Patent ID: 7306444

Claim:
An apparatus for forming a pressed food product from an intermediate of dough by pressing the intermediate of dough between a first platen and a second platen as the first platen and the second platen move in a first direction, the apparatus comprising: a supporting frame; means for moving the first platen in the first direction; means for moving the second platen in the first direction; a first guide operatively supported by the frame for guiding the first platen as the first platen is moved in the first direction; a second guide operatively supported by the frame for guiding the second platen as the second platen is moved in the first direction, the first guide and the second guide having a converging region such that the first guide converges with the second guide and a parallel region where the first guide is substantially parallel to the second guide; a continuous conveying belt having perforated regions and a nonstick surface and positioned relative to the first guide such that in the converging and parallel regions, the conveying belt abuts the first platen opposite the first guide; wherein the first guide positions the first platen and the second guide positions the second platen as the first platen and the second platen move through the converging region in the first direction so that an intermediate of dough positioned between the first platen and the second platen is effectively pressed between the first platen and the second platen as the first platen converges with the second platen; and wherein the first platen and the second platen move through the parallel region in the first direction such that the first platen and the second platen are separated by a predetermined spacing that substantially corresponds to the desired thickness of the pressed dough product.