Abstract: Apparatus for forming and baking food particles into a unified, shaped product, e.g., shaped like pizza, has heated top and bottom plates, the mating faces of which have recesses and protrusions for molding the desired shaped product. The bottom plate is in two parts that are abutted together when food particles are deposited thereon and during a baking period with the top plate placed thereon. After raising the top plate, the two bottom parts are moved apart to release the baked, shaped product. Cooked pasta, such as spaghetti, can be formed into a pizza-like shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and baking fluid food under pressure to form unified shaped products has a heated metal mold bottom with a cavity and a heated metal mold top connected to the piston rod of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder positioned for alternately pressing the mold top down against the mold bottom and lifting it away from the mold bottom. A hinge-like connection attached along a side of the mold bottom and a reversible drive mechanism associated with the hinge-like connection serve to swing the mold bottom over to an inverted position and then back to the molding position. The simple apparatus automatically ejects the molded food product from the inverted mold bottom. A siamese pair of mold bottoms united back-to-back are preferred for large-scale production of molded food shapes. Every inversion of a siamese pair of mold bottoms can discharge a molded product and form another molded product.

Abstract: A simple apparatus for molding and baking food particles into edible unified products comprises a heated stationary ring sandwiched by a heated bottom plate and a heated top plate. Both plates can alternately be brought against, and removed from, the ring. By placing a measured quantity of food particles on the bottom plate while against the ring and by bringing the top plate down on the ring, the food particles are compressed for a selected baking period. The top plate is then raised from the ring and the bottom plate is lowered from the ring so that the resulting unified product is released.

Abstract: An apparatus for repetitively conveying a measured volume of loose material from a supply hopper and discharging the material at a selected site has a shuttle with a cavity for holding the material. The bottom of the cavity is a slide plate or a pair of slide plates that are retracted to discharge the contents of the cavity. Rapid retraction of the plate or plates is effected by mechanical means such as pneumatic pistons which are reversible to close the bottom of the cavity. The shuttle is moved reciprocatingly on a track extending between the supply and discharge sites by mechanical means such as pneumatic pistons. The shuttling apparatus is preferably combined with a supply hopper having a discharge gate in the form of slide plates like those at the bottom of the cavity.

Abstract: A method for forming and baking food particles into a unified, shaped product, e.g., shaped like pizza, has heated top and bottom plates, the mating faces of which have recesses and protrusions for molding the desired shaped product. The bottom plate is in two parts that are abutted together when food particles are deposited thereon and during a baking period with the top plate placed thereon. After raising the top plate, the two bottom parts are moved apart to release the baked, shaped product. Cooked pasta, such as spaghetti, can be formed into a pizza-like shell.

Abstract: A simple apparatus for molding and baking food particles into edible unified products comprises a heated stationary ring, a heated bottom plate, fitted in the ring and movable up and down therein, and a heated top plate that can be alternately brought down on, and lifted off, the ring. By placing a measured quantity of food particles on the bottom plate and bringing the top plate down in pressing contact with the ring, the food particles are compressed for a selected baking period. The top plate is then raised away from the ring, the bottom plate is pushed up so that its top face is flush with, or above, the top of the ring, and the resulting unified product is readily removed from the bottom plate.