US 5,795,610 A · Food molding apparatus and method of forming food products

Abstract

The invention provides a molding apparatus and process of molding formable materials which comprises at least one supply manifold for receiving a formable material and plungers or pistons for applying pressure to the formable material within the manifold. A mold plate including at least one mold cavity is driven between fill and discharge positions, with the at least one mold cavity selectively exposed to the supply manifold when in the fill position. A clamp member is positioned adjacent the mold plate when in the fill position, and pressure is applied on the clamp member to clamp the mold plate against the supply manifold. The clamp member and associated structure apply pressure to the clamp member compensating for deflection of these structural members which maintains the mold plate in firm clamping relation relative to the supply manifold. The arrangement eliminates the need to provide the clamp plate with a thick cross section or heavy mass which would accommodate forces normally encountered during filling of the mold cavities. In this manner a mold plate having a relatively thin section, and a clamp member also of relatively thin section may be utilized, to allow a machine having significantly increased width to be realized. The significantly increased width of the machine will correspondingly increase capacity, and also allows compatibility with other processing equipment. A mold plate knife assembly is used to cut the formable material at a position adjacent the mold cavities subsequent to filling to facilitate formation of precise portions of the formable material, and also functions to seal off the supply manifold prior to movement of the mold plate to provide distinct advantages.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A molding apparatus for processing formable materials, comprising:

at least one supply manifold for receiving a formable material therein,
at least one mold plate having at least one mold cavity defining an area within said at least one mold plate,
with said mold plate disposed adjacent said manifold to allow said at least one mold cavity to be selectively exposed to said formable material in said manifold,
at least one plunger associated with said at least one supply manifold for applying pressure on said formable material in said manifold to fill said at least one mold cavity when said cavity is exposed to said formable material in said manifold,
a clamp member positioned adjacent said mold plate, and a force applying mechanism to apply force on said clamp member to maintain said mold plate against said supply manifold, wherein said force applying mechanism applies pressure on said clamp member to maintain said clamp member against said supply manifold.

2 more elements

A molding apparatus for processing formable materials, comprising:

at least one supply manifold for receiving a formable material therein,
a mold plate having at least one mold cavity defining an area within said mold plate, with said mold plate disposed adjacent said manifold to allow said at least one cavity to be selectively exposed to said formable material in said manifold,
at least one plunger associated with said at least one supply manifold for selectively applying pressure on said formable material in said manifold to fill said at least one mold cavity when said cavity is exposed to said formable material in said manifold,
a mold plate knife assembly including at least one mold plate knife positioned adjacent said mold plate and a drive mechanism to move said at least one mold plate knife from an open position to a closed position, wherein when said mold plate knife is in said open position, said mold plate is in a fill position such that said at least one mold cavity is selectively exposed to said formable material within said at least one supply manifold to be filled, and movement of said at least one mold plate knife to said closed position functions to cut said formable material at a position adjacent said first surface of said mold plate.

1 more element

A method of molding formable materials comprising the steps of:

supplying a formable material into at least one supply manifold of a molding apparatus,
providing a mold plate having at least one mold cavity, said mold plate being selectively positioned so the at least one mold cavity is exposed to the formable material within said at least one supply manifold,
providing a mold plate knife assembly including at least one mold plate knife positioned adjacent said mold plate and a drive mechanism to selectively move said at least one mold plate knife from an open position to a closed position,
positioning said at least one mold plate knife in said open position, such that said mold plate is in a fill position and said at least one mold cavity is exposed to said formable material within said at least one supply manifold to be filled,
applying pressure on said formable material in said manifold to fill said at least one mold cavity exposed thereto,
moving said at least one mold plate knife to said closed position to cut said formable material at a position adjacent a first surface of said mold plate.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Food molding apparatus and method of forming food products

Life of this patent

Food molding apparatus and method of forming food products

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20