Food Molding Mechanism for a Food Patty Molding Machine

• US 20080233228A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Provisur Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Formax Incorporated
• Inventors: Taylor, Paul, Lindee, Scott A., Sandberg, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,775,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/144
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0023 Pressing means
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/003 Meat-moulds
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0038 Demoulding means
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0076 Devices for making meat patties
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0084 comprising a reciprocating plate
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/10 Moulding

Abstract

A food molding mechanism for a patty-forming machine that uses a servomotor to drive a crank arrangement. The crank arrangement drives a mold plate. The mechanism uses a reducer with a replaceable output shaft. The reducer engages a servomotor utilizing a double enveloping worm gear providing gear enmeshment across an arc portion of the servomotor main gear. A servomotor driven knockout apparatus comprises a cam and lever arrangement. Oil reservoirs for the knock-out cams are substantially sealed in the mold cover.

Claims

1. A molding mechanism, comprising:

a multiple-cavity, cyclically operable mold plate which requires a given volume of food material in each cycle of operation mounted on a housing for reciprocal movement between a receiving position at which a plurality of mold cavities are aligned with an inlet and a discharge position at which the mold cavities are clear of the housing;

a mold cover positioned over said mold plate;

a knockout apparatus mounted on the mold cover;

a series of knockout cups operated by the knockout apparatus;

said knockout cups are aligned over said mold cavities when the molding mechanism is in the discharge position; and

a servomotor driving a motor drive arm operatively connected to said mold plate to reciprocate said mold plate.

2. A molding mechanism according to claim 1 comprising:

two plate drive arms, two swing links, and two rocker arms;

said plate drive arms connected to said mold plate;

said plate drive arms also connected to said swing links at a position in front of said rocker arms;

said rocker arms operatively connected to said servomotor.

3. A molding mechanism according to claim 1 comprising:

a center shaft having a normal position and an inverted position;

said center shaft operatively connected to said servomotor and said mold plate.

4. A molding mechanism according to claim 3, said center shaft having a first keyway, a second keyway, and a midpoint;

said first and second keyways are located on said center shaft each equidistant from said midpoint in opposite directions.

5. A molding mechanism according to claim 4, comprising:

two rocker arms;

said rocker arms are connected to said center shaft at opposite ends of said center shaft;

said motor drive arm is connected to said center shaft at said first keyway.

6. A molding mechanism according to claim 4, said center shaft engages said motor drive arm at said first keyway when installed in said normal position;

said center shaft engages the drive arm at said second keyway when installed in said inverted position.

7. A molding mechanism according to claim 1 comprising:

a reducer connected to a double enveloping worm gear;

said reducer is connected between said servomotor and said mold plate.

8. A molding mechanism according to claim 7, comprising:

a main gear;

said main gear is mounted to a servomotor output shaft;

said reducer is connected to said servomotor by said main gear and said double enveloping worm gear;

said double enveloping worm gear enmeshes with said main gear across an arc portion of said main gear.

9. A molding mechanism according to claim 1, comprising:

a reducer;

said servomotor being C-face mounted to said reducer;

said reducer operatively connected to said mold plate.

10. A molding mechanism according to claim 1, in which said servomotor is water cooled.

11. A molding mechanism according to claim 10, comprising:

a temperature monitoring system for measuring and monitoring an operating temperature of said servomotor.

12. A molding mechanism according to claim 1, comprising:

a reducer connected between said servomotor and said mold plate, said reducer having an output shaft;

said output shaft removable from said reducer.

13. A molding mechanism according to claim 1, comprising:

a reducer connected between said servomotor and said mold plate;

said reducer having a 20;

1 reduction ratio.

14. A molding mechanism comprising:

A molding mechanism comprising;

a multiple-cavity, cyclically operable mold plate which requires a given volume of food material in each cycle of operation mounted on a housing for reciprocal movement between a receiving position at which a plurality of mold cavities are aligned with a inlet and a discharge position at which the mold cavities are clear of the housing;

a mold cover positioned over said mold plate;

a knockout apparatus for driving formed patties out of said cavities of said mold plate, said knockout apparatus mounted on the mold cover;

said knockout apparatus comprising a plurality of knockout cups operatively connected to a plurality of rocker arms which are reciprocally driven by a servomotor;

said knockout cups are aligned over said mold plate cavities when the molding mechanism is in the discharge position;

15. A molding mechanism, according to claim 14, in which said knockout apparatus comprises:

a plurality of oil reservoirs, a plurality of oil reservoir top covers, and a plurality wicks, said oil reservoirs are mounted to said mold cover and are substantially sealed by said oil reservoir top covers except that said oil reservoir top covers comprise a plurality of windows through which said wicks extend from the oil reservoir to contact and lubricate various portions of the knockout apparatus.