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 , the processor being configured to receive information from the sensors 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 , the processor being configured to receive information from the sensors 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 , the processor being configured to receive information from the sensors 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 . <EOS>