Patent ID: 7284973

Claim:
A molding device for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff which is suitable for human consumption, comprising: a. a drum having a first surface, a second surface, and moving along a path and comprising at least one mold cavity defined by mold walls and having a cavity opening positioned along the first surface of the drum; b. a mass-feed component positioned adjacent the drum for feeding mass into the at least one mold cavity; c. a belt positioned adjacent the drum, wherein the belt bears against at least a portion of the first surface of the drum to temporarily close the at least one mold cavity; d. a film-feed means for feeding a disposable film between the belt and the first surface of the drum so as to substantially prevent contact between mass in the at least one mold cavity and the belt; and e. a film-uptake means for removing the film from between the belt and the first surface of the drum at a point along the path upstream of discharge of the mass from the at least one mold cavity.