Press for form pressing meat products, and method of use

A form press configured to form press a meat product, the form press comprising:

• a frame having a press plate which defines a longitudinal axis;
• a reservoir defining a cavity having hydraulic fluid therein;
• a pump configured to pump the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir;
• a first die assembly mounted on the frame and configured to form press the meat product along a height of the meat product, the first die assembly including a first die configured to move along a first press axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis;
• a second die assembly mounted on the frame and configured to form press the meat product along a width of the meat product, the second die assembly including a second die configured to move along a second press axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis and normal to the first press axis;
• a third die assembly mounted on the frame and configured to form press the meat product along a length of the meat product, the third die assembly including a third die configured to move along a third press axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• wherein the press plate and the dies define a press chamber therebetween;
• each die assembly comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a housing in which a piston and piston rod are movably mounted, a single proportional directional valve coupled to a bottom side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder and to a rod side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the proportional directional valve can be moved to a neutral position wherein hydraulic fluid can flow from the rod side chamber to the bottom side chamber or can flow from the bottom side chamber to the rod side chamber, can be moved to a first position wherein hydraulic fluid can flow from the pump and into the bottom side chamber and hydraulic fluid can flow from the rod side chamber to the reservoir, and can be moved to a second position wherein hydraulic fluid can flow from the pump and into the rod side chamber and hydraulic fluid can flow from the bottom side chamber to the reservoir;
• each die assembly further comprising a first pressure sensor coupled between the proportional directional valve and the bottom side chamber, and a second pressure sensor coupled between the proportional directional valve and the rod side chamber;
• a controller configured to receive information from the pressure sensors to individually control movement of the dies along the press axes;
• a compensator defining a cavity having air therein, the compensator being attached to the reservoir and in sealed communication with the cavity within the reservoir, wherein air from the compensator is configured to move into the reservoir and air from the reservoir is configured to move into the compensator;
• and
• a bi-directional air breather mounted on the reservoir and in communication with the cavity, the air breather being configured to open upon predetermined pressures within the reservoir.

A form press configured to form press a meat product, the form press comprising:

• a frame having a press plate which defines a longitudinal axis;
• a reservoir defining a cavity having hydraulic fluid therein;
• a first die assembly mounted on the frame and configured to form press the meat product along a height of the meat product, the first die assembly including a first die configured to move along a first press axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis;
• a second die assembly mounted on the frame and configured to form press the meat product along a width of the meat product, the second die assembly including a second die configured to move along a second press axis which is normal to the longitudinal axis and normal to the first press axis;
• a third die assembly mounted on the frame and configured to form press the meat product along a length of the meat product, the third die assembly including a third die configured to move along a third press axis which is parallel to the longitudinal axis;
• wherein the press plate and the dies define a press chamber therebetween;
• each die assembly comprising a hydraulic cylinder having a housing in which a piston and piston rod are movably mounted, the piston defining a bottom side chamber within the housing and a rod side chamber within the housing within the hydraulic cylinder, a single proportional directional valve coupled to the bottom side chamber and to the rod side chamber of the hydraulic cylinder, wherein the proportional directional valve can be moved to a neutral position wherein hydraulic fluid can flow from the rod side chamber to the bottom side chamber or can flow from the bottom side chamber to the rod side chamber, can be moved to a first position wherein hydraulic fluid can flow from the reservoir and into the bottom side chamber and hydraulic fluid can flow from the rod side chamber to the reservoir, and can be moved to a second position wherein hydraulic fluid can flow from the reservoir and into the rod side chamber and hydraulic fluid can flow from the bottom side chamber to the reservoir;
• each die assembly further comprising a first pressure sensor coupled between the proportional directional valve and the bottom side chamber, and a second pressure sensor coupled between the proportional directional valve and the rod side chamber;
• a controller configured to receive information from the pressure sensors to individually control movement of the dies along the press axes;
• a single pump and motor configured to pump hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to an input line of each proportional directional valve;
• a flow divider in communication with a return line of each proportional directional valve;
• a heat exchanger in communication with the flow divider,
• wherein the flow divider is configured to divert fluid from the return lines directly to the reservoir when a predetermined pressure is reached in the return lines.