Abstract: An apparatus for synchronizing the movement and filling of chocolate molds. A threaded bar or screw is provided with disks that are displaced therealong so as to correspond to distances between cavities of the mold. An inductive sensor mounted to the rod of the mold pushing cylinder delivers a signal to a logical programmable controller which prompts the movement of the pushing cylinder to be ceased and the valve of a chocolate hopper to be opened so as to properly locate and fill the cavities of the mold. The chocolate discharging valve is closed by the controlled system following a predetermined fill time and the pushing cylinder is again activated to move the mold until the sensor detects a next adjacent disk indicating that the nozzle of the hopper is disposed above the next cavity of the mold, so that the filling cycle can be repeated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a travel sequence for molds in a chocolate forming plant of the fixed surface type wherein the width of the travel front or number of molds fed is changed for different stages of the forming process. Thus, for example, in accordance with the invention molds are filled one by one but are fed in groups of two or more to cooling tunnels so as to maximize the efficiency of the system.