Abstract: A method for forming stuffed food includes steps of: step 1: sending and cutting dough wrappers; wherein shaping molds (1001) on a rotation disc (101) are arranged below a sending and cutting station (20); the dough wrappers are cut into pre-set shapes before dropping in the shaping molds (1001); unused dough enters an opening (106) on the rotation disc (101) and is transported downwardly, so as to be collected; and step 2: filling the dough wrappers with stuffing; wherein the shaping molds (1001) transport the dough wrappers to a stuffing injection station (30) where the stuffing is injected onto the dough wrappers. According to the method, the opening on the rotation assembly collects the unused dough and takes full advantage of the space below the rotation assembly. A recycling bin is placed below the opening to collect the unused dough.

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: The present invention relates to a food forming drum comprising a multitude of rows product cavities, each row comprising a multitude of product cavities, wherein the product cavities are provided as one or more at least partially porous members made from a porous material with interconnecting pores. The present invention further relates to a food forming apparatus comprising a food forming drum and a porous member. Additionally, the present invention relates to a movable unit to transport a drum and a method to change a drum or clean the food forming apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotary cylindrical mould member and a method for manufacturing a rotary cylindrical mould member for moulding food products suitable for consumption. One or more recessed mould cavities (21) are formed in an curved outer surface (22c) of at least one porous mould body (22), defining the shape of the products which are to be produced. An airflow-resistive skin layer is formed by plastic deformation of a cavity surface layer, having a first flow resistance. An inner volume of the porous mould body (22) between an inner surface (22i) and the airflow-resistive skin layer has a porous structure with a second flow resistance to a compressed air flow through the porous inner volume, wherein according to the invention the first flow resistance is essentially the same as the second flow resistance.

Abstract: A rotary knife assembly includes a rotatable core and a plurality of knife blades extending from the rotatable core. A heating element is coupled with the plurality of knife blades, and the heating element is configured to heat the knife blades. One or more package guides are interposed between each of the plurality of knife blades configured to engage along one or more deformable packages as the rotatable core is rotated. In another example, a discharge assembly includes a conveyor belt including inner and outer belt surfaces, and a plurality of belt rows extending along a belt length. A plurality of package spacing ridges each include outer engaging edges, and one package spacing ridge of the plurality is positioned between each of the plurality of belt rows. The outer belt surface is recessed from the outer engaging edges.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mould cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mould cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mould a moulded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the moulded three-dimensional product from the mould cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the moulded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.

Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an mass distribution device for supplying a mass of foodstuff starting material to one or more cavities of a mold drum for molding products from the mass, comprising a base member which extends partially around the outer cylindrical circumference of the drum and which has an introduction area through which the mass is the fed to the cavities. The invention further relates to a molding device and to a process for operating the inventive mass distribution device.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mould cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mould cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mould a moulded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the moulded three-dimensional product from the mould cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the moulded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mold cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mold cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mold a molded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the molded three-dimensional product from the mold cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the molded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.

Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mould cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mould cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mould a moulded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the moulded three-dimensional product from the mould cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the moulded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, in particular a meat mass. The method comprises the steps of filling a mold cavity, which is open on one side, with the mass of foodstuff starting materials which are suitable for consumption, which mold cavity is defined by a boundary comprising walls and base, in order to mold a molded three-dimensional product, and the removal of the molded three-dimensional product from the mold cavity. In the method according to the invention, during removal the adhesion forces between the molded product and the boundary are eliminated virtually simultaneously along all the interfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus for placing a mold charge into a cavity includes a pair of hubs mounted for rotation around parallel axes, a link connected between the hubs at positions off-center relative to the parallel axes and a blade connected to the link. Rotation of the hubs causes the blade to travel in an elliptical path relative to an extrusion orifice to cut mold charges from the orifice and place the mold charges into cavities passing beneath the blade. The apparatus preferably includes a drive member that simultaneously rotates both of the hubs to drive the blade relative to the extrusion orifice and cavities. The blade preferably includes an arm that extends into a cavity to place a mold charge into the bottom of the cavity for consistent and accurate placement of the mold charges from one cavity to the next.

Abstract: A mould member for moulding three-dimensional products from a mass of one or more food starting materials, which are suitable for consumption, in particular human consumption, comprises a body having a porous structure and a plurality of mould cavities, which mould cavities each have a mould cavity wall defined by the body and an opening in a surface of the body, wherein the body comprises at least one essentially fluid tight barrier.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming a dough strand from a preferably large-volume dough mixture (28) has a receptacle (2) for holding this dough mixture, which is provided at the bottom with a discharge opening (4) for the dough. Connected to this discharge opening are two shafts (6) arranged so as to be parallel to one another and driven in opposite directions in order to effect a downward movement of the dough. The shafts (6) are provided with profiles acting on the dough which are formed by star arms (5). The shafts (6) are arranged so as to be fixed and are driven in a timed manner for the rotary movement. The star arms (5), of which there is an even number for each shaft (6), in the position directed towards one another block the downward flow of dough therethrough over the major part of the axial length of the shaft (6).

Abstract: Measured quantities of cereal flakes are loaded into suitable forming moulds in which they are subjected to successive pressure pulses spaced by respective periods in which the pressure is released, so as to compact the cereal flakes, producing cereal aggregates in which the tendency to crumble is considerably reduced.

Abstract: A dough transfer hopper and method for partitioning dough pieces having a precise volume from a dough mass is disclosed. The dough transfer hopper includes a hopper assembly having a pair of inwardly angled end walls and a pair of arcuate side walls defining an upper and lower opening. A cutting assembly is operatively disposed within the lower opening and includes a pair of cutters which operate in a counter-rotating manner to partition a dough piece having a precise volume from a dough mass and deposit the dough piece on a horizontal conveyor assembly. The horizontal conveyor transports the dough piece to an inclined conveyor assembly. The inclined conveyor assembly includes a pair of counter-rotating conveyor belts for transporting the dough piece from the horizontal conveyor to a transfer conveyor assembly for further processing.

Abstract: A dough divider is operable within a mixer bowl to divide the dough into preset weights (e.g., for bread, loaves, buns). A pendulum assembly has a retractable divider to cut a charge of dough, which is compressed by a piston. The charge of dough is expelled into a scaling die cylinder and causes a scaling die piston to be retracted until a preset weight of dough is in the scaling die cylinder. As the divider moves out of alignment with the scaling die cylinder, any excess dough is cut off and the preset weight of dough is then expelled by the scaling die piston.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that can always and continuously cut and discharge a constant amount of bread dough, regardless of its properties, from a mass of bread dough in a hopper. The apparatus is characterized by projections (5,6) mounted on pairs of opposing rotating cutting blades (4,4') disposed in a bottom opening of the hopper (1).

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of dough, in particular portioning and kneading, has a drum (2) rotatable around a horizontal axis and provided on its periphery with receiving openings (3, 4) for the dough. In these receiving openings the dough is treated, for example by a kneading member. In each receiving opening (3, 4) a piston (43) is guided in radial direction of the drum along a restricted guidance (46) that on its entire is rotatable relative to the drum (2). The restricted guidance consists of at least two members (91, 92) adjustable relative to each other and completing each other effectively to the common restricted guidance (6) and always reliably guiding the pistons (43). By relative adjustment of the two members (91, 92), the treatment conditions on a station can be changed without influencing the other stations FIG. 2.

Abstract: A machine for dividing dough in which a dough supply unit delivers dough under pressure at an outlet end into dividing chambers of a rotatable carrier, the carrier having double measurement pistons in the dividing chambers for selectively delivering larger and smaller dough masses for a given stroke of the pistons. Each of the measurement pistons can be manually adjusted from outside the machine to be placed into first and second operational states in which, for a given stroke of the measurement piston respective larger and smaller volumes of dough mass are discharged from the machine. Each measurement piston includes an external piston slidable in a respective dividing chamber and an internal piston slidable in the external piston and the pistons are coupled for conjoint movement in the first operational state whereas in the second operational state, the external piston is fixed in the dividing chamber and the internal piston is slidable in the external piston.

Abstract: A dough piece rounder and method where the belt used for conveying the dough pieces past the rounder bar is supported by a thin film of air between the underside of the conveyor belt and a perforated plate which forms the upper flat side of a plenum chamber. The principal part of the apparatus is supported on a horizontal cantilever cylinder so that the belt can be readily replaced from one side and the apparatus can be tilted so that the inlet and exit of the dough pieces can be at different levels.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming viscous flowable material, such as meat and food, into specific shapes such as meatballs and cylindrical fillings for egg rolls. The apparatus includes a container having side walls and a curved pressure plate positioned between the side walls. A rotor is located between the side walls and it has a rim facing the curved, adjustable pressure plate so that the rim and the pressure plate converge in the direction of rotation of the rotor to define a flow channel of decreasing volume for the viscous flowable material. A motor is provided to rotate the rotor in the direction of convergence with the adjustable pressure plate. Scrapers are carried by the rotor to force the viscous material flow into the channel toward the convergence of the rotor and the pressure plate to compress the viscous flowable material. A mold cavity is provided located relative to the rotor rim and the pressure plate to receive the viscous flowable material from the flow channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for quantatively extruding food material is provided. In this apparatus the material is introduced into a space formed between the periphery of a drum and the side wall of a housing. The space is divided into sections defined by flanges, and thus the material is divided into portions and introduced into each section. The drum has an inner chamber between its inner wall and the periphery of a cam. Blades are inserted into slits in the drum periphery, and adjacent pairs of blades form compartments in the sections in the outside of the drum as well as in the inner chamber.The apparatus has a plurality of exit ports communicating with the respective sections. Since the dimensions of the compartments in each section decrease toward the exit ports, while the dimensions of the compartment in the inner chamber increased, the pressure in the outer compartments becomes higher than that of the inner chamber.

Abstract: The invention regards a universal machine for making cakes in usual bakeries all the way from a finished dough to baking. The machine extrudes soft or thick dough, makes portions and forms cakes for arranging on baking plates and baking, and extrudes cream and jam and similar materials. The machine is also suitable for making licorice, confectionery and any kind of forming and making portions of viscous, extrudable materials. The machine includes automatic measurement of thickness and control of thickness of the dough-cake by use of a photocell, and the photocell is fitted with runners, scale of measurement and patterns of thickness, so that the thickness of each cake is measured and cut independently. The machine is fitted with automatic measurement of frequency and control of frequency of cakes, relying upon the control of thickness. The machine has many cylinders utilizing the automatic control of thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying a uniform amount of a loose food material comprising a hopper, a rotating drum and a pushing mechanism. In the apparatus, the material is introduced in pockets on the periphery of the drum and then compressed by a piston mechanism into a solid or cohesive form by pushing it, together with an additional amount of the material, against the piston provided in each of the pockets. Then the material, as shaped into a form, is discharged from the pocket onto a dough sheet. The material is compressed to a high density and a uniform shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for quantitatively extruding food material is provided. In this apparatus the material is introduced into the space formed between the periphery of a drum and the side wall of a housing. The drum has an inner chamber between its inner wall and the periphery of a cam. A pair of blades is inserted into slits formed on the drum form a compartment in the outside of the drum and a compartment in the inner chamber.Since the dimensions of the space in the compartment outside of the drum decrease towards the exit port, while the space of the inner chamber increases, the pressure in the space becomes much higher than that of the inner chamber. Thus the air in the material is drawn out of the outer compartment into the inner chamber via a path formed between the recess on the trailing surface of the blade and the wall of the slit. As a result material of a uniform quantity and density, and that has no air entrainment, is extruded from the exit port.

Abstract: A rotary volumetric piston dispenser is provided which receives material from a manifold assembly, portions that material while it traverses a path to a dispensing location, and dispenses the portioned material at the dispensing location. The rotary volumetric piston dispenser is suitable for timed communication with a movable belt or the like in order to deposit the portioned material according to a predetermined sequence. A camming assembly is also provided which is suitable for use within the rotary volumetric piston dispenser, the camming assembly including a cam track assembly having an adjustable camming pathway in order to vary the radial position of a radially movable element such as a piston while the element moves in a pattern that generally corresponds to the cam track assembly. The rotary volumetric piston dispenser is especially suitable for use in dispensing condiments, whether they be wet or dry, onto a moving surface, such as a plurality of proteinaceous patties spaced along a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A bread dough dispensing machine consisting of a drum (2) with a cylindrical hole (3) which runs from end to end and in which a piston (4) moves, both the drum (2) and the piston (4) having alternating movement which is transmitted to the drum (2) through a disk (9) and a rod (10) and to the piston (4) through a rotating arm (7) and a cam surface (8) which act on the end of the stem (5), the machine being equipped with a hopper (1) on the upper part of the drum (2) and an endless belt conveyor (11) on one side to which the dough is expelled.

Abstract: A positive pressure dough divider comprising a hopper (14) for dough, and a pair of rotatable sheeting rolls (15) which carry the dough from said hopper (14) into a transfer passage (16) leading to a volumetric measuring chamber (28) inside a rotating body (27) which is adapted to stop or rotate for periods at reduced speed, such that, while the measuring chamber (28) is being charged with dough from the said rolls (15), a maximum possible charging time is provided, and to move at greater speeds at other times to provide minimum possible delay between charging operations. The rolls (15) are of sufficiently large diameter, and rotate in opposite directions at such a speed, as to produce or maintain a dough of good gas retaining properties while providing a positive pressure rise along the direction of flow in the passage between the rolls sufficient to charge the measuring chamber or chambers.

Abstract: A positive-displacement volumetric metering depositor particularly but not exclusively useful in food production equipment has a continuously-rotating cylinder with a diametrically-disposed metering piston or plunger having the general form of an elongated, relatively narrow rectangular geometric solid of a desired height which moves cyclically across the diametral cylinder passage during its rotation to receive a measured volume of media at the top of cylinder rotation and discharge such volume at the bottom of cylinder rotation. Cams and cam followers control such cyclic piston movement, and are adjustable to vary the volume of the measured charge by changing the relative positions of a pair of complementary component piston parts together defining the composite metering piston.

Abstract: A rotating drum divider and an improved assembly for use in a cylinder of the rotating drum type dough divider comprising a sleeve positioned in the cylinder forming seals on both sides of a pair of diametrically opposed guide slots connected to atmosphere and a pair of ducts communicating with the cylinder at opposite ends of the sleeve which are alternately connected to pressure and vacuum, a double acting piston having a head in each end of the cylinder and a piston rod portion extending from each head into the sleeve, and a scaling rod joining the adjacent ends of the piston rod portions together, and reciprocating to cause the rod portions and their heads to reciprocate together in the cylinder as a double ended piston.

Abstract: Means for enhancing the operation of a make-up machine with a rotating drum type scaling means for stiff dough, comprising hopper means and means operatively associated with the hopper means for simultaneously mildly degassing and positively feeding dough to the scaling means.

Abstract: Improvements in molding apparatus and method for forming a plurality of patties from a mass of agglomerable edible material such as, chopped meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, or the like. The molding apparatus includes a rotatable turret having a plurality of mold cavities positioned therein with a piston reciprocably mounted in each cavity. Upward piston reciprocation forms a mold in the lower portion of the cavity. An improved food-feeding mechanism having an enlarged end opening in communication with the cavity pushes the edible material into the mold over a wide portion of the turret rotation. The piston reciprocates upwardly while in communication with said food-feeding mechanism to draw food material into the mold and avoid air pockets in same. As the turret rotates and the piston reciprocates downwardly to expell the patty, an improved continuous wire band patty cut-off mechanism cleanly separates the patty from the piston to which it typically sticks, without deforming the patty.

Abstract: Dough-dividing and forming apparatus particularly adapted for forming toroid-shaped articles such as bagels, or the like, is disclosed. A first rotary plate member containing a plurality of cylindrical openings receives a cylindical ribbon of dough into the openings and shears the dough into disc-shaped dough lumps. The dough lumps are subsequently flattened in the center to form a web and pierced to form a generally annular shape. During the piercing operation, the dough lumps are transferred to a second rotary plate member carrying a plurality of tapered, cylindrical forming cups. As the second plate member is indexed between rotary positions, a plurality of cylindrical mandrels are repeatedly thrust into and out of the forming cups to roll the dough lumps internally along the length of the forming cups whereby the desired shape is formed.

Abstract: A dough dispensing device and support is illustrated including a rotatable molding means having axially spaced dough receiving cavities formed therein with a stationary separator therebetween to facilitate rapid dispensing of molded dough configurations. A support for the dough dispenser has a pair of pivotal connections between the dough dispenser and a stationary support surface so that the dough dispenser may be maneuvered upwardly for clearing the side of a cooking compartment to which the dough is to be dispensed and subsequently pivoted to a lowered position closely above the surface of the cooking medium contained in the cooking compartment for safely and rapidly dispensing a plurality of dough masses without splashing of the cooking medium.

Abstract: An apparatus for filling cheese moulds with curd portions issuing from vertical sieve cylinders with a feed for a whey/curd mixture at their top, the cylinders cooperate with the upperside of a table having an aperture. Under the table a conveyor is advancing moulds each consisting of a sleeve with a separate bottom movable in vertical direction by means of a cam surface. At least a part of said cam surface is displaceable for altering the vertical travel of said supporting bottoms so as to change the length of the curd portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming rings which are made from a formable food mass, made, for example, from onion pieces and a binder. The apparatus includes a hopper for containing the food mass. A rotating cylindrical member is horizontally mounted within the hopper and annular openings are preferably provided in the outer periphery of the cylindrical member for receiving the food mass at a first position. A ring is reciprocally mounted within each of the annular openings, the rings being reciprocated between the loading position and a discharge position, at which the rings are moved towards and beyond the periphery of the cylindrical member. To separate the formed rings from the cylindrical member, a moving cutter is provided near the discharge position.