Metering the disposition of a food product into cavities forming a pellet
First Claim
1. A process for metering the disposition of a food product into cavities for forming a pellet, the cavities are defined in an endless conveyor as individual cavities, with each cavity having a volume and each cavity being defined by a two part structure that transitions between an unexpanded position and an expanded position along a curved path of the endless conveyor, wherein a bottom structure of the cavity comprises two bottom surfaces and in the expanded position the two bottom surfaces angle away from one another so as to press against and thereby physically eject the frozen food product from the cavity and in the unexpanded position the two bottom surfaces are aligned to form a continuous bottom surface of the cavity, the cavity in the unexpanded position defining the shape of the pellet;
- wherein the two bottom surfaces for each cavity are coupled to a common hinge so as to rotate about an axis of the common hinge when transitioning between the unexpanded and expanded positions;
the process comprising;
supplying a quantity of food product in a supply chamber, wherein the supply chamber includes a plurality of nozzles that are aligned above the conveyor and that do not do not touch the conveyor or the cavity two part structure;
reducing the temperature of the conveyor to a predetermined temperature in a cryogenic refrigeration apparatus prior to metering and dispensing the food product into the cavities;
aligning the plurality of nozzles with a predetermined portion of the cavities;
metering a predefined amount of the supply of food product dispensed through each nozzle;
for each cavity, dispensing the food product through one of the nozzles into the cavity without exceeding the volume of the cavity so that the food product in each cavity is contained and separate from the food product in an adjacent cavity;
freezing the food product into an individual quick frozen pellet starting immediately upon disposition in the cavity, and expanding the cavity to eject the quick frozen pellet from the cavity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process for metering the disposition of a food product into cavities forming a pellet. The cavities are defined in a conveyor as individual cavities. Each cavity defines a specific volume. The process includes supplying a quantity of food product in a supply chamber which includes a plurality of nozzles aligned above the conveyor. The nozzles are aligned with a predetermined portion of the cavities. A predefined supply of food product is dispensed and metered through each nozzle. The food product is dispensed through the nozzles into the cavities without exceeding the specific volume of the cavity. The food product is frozen into an individual quick frozen pellet starting immediately upon disposition in one of the cavities. The step of metering the predefined amount of food product includes metering a predetermined weight of the food product.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for metering the disposition of a food product into cavities for forming a pellet, the cavities are defined in an endless conveyor as individual cavities, with each cavity having a volume and each cavity being defined by a two part structure that transitions between an unexpanded position and an expanded position along a curved path of the endless conveyor, wherein a bottom structure of the cavity comprises two bottom surfaces and in the expanded position the two bottom surfaces angle away from one another so as to press against and thereby physically eject the frozen food product from the cavity and in the unexpanded position the two bottom surfaces are aligned to form a continuous bottom surface of the cavity, the cavity in the unexpanded position defining the shape of the pellet;
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wherein the two bottom surfaces for each cavity are coupled to a common hinge so as to rotate about an axis of the common hinge when transitioning between the unexpanded and expanded positions;
the process comprising;
supplying a quantity of food product in a supply chamber, wherein the supply chamber includes a plurality of nozzles that are aligned above the conveyor and that do not do not touch the conveyor or the cavity two part structure;
reducing the temperature of the conveyor to a predetermined temperature in a cryogenic refrigeration apparatus prior to metering and dispensing the food product into the cavities;
aligning the plurality of nozzles with a predetermined portion of the cavities;
metering a predefined amount of the supply of food product dispensed through each nozzle;for each cavity, dispensing the food product through one of the nozzles into the cavity without exceeding the volume of the cavity so that the food product in each cavity is contained and separate from the food product in an adjacent cavity;
freezing the food product into an individual quick frozen pellet starting immediately upon disposition in the cavity, and expanding the cavity to eject the quick frozen pellet from the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification