Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing semi-moist meatballs. An illustrative embodiment provides a method of manufacturing generally spherical pet treats comprising: (a) providing a ground mix of proteinaceous material, flavor enhancers and preservatives to a portioning device that divides said mix into smaller portions of roughly uniform volume, (b) placing said portions on a first belt of a first conveyor moving at a first speed in a longitudinal direction, (c) periodically pressing said portions with a second belt of a second conveyor, where said second belt operates in a plane at a height above, and substantially parallel to, said first belt, said second belt moving at a second speed in substantially the same longitudinal direction as said first belt, while also oscillating back and forth in a lateral direction that is at an angle to said longitudinal direction, such that said portions are transformed into generally spherical shapes.

Abstract: Processes, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed relating to edible meat pieces obtained from a continuous process where each piece generally appears to be home cooked on a grill or cooked in a smoke house with randomized sear and grill marks and smoke aroma. The invention, in its various embodiments, provides processes for manufacturing shelf-stable food treats comprising: starting with proteinaceous material (ground or whole), mixing the proteinaceous material with preservatives and flavor enhancers to form a foodstuff, extruding proteinaceous material (if ground) through at least one die opening that is at least partially irregular to form at least one strip of extrudate, cooking the extrudate or whole proteinaceous material to form a cooked product, coating the cooked product with a basting solution, grilling the basted products to obtain grilled products with searing, grill marks, and smoke aroma; and cutting the grilled product at a cutting angle into pieces.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing semi-moist meatballs. An illustrative embodiment provides a method of manufacturing generally spherical pet treats comprising: (a) providing a ground mix of proteinaceous material, flavor enhancers and preservatives to a portioning device that divides said mix into smaller portions of roughly uniform volume, (b) placing said portions on a first belt of a first conveyor moving at a first speed in a longitudinal direction, (c) periodically pressing said portions with a second belt of a second conveyor, where said second belt operates in a plane at a height above, and substantially parallel to, said first belt, said second belt moving at a second speed in substantially the same longitudinal direction as said first belt, while also oscillating back and forth in a lateral direction that is at an angle to said longitudinal direction, such that said portions are transformed into generally spherical shapes.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed to manufacture a plurality of edible pieces in a continuous process where each piece is generally different in thickness, shape, size and/or texture from another piece, so as to create, in the aggregate product distribution, pieces of randomly varying thickness, size, shape and/or texture.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing slices of sausages that appear to have been cut from a conventional round sausage log at an angle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nutritionally complete and preferably balanced, shelf stable pet food product, a method of feeding the pet food product to an animal and a process of manufacturing that pet food product. The method of feeding an animal includes the step of feeding a preferred pet food product to the animal, wherein the pet food product is a nutritionally complete meal and is configured such that the animal can hold the product with its appendages while eating the product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a product and a method of making a pet chew that is edible and highly digestible. The pet chew comprises 5 to about 50% (w/w) protein, about 20 to about 80% (w/w) carbohydrate, about 5 to about 50% (w/w) humectant, and about 5 to about 30 % (w/w) water. When formed, the pet chew comprises a hardness measurement of about 5 kg to about 60 kg and an elasticity measurement of about 3 mm to about 40 mm.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nutritionally complete and preferably balanced, shelf stable pet food product, a method of feeding the pet food product to an animal and a process of manufacturing that pet food product. The method of feeding an animal includes the step of feeding a preferred pet food product to the animal, wherein the pet food product is a nutritionally complete meal and is configured such that the animal can hold the product with its appendages while eating the product.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nutritionally complete and preferably balanced, shelf stable pet food product, a method of feeding the pet food product to an animal and a process of manufacturing that pet food product. The method of feeding an animal includes the step of feeding a preferred pet food product to the animal, wherein the pet food product is a nutritionally complete meal and is configured such that the animal can hold the product with its appendages while eating the product.