Apparatus for making patties

• US 20040247759A1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weston Brands LLC (Hamilton Beach Brands Holding Co.)
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey W. Palese
• Inventors: Palese, Jeffrey W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,128,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/512
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0076 Devices for making meat patties
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0084 comprising a reciprocating plate
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/20 Shapes for preparing foodstuffs, e.g. meat-patty moulding devices , pudding moulds

Abstract

A patty forming apparatus (10) is connectable with an output portion (30) of a food processor (14). The apparatus (10) includes a housing (60) connectable with the output portion (30) of the food processor (14). A mold plate (100) is arranged for movement in the housing (60). The mold plate (100) includes at least a first mold portion (120). The mold plate (100) is movable to a first position in the housing (60) for receiving a food product (26) in the first mold portion (120) from the food processor (14). The mold plate (100) is movable to a second position in the housing (60) for removal of the food product (26) from the first mold portion (120).

Claims

1. A patty forming apparatus connectable with an output portion of a food processor, said apparatus comprising:

a housing connectable with the output portion of the food processor; and

a mold plate arranged for movement in said housing, said mold plate including at least a first mold portion;

said mold plate being movable to a first position in said housing for receiving a food product in said first mold portion from the food processor, said mold plate being movable to a second position in said housing for removal of said food product from said first mold portion.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said mold plate includes a second mold portion, said second mold portion receiving a food product from the food processor when said mold plate is in said second position, said second mold portion being positioned for removal of said food product from said second mold portion when said mold plate is in said first position.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein said housing includes a top plate and a bottom plate, said top and bottom plates being spaced from each other to define a passage, said mold plate being supported in said passage and movable to said first and second positions in said passage.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, further comprising a conduit connectable with the output portion of the food processor, said conduit providing fluid communication between the output portion of the food processor and said passage, said first mold portion being positioned between said top and bottom plates and in fluid communication with the output portion of the food processor via said conduit when said mold plate is in said first position, said second mold portion being positioned between said top and bottom plates and in fluid communication with the output portion of the food processor via said conduit when said mold plate is in said second position.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said mold plate has an upper surface positioned adjacent said top plate of said housing and an opposite lower surface positioned adjacent said bottom plate of said housing, said first mold portion comprising a first side wall extending through said mold plate from said upper surface to said lower surface, said second mold portion comprising a second side wall extending through said mold plate from said upper surface to said lower surface.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said upper surface of said mold plate is in sliding engagement with said top plate of said housing and said lower surface of said mold plate is in sliding engagement with said bottom plate of said housing.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said first side wall of said first mold portion extends from adjacent said top plate to adjacent said bottom plate forming a first mold chamber bounded by said first side wall, said top plate, and said bottom plate when said mold plate is in said first position, and wherein said second side wall of said second mold portion extends from adjacent said top plate to adjacent said bottom plate forming a second mold chamber bounded by said second side wall, said top plate, and said bottom plate when said mold plate is in said second position.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second side walls each have a tapered configuration for helping to facilitate removal of a patty of food product molded therein.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second side walls each have a frustoconical configuration, said first and second side walls having a first diameter adjacent said upper surface of said mold plate and a second diameter larger than said first diameter adjacent said lower surface of said mold plate.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein said first and second side walls each have a generally cylindrical configuration.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein said top plate is constructed of a substantially translucent material which permits viewing inside said passage.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said mold plate is slidable in said housing between said first and second positions.

13. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said mold plate comprises at least one handle for manually moving said mold plate between said first and second positions.

14. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein said second mold portion is positioned outside said housing while said mold plate is in said first position and said first mold portion is positioned outside said housing while said mold plate is in said second position.

15. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the food processor comprises a grinder having a discharge portion comprising a die plate and a collar for securing the die plate in the discharge portion, said apparatus further comprising a sleeve having a first end connectable with said housing and an opposite second end adapted for connection with the discharge portion of the grinder.

16. The apparatus recited in claim 15, wherein said sleeve comprises a flange adapted to be received in the discharge portion adjacent the die plate and secured to the discharge portion by the collar.

17. An apparatus connectable with a meat grinder, the meat grinder having a discharge portion that includes a die plate and a collar for securing the die plate in the discharge portion, said apparatus comprising:

means for forming a patty with ground meat discharged from the meat grinder; and

means for connecting said patty forming means with the meat grinder, said connecting means comprising a flange portion adapted to be received in the discharge portion of the meat grinder adjacent the die plate and secured to the discharge portion by the collar to connect said patty forming means to the meat grinder.

18. The apparatus recited in claim 17, wherein said flange portion is adapted to be clamped between the die plate and the collar to connect said patty forming means to the meat grinder.

19. A patty forming apparatus comprising:

a housing including a passage; and

a mold plate arranged for movement in said passage, said mold plate including a first mold portion and a second mold portion;

said mold plate being movable to a first position in said passage for receiving a food product in said first mold portion, said mold plate being movable to a second position in said housing for receiving a food product in said second mold portion.

20. The apparatus recited in claim 19, wherein said second mold portion is positioned outside said housing while said mold plate is in said first position, and said first mold portion is positioned outside said housing while said mold plate is in said second position.