Abstract: A diagonal knock out system that is designed to remove mold food portions from a mold plate in a direction other than vertical.

Abstract: A diagonal knock out system that is designed to remove mold food portions from a mold plate in a direction other than vertical.

Abstract: A machine for processing individual food items comprises a mold plate having multiple longitudinally spaced transverse rows of cavities. The mold plate slides such that the rows of cavities sequentially communicate with a fill slot in a fill plate. Bulk food material fills the cavities and displaces air from them into a breather plate. The breather plate has one or more longitudinal grooves in a working surface. The fill plate has one or more longitudinal grooves in a working surface that communicate with the atmosphere. One or more vent holes in the mold plate communicate with the breather plate and fill plate grooves for all positions of the mold plate at which food material is filling a row of cavities. No air is trapped in the breather plate, and there is no buildup of air pressure that could create a friction force between the mold plate and the fill plate.

Abstract: A machine for processing individual food items comprises a mold plate having multiple longitudinally spaced transverse rows of cavities. The mold plate slides such that the rows of cavities sequentially communicate with a fill slot in a fill plate. Bulk food material fills the cavities and displaces air from them into a breather plate. The breather plate has one or more longitudinal grooves in a working surface. The fill plate has one or more longitudinal grooves in a working surface that communicate with the atmosphere. One or more vent holes in the mold plate communicate with the breather plate and fill plate grooves for all positions of the mold plate at which food material is filling a row of cavities. No air is trapped in the breather plate, and there is no buildup of air pressure that could create a friction force between the mold plate and the fill plate.

Abstract: A machine for processing individual food items comprises a mold plate having multiple longitudinally spaced transverse rows of cavities. The mold plate slides such that the rows of cavities sequentially communicate with a fill slot in a fill plate. Bulk food material fills the cavities and displaces air from them into a breather plate. The breather plate has one or more longitudinal grooves in a working surface. The fill plate has one or more longitudinal grooves in a working surface that communicate with the atmosphere. One or more vent holes in the mold plate communicate with the breather plate and fill plate grooves for all positions of the mold plate at which food material is filling a row of cavities. No air is trapped in the breather plate, and there is no buildup of air pressure that could create a friction force between the mold plate and the fill plate.

Abstract: A prior top fill food processing machine is converted to increase production without increasing operating speed. A tooling set and a drive mechanism cooperate to increase the mold plate stroke and fill area. The tooling includes a fill plate and a breather plate with increased lengths that accommodate the increased mold plate fill length and stroke and that assure adequate seal-off. The pump box top plate of the prior machine is unchanged and serves as a reference for dimensioning the tooling set. The fill plate and breather plate extend in longitudinal directions from front and back edges of the top plate. The tooling is changeable into different combinations of mold plate cavity numbers and sizes and also different configurations for the fill plate fill slots. In a preferred embodiment, the mold plate fill area is increased 42 percent and the stroke is increased 33 percent relative to the prior machine.

Abstract: A method of operating a multiple row molding apparatus provides greatly increased production of food patty machines. The method comprises the steps of providing a mold plate having front and back cavities in longitudinal and transverse alignment. When the mold plate is at a retracted position, multiple fill slots enable flow of the food product from a manifold simultaneously to all the cavities. At an extended position, all the patties are ejected simultaneously by a knockout mechanism. The fill slots may be either one long fill slot, or multiple short fill slots in communication with respective cavities. In a modified method, food product flows through a single fill slot and communicates only with the front cavities when the mold plate is in its retracted position. As the mold plate advances toward its extended position, the row of back cavities passes over the fill slot and enables the food product to flow into the back cavities.

Abstract: A double row molding apparatus provides greatly increased production of food patty molding machines. The apparatus comprises a mold plate having front and back cavities in longitudinal and transverse alignment. When the mold plate is at a retracted position, front and back fill slots enable flow of the food product from a manifold simultaneously to all the cavities. At an extended position, all the patties are ejected simultaneously by a knockout mechanism. The front and back fill slots may be either one long fill slot, or multiple short fill slots in communication with respective mold plate cavities. In a modified embodiment, a single fill slot communicates only with the back cavities when the mold plate is in its retracted position. As the mold plate advances toward its extended position, the row of back cavities passes over the fill slot and enables the food product to flow into the back cavities.

Abstract: A double row molding apparatus provides greatly increased production of food patty molding machines. The apparatus comprises a mold plate having front and back cavities in longitudinal and transverse alignment. When the mold plate is at a retracted position, front and back fill slots enable flow of the food product from a manifold simultaneously to all the cavities. At an extended position, all the patties are ejected simultaneously by a knockout mechanism. The front and back fill slots may be either one long fill slot, or multiple short fill slots in communication with respective mold plate cavities. In a modified embodiment, a single fill slot communicates only with the back cavities when the mold plate is in its retracted position. As the mold plate advances toward its extended position, the row of back cavities passes over the fill slot and enables the food product to flow into the back cavities.