U.S. patent application number 09/790931 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-22 for food patty-molding apparatus having mold plate with multiple rows of cavities.
Invention is credited to Lindee, Scott A..
Application Number | 20020114861 09/790931 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25152157 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020114861 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lindee, Scott A. |
August 22, 2002 |
FOOD PATTY-MOLDING APPARATUS HAVING MOLD PLATE WITH MULTIPLE ROWS
OF CAVITIES
Abstract
A mold plate assembly for a patty-forming apparatus includes a
reciprocating mold plate having patty-forming cavities, with at
least two rows of cavities aligned in a longitudinal direction, and
a fill hole located rearwardly of the cavities. The assembly
includes a bottom fill plate and a top fill plate structure
arranged facing opposite sides of the mold plate. The mold plate
reciprocates between a cavity fill position and a patty discharge
or knock-out position. Outlet slots are arranged through the top
fill plate structure to deliver food product into said mold
cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position. During
filling of food product into the cavities, a pressurized food
product flow distribution path is established through the bottom
fill plate, through the fill hole of the mold plate, through the
top fill plate structure, through the outlet slots and into the
cavities. The fill hole is reciprocated between an open and a
closed position with the mold plate, to either allow food product
into the mold cavities when the mold plate is in the fill position,
or to prevent flow through the outlet slots when the mold plate is
in the closed position. The mold plate assembly allows for the use
of multiple rows of cavities in the mold plate and ensures
consistent filling in both the rearward and forward rows of
cavities.
Inventors: |
Lindee, Scott A.; (Mokena,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
POLIT & ASSOCIATES, LLC
3333 WARRENVILLE ROAD
SUITE 250
LISLE
IL
60532
|
Family ID: |
25152157 |
Appl. No.: |
09/790931 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
425/572 ;
425/575 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A22C 7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
425/572 ;
425/575 |
International
Class: |
A22C 007/00 |
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A patty-forming apparatus, comprising: a reciprocating mold
plate having front and rear rows of mold cavities and a fill hole,
said mold plate arranged to reciprocate between a mold cavity fill
position and a mold cavity discharge position; a food product
delivery path having an inlet and front and rear outlets, said
front and rear outlets in fluid communication with said front and
rear rows of mold cavities when said mold plate is in said fill
position; a food product feed system having an outlet for
delivering pressurized food product; and in said mold cavity fill
position, said outlet connected via said fill hole to said inlet
for delivering pressurized food product from said food product feed
system into said delivery path, and out of said front and rear
outlets into said front and rear rows of cavities, and in said mold
cavity discharge position said mold plate blocking flow from said
outlet.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rows of
cavities are straight rows.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fill hole is
arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said food product
delivery path is arranged above the mold plate.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said food product
feed system is arranged below said mold plate.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a breather plate
arranged above the mold plate and having breather holes open into
said front and rear rows of cavities, and air discharge channels in
fluid communication with said breather holes.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fill hole is
circular.
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising front and rear
knock-out cups arranged to vertically reciprocate to remove patties
from said front and rear mold cavities at said discharge
position.
9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fill hole is
arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities, said food product
delivery path is arranged above the mold plate, said food product
feed system is arranged below said mold plate, and comprising a
breather plate arranged above the mold plate and having breather
holes open into said front and rear rows of cavities and air
discharge channels in fluid communication with said breather
holes.
10. A patty-forming apparatus, comprising: a bottom fill plate
having a food product delivery channel communicating with a source
of pressurized food product; a mold plate reciprocally mounted over
said bottom fill plate and having at least a first and a second row
of cavities, and a fill hole; a top fill plate structure arranged
overlying said mold plate and providing a fill channel, said fill
channel being arranged to be in fluid communication with said first
and second mold cavities when said mold plate is in a fill
position; and in said fill position, said food product delivery
channel is in fluid communication with said fill hole, said fill
channel and said first and second rows of the cavities, and when
said mold plate is in a discharge position, said fill hole is no
longer in fluid communication with said delivery channel and said
mold plate blocks said delivery channel.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said rows of
cavities are straight rows.
12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fill hole is
arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities.
13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said top fill plate
structure includes a breather plate, said breather plate having
first and second groups of breather holes open into said first and
second rows of cavities respectively, and air discharge channels in
air communication with said breather holes.
14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fill hole is
circular.
15. The apparatus according to claim 10, comprising front and rear
knock-out cups arranged to vertically reciprocate to remove patties
from said first and second mold cavities at said discharge
position.
16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said fill hole is
arranged rearwardly of said rows of cavities, wherein said first
and second rows of cavities are straight rows, wherein said top
fill plate structure includes a breather plate, said breather plate
having first and second groups of breather holes open into said
first and second rows of cavities respectively, and air discharge
channels in air communication with said breather holes, and wherein
said apparatus comprises front and rear knock-out cups arranged to
vertically reciprocate to remove patties from said first and second
mold cavities at said discharge position.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to food patty-molding
machines. The invention particularly relates to food patty-molding
machines which incorporate a reciprocating mold plate having
patty-forming cavities which are cyclically filled to form patties,
and then emptied, the patties being discharged to a patty-receiving
area.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Food patty-forming or molding machines are described, for
example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821,376. A
typical food patty-forming machine or apparatus 20 is illustrated
in FIG. 1. This machine is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No.
3,887,964 and has been marketed as the FORMAX 26 machine by Formax,
Inc., of Mokena, Ill. Molding machine 20 includes a machine base 21
which supports the operating mechanisms of the machine and contains
hydraulic actuating systems, electrical actuating systems, and most
of the machine controls.
[0003] The food patty-molding machine 20 includes a supply means 24
for storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground
beef, fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like, to the processing
mechanisms of the machine. Supply means 24 includes a large food
product storage hopper 25 that supplies a food pump system 26.
System 26 includes two alternately operating food pumps (one
shown); other machines typically include only a single food pump.
The two food pumps continuously pump food, under pressure, into a
valve manifold connected to a cyclically operable molding station
28. Molding station 28 includes a multi-cavity mold plate 32 that
moves cyclically between a fill position, shown in FIG. 1, and a
discharge position in which its mold cavities are outside of
station 28, aligned with a set of knock-out cups 33.
[0004] Food supply means 24 includes a conveyor belt 31 that
extends completely across the bottom of hopper 25. In FIG. 1, a
limited supply of food product 38 is shown in hopper 25; a much
greater supply could be stored in the hopper without exceeding its
capacity. The forward end of hopper 25 communicates with a vertical
hopper outlet 39 that leads downwardly into two pump chambers; only
one pump chamber 69 is shown. Three motors drive three vertical
feed screws. Only one motor 47 and one feed screw 53 are shown in
FIG. 1.
[0005] The upper part of a pump housing 71 comprises a plate 81
that supports the mold plate 32. The mold plate 32 includes a
plurality of individual mold cavities 86 distributed in a single
row across the width of the mold plate; mold cavities 86 are its
alignable with the manifold outlet fill passage 79. A mold cover 82
is disposed immediately above mold plate 32, closing off the top of
each of the mold cavities 86. The mold cover 82 may include a
conventional breather plate. Suitable spacers (not shown) are
provided to maintain the spacing between the cover 82 and the
support plate 81, essentially equal to the thickness of the mold
plate 32. A housing 88 is positioned over the cover plate 82. The
housing 88 encloses the operating mechanism (not shown) for the
knock-out cups 33.
[0006] In the operation of the patty-molding machine 20, a supply
of ground meat or other moldable food product 38 is placed into the
hopper 25, and is advanced toward the hopper outlet 39 by the
conveyor 31. Whenever one of the food pump plungers, such as the
plunger 68, is retracted to expose a pump cavity (e.g., the cavity
69), the vertical feed screws 53 aligned with that pump cavity are
actuated to feed the food product into the pump cavity.
[0007] In FIG. 1, pumping system 26 is illustrated with the mold
plate 32 in its fill position, and with the pump 61 pumping the
moldable food product through the manifold 27. The pump 61, as
shown, has just begun its pumping stroke, and has compressed the
food product in pump cavity 69, forcing it under pressure into the
manifold 27. As operation of the machine 20 continues, the plunger
68 advances and food product flows into the mold cavities 126,
there is a relatively constant pressure on the food product and
chamber 69, manifold 27, fill passage 79, and cavities 86.
[0008] In describing the operation of molding mechanism 28, and
particularly the mold plate 32, it is convenient to start with the
mold plate 32 in the fill position in FIG. 1. In each molding
cycle, mold plate 32 remains in this fill position for a limited
dwell interval. As the mold cavities 86 move into the fill
position, one of the two food pumps of machine 20 pumps food
product through manifold 27 and fill passage 79, filling the mold
cavities. To assure complete filling of the mold cavities, the food
pump must apply a substantial pressure to the food product.
[0009] Following the fill dwell interval, mold plate 32 is moved
outwardly, to the right from its fill position, as shown in FIG. 1,
until it reaches a discharge position with its mold cavities 86
aligned with knock-out cups 33. As mold plate 32 moves toward its
discharge position, mold cavities 86 all move clear of fill passage
79 before any part of those cavities projects out of mold station
28, beyond support plate 81 and cover 82. Thus, the food pump in
machine 20, as shown in FIG. 1, remains sealed off at all times. A
second dwell interval occurs at the discharge position of mold
plate 32, during which knock-out cups 33 move downwardly through
the mold cavities, discharging the molded food patties onto a
patty-receiving area, e.g. a take off conveyor (not shown).
[0010] Following discharge of the molded food patties, mold plate
32 is moved back toward its fill position so that mold cavities 86
can again be filled with food product. Again, mold cavities 86 are
completely inside molding mechanism 28, sealed off, before they
come into alignment with fill passage 79.
[0011] Although a single fill passage 79 is shown in FIG. 1, it is
also known to provide multiple fill orifices which together are
substantially coextensive with the area of the cavities, such as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,595; 4,821,376 and 4,372,008.
[0012] The present inventor has recognized that the throughput
(quantity of patties per time period of machine operation), of food
patties formed by the aforementioned food patty-forming machine is
limited by the speed of the machine and the number of cavities that
can be aligned across the single row. The present inventor has
recognized that it would be desirable that the throughput of such a
machine be increased, while maintaining a consistent quality of the
patties formed by such a machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The invention provides a mold plate assembly for a
patty-forming apparatus that includes a reciprocating mold plate
having patty-forming cavities, with at least two rows of cavities
aligned in a longitudinal direction. The mold plate reciprocates
between a cavity fill position and a patty discharge or knock-out
position. The mold plate includes a fill hole. The assembly
includes a top fill plate structure and a bottom fill plate
arranged facing opposite sides of the mold plate. Front and rear
outlet-slots are arranged through the top fill plate structure to
fill food product into the mold cavities when the mold plate is in
the fill position. During filling of food product into the
cavities, a pressurized food product flow distribution path is
established through the bottom fill plate, through the fill hole of
the mold plate, through the top fill plate structure, through the
outlet slots, and into the cavities. The fill hole is reciprocated
between an open and a closed position with the reciprocating mold
plate, to either allow food product into the mold cavities when the
mold plate is in the fill position, or to prevent pressurized flow
through the fill openings when the mold plate is in the closed
position.
[0014] According to the invention, the rearward row of cavities is
not thereby exposed to pressurized food product from front outlet
slots during retraction or extension of the rearward cavities
during mold plate reciprocation. Thus, the forward row of mold
cavities is exposed to only the pressurized front outlet slots
during the filling interval; and the rearward row of cavities is
exposed to only the pressurized front outlet slots during the
filling interval. In this way, the rearward row of cavities which
pass by the front outlet slots is not over-filled or over-pressured
by being exposed to pressurized front outlet slots before or after
filling by the corresponding rear outlet slots.
[0015] According to the invention, the production of food patties
by the patty-forming apparatus per operating period is effectively
doubled compared to an apparatus with a single row of mold
cavities. The mold plate assembly allows for the use of multiple
rows of cavities in the mold plate and ensures consistent filling
in both the rearward and forward rows of cavities. Each row of
cavities is filled simultaneously without any row of cavities being
over-filled, or over-pressured. The resultant food patties will
have a consistent quality and density, and a resultant consistent
cooking time.
[0016] Numerous other advantages and features of the present
invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed
description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the
claims and from the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a prior art food
patty-forming apparatus;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a patty-forming
apparatus according to the invention, the apparatus mold plate
shown in a knock-out position;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming
apparatus of FIG. 2 with the apparatus mold plate retracted a
distance rearwardly toward a fill position;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming
apparatus of FIG. 3, with the apparatus mold plate moved a further
distance, nearing a fully retracted position;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming
apparatus of FIG. 4, moved a further distance, with the apparatus
mold plate at a fully retracted position;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming
apparatus of FIG. 5 with the apparatus mold plate moved a distance
toward the knock-out position; and
[0023] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the patty-forming
apparatus of FIG. 6 with the apparatus mold plate moved a further
distance toward the knock-out position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will be
described herein in detail, specific embodiments thereof with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments
illustrated.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates a food patty-forming apparatus 120 of the
present invention. Except as otherwise described herein, the
apparatus 120 is of a type such as described in U.S. Pat. No.
3,887,964; 4,372,008 and 4,821,376, herein incorporated by
reference.
[0026] The apparatus 120 includes a supply apparatus 124 for
storing and supplying a moldable food product, such as ground beef,
fish, pork, chicken, potatoes, or the like to the processing
mechanism of the apparatus. The supply apparatus 124 includes a
storage hopper (not shown) and a food product pump system 126. The
supply apparatus can be as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,595 or
4,372,008 herein incorporated by reference. The apparatus includes
a mold plate 132 that moves cyclically between a discharge or
knock-out position shown in FIG. 2 and a fill position or stage
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the discharge position, two rows of food
patties 140a, 140b which occupy two rows of mold cavities, front
mold cavities 142a, and rear mold cavities 142b, respectively,
within the mold plate 132, are discharged by downward movement of
two rows of corresponding knock-out cups 146a, 146b, respectively.
The food patties can be delivered onto a take-off conveyor 175.
[0027] According to the preferred embodiment, two rows of cavities,
front cavities 142a and rear cavities 142b, are utilized, each row
having six cavities (not shown). It is of course encompassed by the
invention that more rows, and/or more or less cavities per row,
could be used.
[0028] The mold plate 132 is guided for reciprocal movement by a
support plate 158, a bottom fill plate 172, and a top fill plate
structure 162. A cover plate 164 overlies the top fill plate
structure 162. The top fill plate structure 162 includes a top fill
plate 168, and a breather plate 174. The breather plate 174
includes breather holes 180,182 in air communication with the front
and rear cavities 142a, 142b respectively, and with lateral air
channels 183a, 184a and longitudinal air channels 183b, 184b,
respectively. The breather holes are recessed in dished areas 180a,
182a. Breather hole locations and patterns are disclosed in the
patent application "Improved Patty-Forming Mold Plate Assembly,"
U.S. Ser. No. 09/545,804, filed Apr. 8, 2000, and herein
incorporated by reference. The channels 183a, 183b are formed into
a top surface of the breather plate 174, and the channels 184a,
184b are formed into a bottom surface of the top fill plate 168.
The top fill plate 168 includes an overhead fill cavity 186 partly
defined by the cover plate 164. The breather plate 174 includes a
fill opening 190 and a front outlet slot 192 and a rear outlet slot
194, all open to the fill cavity 186 of the top fill plate 168.
[0029] Below the mold plate 132 is the bottom fill plate 172. The
bottom fill plate 172 is fit on, and partly recessed within, the
support plate 158, and includes a top surface 198 which is planar
with a contiguous top surface 204 of the support plate 158. The
bottom fill plate 172 is mounted to the support plate 158 by a
plurality of fasteners 270. The bottom fill plate 172 includes a
fill delivery channel 206 open at an outlet 207 at a top end, and
flow connected at a bottom end to the pump system 126.
[0030] The mold plate includes a fill hole 208 located rearwardly
of the two rows of cavities 142a, 142b. In the position shown in
FIG. 2, a solid portion 212 of the mold plate 132 is interposed
between the fill opening 190 and the fill delivery channel 206,
blocking food product communication therebetween. When the mold
plate 132 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, food product under
reduced (or zero) pressure is effectively trapped above the mold
plate 132 within the fill opening 190, the fill cavity 186, and the
front and rear outlet slots 192, 194 (indicated in the FIGURES by
speckling).
[0031] For simplicity, only one longitudinally arranged pair of the
cavities 142a, 142b and one set of corresponding features, such as
the knock-out cups 146a, 146b, groups of breather holes 180, 182,
channels 183a, 183b, 184a, 184b, fill hole 208, delivery channel
206, fill inlet 190, fill cavity 186, and front and rear outlet
slots 192, 194, are shown and described. Given that the front and
rear cavities 142a, 142b would advantageously be multiplied across
the width of the mold plate 132, the corresponding features can
also be multiplied across the apparatus in like fashion.
Alternatively, some corresponding features, such as the cavity 186,
could possibly be shared by more than one pair of cavities 142a,
142b across the rows.
[0032] A housing 250 of the food product pump system 126 underlies
and supports the support plate 158. Food product is pumped under
pressure through a delivery channel 254, and then through a valve
cylinder 256. Food product from the valve cylinder is pressurized
into an expanded fill passage 260.
[0033] As the mold plate is retracted from right to left in the
direction L, as illustrated progressively in FIGS. 2 through 5, the
fill hole 208 is eventually positioned between the inlet fill
opening 190 and the fill delivery channel 206. Pressurized food
product can then begin to pass (FIG. 4) from the expanded fill
passage 260, through the fill delivery channel 206 and out of the
outlet 207, through the fill hole 208, through the fill opening
190, into the overhead cavity 186, through the front and rear
outlet slots 192, 194 and into the mold plate cavities 142a,
142b.
[0034] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the mold plate has begun to move
toward the knock-out position. Before the rear cavities 142b are
exposed to the front outlet slot 192, the mold plate solid portion
212 closes off the fill opening 190 from the fill delivery channel
206. Thus, the strategic location of the mold plate fill hole 208,
the delivery channel 206 and the fill opening 190 ensure that the
rear cavities 142b are not subjected to pressurized food product
from the front outlet slots 192 when passing thereby from either
forward or reverse direction. The front cavities 142a are only fed
by pressurized food product by the front outlet slots 192 and that
the rear cavities 142b are only fed by pressurized food product by
the rear outlet slots 194.
[0035] FIG. 7 shows the mold plate 132 extended toward the
knock-out or discharge position, nearing the position shown in FIG.
2, wherein the cycle is repeated.
[0036] From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous
variations and modifications may be effected without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that
no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated
herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course,
intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as
fall within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *