A patty forming machine configured to mold food products comprising: a pump box configured to receive food product therein; a fill plate having a plurality of holes therethrough through which food product is configured to pass; a stripper plate having a plurality of holes therethrough through which food product is configured to pass when the stripper plate is in a fill position, the stripper plate being positioned between the pump box and the fill plate; a drive mechanism configured to move the stripper plate in a reciprocating manner relative to the fill plate and the pump box from the fill position to a non-fill position; a mold comprising a wall having a plurality of mold cavities; and a motor coupled to the mold and configured to continuously move the mold relative to the fill plate; characterised by: a stripper plate sensor operatively coupled to the stripper plate, the stripper plate sensor configured to determine positions of the stripper plate; a mold sensor operatively coupled to the mold, the mold sensor configured to determine positions of the mold; and a processor operatively coupled with the sensors (150, 152), the processor being configured to receive information from the sensors (150, 152) and to determine when the stripper plate is to be moved from the non-fill position to the fill position relative to a determined position of the mold. a pump box configured to receive food product therein; a fill plate having a plurality of holes therethrough through which food product is configured to pass; a stripper plate having a plurality of holes therethrough through which food product is configured to pass when the stripper plate is in a fill position, the stripper plate being positioned between the pump box and the fill plate; a drive mechanism configured to move the stripper plate in a reciprocating manner relative to the fill plate and the pump box from the fill position to a non-fill position; a mold comprising a wall having a plurality of mold cavities; and a motor coupled to the mold and configured to continuously move the mold relative to the fill plate; characterised by: a stripper plate sensor operatively coupled to the stripper plate, the stripper plate sensor configured to determine positions of the stripper plate; a mold sensor operatively coupled to the mold, the mold sensor configured to determine positions of the mold; and a processor operatively coupled with the sensors (150, 152), the processor being configured to receive information from the sensors (150, 152) and to determine when the stripper plate is to be moved from the non-fill position to the fill position relative to a determined position of the mold. a stripper plate sensor operatively coupled to the stripper plate, the stripper plate sensor configured to determine positions of the stripper plate; a mold sensor operatively coupled to the mold, the mold sensor configured to determine positions of the mold; and a processor operatively coupled with the sensors (150, 152), the processor being configured to receive information from the sensors (150, 152) and to determine when the stripper plate is to be moved from the non-fill position to the fill position relative to a determined position of the mold.