WO2002068172A1 - Dispositif de moulage de galettes alimentaires a plusieurs rangees - Google Patents

Dispositif de moulage de galettes alimentaires a plusieurs rangees Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2002068172A1
WO2002068172A1 PCT/US2002/005353 US0205353W WO02068172A1 WO 2002068172 A1 WO2002068172 A1 WO 2002068172A1 US 0205353 W US0205353 W US 0205353W WO 02068172 A1 WO02068172 A1 WO 02068172A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fill
plate
cavities
mold
rows
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2002/005353
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Scott A. Lindee
Glenn Sandberg
Original Assignee
Formax, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/790,931 external-priority patent/US6454559B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/791,044 external-priority patent/US6517340B2/en
Application filed by Formax, Inc. filed Critical Formax, Inc.
Priority to CA002439105A priority Critical patent/CA2439105C/fr
Priority to EP02717486A priority patent/EP1385687A4/fr
Publication of WO2002068172A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002068172A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
    • A22C7/00—Apparatus for pounding, forming, or pressing meat, sausage-meat, or meat products
    • A22C7/0023—Pressing means
    • A22C7/003—Meat-moulds
    • A22C7/0076—Devices for making meat patties
    • A22C7/0084—Devices for making meat patties comprising a reciprocating plate
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
    • A22C7/00—Apparatus for pounding, forming, or pressing meat, sausage-meat, or meat products

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to food patty-molding machines.
  • the invention particularly relates to food patty-molding machines which incorporate a reciprocating mold plate having patty-forming cavities which are cyclically filled to form patties, and then emptied, the patties being discharged to a patty-receiving area.
  • Food patty-forming or molding machines are described, for example, in U.S. Patents 3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821 ,376.
  • a typical food patty-forming machine or apparatus 20 is illustrated in Figure 1. This machine is described in detail in U.S. Patent 3,887,964 and has been marketed as the FORMAX 26 machine by Formax, Inc., of Mokena, Illinois.
  • Molding machine 20 includes a machine base 21 which supports the operating mechanisms of the machine and contains hydraulic actuating systems, electrical actuating systems, and most of the machine controls.
  • the food patty-molding machine 20 includes a supply means 24 for storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground beef, fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like, to the processing mechanisms of the machine.
  • Supply means 24 includes a large food product storage hopper 25 that supplies a food pump system 26.
  • System 26 includes two alternately operating food pumps (one shown); other machines typically include only a single food pump.
  • the two food pumps continuously pump food, under pressure, into a valve manifold connected to a cyclically operable molding station 28.
  • Molding station 28 includes a multi-cavity mold plate 32 that moves cyclically between a fill position, shown in Figure 1 , and a discharge position in which its mold cavities are outside of station 28, aligned with a set of knock-out cups 33.
  • Food supply means 24 includes a conveyor belt 31 that extends completely across the bottom of hopper 25.
  • a limited supply of food product 38 is shown in hopper 25; a much greater supply could be stored in the hopper without exceeding its capacity.
  • the forward end of hopper 25 communicates with a vertical hopper outlet 39 that leads downwardly into two pump chambers; only one pump chamber 69 is shown.
  • Three motors drive three vertical feed screws. Only one motor 47 and one feed screw 53 are shown in Figure 1.
  • the upper part of a pump housing 71 comprises a plate 81 that supports the mold plate 32.
  • the mold plate 32 includes a plurality of individual mold cavities 86 distributed in a single row across the width of the mold plate; mold cavities 86 are alignable with the manifold outlet fill passage 79.
  • a mold cover 82 is disposed immediately above mold plate 32, closing off the top of each of the mold cavities 86.
  • the mold cover 82 may include a conventional breather plate. Suitable spacers (not shown) are provided to maintain the spacing between the cover 82 and the support plate 81 , essentially equal to the thickness of the mold plate 32.
  • a housing 88 is positioned over the cover plate 82. The housing 88 encloses the operating mechanism (not shown) for the knock-out cups 33.
  • a supply of ground meat or other moldable food product 38 is placed into the hopper 25, and is advanced toward the hopper outlet 39 by the conveyor 31.
  • one of the food pump plungers such as the plunger 68
  • the vertical feed screws 53 aligned with that pump cavity are actuated to feed the food product into the pump cavity.
  • pumping system 26 is illustrated with the mold plate 32 in its fill position, and with the pump 61 pumping the moldable food product through the manifold 27.
  • the pump 61 as shown, has just begun its pumping stroke, and has compressed the food product in pump cavity 69, forcing it under pressure into the manifold 27.
  • the plunger 68 advances and food product flows into the mold cavities 126, there is a relatively constant pressure on the food product and chamber 69, manifold 27, fill passage 79, and cavities 86.
  • mold plate 32 In describing the operation of molding mechanism 28, and particularly the mold plate 32, it is convenient to start with the mold plate 32 in the fill position in Figure 1. In each molding cycle, mold plate 32 remains in this fill position for a limited dwell interval. As the mold cavities 86 move into the fill position, one of the two food pumps of machine 20 pumps food product through manifold 27 and fill passage 79, filling the mold cavities. To assure complete filling of the mold cavities, the food pump must apply a substantial pressure to the food product.
  • mold plate 32 is moved outwardly, to the right from its fill position, as shown in Figure 1 , until it reaches a discharge position with its mold cavities 86 aligned with knock-out cups 33.
  • mold cavities 86 all move clear of fill passage 79 before any part of those cavities projects out of mold station 28, beyond support plate 81 and cover 82.
  • the food pump in machine 20 as shown in Figure 1 , remains sealed off at all times.
  • a second dwell interval occurs at the discharge position of mold plate 32, during which knock-out cups 33 move downwardly through the mold cavities, discharging the molded food patties onto a patty-receiving area, e.g. a take off conveyor (not shown).
  • mold plate 32 is moved back toward its fill position so that mold cavities 86 can again be filled with food product. Again, mold cavities 86 are completely inside molding mechanism 28, sealed off, before they come into alignment with fill passage 79.
  • the present inventor has recognized that the throughput (quantity of patties per time period of machine operation), of food patties formed by the aforementioned food patty-forming machine is limited by the speed of the machine and the number of cavities that can be aligned across the single row.
  • the present inventor has recognized that it would be desirable that the throughput of such a machine be increased, while maintaining a consistent quality of the patties formed by such a machine.
  • the present invention provides an improved food patty-forming apparatus of the aforementioned type having a reciprocating mold plate, and which includes two or more rows of cavities, for example, forward and rearward rows, which are substantially aligned along a reciprocation direction of the mold plate.
  • the two or more rows of cavities are filled with food product from two or more corresponding forward and rearward rows of fill openings, which communicate food product through one face side of the respective cavities.
  • a valve plate is arranged to reciprocate between an open and closed position, to control food product flow between food product fill openings and the cavities.
  • the valve plate reciprocates to open the two rows of cavities to respective two rows of fill openings in a synchronized fashion such that the two rows of cavities are supplied with food product in identical, consistent fashion.
  • the rearward row of cavities is not thereby exposed to the open forward fill openings during retraction of the rearward cavities during mold plate reciprocation.
  • the forward row of cavities is exposed to only the open forward fill openings during the filling interval; and the rearward row of cavities is exposed to only the open rearward fill openings during the filling interval.
  • a mold plate assembly for a patty-forming apparatus that includes a reciprocating mold plate having patty-forming cavities, with at least two rows of cavities substantially aligned in a longitudinal direction.
  • the mold plate reciprocates between a cavity fill position and a patty discharge or knock-out position.
  • the mold plate includes a fill hole.
  • the assembly includes a top fill plate structure and a bottom fill plate arranged facing opposite sides of the mold plate.
  • Front and rear outlet slots are arranged through the top fill plate structure to fill food product into the mold cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position.
  • a pressurized food product flow distribution path is established through the bottom fill plate, through the fill hole of the mold plate, through the top fill plate structure, through the outlet slots, and into the cavities.
  • the fill hole is reciprocated between an open and a closed position with the reciprocating mold plate, to either allow food product into the mold cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position, or to prevent pressurized flow through the fill openings when the mold plate is in the closed position.
  • the rearward row of cavities is not thereby exposed to pressurized food product from front outlet slots during retraction or extension of the rearward cavities during mold plate reciprocation.
  • the forward row of mold cavities is exposed to only the pressurized front outlet slots during the filling interval; and the rearward row of cavities is exposed to only the pressurized front outlet slots during the filling interval.
  • the rearward row of cavities which pass by the front outlet slots is not over-filled or over-pressured by being exposed to pressurized front outlet slots before or after filling by the corresponding rear outlet slots.
  • the production of food patties by the patty-forming apparatus per operating period is effectively doubled compared to an apparatus with a single row of mold cavities.
  • the mold plate assembly allows for the use of multiple rows of cavities in the mold plate and ensures consistent filling in both the rearward and forward rows of cavities. Each row of cavities is filled simultaneously without any row of cavities being over-filled, or over-pressured.
  • the resultant food patties will have a consistent quality and density, and a resultant consistent cooking time.
  • FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a prior art food patty-molding machine
  • FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a first embodiment food patty- forming apparatus according to the present invention, with the apparatus mold plate in a knock-out position;
  • FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2, but with the apparatus mold plate in a filling position;
  • FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;
  • FIGURE 5a is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 with the apparatus mold plate at an intermediate position between the knock-out position and the filling position;
  • FIGURE 5b is a fragmentary, enlarged, diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 with the apparatus mold plate in a filling position;
  • FIGURE 5c is an enlarged, fragmentary, diagrammatic sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 2 with the apparatus mold plate shown in an intermediate position between the filling position and the knock-out position;
  • FIGURE 6 is a chart of the mold plate and valve plate cycles for the apparatus of FIGURE 2.
  • FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a second embodiment food patty-
  • FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of the mold insert plate, mold valve plate
  • FIGURE 9 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the food patty-forming apparatus
  • FIGURE 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of the mold insert plate, mold valve
  • FIGURE 11 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken approximately as indicated by lines 11-11 in FIGURE 8, with the valve plate in a closed condition
  • FIGURE 12 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken approximately as indicated by lines 12-12 in FIGURE 10, with the valve plate in an open condition.
  • FIGURE 13 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a third embodiment patty-
  • FIGURE 14 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of
  • FIGURE 13 with the apparatus mold plate retracted a distance rearwardly toward a fill
  • FIGURE 15 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of
  • FIGURE 14 with the apparatus mold plate moved a further distance, nearing a fully
  • FIGURE 16 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of
  • FIGURE 15 moved a further distance, with the apparatus mold plate at a fully retracted
  • FIGURE 17 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of
  • FIGURE 16 with the apparatus mold plate moved a distance toward the knock-out
  • FIGURE 18 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming apparatus of
  • FIGURE 17 with the apparatus mold plate moved a further distance toward the knock ⁇
  • FIGURE 2 illustrates a first embodiment food patty-forming apparatus 120 of the present invention. Except as otherwise described herein, the apparatus 120 is of a type such as described in U.S. Patents 3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821 ,376, herein incorporated by reference.
  • the apparatus 120 includes a supply apparatus 124 for storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground beef, fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like to the processing mechanism of the apparatus.
  • the supply apparatus 124 includes a storage hopper (not shown) and a food pump system 126.
  • the supply apparatus can be as disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,356,595 and 4,372,008 herein incorporated by reference.
  • the apparatus includes a mold plate 132 that moves cyclically between a discharge or knock-out position shown in FIGURE 2 and a fill position shown in FIGURE 3.
  • two rows of food patties 140a, 140b which occupy two rows of mold cavities, front mold cavities 142a, and rear mold cavities 142b, respectively, within the mold plate 132, are discharged by downward movement of two rows of knock-out cups 146a, 146b, respectively.
  • the food patties can be delivered to a take-off conveyor such as shown in Figure 7.
  • the mold plate 132 is guided for reciprocation between a support plate 158 and a cover plate or breather plate 164.
  • the cover plate 164 provides breather holes 168 and an associated air channel 169 flow connected to the breather holes for allowing the expulsion of air during filling of the two rows of mold cavities 142a, 142b. Breather hole
  • a fill plate 172 is fit within the support plate 158 and includes a top surface 173 which is planar with a contiguous top surface 174 of the support plate 158.
  • the fill plate 172 includes a forward row of fill openings, such as fill slots 176, and a rearward row of fill openings, such as fill slots 178, where "forward" and “rearward” refer to the reciprocation direction L of the mold plate 132 from the fill position toward the discharge
  • a valve plate 190 is arranged beneath the fill plate 172.
  • the valve plate 190 is reciprocatable along the reciprocation direction L of the mold plate 132.
  • a pair of reciprocation mechanisms 208 are used to precisely reciprocate the valve plate 190.
  • the valve plate 190 includes forward and rearward rows of valve openings such as forward valve slots 216, and rearward valve slots 218.
  • the slots are oblong in the transverse direction, having substantially the same size and shape as corresponding overlying fill slots.
  • the valve slots include flared bottom edges. In the valve plate position shown in FIGURE 2, the slots 216, 218 are effectively closed at their top ends by the fill plate 172.
  • Each reciprocation mechanism 208 includes a vertically disposed shaft 226 which has a horizontally disposed cam 230 connected thereto at top end of the shaft 208.
  • the cam 230 is positioned within a circular bearing 236 fit within the valve plate 190. Rotation of the shaft 226 causes rotation of the cam 230 and reciprocation of the valve plate 190.
  • the shaft 226 is oscillated over an arc of 180°, rather than being continuously rotated.
  • a housing 250 of the food product delivery system 126 underlies and supports the support plate 158.
  • Food product is pumped under pressure through a delivery channel 254, and then through a valve cylinder 256.
  • Food product from the valve cylinder is pressurized into an expanded fill passage 260.
  • no food product can be delivered from the fill passage 260 through the valve plate 190 due to the solid features of the overhead fill plate 172, when the mold plate 132 is in its discharge or knock-out position.
  • the apparatus 120 is shown in FIGURE 3 with the mold plate 132 in the completely retracted, fill position. At this position, the fill slots 176, 178 are in registry with the two rows of cavities 142a, 142b respectively. Additionally, in the fill position illustrated, the reciprocating mechanism 208 has moved the valve plate 190 to the left to cause a registry between the respective fill slots 176, 178 and the valve slots 216, 218. Thus, pressurized food product can flow from the expanded fill passage 260 through the valve slots 216, 218, the fill slots 176, 178 and into the two rows of cavities 142a, 142b.
  • FIGURE 4 illustrates the fill plate 172 overlying the valve plate 190.
  • the two rows of cavities 142a, 142b of the mold plate 132 are shown in phantom in the fill position over the feed slot plate 172, for reference.
  • two rows of cavities 142a, 142b are utilized, each row having six cavities. It is of course encompassed by the invention that more rows, and/or more or less cavities per row, could be used.
  • the direction of reciprocation L is indicated on the left side of FIGURE 4.
  • the fill plate 172 is fixedly connected to the support plate 158 by a plurality of fasteners 270.
  • the valve plate 190 is shown dashed and located below the fill plate 172.
  • the reciprocation mechanism 208 includes two shafts 226 connected respectively to the two cams 230.
  • the shafts 226 are connected to gears 276 arranged below the cams 230.
  • a two-way cylinder 280 is provided below the fill plate 172 and arranged extending laterally.
  • the two-way cylinder 280 includes a first output shaft 282 and an opposite, second output shaft 284.
  • the output shafts 282, 284 are fastened to an internal piston (not shown) of the cylinder 280 and are fastened externally thereof to racks 288, 290 respectively.
  • the racks 288, 290 have toothed regions 291 , 292 that are respectively enmeshed with the gears 276.
  • the racks 288, 290 move from right to left which causes counterclockwise rotation of the gears 276, counterclockwise rotation of the shafts 226, and counterclockwise rotation of the cams 230.
  • the cams 230 rotate within the bearings 236 which causes corresponding translation of the plate 190 along the reciprocation direction L.
  • the two-way cylinder 280 reverses direction and moves from left to right, the opposite translation of the valve plate 190 occurs.
  • the cylinder 280 is controlled by the apparatus control C for synchronized oscillation.
  • the fill slots 176, 178 are not in registry with the valve slots 216, 218.
  • the mold plate 132 shown in FIGURE 4 is in the knock-out position or discharge position, as also shown in FIGURE 2.
  • the valve slots 216, 218 will be in registry with the fill slots 176, 178 respectively, and the cavities 142a, 142b will be located as shown in phantom.
  • valve slots 216 carry the same reference number across the transverse row of valve slots
  • valve slots 218 carry the same reference number across the second row of valve slots
  • fill slots 176 use the same reference number across the first row of fill slots
  • fill slots 178 carry the same reference number across the second row of fill slots.
  • FIGURE 5a illustrates the mold plate 132 after having the patties 140a, 140b removed by the cups 146a, 146b and being retracted toward the fill position, at the last moment before the fill slots 176, 178 begin to register with the valve slots 216, 218, by action of the cams 230. At this point, a trailing edge 142c of the rearward cavity 142b has just passed the forward fill slot 176.
  • the mold plate 132 is moving from right to left in FIGURE 5a.
  • FIGURE 5b illustrates the fill position wherein the mold plate has moved from the position shown in FIGURE 5a to its most retracted fill position of FIGURE 5b.
  • the valve slots 216, 218 have moved to become fully in registry with the fill slots 176, 178 and pressurized food product has passed into the cavities 142a, 142b.
  • the mold plate begins to translate toward the knock-out or discharge position.
  • FIGURE 5c the mold plate 132 is moving from the fill position toward the knock-out position.
  • the valve plate 190 has been shifted from left to right by the cam 230 such that the valve slot 216, 218 are closed off from the fill slots 176, 178, respectively.
  • the rearward food patty 140b is not again subjected to a filling pressure from the fill slot 176 as it passes thereby.
  • the quality of the molded food patties can be improved by relieving the pressure on the food product and the pump cavity and in the fill passage throughout a substantial portion of the molding cycle.
  • the valve plate 190 is also used to facilitate the control of the food product pressure.
  • the preferred pressure relationship of the embodiment is illustrated in FIGURE 6 as a function of the mold plate cycle timing.
  • the phantom line curve 321 shows the cyclic movement of the mold plate 132.
  • the solid line curve 322 illustrates the pressure applied to the food product in the fill passage 260 of the apparatus 120.
  • a given maximum fill pressure 323 is applied to the food product in fill passage 260 during the fill dwell interval 326, to assure complete filling of the mold cavities 142a, 142b.
  • the pressure on the food product is reduced to an intermediate pressure 324 much less than the fill pressure 323.
  • pressure 324 may be approximately 20% of fill pressure 323, though this value may vary depending upon the nature of the food product and the size and configuration of the mold cavities.
  • Intermediate pressure 324 should be sufficient to preclude back flow of food product from the mold cavities into the fill passage 260 during the transition interval 327. This requirement can be met by maintaining intermediate pressure 324 in a range of about 10% to 50% of the maximum fill pressure 323, in most instances.
  • the pressure on the food product is preferably retained at or below the intermediate pressure 324 during the remainder of the cycle. That is, during extended interval 325 until near the end of the mold cycle, pressure on the food product remains at, or below, intermediate pressure 324.
  • the pressure relief interval 325 may be maintained through a major portion of the mold plate cycle.
  • FIGURES 2 through 5c illustrate the apparatus 120 having a fill plate 172 with a single oblong fill slot 176, 178 per each mold cavity 142a, 142b, and a valve plate also with a single oblong opening 216, 218 per each mold cavity 142a, 142b.
  • a multi-orifice fill opening into the molding cavities is preferred in order to achieve uniform patty texture and subsequent minimal cooking shrinkage. Accordingly, it is also encompassed by the invention to use a multi-orifice fill plate with an underlying multi-orifice valve plate as illustrated in FIGURES 7 through 12.
  • FIGURES 7 through 12 illustrate a second embodiment apparatus 330.
  • the apparatus utilizes a perforated, multi-orifice fill plate 332 having fill orifices 333, recessed within slots 335, in lieu of the slotted fill plate 172 of the first described embodiment.
  • the fill plate 332 is located in a position below the mold plate 132 and at least partially within a recess 337 on the support plate 158.
  • the fill orifices 333 are open (via the slots 335) to a face of the cavities 142a, 142b in the fill position.
  • a valve plate 340 is supported for horizontal reciprocal movement by the support plate 158 beneath the fill plate 332.
  • the valve plate 340 includes valve orifices 342 which are registerable with the fill plate orifices 333 in a fill position of the valve plate 340.
  • valve plate190 was arranged to translate longitudinally (along the direction of mold plate reciprocation)
  • valve plate 340 of the alternate embodiment is arranged to be translated laterally to register the valve orifices 342 with the fill orifices 333 or alternately to close the fill orifices 333 with solid portions of the valve plate 340.
  • valve plate 190 of the first embodiment to reciprocate laterally
  • valve plate 340 of the second embodiment to reciprocate longitudinally
  • a hydraulic cylinder 350 (shown schematically in FIGURES 8 and 10) can be used which is operationally connected to the valve plate 340.
  • the hydraulic cylinder can be pneumatically driven or hydraulic fluid driven.
  • the valve plate is guided to reciprocate horizontally between the fill plate 332 and the support plate 158, by force from the hydraulic cylinder 350.
  • the hydraulic cylinder is controlled to create a cyclic or oscillating lateral force on the valve plate 340, synchronized with the reciprocation of the mold plate 132.
  • the hydraulic cylinder can be a bidirectionally acting cylinder ("two way cylinder") or can be a single direction cylinder (“one way cylinder”) combined with a return spring.
  • valve plate 340 is effectively the same as the operation described above associated with FIGURES 5a through 6.
  • the apparatus 330 includes a cover plate 360 overlying a top breather plate 362
  • breather plates 362, 364 include breather holes
  • breather holes 368, 370 are provided with the respective breather holes 368, 370.
  • channels 372, 374 are used to remove air from the cavities during filling of the cavities
  • FIGURES 7, 8 and 11 illustrate the apparatus 330 with the mold plate 132 in the
  • knock-out cups 146a, 146b are shown in
  • patties 140a, 140b can be deposited on a product conveyor
  • the fill plate orifices 333 shown in
  • FIGURE 8 as open circles) are out of registry with the valve plate holes 342 (shown
  • valve plate 340 is in the closed
  • FIGURES 9, 10 and 12 illustrate the apparatus 330 with the mold plate 132
  • valve plate 340 has been shifted laterally
  • valve plate holes 342 are inwardly (upwardly in FIGURE 10) by a distance x, and all of the valve plate holes 342
  • valve plate 340 through the fill plate 332, and into the cavities 142a, 142b.
  • FIGURE 11 illustrates the relationship between the valve plate 340 and of the fill
  • valve plate 332 The valve plate holes 342 are not in registry with the orifices 333 of the fill
  • valve plate i.e., the valve plate is in the closed position.
  • FIGURE 12 illustrates the relationship between the valve plate 340 and of the fill
  • valve plate 340 has been shifted and the valve plate holes
  • FIGURE 13 illustrates a third embodiment food patty-forming apparatus 1120 of the present invention. Except as otherwise described herein, the apparatus 1120 is of a type such as described in U.S. Patents 3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821 ,376, herein incorporated by reference.
  • the apparatus 1120 includes a supply apparatus 1124 for storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground beef, fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like to the processing mechanism of the apparatus.
  • the supply apparatus 1124 includes a storage hopper (not shown) and a food product pump system 1126.
  • the supply apparatus can be as disclosed in U.S. Patents 4,356,595 or 4,372,008 herein incorporated by reference.
  • the apparatus includes a mold plate 1132 that moves cyclically between a discharge or knock-out position shown in FIGURE 13 and a fill position or stage shown in FIGURES 15 and 16.
  • two rows of food patties 1140a, 1140b which occupy two rows of mold cavities, front mold cavities 1142a, and rear mold cavities 1142b, respectively, within the mold plate 1132, are discharged by downward movement of two rows of corresponding knock-out cups 1146a, 1146b, respectively.
  • the food patties can be delivered onto a take-off conveyor 1175.
  • front cavities 1142a and rear cavities 1142b are utilized, each row having six cavities (not shown). It is of course encompassed by the invention that more rows, and/or more or less cavities per row, could be used.
  • the mold plate 1132 is guided for reciprocal movement by a support plate 1158, a bottom fill plate 1172, and a top fill plate structure 1162.
  • the top fill plate structure 1162 includes a top
  • the breather plate 1174 includes breather
  • the breather holes are recessed in dished areas 1180a,
  • the channels 1183a, 1183b are formed into a top surface of the breather plate 1174, and the channels 1184a, 1184b are
  • the top fill plate 1168 includes
  • 1174 includes a fill opening 1190 and a front outlet slot 1192 and a rear outlet slot
  • the bottom fill plate 1172 is below the mold plate 1132 below the bottom fill plate 1172.
  • the bottom fill plate 1172 is fit on, and partly recessed within, the support plate 1158, and includes a top surface 1198 which is planar with a contiguous top surface 1204 of the support plate 1158.
  • the bottom fill plate 1172 is mounted to the support plate 1158 by a plurality of fasteners 1270.
  • the bottom fill plate 1172 includes a fill delivery channel 1206 open at
  • the mold plate includes a fill hole 208 located rearwardly of the two rows of
  • mold plate 1132 is interposed between the fill opening 1190 and the fill delivery channel
  • the cavities 1142a, 1142b For simplicity, only one longitudinally arranged pair of the cavities 1142a, 1142b and one set of corresponding features, such as the knock-out cups 1146a, 1146b, groups of breather holes 1180, 1182, channels 1183a, 1183b, 1184a, 1184b, fill hole 1208, delivery channel 1206, fill inlet 1190, fill cavity 1186, and front and rear outlet slots 1192, 1194, are shown and described.
  • the front and rear cavities 1142a, 1142b would advantageously be multiplied across the width of the mold plate 1132, the corresponding features can also be multiplied across the apparatus in like fashion.
  • some corresponding features, such as the cavity 1186 could possibly be shared by more than one pair of cavities 1142a, 1142b across the rows.
  • a housing 1250 of the food product pump system 1126 underlies and supports the support plate 1158.
  • Food product is pumped under pressure through a delivery channel 1254, and then through a valve cylinder 1256. Food product from the valve cylinder is pressurized into an expanded fill passage 1260.
  • the mold plate solid portion 1212 closes off the fill opening 1190 from the fill
  • FIGURE 18 shows the mold plate 1132 extended toward the knock-out or discharge position, nearing the position shown in FIGURE 13, wherein the cycle is repeated.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
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  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)
  • Manufacturing And Processing Devices For Dough (AREA)
  • Formation And Processing Of Food Products (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un ensemble plaque de moulage permettant de former un dispositif de moulage de galettes. Cet ensemble comprend une plaque de moulage (132) à mouvement alternatif pourvue de cavités (140a, 140b) permettant de former des galettes, au moins deux rangées de cavités étant alignées dans le sens de la longueur; et une plaque de remplissage (172) conçue pour être placée en face de la plaque de moulage. La plaque de moulage alterne entre une position de remplissage des cavités et une position d'éjection ou de démoulage des galettes. Des fentes (178) sont ménagées à travers la plaque de remplissage de manière à remplir le produit alimentaire dans les cavités du moule lorsque la plaque de moule est en position de remplissage. Dans un mode de réalisation, une plaque porte-soupape (190) est installée en face de la plaque de remplissage, cette plaque (190) est pourvue d'ouvertures de soupape (216, 218) correspondant aux ouvertures de remplissage de la plaque de remplissage. Dans un second mode de réalisation, l'ensemble plaque de moulage comprend un orifice de remplissage situé vers l'arrière par rapport aux cavités. L'ensemble comprend une structure (332) de plaque de remplissage supérieure conçue pour être placée en face de la plaque de moulage. Des fentes d'évacuation (335) sont ménagées à travers la structure de plaque de remplissage supérieure afin de permettre le déversement du produit alimentaire dans les cavités du moule lorsque la plaque de moulage est en position de remplissage.
PCT/US2002/005353 2001-02-22 2002-02-21 Dispositif de moulage de galettes alimentaires a plusieurs rangees WO2002068172A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002439105A CA2439105C (fr) 2001-02-22 2002-02-21 Dispositif de moulage de galettes alimentaires a plusieurs rangees
EP02717486A EP1385687A4 (fr) 2001-02-22 2002-02-21 Dispositif de moulage de galettes alimentaires a plusieurs rangees

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/791,044 2001-02-22
US09/790,931 US6454559B1 (en) 2001-02-22 2001-02-22 Food patty-molding apparatus having mold plate with multiple rows of cavities
US09/790,931 2001-02-22
US09/791,044 US6517340B2 (en) 2001-02-22 2001-02-22 Mold plate having multiple rows of cavities for food patty-molding apparatus

Publications (1)

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WO2002068172A1 true WO2002068172A1 (fr) 2002-09-06

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EP (1) EP1385687A4 (fr)
CA (1) CA2439105C (fr)
WO (1) WO2002068172A1 (fr)

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US6932997B2 (en) 2001-06-14 2005-08-23 Osi International, Inc. Method for forming multiple rows of meat patties

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6932997B2 (en) 2001-06-14 2005-08-23 Osi International, Inc. Method for forming multiple rows of meat patties
US7754265B2 (en) 2001-06-14 2010-07-13 Osi Industries, Inc. Device and method for forming multiple rows of meat patties

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1385687A4 (fr) 2008-01-23
CA2439105C (fr) 2008-05-20
CA2439105A1 (fr) 2002-09-06
EP1385687A1 (fr) 2004-02-04

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