Abstract: The present invention relates to a processing line and a method for controlling a food processing line, the food processing line comprising a plurality of processing stations and at least one utility supply station. Further at least one food product sensor is provided, and at least one utility sensor and at least one processing sensor. A processing line controller is provided comprising a data collection module, input means for specifying at least one desired food product output characteristic, input means for specifying a nominal operating condition, an anomaly detection module configured to detect an anomaly, and a root cause module configured to determine a root cause of the detected anomaly. A corrective measure module is configured to determine a corrective measure in response to a detected anomaly and to provide the corrective measure to at least one physical actuator.

Abstract: A food-processing system having a metering pump for filling a casing with food material, a linker for forming links in the filled casing and depositing a linked strand on a conveyor, and a plurality of servo motors arranged to drive each of a plurality of driven components of the processing system. The food-processing system being implemented according to a two-step ramp-up method that enables increased control of a first end and a second end of the linked strand using a first speed, and enables faster processing of the linked strand between the ends at a second speed higher than the first speed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing food products by means of co-extrusion, wherein at least two casing material components are mixed to make a viscous gelling solution. This viscous gelling solution is subsequently co-extruded whereby the gelling solution is forming the external layer of an extruded strand of food dough. The invention also relates to a viscous gelling solution obtainable by such method as well as a system for co-extrusion of food products.

Abstract: An installation for moulding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material includes a pump having at least one pump chamber, a pump drive, and a moulding device including a mould drum, a mould member drive for moving the mould drum along a path, and a mass feed member. The mass feed member has a chamber with an inlet, a discharge mouth facing the mould member at the fill position along the path of the mould drum, an orificed grinder body and multiple mobile grinder members each arranged at one of the distinct positions of the mold cavities and cooperating with the grinding face of the orificed grinder body. The installation is advantageously employed for the manufacture of meat products from a pumpable meat mass for the manufacture of meat patties.

Abstract: A mould drum system configured for use in an installation for moulding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass while the drum is rotating a mould drum around a longitudinal rotation axis by a driving unit. A support device is connected to the frame structure, having an inner side, the support device being moveable relative to the frame structure between an open position and a closing position. A shaft is provided having a mounting side at which it is mounted to the frame and an opposite free end.

Abstract: A tooling for forming patties from a food mass includes a mould cavity holder; a mould cavity arranged such that it is received in the mould cavity holder, the mould cavity being made of a material porous to a fluid and including an internal face defining a patty forming mould and an external face separated from the internal face by a body of porous material; a clamp for clamping the mould cavity in the mould cavity holder; and a seal placed between the mould cavity and one of the mould cavity holder and the clamp. The seal is arranged such that it forces a pressure fluid, brought to the external face of the body of porous material to pass therethrough to the internal face.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closed processing system for treating elongated food products, comprising: a housing bounding a process space, a transport path for displacing the elongated food products through the process space, at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow in the process space, and at least one detector for detecting process conditions in the process space, wherein the detector includes at least one pressure sensor for detecting the relative airflow pressure in the process space compared to the ambient air pressure and wherein the system is arranged to control the process conditions by adjusting the at least one airflow generator based on the detected process conditions. The present invention further relates to a method for treating elongated food products.

Abstract: A system and a method for moulding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass include a mould member having an outer surface. One or more recessed mould cavities are provided. An ejection fluid inlet opening of the mould member is arranged relatively movable with respect to an outlet opening of the ejection fluid source. Ejection fluid is allowed to enter the mould member when an outlet opening overlaps an ejection fluid inlet opening.

Abstract: A mould drum, a system for moulding comprising a mould drum, a method for moulding, and a method for manufacturing a mould drum such that the mould drum includes a mould tube defining an outer circumferential surface with groups of multiple recessed mould cavities. The mould tube has a first mould tube head end. The mould drum includes a driven flange structure arranged against the first mould tube head end, which is adapted to be driven by a mould drum drive member to rotate the mould tube about a drum rotation axis. The driven flange structure is provided with a tooth profile, and the mould tube is provided with a meshing tooth profile, both tooth profiles meshing with each other and thereby being able to transfer torque from the driven flange structure to the mould tube.

Abstract: The production of three-dimensional products from a mass of pumpable fibrous foodstuff material includes feeding the mass into a chamber via an inlet. A perforated plate is stationary arranged at an outlet side and has a multitude of perforations therein between an inlet face and an opposed outlet face. A flow channels assembly include multiple flow channels. Each flow channel receives therein strands of fibrous foodstuff material emerging at an outlet face from a subset of the multitude of perforations. The strands merge into a coherent bundle, in which the strands are arranged against one another in a generally parallel orientation. A production device is arranged at the discharge mouths of the flow channels assembly, which production device is configured and operated to produce three-dimensional products, each product out of a portion of a bundle that is discharged from one of the discharge mouths.

Abstract: A food process line and method are provided for processing food in a food process line. The food process line includes at least two of the following process line stations: a food preparation station, cold store, pump station or forming station for a pumpable food mass, or a dry coater, wet coating device, fryer, heater or freezer for the discrete food products. In each process line station at least one process step is carried out, the process line station having one or more actuators and/or one or more sensors. The food process line comprises an interstation control system configured to control an actuator of a first process line station on the basis of data from a sensor of a second process line station.

Abstract: An installation for moulding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat. The installation comprises a feed pump and a moulding device with a mobile mould member having multiple mould cavities. A mass feed member is arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mould member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet of the feed pump. The member has a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal axis and having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls, short end walls, and a bottom wall facing the mould member at the fill position along the path of the mould member. The bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge openings spanning the path of said mould cavities, so that foodstuff mass flows into each row of mould cavities via said discharge mouth.

Abstract: An installation for moulding of three dimensional products from a mass of pumpable foodstuff material, for example from ground meat. The installation comprises a feed pump and a moulding device with a mobile mould member having multiple mould cavities. A mass feed member is arranged at a fill position relative to the path of the mobile mould member, which mass feed member is connected to an outlet of the feed pump. The member has a housing defining an elongated chamber with a longitudinal axis and having a pair of spaced apart long lateral walls, short end walls, and a bottom wall facing the mould member at the fill position along the path of the mould member. The bottom wall is provided with a discharge mouth formed by one or more discharge openings spanning the path of said mould cavities, so that foodstuff mass flows into each row of mould cavities via said discharge mouth.

Abstract: A moulding installation and method for moulding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass are described. A revolving mould drum is provided with multiple mould cavities and a mass feed member is arranged at a fill position to transfer foodstuff mass into passing mould cavities. The foodstuff mass forms a food product in the mould cavity. A pressurized air food product ejection system includes air ducts in the mould drum that extend to the cavities and at least a portion of the surface delimiting a mould cavity is air permeable. The ejection system further includes a pressurized air source to feed pressurized air at a regulated ejection air pressure thereof to the air ducts. A controller is adapted to input at least one target parameter related to filling of the mould cavities with the foodstuff mass via the mouth of the mass feed member. The controller is adapted to automatically set an ejection air pressure by the pressurized air source on the basis of the inputted target parameter.

Abstract: A method is provided for cleaning food product molding inserts that have been temporarily detached from a movable mold member of a molding device that is configured for molding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass.

Abstract: An interchangeable hook-and-bracket system for a manufacturing process is disclosed. The interchangeable hook-and-bracket system may be configured to cooperate with a vertical conveying system of a food-processing system. Interchangeable hooks of the conveyor system may comprise hook portions and bracket portions that may be configured to releasably attach to one another. The bracket portions may be made substantially of a structurally robust material such as a metal and may be non-releasably attached to the conveyor system, and the hook portions may be made substantially of a flexible material such as a polymer-based material. More than one hook portion may correspond to a bracket portion, each hook portion having a configuration corresponding to a particular product, casing, throughput, and/or process condition.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closed processing system for treating elongated food products comprising a housing bounding a process space, a transport path for displacing the elongated food products through the process space, at least one airflow generator for generating an airflow in the process space, at least one airflow conditioner for conditioning the generated airflow, and at least one detector for detecting process conditions in the process space, wherein the detected process conditions include at least the relative humidity and wherein the system is arranged to control the process conditions by adjusting the at least one airflow generator and/or at least one airflow conditioner based on the detected relative humidity. The present invention further relates to a method for treating elongated food products.

Abstract: A moveable mould member is configured for use in an installation for moulding food products from a pumpable foodstuff mass. The mould member has a permeable mould body with an outer surface forming at least part of the outer mould member surface, which outer surface of the permeable mould body is fluid tight; mould cavities and a permeable volume defining fine openings opening out at the mould cavities, such that each mould cavity of the permeable mould body is delimited at least in part by a permeable volume. In addition, the mould drum has, for each group of mould cavities from which food products are to be ejected simultaneously, an ejection fluid inlet allowing the entry of pressurized fluid, and one or more channels extending from the associated ejection fluid inlet to the one or more permeable volumes of the group of mould cavities.

Abstract: A moulding device and a method for moulding food products from a mass of foodstuff which can be transferred by pumping are provided. The device includes a stationary frame with a revolving moulding drum assembly having a peripheral surface in which mould cavities are provided, and a mass feed device including a shoe member with a filling mouth adjoining the peripheral surface of the moulding drum assembly in order to fill said cavities with the foodstuff as they move past. In operation, the pressurized mass of foodstuff introduced into a mould cavity causes an outward force onto said shoe member. A non-revolving component is provided, concentrically supported by the moulding drum assembly, including the shoe member and an interconnected moulding drum assembly engaging counterforce element to counteract the entire outward force exerted by the pressurized foodstuff on the shoe member.