摘要 |
The specification discloses a system and process for producing discrete chilled products having preselected weights from a semi-fluid mixture. The semi-fluid mixture is pumped along a distribution path to an extrusion manifold which extrudes a continuous sheet of the mixture. The continuous sheet is directed through a chilling station where it is chilled and firmed such that the sheet maintains its extruded cross-sectional configuration. A plurality of slicers continuously slice the continuous sheet of material into continuous lengths. A cutter periodically severs the continuous lengths at predetermined intervals to provide a plurality of discrete products having predetermined weights. The pumping rate, rate of travel through the freezer and periodic severing of the continuous lengths may be selectively varied in order to maintain any desired weight of the discrete products. In an alternative embodiment, the continuous sheet of material is divided into discrete products by stamping the sheet with a plurality of cutters. In another embodiment, a rotatable cutting drum, having a pluraity of equally spaced circumferential slicing disks and equally spaced longitudinal blades, severs the continuous sheet of material into discrete products.
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