Moulding device and method for moulding

A moulding device for moulding food products from a mass of foodstuff which can be transferred by pumping, comprising:

• a stationary frame;
• a revolving moulding drum assembly having a peripheral surface in which one or more mould cavities are provided, wherein the mould cavities each define a filling opening in the peripheral surface;
• a rotary bearing assembly supported by the stationary frame and rotatably supporting the moulding drum assembly about a longitudinal drum rotation axis;
• a drive motor to drive the moulding drum assembly;
• a mass feed device arranged in a filling position with respect to the peripheral surface of the moulding drum assembly, the mass feed device comprising:
• an inlet member for feeding a pressurized mass of foodstuff;
• and
• a shoe member in communication with the inlet member, comprising a filling mouth which adjoins the peripheral surface of the moulding drum assembly in such a way that the filling opening of the one or more mould cavities which move past during rotation of the moulding drum assembly come into communication with said filling mouth in order to fill said mould cavities with the foodstuff as they move past, wherein, in operation, the pressurized mass of foodstuff introduced into a mould cavity causes an outward force onto said shoe member;
• a non-revolving component, concentrically supported by the moulding drum assembly and not by the stationary frame, the non-revolving component being provided adjacent and movable in a radial direction to the peripheral surface of the moulding drum, the non-revolving component comprising 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;
• an anti-torque member to prevent rotation of the non-revolving component, while allowing flexibility in the radial direction;
• and
• a non-force transmitting flexible connection is provided between the shoe member and the inlet member, such that force transmittal from the shoe member to the inlet member is not possible.