Knockout Plunger for Patty-Forming Machine

Abstract

A patty-displacing end portion is provided for a plunger for a food patty-molding apparatus, the apparatus comprising an apparatus frame, a mold plate, the plunger and a heating element. The mold plate has at least one cavity and is mounted to move with respect to the frame in a direction to position the cavity between a fill position wherein the cavity is filled with food product material to form a molded patty, and a molded patty knockout position. The plunger is arranged to move vertically into the cavity to dislodge or knock the olded patty out of the cavity. The plunger has a body and raised formations or standoffs extending down from the body, the raised formations being numbered and positioned to be spread out over the body. The number and position of the raised formations provides a decreased contact pressure on the patty being dislodged.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.