Method and apparatus for molding a food product

Abstract

A method and apparatus for molding and fast chilling food products, preferably confectionery products. The method involves sequentially depositing a solidifiable food substance into one or molds that are part of a plurality of molds radially attached to a chilled roller while the molds are in a substantially horizontal position. The chilled roller is then rotated to move the one or more molds filled with the food substance into contact with a conveyor belt sufficiently soon after the solidifiable food substance is deposited in the molds so as to avoid the exterior surface of the food substance from becoming distorted when the molds move away from the horizontal. The chilled roller at least partly solidifies the food substance in the molds. The at least partially solidified food substance is then separated from the molds onto the conveyor belt. A second method involves sequentially depositing a solidifiable food substance into one or molds that are part of a plurality of molds radially attached to a chilled roller while the molds are in a substantially horizontal position and lowering a chilled plate onto the molds while the solidifiable food substance is being deposited into the mold. The chilled plate contacts the solidifiable food substance to at least partially solidify the exterior surface of the food substance. The chilled roller at least partly solidifies the food substance in the molds. The chilled plate is then removed from the surface of the molds, the molds are rotated, and the partially solidified food substance is separated from the molds.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.