METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A SHAPED COMESTIBLE

摘要

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORM G A SHAPED COMESTIBLE A machine is provided for practicing the method of forming a comestible in one of a variety of shapes from a foodstuff slurry. The slurry includes a gel-forming material and is supplied in predetermined amounts to a cavity which has been washed with a combination release and gellation agent. Apparatus is provided for contacting the exposed surface of the slurry in the cavity with a gellation agent to gel the gelforming material at the outer surface of the formed product. Further apparatus is provided for transporting the cavity filled with the foodstuff to a product removal station. Punch apparatus is aligned with the cavity at the product removal station and is actuated to extend into and extrude the product from the cavity onto a conveyor belt to be removed for further processing. control means are provided for ensuring operation of the punch apparatus only when the cavity is aligned therewith and, further, the control apparatus ensures that the cavity is not transported back to the filling station until the punch has been fully retracted from the cavity.