Fiber orienting technology

#The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for accelerating food product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.

#Current forming technology relies on high pressure, speed and complicated material flow pathways which produce a product lacking in quality. High pressure works the meat cells, the higher the pressure the more massaging or squeezing of the meat cells takes place. High speed combined with a complicated flow path massages and works the meat product, releasing myosin/actin from the cells causing the muscle fiber to bind together and contract (protein bind). The contraction takes place during high heat application as in cooking. The action of the meat fiber is to contract in length, this contraction combined with protein bind not only shortens the muscle fiber which if not controlled causes odd cook shapes but a rubber like texture with a tough bite.

#In muscle, actin is the major component of thin filaments, which together with the motor protein myosin (which forms thick filaments), are arranged into actomyosin myofibrils. These fibrils comprise the mechanism of muscle contraction. Using the hydrolysis of ATP for energy, myosin heads undergo a cycle during which they attach to thin filaments, exerting a tension, and then depending on the load, perform a power stroke that causes the thin filaments to slide past, shortening the muscle.

#FIG. 1 is an unassembled view of a fill plate and stripper plate of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is an assembled view of a fill plate and stripper plate of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 shows a side view of an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 1 shows an unassembled view of a fill plate 10, stripper plate 12 and a top plate 14.

#FIG. 2 shows an assembled view of the fill plate 10, stripper plate 12 and top plate 14, further comprising a stripper plate spacer and hold down 16, a cylindrical section 18 and a curved section 20.

#FIG. 3 shows a side view of the patty molding machine having an auger driver motor 30 an auger 32, knockouts 34 and a shear plate drive cylinder 36.