Patent ID: 7655173

Claim:
A plate for directing air toward portioned food in a mold cavity of a mold plate to push said portioned food out of said mold cavity, the plate comprising: an upper surface and a lower surface opposite said upper surface, said lower surface positioned above said food in said mold cavity of said mold plate; a plurality of vents extending through said upper surface in a direction towards said lower surface, said plurality of vents arranged in a pattern; and a channel extending from said plurality of vents to said lower surface, said channel having a shape substantially corresponding to said pattern; wherein said lower surface comprises a first area disposed inwardly of and bounded by said channel and a second area disposed outwardly of said channel, said first area disposed a first distance from said upper surface and said second area disposed a second distance from said upper surface, said first distance and said second distance being different from each other, and wherein said first area is fixedly disposed above and apart from said mold cavity when said portioned food is pushed out of said mold cavity.