Abstract: Systems and methods describe improvements in the automated production of meat analogues. Ingredients are provided, including oil, water, binding agent(s), and one or more forms of protein to be separately and continuously conveyed through a facility. Concurrently to the ingredients being conveyed through the facility, a number of actions occur. The system emulsifies the oil, water, and binding agent(s) within an emulsifying machine to form a final emulsion. A hydration process is separately applied to at least one of the forms of protein. The system mixes and conveys the protein(s) with the final emulsion in a final mixer to form a final dough.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe improvements in the automated production of meat analogues. Ingredients are provided, including oil, water, binding agent(s), and one or more forms of protein to be separately and continuously conveyed through a facility. Concurrently to the ingredients being conveyed through the facility, a number of actions occur. The system emulsifies the oil, water, and binding agent(s) within an emulsifying machine to form a final emulsion. A hydration process is separately applied to at least one of the forms of protein. The system mixes and conveys the protein(s) with the final emulsion in a final mixer to form a final dough.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe improvements in the automated production of meat analogues. Ingredients are provided, including oil, water, binding agent(s), and one or more forms of protein to be separately and continuously conveyed through a facility. Concurrently to the ingredients being conveyed through the facility, a number of actions occur. The system emulsifies the oil, water, and binding agent(s) within an emulsifying machine to form a final emulsion. A hydration process is separately applied to at least one of the forms of protein. The system mixes and conveys the protein(s) with the final emulsion in a final mixer to form a final dough.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe improvements in the automated production of meat analogues. Ingredients are provided, including oil, water, binding agent(s), and one or more forms of protein to be separately and continuously conveyed through a facility. Concurrently to the ingredients being conveyed through the facility, a number of actions occur. The system emulsifies the oil, water, and binding agent(s) within an emulsifying machine to form a final emulsion. A hydration process is separately applied to at least one of the forms of protein. The system mixes and conveys the protein(s) with the final emulsion in a final mixer to form a final dough.

Abstract: A system configured to hydrate and process foodstuff materials can include an exterior tube, an inner shaft, and multiple water inlets. The exterior tube can have a foodstuff inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis, and can facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials along a material passage from the foodstuff inlet to the outlet. The inner shaft can be located within the exterior tube, can extend along the longitudinal axis, and can combine with the exterior tube to define the material passage. The inner shaft can be configured to be rotationally driven and can include one or more particle resizing features extending therefrom. The multiple water inlets can be spaced apart along the length of the material passage and can be configured to provide water to the foodstuff materials at different locations along the length of the material passage as the foodstuff materials are being conveyed along the material passage.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to process foodstuff materials can include an exterior tube, an inner shaft, and multiple differently shaped protrusions. The exterior tube can have a foodstuff inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis, and can be configured to facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials along a material passage from the foodstuff inlet to the outlet. The inner shaft can be located within the exterior tube, can extend along the longitudinal axis, and can combine with the exterior tube to define the material passage. The inner shaft can be configured to be rotationally driven. The multiple differently shaped protrusions can be coupled to and extend from the inner shaft, and these differently shaped protrusions can be configured to process the foodstuff materials when the inner shaft is rotationally driven. Processing can include conveying, agitating, and/or hydrating the foodstuff materials.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe continuously and progressively hydrating and post-processing material, such as food material for meat analogue products. First, material is provided to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, with the rotating inner shaft including one or more particle resizing features extending around the rotating inner shaft. Concurrently, the material is post-processed, via the particle resizing features, to reduce the material into a plurality of smaller material particles. Also concurrently, water is continuously and progressively provided to the material to produce hydrated material particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe continuously and progressively hydrating material, such as food material for meat analogue products. First, material is provided to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, with the rotating inner shaft including one or more agitation and/or progression features. The progression features could be, e.g., a series of imbricated protruding filled paddles arranged in a helical pattern, while the agitation features could take the form of, e.g., unfilled hoops, hooks, or paddles. Concurrent to conveying and hydrating the material through the material passage, a number of lumps, clumps, and/or unhydrated pieces of the material are broken up via one or more agitation features configured to produce uniform hydration and consistent dispersal of the material. Also concurrently or subsequently, water is continuously and/or progressively provided to the material to produce hydrated material particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe continuously and progressively hydrating material, such as food material for meat analogue products. First, material is provided to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, with the rotating inner shaft including one or more agitation and/or progression features. The progression features could be, e.g., a series of imbricated protruding filled paddles arranged in a helical pattern, while the agitation features could take the form of, e.g., unfilled hoops, hooks, or paddles. Concurrent to conveying and hydrating the material through the material passage, a number of lumps, clumps, and/or unhydrated pieces of the material are broken up via one or more agitation features configured to produce uniform hydration and consistent dispersal of the material. Also concurrently or subsequently, water is continuously and/or progressively provided to the material to produce hydrated material particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe continuously and progressively hydrating and post-processing material, such as food material for meat analogue products. First, material is provided to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, with the rotating inner shaft including one or more particle resizing features extending around the rotating inner shaft. Concurrently, the material is post-processed, via the particle resizing features, to reduce the material into a plurality of smaller material particles. Also concurrently, water is continuously and progressively provided to the material to produce hydrated material particles.

Abstract: Systems and methods describe improvements in the automated production of meat analogues. Ingredients are provided, including oil, water, binding agent(s), and one or more forms of protein to be separately and continuously conveyed through a facility. Concurrently to the ingredients being conveyed through the facility, a number of actions occur. The system emulsifies the oil, water, and binding agent(s) within an emulsifying machine to form a final emulsion. A hydration process is separately applied to at least one of the forms of protein. The system mixes and conveys the protein(s) with the final emulsion in a final mixer to form a final dough.