Abstract: Apparatus and methods for making puffed food products are disclosed. In one implementation, an innovative process, apparatus, or system may employ at least one base mold with a defined pattern of one or more surface cavities carved therein in order to more evenly or uniformly distribute heat to raw ingredients or an intermediate food product during baking step(s).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for making puffed food products are disclosed. In one implementation, an innovative process may include improved configurations and control of hydraulic drive cylinder(s) to more swiftly and precisely apply pressures to heatable mold elements during production of puffed food products. According to one particular implementation, in order to drive a first hydraulic piston to move at least one movable mold element to a desired position, a second hydraulic piston may be first positioned to set up an adjustable hard-stop based on the desired position, such that the first hydraulic piston may rapidly drive the moveable mold element to stop at precisely the desired position.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for making puffed food products are disclosed. Embodiments of the innovative process may include two or more cycles of compression, baking, and expansion to convert raw ingredients into at least one intermediate food product before yielding a final food product. An exemplary apparatus for making such food products may include a control unit coupled to a driving system, a raw material supply system, and at least one heatable mold having at least one movable mold element connected to the driving system. The control unit may electronically control the raw material supply system to input ingredients into the heatable mold and cause the driving system to position the at least one moveable mold element to achieve the multiple cycles of compression, baking, and expansion.

Abstract: An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making an expanded food product from a starch-containing raw material includes a heatable pressure-baking and expansion mold and a raw material supply system. The heatable pressure-baking and expansion mold comprises at least one movable mold element connected to powered driving system that moves the mold element upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction. The raw material supply system comprises a sliding plate system for transporting a given quantity of raw material from a raw material source into the mold. The driving system comprises a hydraulic cylinder directly attached to the mold element. The vertical axis of the mold element and of the hydraulic cylinder falls substantially along the same vertical line. The hydraulic cylinder is connected to a central high-pressure oil feed line of a hydraulic oil pressure generator system that continuously delivers oil at a constantly high-pressure to the hydraulic drive cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material.

Abstract: An apparatus for making puffed food products from starch-containing raw materials. The apparatus has a baking and molding chamber defined by several heatable mold elements. The mold elements are individually actuated by direct hydraulic drive systems. The hydraulic power for these drive systems is selectively derived from a common oil pressure supply system which provides continuously high oil pressure to the direct hydraulic drive system for each mold element. The apparatus also has an improved feed system enabling the supply of raw material into the mold cavity such that no material gets spilled and each mold receives an accurate predetermined quantity of raw material.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved apparatus and process for making puffed food crackers from a starch-containing raw material source by connecting each one of movable upper and lower molds directly to an independently controlled double-action hydraulic drive cylinder per mold element, which cylinder has an integral manifold, including quick-acting valves, directly connected to a central oil pressure line and also to a central oil return line.