Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a food product and ejecting the food product onto an appropriate discharge area. One embodiment includes a mold with a three-dimensional mold face. A membrane is mounted on the mold and extends over the mold face such that raw food material directed toward the mold substantially conforms the membrane to the mold face to define a three-dimensional contour for the upper surface of the food product. A plunger assembly which includes a plurality of plungers is thereafter advanced to extend through the mold face to force the membrane away from the mold face and thereby eject the food product from the mold. During ejection the three-dimensional contour of the upper surface of the food product and the substantially planar contour of the lower surface of the food product are substantially reversed. Consequently, a separator may be passed between the membrane and upper surface of the food product.

Abstract: A dual cam configuration is provided in a container filler machine. The filler machine preferably fills containers from their bottoms and includes at least one filling station assembly, each such assembly including a dispensing assembly and a positioning assembly. For controlling the filling process at each station, the cam configuration includes first and second cam tracks, each track being followed by a cam following assembly. For each station, the machine also preferably includes a single pneumatic cylinder assembly for simultaneously maintaining both cam following assemblies against their respective cam tracks.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional food product. In one embodiment, a piston is reciprocally positioned within a forming cavity and includes a face which has a three-dimensional contour. An elastic membrane is positioned over the face of the piston to assist in the separation of the product therefrom. In this regard, when a raw food material is provided to the forming cavity, such material stretches the elastic membrane into substantial conformance with the contour of the piston face to thereby form at least one three-dimensional surface for the food product. When the forming cavity is positioned to discharge the product, the elasticity causes the membrane to contract to move the membrane away from the piston face and thereby eject the product from the forming cavity.

Abstract: A dual piston alternately reciprocating pumping apparatus utilizing, in part, a pressure based precompression stroke to provide product at a substantially uniform discharge pressure. In operation, a first feed piston is advanced through a first feed cylinder to discharge product therefrom, during which time a second feed piston is retracting within a second feed cylinder to obtain a product charge therein. The second feed piston reaches bottom dead center and thereafter advances through the second feed cylinder on a precompression stroke, during which no product is discharged from the second feed cylinder. After a predetermined pressure related to that within the second feed cylinder is detected, further advancement of the second feed piston is terminated and is not reactivated until the first feed piston nears top dead center. Therefore, a product having a substantially uniform discharge pressure is provided.