| 摘要 |
Improvements in molding apparatus and method for forming a plurality of patties from a mass of agglomerable edible material such as, chopped meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, or the like. The molding apparatus includes a rotatable turret having a plurality of mold cavities positioned therein with a piston reciprocably mounted in each cavity. Upward piston reciprocation forms a mold in the lower portion of the cavity. An improved food-feeding mechanism having an enlarged end opening in communication with the cavity pushes the edible material into the mold over a wide portion of the turret rotation. The piston reciprocates upwardly while in communication with said food-feeding mechanism to draw food material into the mold and avoid air pockets in same. As the turret rotates and the piston reciprocates downwardly to expel the patty, an improved continuous wire band patty cut-off mechanism cleanly separates the patty from the piston to which it typically sticks, without deforming the patty. Any build-up of food material on this cut-off band is wiped off same before that portion of the band is utilized to separate another patty from another piston. |
