Patent ID: 6238196
Filing Date: 2001-05-29
Classification: A21C,A22C

Abstract:
An apparatus for molding food products of a moldable food material, said apparatus comprising:a molding compartment for the moldable food material,a feeding device for feeding the moldable food material to the molding compartment,a molding plate with a mold cavity, said molding plate moves between a feeding position, in which the mold cavity communicates with the molding compartment via a molding opening, and an ejection position, in which the mold cavity is open towards a base,a plunger assembly for filling the mold cavity with the food material from the molding compartment via the molding opening, andmeans for ejecting a food product molded in the mold cavity from the molding plate in the ejection position,said apparatus further comprisinga common, programmable control unit for predetermining the movements of the feeding device, the plunger assembly and the molding plate as a function of time in the form of separate, periodical movement patterns, which have a same predeterminable period and a predeterminable time relationship between each other anda separate drive unit for each one of the feeding device, the plunger assembly and the molding plate for controlling the movements of each of them in continuous agreement with the respective one of movement patterns predetermined by the common, programmable control unit,wherein the separate drive unit for each one of the feeding device, the molding plate and the plunger assembly, respectively, comprises a servo-operated motor which follows a predetermined movement pattern, andwherein the common, programmable control unit is programmed in respect toa) a length of the predeterminable period,b) synchronization of a movement pattern of the plunger assembly relative to a movement pattern of the molding plate,c) synchronization of a movement pattern of the feeding device relative to a movement pattern of the plunger assemblyd) end positions of a movement of the molding plate,e) a resident time of the molding plate in a feeding position and residence time thereof an ejection position,f) at least an end position of the plunger assembly closest to the molding opening, andg) a residence time of the plunger assembly at least in an end position thereof closest to the molding opening.