Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming a stuffed crust pizza on a continuous high speed basis. The invention can form and deposit a cheese rope in either an ellipse or circular shape, onto a moving sheet of dough with multiple lanes using a waterwheel flow divider. An encoder is mounted to the conveyor feeding the dough to the apparatus. This provides both position information and speed of the dough to a motion controller to guide the movement of the nozzles. A stamping device initially presses an indentation of the cheese shape into the dough sheet and provides a natural resting location for the cheese to be deposited. A set of two nozzles per lane is utilized to form the cross sectional shape of the cheese. Each nozzle forms one half of the total shape of the cheese and the flow to each nozzle is controlled by a waterwheel flow divider.

Abstract: A forming apparatus to produce nonsymmetrical three-dimensional shaped products from a food extrusion device includes a vector drive controlling an induction motor through current flux control, which selectively actuates an iris diaphragm. Food product is pumped to the diaphragm, which shapes the product in accordance with settings from an encoder. The flux drive permits variable control of the diaphragm motor in segments of a 360° revolution. Alternatively, a servo drive may be used to drive a synchronous motor to operate in accordance with instructions from an encoder-shaping product from a food pump as it is forced through the diaphragm.

Abstract: An apparatus for food extrusion is provided. The apparatus includes a substantially circular plate having a plurality of holes in an offsetting arrangement thereon. The arrangement of the holes provide food extruded through the apparatus with a shape which approximates the arrangement.