Abstract: A patty of food material, along with a method and apparatus for forming the patty, are disclosed. The food material is forced through non-vertical apertures in a foraminous member into a mold opening in a mold plate to form the patty. An agitator bar may be biased against the upstream side of the foraminous member and moved along the foraminous member to dislodge tissue fibers. Such an agitator bar may also be effectively employed with a foraminous member that has only vertical apertures.

Abstract: A method and a apparatus for forming a patty of food material are disclosed. The food material is forced through apertures in a foraminous member into a mold opening in a mold plate to form the patty. Multiple agitator bars are provided on the upstream side of the foraminous member to dislodge tissue fibers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed in which a mold plate is provided for defining a mold opening and in which a foraminous member is provided with rows of apertures communicating between an upstream side and downstream side of the member. Narrow slots connect the adjacent apertures in each row. The foraminous member is disposed with the downstream side adjacent the mold plate and has spaced-apart ribs on the upstream side oriented between, and parallel to, the rows of apertures. Pressurized food material is forced from the upstream side of the foraminous member through the apertures to the downstream side of the foraminous member and into the mold opening as discrete extrudate masses which together define a packed array forming the patty. An agitator bar with spaced-apart teeth is disposed on the upstream side of the foraminous member with a tooth disposed between each pair of adjacent ribs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed in which a mold plate is provided for defining a mold opening and in which a foraminous member is provided with rows of apertures communicating between an upstream side and downstream side of the member. Narrow slots connect the adjacent apertures in each row. The foraminous member is disposed with the downstream side adjacent the mold plate and has spaced-apart ribs on the upstream side oriented between, and parallel to, the rows of apertures. Pressurized food material is forced from the upstream side of the foraminous member through the apertures to the downstream side of the foraminous member and into the mold opening as discrete extrudate masses which together define a packed array forming the patty. An agitator bar with spaced-apart teeth is disposed on the upstream side of the foraminous member with a tooth disposed between each pair of adjacent ribs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed in which mold parts are provided for defining a mold opening and in which a foraminous member is provided with apertures communicating between an upstream side and downstream side of the member. The foraminous member is disposed with the downstream side adjacent the mold opening. Pressurized food material is forced from the upstream side of the foraminous member through the apertures to the downstream side of the foraminous member and into the mold opening as discrete extrudate masses which together define a packed array forming the patty. At least some of the mold parts are then moved away from the foraminous member to expose the downstream side of the foraminous member and a plurality of rigid probe members are inserted into at least some of the foraminous member apertures from the downstream side to dislodge tissue fibers that may have lodged in the upstream side of the member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for molding a patty of plastic food material wherein pressurized food material is supplied to a mold opening in a mold plate with a movable mold insert partially projecting into the mold opening. Relative movement is then effected between the mold opening and the insert so that the insert is effectively retracted from the mold opening thereby permitting expansion of the food material in the mold opening to provide a less dense patty of food material.

Abstract: A molding device for molding articles of plastic material such as ground raw meat to make hamburger patties and the like while at the same time limiting the maximum total pressure applied to the material. The device comprises a hopper for the material, a mold with a mold opening adapted to communicate with a pressure chamber for receiving pressurized material from this chamber and transfer means in the hopper for moving the material toward an exit portion of the hopper leading to this pressure chamber. In order to direct the material from the transfer means into the pressure chamber there is provided a pressure confining baffle in the hopper with sufficient clearance between the baffle and the transfer means to permit escape of material around the baffle back into the hopper.

Abstract: A device and method for molding food articles of raw finely divided beef and similar tissue containing food material that is normally subject to uneven shrinkage during cooking comprising supply means for the material, a mold having a mold opening to form the articles and means for projecting the material under pressure across the mold opening from one edge thereof to fill the mold opening with pressurized material and shape said article.

Abstract: A high capacity molding apparatus operable without substantial pause for molding a series of articles such as food material patties having a movable mold, a continuously operable drive for moving the mold between a position in which a mold opening is in communication with a material supply means and a discharge position and return, a pressure device for forcing material from the supply at the filling position at the mold opening, a continuously movable drive operable through successive pressure cycles for operating the pressure device in which the mold moving structure is operated out of time phase with the pressure operating structure for initiating the mold movement prior to the completion of a corresponding pressure cycle. The disclosure also includes an improved removal device for removing the shaped articles from the mold openings. The disclosure also includes an improved filling arrangement for filling the mold opening from the supply of moldable material.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding articles such as patties from plastic food material that tends to shrink during processing cooking and the like, for example ground beef, in which the material is forced under pressure in a stream from a supply into a mold cavity through a passage having opposite side walls at a specific relationship to the stream and to each other and a specific width at the cavity so as to cause mixing, tumbling and kneading of the material in its flow through the passage with the result that the shaped portion when cooked or similarly processed essentially maintains its shape. Thus, if the shaped portion is, for example, a circular patty such as a hamburger patty it substantially maintains its circular shape throughout the processing.