchronicity with the successive alignments of successive rows of mold cavities 25 with the discharge mouth as governed by the drive MD.

The installation further comprises a controller 90 which is linked to the plunger pulsing assembly 70, to the valve actuator 65, and to the feed pump 5.

The controller 90 is adapted, eg a computerized controller is programmed, to operate the valve 60 of the introduction mouth 35 so that the valve 60 opens and closes in synchronicity with the successive alignments of rows of mold cavities with the discharge mouth and with successive pulse motions of the plunger 40, such that the valve 60 is closed when a row of mold cavities is aligned with the discharge mouth.

The controller 90 is adapted to operate the plunger pulsing assembly 70 such that, with the valve 60 being closed, the single elongated plunger 40 performs a pulse motion towards the bottom wall of the mass feed member housing, causing a pressure pulse in the foodstuff mass within the chamber 32 and the pressurized transfer of foodstuff mass into the row of mold cavities that is aligned with the discharge mouth.

The controller 90 is adapted to open the valve 60 between successive pulse motions of the plunger 40 and to operate the feed pump 5 such that the feed pump, here via hose or tube 63, then replenishes the chamber 32 with foodstuff mass.

As preferred the plunger pulsing assembly 70 comprises one or more pneumatic actuators, most preferably pneumatic bellow actuators 71, most preferably directly on top of the elongated plunger 40 as illustrated in figure 10.

The assembly 70 also comprises a source of pressurized air 72, eg including a compressor, compressed air storage tank with a supply of pressurized air is stored, and a valve linked to the controller 90 and steered to release successive bursts of pressurized air to the one or more actuators 71.

As illustrated here, it is envisaged (e.g. for production or home-style meat patties) to have an approved discharge mouth through which a row of cavities is filled in one go. Possibly a plate valve as discussed above is associated with the certified discharge mouth, the plate valve opening and closing the certified on demand.

-34For example when making home-style patty products out of rather cold, eg close to freezing temperature, ground meat, a practical version using an approved discharge mouth may entail that the plunger pulsing assembly 70 creates pressure pulses in the ground meat mass within the chamber 32 that reach in the pressure range between 10 and 20 bars. For example the pressure peak lies between 12 and 16 bars. The closed valve 60 prevents this pressure pulse from having a negative influence on the mass that is present upstream of the valve, e.g., causing it to loose moisture due to being overpressured for too long a time. Closing the valve at the same time 60 avoids that the upstream mass vapor the creating or the desired pressure pulse. Upstream the mass could e.g. be hero at pressures around 5 bars, with said pressure being sufficient to replenish the chamber 32 between successive pressure pulses. The relative low pressure of the mass upstream of the valve 60 compared to the relatively high peak pressure of the pulsing is thus favored for the mass quality and thus for the final product P that is formed. It will be appreciated that near freezing the moisture containing meat mass will be rather susceptible to small changes of temperature and exhibit quite more resistance to flow through the certified discharge mouth when being somewhat colder. This can be compensated for by appropriate setting of the pulsing assembly.

When used in conjunction with a plate valve to control the opening and closing of the mouth, it may be practical to start the pulsing assembly ahead of the plate valve actually opening the orifices. This causes that the plate valve governs the current moment of inflow or mass into the row of mold cavities. Similarly it can be practical to continue the pressure pulse timewise beyond the actual closing of the orifices by the plate valve, so that the pressure on the mass is maintained throughout the entire filling event. Thereafter, with the plate valve closed, the pressure pulse is terminated and the valve 60 is opened to replenish the chamber 32.

One can also envisaged an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention in the composition of the foodstuff mass that is pumped by the feed pump 5 into the mass feed member chamber 32 is such in relation to the official in the original mouth body that the foodstuff mass in said composition is unable to pass through the orifices in the original mouth body under influence of the foodstuff mass pressure caused by the feed pump. In order to expel the mass through the orifices into the row of mold cavities on then operates the pulsing assembly 70 to causes a pulse with increased pressure such that said foodstuff mass passes through the orifices in the original mouth body. This may e.g. allow to dispense with a plate valve as discussed.

-35It will be appreciated that the installations described may include one or more pressure sensors at appropriate locations, e.g., to determine actual mass pressure at one or more locations in the installation. For example one or more pressure sensors are provided for sense current mass pressure within the chamber, between the pump and the mass feed member, and / or within the mold cavities.

It will be appreciated that the size of the chamber 32 can be the same for an installation according to the first or second aspect of the invention.

Claims (20)

CONCLUSIONS An installation (1) for forming three-dimensional products from a mass of a food material to be pumped, for example ground meat, the installation comprising: - a feed pump (5) for the food mass, - a supply pump drive (MP), - a forming device (20) comprising: - a frame (21), - a movable mold element (22) with a plurality of mold cavities (25), each with a filling opening for the introduction of food mass into the mold cavity, wherein the mold element is movably supported by the frame to move along a path, and wherein the plurality of mold cavities are arranged in a pattern comprising mold cavities arranged at different positions in a perpendicular axis direction perpendicular to the path of the mold element, - a form element drive (MD) suitable for moving the form element along the path, - a mass supply element (30) arranged at a filling position relative to the path of the movable form element, which mass supply element is connected to an outlet of the supply pump (5), which mass supply element has a housing (31) which has an elongated chamber (32) defines, with a longitudinal chamber axis extending in the perpendicular axis direction, which housing has a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls (33), having a length and substantially parallel to the longitudinal chamber axis, end walls (34) interconnecting the lateral walls at respective longitudinal ends thereof, a bottom wall (36) facing the forming element (22), and wherein the bottom wall (36) is provided with a dispensing mouth formed by one or more dispensing mouth openings (37a, b) spanning the path of the plurality of mold cavities (25) in the perpendicular axis direction, so that food mass flows into the mold cavities through the dispensing mouth during operation of the forming device, characterized in that The mass supply element (30) is provided with a single elongated plunger (40) slidably received in the chamber (32), sliding between the lateral walls (33) and the end walls (34), substantially opposite the bottom wall (36) , in a movement region of the plunger relative to the bottom wall, which movement region is limited by an upper limit and a lower limit, the installation comprising a plunger pressure assembly (50) suitable for ensuring that the plunger (40) is in the direction of the bottom wall (36) is pushed at a controllable pressure, wherein at least one lateral wall (33) is provided with an introduction mouth (35) for the introduction of food mass into the chamber, which introduction mouth is formed by one or more introduction openings which span at least a large part of the length of the lateral wall, wherein, for example, the one or more introduction openings combined have a length of approximately the length of n the chamber (32), which lateral walls and end walls each have a portion extending above the introduction mouth, the installation including a plunger position sensor (44) adapted to provide a plunger position signal corresponding to one or more positions of the plunger (40), for example comprising an upper position and a lower position of the plunger, the installation comprising a controller (90) connected to the plunger pressure assembly (50), to the plunger position sensor (44), and to the supply pump (5) which controller (90) is suitable for introducing a target filling pressure for the food mass into the chamber (32) of the mass supply element and / or into the mold cavities (25), and wherein the controller is suitable, for example a computerized controller is programmed, to operate the plunger pressure assembly (50) such that the food mass inside the chamber (32) is kept under pressure at a substantially constant pressure by means of the single elongate The plunger (40) based on the input target fill pressure, the controller (90) being capable of controlling the introduction of the food mass into the chamber on the basis of the plunger position signal, the introduction of food mass by means of the supply pump ensuring that the plunger moves away from the bottom wall, -38, for example, where the controller starts the introduction of the food mass when the plunger reaches a predetermined lower position near or at a lower limit of the movement area and the introduction is stopped when the plunger reaches an upper position near or at an upper limit of the movement area . The installation of claim 1, wherein the plunger (40) has an imaginary free projection on the bottom wall (36) viewed in the direction of movement of the plunger, and wherein the dispensing mouth (37a, b) is completely located within said imaginary unhindered projection of the plunger. Installation according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the direction of movement of the plunger is perpendicular to the bottom wall (36) of the housing. Installation according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the introduction mouth is a single elongated slot-shaped passage (35) or a series of passages distributed along the length of the lateral wall. Installation according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the pressure assembly (50) comprises one or more pneumatic actuators (51), for example one or more pneumatic actuators that engage on a lever arm structure (52) pivoted with respect to the frame at a pivot point (53), which lever arm structure is connected to the plunger (40) to obtain an increase in a force exerted by the pneumatic actuators. Installation according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the bottom wall (36) has a slot in which an exchangeable dispensing mouth body (36a, b) is accommodated so as to enable exchange of one dispensing mouth body with another dispensing mouth body with a different dispensing mouth, for example a dispensing mouth body with an apertured dispensing mouth and a dispensing mouth body with a dispensing mouth with a single straight slot as dispensing mouth. Installation according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the bottom wall of the housing of the mass supply element is provided with an apertured mouth body (36a, b) with a plurality of outlet openings (37a, b) forming the dispensing mouth so that the food mass enters each mold cavity flows through several outlet openings. -398. Installation according to claim 7, wherein the apertured mouth body is associated with a valve plate (36c) with a plurality of openings, which valve plate is movable by a valve plate actuator (136) in its plane between open and closed positions with the openings aligned and not respectively are aligned with the openings in the mouth body (36a, b). Installation according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of mold cavities (25) are arranged in one or more rows of a plurality of mold cavities, each row being arranged perpendicular to the path of the mold element, and wherein the controller is connected to the valve plate actuator (136) and is adapted to bring the valve into open position when a row of mold cavities is aligned with the apertured mouth body so that the food mass flows under pressure into the row of mold cavities, and is capable of bringing the valve into a closed position after filling the row of mold cavities after completion. Installation according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the forming element is a forming roller (22), which forming roller has an outer circumferential roller surface (23) and a horizontal longitudinal roller rotation axis (24), the roller being rotatably supported by the frame about to rotate about the horizontal axis, wherein the mold roller in the mold surface has the pattern of a plurality of mold cavities (25), which pattern comprises a plurality of rows of mold cavities, which rows are spaced apart in the circumferential direction and each of which is substantially parallel extending on the roller rotation axis, each row comprising a plurality of cavities on the different perpendicular axis directions. The installation of claim 10, wherein the controller (90) is connected to the drive (MD) of the mold roller, and wherein the controller is adapted to stop or decrease the rotational speed when the row of mold cavities is aligned with the dispensing nozzle. The installation of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the housing (130) of the mass supply element has an introduction mouth (135) in each lateral wall (133) thereof, a valve (161,162) associated with each of the introduction mouths, valve is operable to open and close the introduction mouth, the valve comprising a valve actuator. The installation of claim 12, wherein a first piston pump (105) is mounted on a first lateral wall (133) of the housing and a second piston pump (106) is mounted on a second lateral wall of the housing, each of the first and second piston pumps has a single pump piston (107, 108) movable in one -Pump chamber, for example, each pump piston (107, 108) has a length in the longitudinal direction that substantially corresponds to the length of the introduction mouth (135). An installation according to claim 13, wherein the first and second piston pumps (105,106) are arranged in a V relative to the mass supply housing (130), and wherein the first and second piston pumps (105,106) are each connected to a respective inlet line (110,111) ) wherein, preferably, the inlet lines are arranged in an inverse V and are adjacent to a joint hopper (112) at their upper end, which hopper is adapted to receive a feed of food mass therein, the inlet lines (110, 11) preferably ) each have a length in the longitudinal direction that substantially corresponds to the length of the introduction mouth. 15. Installation for forming three-dimensional products from a mass of a food material to be pumped, for example from ground meat, the installation comprising: - a feed pump (5) for the food mass, - a supply pump drive (MP), - a forming device (20) comprising: - a frame (21), - a movable mold element (22) with a plurality of mold cavities (25), each with a filling opening of the introduction of food mass into the mold cavity, wherein the mold element is movably supported by the frame to move along a path, and wherein the plurality of mold cavities are arranged in one or more rows of a plurality of cavities, the cavities in a row being located at different positions in a perpendicular axis direction perpendicular to the path of the forming element, - a form element drive (MD) for moving the form element along a path, - a mass supply element (30) arranged at a filling position relative to the path of the movable forming element, which mass supply element is connected to an outlet of the supply pump (5), which mass supply element has a housing defining an elongated chamber (32) with a longitudinal axis extending in the perpendicular axis direction, which housing has a pair of spaced apart lateral walls (33) with a length and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, short end walls (34) interconnecting the lateral walls to respective Longitudinal ends thereof, a bottom wall (36) facing the mold element at the filling position along the path of the mold element, and wherein the bottom wall is provided with a dispensing mouth (37) formed by one or more dispensing openings which path of the one or more rows of mold cavities, so that the food mass flows into each row of mold cavities through the dispensing mouth, characterized in that the mass supply element (30) is provided with a single elongate plunger (40) slidably received in the chamber (32) sliding between the lateral walls (33) and the end walls (34), substantially opposite the bottom wall (36), the mass supply element comprising a plunger pulse assembly (70) suitable for periodic pulse movements of the plunger (40) to cause in a region of movement of the plunger towards the bottom wall in synchronism with the successive alignment of associated rows of mold cavities with the dispensing mouth, wherein at least e and a lateral wall (33) is provided with an introduction mouth (35) formed by one or more introduction openings that span a large portion of the length of the lateral wall, the lateral wall having a portion extending above the introduction mouth, the mass supply element further comprises a valve (60) associated with the introduction mouth and operable to open and close the introduction mouth, which valve comprises a valve actuator (65), the installation further comprising a controller (90) connected to the plunger pulse assembly (70), with the valve actuator (65), and with the supply pump (5), which controller (90) is suitable, for example a computerized controller is programmed, to operate the valve (60) so that the valve opens and closes synchronously with associated alignments of rows of mold cavities with the delivery mouth and with consecutive pulse movements of the plunger (40), so that the valve is closed when a row of mold cavities are broken in line ht with the delivery mouth, Wherein the controller (90) is adapted to control the plunger pulse assembly (70) such that when the valve (60) is closed, the single elongated plunger (40) performs a pulse movement in the direction of the bottom wall and thereby pressure pulse causing the food mass in that chamber (32), and the transfer of food mass in the row of mold cavities aligned with the dispensing mouth, and wherein the controller (90) is adapted to open the valve (60) between successive operate pulse movements of the plunger (40) and the feed pump (5) such that the feed pump then fills the chamber with the food mass. An installation according to claim 15, wherein the plunger pulse assembly (70) comprises one or more pneumatic actuators, preferably pneumatic bellows actuators (71). A method for forming three-dimensional products from a mass of food material to be pumped, for example from ground meat, wherein use is made of an installation according to one or more of the preceding claims. A method according to claim 17, wherein the mass supply element is provided with at least one delivery control valve (36c) suitable for closing the delivery mouth, wherein, for example, opening the valve is used to control the timing of the mass flow in a mold cavity, for example, the valve is combined with an apertured mouth body (36a, b). A method according to any of claims 17, 18, wherein the food mass is ground red meat, and wherein use is made of a dispensing mouth formed by an apertured mouth body (36a, b), the apertures in the apertured grinder body of the mass supply element have a diameter of between 2 and 12 millimeters, for example between 4 and 7 millimeters, for example approximately 6 millimeters. A method according to claim 17, wherein use is made of an installation according to any of claims 15, 16, wherein the dispensing mouth is formed by an apertured mouth body (36a, b), and wherein the composition of the food mass being pumped the feed pump (5) in the mass supply element chamber is proportionate to the openings in the apertured mouth body that the food mass of that composition is incapable of -43 is to move through the openings of the apertured mouth body under the influence of the food mass pressure caused by the feed pump, and wherein the pulse assembly (70) causes an increased pressure so that the food mass 5 passes through the openings in the apertured mouth body. A method according to claim 16, wherein use is made of an installation according to any of claims 15, 16, for example wherein the dispensing mouth is formed by an apertured mouth body (36a, b), and wherein the single elongate Plunger (40) performs a pulse movement in the direction of the bottom wall causing a pressure wave in the food mass in that chamber in the pressure range between 10 and 20 bar, and wherein, preferably, the food pump is operated around the food mass, e.g. ground meat, to be introduced into the chamber at a pressure in the pressure range between 3 and 7 bar. O CM