Patent ID: 7040974

Claim:
A method for producing food products, comprising: providing a series of shells, the shells having sufficient structural rigidity to define an enclosed cavity space of predetermined substantially constant size and shape; injecting a quantity of flowable food emulsion into the shells at an injection location along a predetermined travel path; moving the shells forward along the predetermined travel path with the emulsion in the enclosed cavities; exposing the emulsion in the shells to predetermined processing conditions that alter the emulsion held in the respective shells to a non-flowable edible food product having the molded shape of their respective shell cavities; and then releasing the non-flowable food products from their respective shells at a second location spaced apart from the injection location along the predetermined travel path; wherein the shells comprise shell portions that mate together prior to the injecting step to encase the flowable emulsion and separate during the releasing step to release the non-flowable food product, and wherein, when the shell portions are mated together, adjacent shells travel generally in concert and generally aligned with the emulsion therein along at least a portion of the predetermined travel path.