Moulding

• US 8,029,841 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2009
• Issued: 10/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marel Stork Poultry Processing B.V. (Marel HF)
• Original Assignee: Stork PMT B. V.
• Inventors: Janssen, Petrus Christianus Marius, Van De Eerden, Henricus Franciscus Jacobus Maria, Van Den Nieuwelaar, Adrianus Josephes, Van Esbroeck, Maurice Eduardus Theodorus
• Primary Examiner(s): MACKEY, JAMES P
• Application Number:
  US12/555,185
• Publication Number:
  US 20100055272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 426/389, 426/512, 426/513, 425/362, 425/437, 264/335
• US Class Current: 426/389
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 11/00 Other machines for forming the dough into its final shape before cooking or baking
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 17/0006 Cutting or shaping meat
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0038 Demoulding means
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0046 Containers in which meat is pressed and moulded
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 7/0069 Pressing and moulding by means of a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 13/03 Coating with a layer; Stuffing, laminating, binding, or compressing of original meat pieces
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/10 Moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 11/16 using pocketed rollers, e.g. two co-operating pocketed rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B30B 15/308 in a continuous manner, e.g. for roller presses, screw extrusion presses

Abstract

The invention provides methods for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff which is suitable for human consumption, in particular from a mass of meat.

The method comprises feeding the mass of foodstuff into a mold cavity, molding the mass of foodstuff into a molded product, and removing the molded product from the mold cavity using pressurized gas.

Claims

1. A method for molding three dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff which is suitable for human consumption using a molding device comprising:

a mold comprising a mold cavity defined by a base and a circumferential wall and having a cavity opening opposite the base;

a mass feed component;

one or more first nozzles located in the base of the mold cavity;

a first passage in communication with the one or more first nozzles;

one or more second nozzles located in the circumferential wall or in an annular area of the base adjacent the circumferential wall;

a second passage in communication with the one or more second nozzles;

a source for gas under pressure; and

a selector device for selectively connecting the source to the first passage or the second passage,

the method comprising;

feeding the mass of foodstuff into the mold cavity via the cavity opening with the mass feed component;

molding the mass of foodstuff into a molded product; and

removing the molded product from the mold cavity by first bringing the second passage into communication with the source of gas under pressure, so that the molded product is pressed away from the circumferential wall of the mold cavity, and then bringing the first passage into communication with the source of gas under pressure, so that the molded product is removed from the mold cavity.