Food loaf shaping and texturizing rack
AssigneeOscar Mayer Foods Corporation
InventorsGary A. Handel, John A. Jonovic, Otto L. Krueger
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A food loaf shaping and texturizing rack is provided which transforms a generally cylindrical large food loaf, stick or chub into a shape which approximates that of a natural food product, such as whole muscle meat when sliced. The rack also includes a lattice network which forms irregularities in the surface of the finished product.
Claims19
A rack apparatus for forming food cylinders into food loaves having a shape which, when sliced, emulates food product slices from naturally occurring food sources such as whole muscle meat sources, the rack apparatus comprising:
- a frame assembly generally defining at least one elongated compartment;
- an elongated bottom plate within said compartment;
- an elongated top plate within said compartment and generally oppositely disposed with respect to said elongated bottom plate;
- at least one of said elongated plates has a plurality of indents defining a latticed inside surface;
- said elongated bottom plate and elongated top plate combine to define a loaf-forming cavity which receives a food cylinder at a time when said cavity has a selected initial height of separation between said elongated bottom plate and said elongated top plate;
- and
- a moving assembly for controllably moving one or more of said elongated plates with respect to each other while the food cylinder is within said loaf-forming cavity until said selected initial height is reduced to a chosen compression height of said cavity.
A rack apparatus for forming food cylinders into food loaves having a shape which, when sliced, emulates food product slices from naturally occurring food sources such as whole muscle meat sources, the rack apparatus comprising:
- a frame assembly generally defining at least one elongated compartment;
- an elongated bottom plate within said compartment;
- an elongated top plate within said compartment and generally oppositely disposed with respect to said elongated bottom plate;
- at least one of said elongated plates has a plurality of indents that are openings defining a latticed inside surface which includes at least one valley which is diagonally directed with respect to the elongated food cylinder, the valley projecting inwardly toward the opposing elongated plate;
- said elongated bottom plate and elongated top plate combine to define a loaf-forming cavity which receives a food cylinder at a time when said cavity has a selected initial height of separation between said elongated bottom plate and said elongated top plate;
- and
- a moving assembly for controllably moving one or more of said elongated plates with respect to each other while the food cylinder is within said loaf-forming cavity until said selected initial height is reduced to a chosen compression height of said cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.