JPS6058953B2 - Food material molding method and molding device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for forming food materials from finely divided food particles, and more particularly to forming food products from food materials containing gel-forming materials and Apparatus and method for gelling a formed food product by washing its outer surface with a gelling agent.

A variety of machines are available for forming food products in a desired form from finely divided food materials, such as by shredders, choppers, kneaders, grinders, and the like.

In some cases, the comminuted food material is reshaped into the desired shape by extruding it through a specially shaped nozzle or alternatively by passing it through a die. Alternatively, the comminuted food material can be extruded into a cavity, shaped and reshaped into the desired shape, and then removed from the cavity as a shaped food product. There is often a need to first comminute food materials, or alternatively to use already comminuted food materials and reshape them by passing them through apertures or the like. For example, some products with desired nutrients may be too fibrous and not easily digested by children or those with poor teeth. Furthermore, even for people with normal teeth, some natural foods are rich in fiber, which can reduce the pleasure of eating them by half.

For example, some grades of beef have a high grade of protein, but the fiber content makes them difficult to roast. If such beef were to be prepared in the usual manner, such as by frying or roasting, it may become practically inedible. However, if such beef is forced through a small opening to break up its fibers and the resulting food material is cooked into the well-known hamburger steak, virtually no one can eat the food reshaped and cooked in this way. It can also be easily digested.

Additionally, it would be desirable to utilize the waste materials normally produced when processing foods such as fish, shrimp, baby birds, etc.

For example, the waste products produced when slicing fish are usually discarded, and these waste products contain a fairly high degree of protein. Similarly, when a chicken is deboned and cooked, its many waste products are usually discarded and are at most used as food for non-humans. In addition, many small shrimp are caught together with the large desirable shrimp, but the small shrimp are usually returned to the sea because of their low commercial value.

Returned shrimp often die, which is another waste of resources. However, other than their size, small shrimp actually have the same flavor and food value as large shrimp. Although each individual food material is mentioned above, any of the fish, chicken or shrimp can be mixed with other products to form a slurry that can be used for remolding.

This reshaping can be accomplished by including the food product in a slurry that forms a gel when exposed to a gel-forming solution in the form of a bath or wash stream. If desirable food products can be formed into attractive shapes from by-products that would normally be discarded as described above, it is possible to achieve significant cost savings while reducing waste. Furthermore, if such food product forming methods could be repeated consistently, supervision would be greatly simplified and could be accomplished by simply counting the number of identical molded articles.

Such partial supervision is useful in terms of cost and nutrient control. A method of manufacturing a food product by extruding a slurry of food material containing a gel-forming matrix and forming a gel-like shell around the extruded product is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,766.

The above-mentioned patent discloses a machine that is used to form products such as hamburgers and the like by forcing ground meat into a forming cavity that communicates directly with a large source of the meat. The cavity containing the ground meat is separated from the source and the meat is removed from the cavity as a shaped hamburger. In such forming machines, a relatively tight fit must be made between the plate carrying the cavity and the meat source as the meat is forced into the cavity in order to reduce or prevent wastage.

However, such a good fit also makes it difficult to separate the forming plate from the meat source. And if there is no natural fat or added fat in the ground meat, such machines will be very difficult to operate without moistening, whereas such lubrication will make it easier to clean the food. It is self-evident that undesirable consequences can result from contamination. Additionally, many currently available food forming machines do not have a mechanism for forming multiple products at the same time. Additionally, many food forming machines are designed to form food products in shapes other than articles having approximately uniform cross-section. In addition, machines found on the market for the production of extruded food products containing gel-forming matrices that form gel-like shells upon exposure to gelling agents have very extreme cross-sectional variations in adjacent areas. It is not possible to produce molded articles with helical grooves that have a tortuous circumferential surface or shape. It is therefore an object of the invention to produce one or more shaped food products from a food material containing a gel-forming matrix, in which case the outer surface of the food material is cleaned with a gelling agent. An object of the present invention is to provide a machine capable of forming a gel-like surrounding skin shell.

Another object of the invention is to use a food material slurry containing a gel-forming material to inject the food material slurry into a mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity is pre-gelled and wetted with a mold release agent. The object of the present invention is to provide a method for molding a food product in which the molded food material is gelled and moistened with a mold release agent to promote molding and release of the food material from the cavity.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, a machine is proposed for producing shaped food products from food slurries containing gel-forming materials.

This machine consists of a molding station (hereinafter simply referred to as the molding section) where a molded food is formed by forcing material into the molding cavity, and a take-out station (hereinafter simply referred to as the take-out section) from which the molded food is taken out from the cavity. ). A plate having at least one molding cavity of a predetermined external shape is provided and is used to mold the food material into a molded article having the same external shape as the shape of the cavity. The plate is mounted by means that allow it to move through the cavity between the molding section and the take-out section. A food material dispensing means is disposed in operative association with the forming section for periodically supplying a predetermined amount of food material to the cavity. and, in operative connection with the forming section, for coating the unfilled cavity as well as the surface of the food material dispensed into the cavity with a gelling agent, thereby gelling the gel-forming material on the surface of the food material. Means used for this purpose is provided. Furthermore, means are provided which are used to prevent slurry not present within the cavity from leaving the molding section. A punch having substantially the same external shape as the cavity is provided in operative association with the ejector. Furthermore, between a normal position where the cavity and the punch do not intersect when the cavity is located at the take-out part and an extended position where the punch intersects with the cavity and extends into the cavity when the cavity is located at the take-out part. Means are provided for mounting the punch for movement. Means is provided for activating the food material dispensing means to supply and fill the cavity with a predetermined amount of food material. Means are provided for moving the filled cavity from the forming section to the ejection section and aligning it with the punch. A control device is provided comprising means constructed and arranged to actuate the punch from the normal position to the extended position for use in dropping food material from the cavity only when the cavity is aligned with the punch. The control device further includes means configured and arranged to actuate the moving means to move the cavity from the ejection section to the forming section only when the punch is returned from the extended position to the normal position. . Including the matters mentioned above,
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of the invention given below by way of non-limiting example only and preferred embodiments of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a molding machine embodying the objects and features of the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 20.

This forming machine consists of four lower, generally horizontal support members 2 that can be connected in a rectangular configuration and supported on casters 26.
The frame 22 has a frame 22 having a diameter of Machine 20 has an upright frame member 28 secured to a horizontal support member 24 which supports a generally flat horizontal table surface 30 at its upper end. Generally speaking, the forming machine 20 includes a food material supply section, generally designated by the reference numeral 32, operatively connected to a forming section, generally designated by the reference numeral 34.

Forming station 34 is provided in operative connection with a take-off station, generally indicated by the reference numeral 36. The food material feed section 32 has a hopper 38 for receiving extrudable food material slurry and an auger for propelling the food material through a feed conduit 40 and into a food material feed drum valve 42. can have

The operation of this structure will be explained in detail in a later section. A food material supply cylinder 44 is provided on the left side of the drum valve 42 and is attached to the drum valve 42 .

The drum valve 42 and the food supply cylinder 44 are both supported on a frame member 46, while the latter rests on a generally horizontal support 48. Support 48 is supported on table 30 by upright support legs 50. Also secured to the frame 46 are outwardly extending extending arms 52.

This arm 52 is shown in detail in FIG. 2, and its operation will be described in a later section in connection with FIG. Extended arm 52
supports a double-acting cylinder 54 for actuating the drum valve.

This cylinder is connected to a drum valve 72 and operates the latter in a manner to be described below. An opening that supports a bearing through which a piston rod 56 passes is formed in the leftmost downwardly extending leg of the frame 46 .

The right end of the piston rod 5'6 is the food material feed piston 58 (
(see FIGS. 2 and 3), and carries an actuating piston 60 in its center. Working piston 60
is housed within the actuating cylinder 62. Piston rod 5
6 has a limit switch actuating member 64 on its leftmost side. The function of this member will be described later. The right end of the piston rod 66 of the drum valve operating cylinder 54 is pivoted to the left end of a connecting arm 68, for example, by a pin or the like.

The right end of the connecting arm 68 is pivotally connected to the left end of the drum valve operating arm 70 by means such as a pin. The drum valve actuating arm 70, on the other hand, is secured to the drum valve body 72 of the drum valve 42 and is adapted to operate in a manner that the latter will be described below. The spool valve 73 has operating members 73a and 73b extending out from its left and right sides and is attached to the top of the drum valve actuation cylinder 54 by a bracket 74.

The bracket notch 74 has an opening with an upwardly bent edge, and the operating members 73a, 73b can reciprocate within this opening. The piston rod 66 has left and right spool valve operating members 7 fixed to its left and right ends.
6a, 76b, these actuating members actuate the left,
It extends substantially upright enough to contact each of the right spool valve operating members 73a, 73b. As can be seen from FIG. 1, when the drum valve body 72 is in the counterclockwise position, the piston rod 66 extends to the left and the drum valve operating member 73b
and has been moved to the left so as to participate in the operation of the forming machine 20 in the manner described below.

A forming plate 80, which will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, is removably attached at its left and right ends to substantially horizontal transverse support bars 82, 83.

The support rods 82 and 83 are supported by guide bearings 84 and 83 provided on both sides of the machine 20, which is slidably supported by a support rod 86.
It is supported by 85. On the other hand, the support rod 86 is supported at its leftmost end by support blocks 88, 89, and on the other hand, the blocks 88, 89 are fixed to the table 30 at their left and right ends (Fig. 4). reference). The right support block is disposed within the housing 90 as part of the control device of the present invention. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, drum valve body 72 is generally cylindrical and is received within a generally cylindrical opening 92 in drum valve housing 78. Referring to FIGS.

The drum valve body 72 has a T-shaped passage, and its central portion 9
4 communicates with left and right branch arm passages 96, 98 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). When the double-acting cylinder 54 moves to the right in a manner described later, and the drum valve actuating arm 70 reaches a clockwise rotated position, the drum valve main body 72 is rotated, and the branch passage 96 on the left side is connected to the valve housing 78. It is in communication with the interior of the hopper via a passage 100 that leads into the hopper 38 through the hopper.

In this position, the central passageway portion 94 of the drum valve body 72 communicates with the interior of the food material supply cylinder 44 . When the piston rod 56 of the double-acting cylinder 62 moves to the left as shown by arrow A in FIG.
8 similarly moves to the left. This is because the piston 58 is connected to the piston rod 56. When the food material advance piston moves to the left, the food material slurry S flows into the hopper 38.
from passageway 100 to passageway portion 96 within drum valve body 72.
and 94 into the interior of the cylinder 44. The piston rod 56 is connected to the actuating member 64 as shown by arrow A.
moves to the left until it touches the 1 strong ● back stopper 102.

This stopper 102 is adjustable and fixed to the outer end of the arm 52. Arm 52 also includes a limit switch 104 which is adapted to be actuated by actuating member 64 for purposes j described below. As can be seen in FIG. 2, stopper 102 and limit switch 104 supported thereby adjust the stroke length of product actuating cylinder 62 to deliver variable amounts of slurry S for purposes detailed in a later section. It is adjustably attached to arm 52 for changing the position.

A limit switch 105 is fixed to the arm 52, and this limit switch is configured to actuate the actuating member 6 when the piston rod 56 is at the right end of its stroke, for purposes to be described later.
4. When the actuating cylinder 54 is actuated and the piston rod 66 moves to the left, the actuating arm 70 moves to the first position.
The drum valve body 72 is moved counterclockwise to the position shown.
is rotated within opening 92 in valve housing 78 so that central passageway portion 94 is closed (see FIG. 3).

In this position, the left hand portion 96 of the passage communicates with the interior of the food material supply cylinder 44 and the right branch 98 of the passage communicates with the conduit 108 via the passage 106. Conduit 108, in turn, communicates with forming section 34 in a manner described below. When the drum valve body 72 is in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, when the actuating piston 60 and the piston rod 56 fixed thereto are moved to the right as shown by arrow C in FIG. The material supply piston 58 supplies the material slurry S to the drum valve passages 96, 98 and the passage 106.
through the conduit 108 toward the forming section 34 .
Shaped plate 80 in one preferred embodiment of the invention has substantially uniform longitudinal and transverse cross-sections (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 6), with one or The molding cavity 110, which comprises two or more molding cavities 110 (see FIG. 6), can be of any predetermined shape.

The example cavity 110 shown in FIGS. 4-7 has an exterior that generally resembles a small fish. The forming plate 80 is slid along the support rod 86 so that the forming plate 80
By the actuation of double-acting cylinders 112 and 114 fixed to the table 30 on transversely opposite sides of the molding cavity 110,
It can move between the molding section 34 and the take-out section 36.

The piston rods 116, 118 are connected to the cylinders 112, 114.
operated by. The outer ends of piston rods 116, 118 are connected to opposite sides of support rod 82 and are shown in the extended position in FIG. In this case, the molding cavity 110 of the molding plate 80 is located in the molding section 34, as also shown in FIG. As best shown in FIG. 4, conduit 108 communicates with food material distribution plate 120 through an opening 122 formed in the top thereof.

Food material distribution plate 120 has a distribution manifold cavity 124 that is sized to substantially align with forming cavity 110 of forming plate 80 when in communication with the latter at forming section 34 . Manipold cavity 124 communicates with mold cavity 110 through a plurality of funnel-shaped cavity feed openings 126 formed in food material passage plate 128 .

The number of openings 126 formed in plate 128 is equal to the number of molded cavities 110.
, and its lower end is adapted to be aligned with the molding cavity 110 when the molding plate 80 is located generally within the molding section 34 in its leftmost position. (See Figure 4). Food material passage plate 128 is secured to the underside of food material distribution plate 120 with substantially no gaps.

The food material passage plate 28 is mounted on the plate 80 with sufficient clearance to allow movement of the forming plate 80, such that the cavity 110 is located between the forming section 34 and the dispensing section 36. It can reciprocate as described below. The forming plate 80 is in sliding contact with and maintains sufficient clearance thereon to a substantially solid support plate 130 such that the cavity 110 is relatively free between the forming section 34 and the ejection section 36. I am now able to exercise.

As mentioned above, and also in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6
As seen, the manifold cavity 126 has dimensions large enough to cover all mold cavity supply openings 126, thereby providing even distribution of food material to the openings. ing.

Additionally, molded cavity supply opening 126 need not be exactly the same shape as cavity 110. In fact, the supply opening 12
6 can be smaller than the mold cavity 110, thus allowing a single configuration of cavity supply opening 126 to be used for different configurations of the mold cavity 110, and yet Nevertheless, the desired distribution of food material into the forming cavity 110 can be maintained. As mentioned above, when the forming plate actuating cylinders 112, 114 are in the position shown in FIG. are positioned in alignment with each mold cavity supply opening 126 and in communication with a predetermined supply amount of food material slurry S.

In this position, the leftmost edge of the forming plate 80 abuts a pair of limit switches 132a, 132b fixed to the top of the support block 88 for the support rod 86 (the fourth (See Figure and Figure 11)
. Actuation cylinders 112, 114 are actuated (as described below) to retract rods 116, 118, thereby moving forming plate 80 with forming cavity 110 to ejection station 36 (see FIG. 5) and punch 134. When the molded plate 80 is aligned with
(See figure) It is activated by colliding with both sides.

Note that block 89 serves to support the rightmost end of support rod 86, as clearly shown in FIG. Punches 134 are provided in the same number as cavities 110, have the same external shape as the latter, and are permanently secured to the punch substrate 138 in alignment with the latter.

Alternatively, punch 134 may be integral with punch substrate 138. Punch 134 and substrate 138 may be made from any suitable material, such as metal or plastic such as Tellurine. In other embodiments, the punch 134 can be smaller and differently shaped than the cavity 110, although it is preferred that the punch have an external shape that is substantially the same as the interior shape of the forming cavity, as discussed above.
Punch substrate 138 is secured to the underside of punch bracket 140.

Meanwhile, the bracket 140 is fixed to a support plate 142. The support plate 142 has two guide members 144, each of which has an extended position in which the punch 134 intersects and passes through the cavities 110 when the cavities 110 are in the ejection section as shown in FIG. Punch 1 as shown in Figure 4.
34 is slidably attached to a guide rod 146 to guide movement of the punch 134 between a normal position where the punch 34 does not intersect the cavity 110. Guide member 144, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, impinges on limit switch 150 secured to housing 90 when punch bracket 140 and associated mechanisms are in the extended position shown in FIG. 5 for purposes described below. It is equipped with an actuating cam 148 that is operated by the user. punch·
When bracket 140 and associated mechanisms (including guide member 144) are in the normal position as shown in FIG. Activate these switches.

When punch bracket 140 and related mechanisms begin to move from the extended position shown in FIG. 5 to the normal position shown in FIG.
2 to activate this switch.

Shortly thereafter, the actuation cam contacts and actuates the limit switch 154 as the punch bracket 140 and associated mechanism continue to move upwardly. During this time, contact actuation of limit switch 152 is maintained by appropriately selecting the length of actuating cam 148 and the positions of limit switches 152,154. Support plate 142, punch bracket 140 and . The movement of the punch 134, which is attached to a support mechanism that includes a support plate 14 and a base plate 138,
2 to a mounting member 158 by a support angle 156.

On the other hand, the mounting member 158 is attached to the upper wall 16 of the housing 90.
4 Double-acting cylinder 16 for punch operation attached to the top
The piston rod 160 is fixed to the end of the piston rod 160, which is actuated by the piston rod 2. Piston rod 160 passes through an opening (not shown) formed in wall 164. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, or 5, a trough or weir member 166 is disposed on top of the food material distribution plate 120 and located at its left end opposite the outlet 36. attached to the side of the side conduit 108.

The weir member 166 extends generally across the top of the plate 120 and is arranged transversely to the direction of movement of the forming plate 80 or another forming plate 80a shown in FIG. The purpose of this weir member will be explained later. The interior of the weir member 166 is provided with a transversely extending inner wall 168 having a generally U-shaped cross-section, with the long leg of the U-shaped cross-section proximate the conduit 108 (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). located on the right). A wall 168 extends continuously downwardly from the right leg to form a bottom wall from which it curves upwardly and outwardly to the left as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. Weir member 166
Adjacent to the leftmost end of the wall 168, the wall 168 curves downward again and immediately extends downwardly toward the plate 80. At this point where wall 168 bends again, an overflow wall 170 is formed that is lower than the top surface of the right edge of the wall closest to conduit 108 . Weir member 166 is designed such that a portion of wall 168 at its leftmost edge projects downwardly beyond the left edges of plates 120, 128 and terminates at a point above forming plate 80 for purposes described below. .

A substantially similar but inverted trough or weir member 172 is secured to and extends across the top right edge of plate 120. Weir member 172, like weir member 166, includes an interior wall 174 configured to have a twice-bent overflow wall extending across it. In a manner similar to wall 168, wall 174 extends to the right side of plate 120 and is lower than the right edge of the plate for purposes discussed in more detail below. The method and apparatus of the present invention can be used to produce products with uniform thickness in the transverse direction and varying thickness in the longitudinal direction. A molded plate 80a having a varying thickness is used (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

Such a molded plate 80a can be made as an integral member, but as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, it is fixed to support rods 82 and 83 on the left and right sides, respectively, with the thicker part extending over the center. It can also consist of two parts arranged facing each other.

As best shown in FIG. 10 (in the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same parts and like parts are denoted by the suffix a), Support plate 130 constitutes a substrate for cavity 110a, which is generally shaped like a baby's leg, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The plate 80a is mounted so as to be movable in and out of the plane of the drawing of FIG. 10 so that the forming part 34 can be moved back and forth between it and the take-out part 36. Since the cross-section of plate 80a is not uniform, food material passage plate 128 that can be used with forming plate 80 having uniform longitudinal and lateral cross-sections is
Cannot be used with 0a.

Therefore, another food material passage plate 128a is provided. The underside of plate 128a, which is in sliding contact with the upper surface of plate 80a, is bent relative to its upper surface, thereby minimizing leakage of food material slurry S while forming section 34 and dispensing section 36. The plate 80a is allowed to move in the longitudinal direction between the two. As best shown in FIG. 10, food material passage plate 1 according to this alternative embodiment
28a has an opening 126a.

This aperture can be different from the aperture 126 in the food material passage plate 128, but it can also be the same generally rectangular aperture 126 used for the cavity 110. In this embodiment, the same food material distribution plate 120 may be used with the same manifold openings 124 communicating with all of the openings 126a in the food material passage plate 128a.

Manifold cavity 124 has its opening 122 and conduit 10
8 to communicate with a predetermined supply amount of food material slurry S. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the molding plate 80a has a molding part 34 and a take-out part 3 of the plate.
The cross section is uniform in the longitudinal direction with respect to the direction of movement between the two.

On the other hand, in the direction transverse to the direction of movement between the forming part 34 and the take-out part 36, the forming plate 80a has a varying cross section. The forming cavity 110a has a ring shape approximately in the shape of a chick's leg, and its longitudinal thickness is such that its axis of variation is in the direction of movement of the forming plate between the forming section and the ejecting section. In contrast, it is arranged on the plate 80a so as to cross it.

The proximal end of the chick leg shape is on the right side as seen in FIG.
The untopped end is located on the left side in FIG.
The plate 80a has a wedge-shaped cross section and a molding cavity 11.
0a as described above, the product Pa formed in the molding cavity 110a in the method step described later is approximately wedge-shaped, and has a cross section at the base end on the right side of FIG. The cross section is tapered toward the left side of FIG. 9 so that it is thick and the untopped end becomes thinner on the left side of FIG. The product Pa is slightly tapered toward the ends, but has a substantially uniform transverse cross section. As previously mentioned, one of the objects of the present invention is to form edible molded articles from food material slurries containing gel-forming materials and to form edible molding cavities and surfaces of the food material fed into the cavities. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for washing with a gelling agent for gelling the gel-forming material on the surface.

To achieve this purpose, weir members 166 and 172 containing a bath B of gelling agent are provided, the gelling agent being
The two weir members are fed successively to form a continuous layer to clean the plate 80 or 80a as well as each mold cavity 110, 110a.

Continuous supply of the gelling agent to these weir members 166, 172 is achieved by a device described below. As best shown in FIG.
, 172 and, for example, after cleaning the forming plate 80, the central opening 17 of the table 30 is cleaned.
8 (FIG. 10) and is collected in a collection trough 180.

The collection trough 180 has a lower wall 182 with an opening 184 located approximately at the center of the machine 20 . Trough 180 collects and directs excess gelling agent supplied by weir members 166, 172 through opening 184, upper removable particle screen 186 and lower removable particle screen 188. Send to tank 190.

The upper and lower particle screens 186, 188 pass through the gelling agent but most of the particles of the extruded food material slurry S that are not retained within the forming section 34 or do not form the product P or Pa. It has mesh-sized apertures like no other. The reason for the provision of upper and lower screens 186 and 188 is, for example, that they can be removably attached to the underside of opening 184 without the need to maintain screen 188 in its installed position and interrupt operation of molding machine 20. This is to enable the screen 1-86 to be removed for cleaning.

Once the screen 186 has been cleaned and reinstalled under the opening 184, the particle screen 188, which is also removably attached to the underside of the opening 184, can be removed and cleaned without interrupting the operation of the molding machine 20. can do. The collection tank 190 includes a generally upright overflow wall 192 extending across the width of the tank to form a dam within the tank and define a collection chamber to the right thereof.

By properly positioning wall 192 relative to opening 184, most if not all of the gelling agent received by the collection tank is initially collected within the right-hand portion formed by wall 192. Ru. particle screen 186,
The particles of food material slurry S that have passed successively through both walls 188 fall to the bottom of the right-hand portion of collection tank 190, and substantially only the gelling agent overflows over the top of wall 192 into the left-hand supply chamber. .

A centrifugal pump 194 coupled and driven by a suitable motor 196 has a suction conduit 1 attached to its suction port.
98 to the right of this conduit.

The end communicates with the supply chamber on the left side of the collection tank 190. Pump 194 draws gelling agent into conduit 198 in the direction indicated by arrow F in FIG. The gelling agent drawn into conduit 198 flows out of the outlet of centrifugal pump 194 along conduit 200 in the direction of arrow G and through an adjustable valve 202 in conduit 200 to a T-shaped connection with conduit 204. reach the department. Here, the gelling agent is equally divided into two weir members 1
66,172. The motor 196 that supplies power to the centrifugal pump 194 is operationally most efficient and most efficient if it is a constant speed device.

However, a continuation of the gelling agent flowing over the overflow wall 170! The amount of gelling agent delivered to the weir members 166, 172 to form the layer can vary depending on machine operating speed, number of products and shape complexity, and other factors. . Thus, the valve 202 is adjustable to limit the size of the valve opening, thereby allowing the weir members 166,
Preferably, the amount of gelling agent supplied to 172 is controlled.

By operating pump 194 at a constant speed and still using adjustable valve 202, weir member 166,
A relief conduit 206 is provided to intersect conduit 200 proximate the outlet of centrifugal pump 194 in order to control the amount of gelling agent passing through the pump. A relief conduit 206 delivers excess gelling agent to the left supply compartment of the collection tank 190 via a valve 208 adjustable in the direction of arrow H. The provision of the adjustable valve 208 is necessary because the fluid in the conduit 200 passes through the adjustable restriction formed by the valve 202 and is supplied to the weir members 166, 172 via the conduit 204 in the required amount. Relief valve 20 is used to establish sufficient pressure on the fluid within conduit 200 to
This is because a diaphragm must be provided at 6. By using the apparatus of the present invention, the molded cavity 110 is formed in a manner described below.
Or when product P or Pa is manufactured in 110a,
Punch 134 or 134a extracts product P or Pa from each cavity onto conveyor belt 210.

The conveyor belt 210 is driven by a drive wheel 220, while the latter is driven by being fixed to a common axle with the drive wheel 222. drive wheel 2
22 is driven by a sprocket that engages a drive chain 224, and the drive chain 224 is driven by engagement with the sprocket of a main drive wheel 226. The main drive wheel 226 is powered by a drive motor 228 via a reduction gearing located within the housing 230. Although the speed reducer is not shown, it is of a conventional structure. When the plate 80 moves from the molding section 34 to the take-out section 36, the cavity 110 leaves the molding section and becomes the food material passage plate 128 due to the weight of the food material slurry S and the peeling action of the gelling agent, as will be described later. As soon as the product P exits from between the support plate 130 and the product P may partially or completely leave the molding cavity 110 .

This detachment may occur before the punch 134 intersects the forming cavity 110 and removes the product P. If such an accidental detachment occurs, even if the product is slightly separated, the product P will be pulled out of the cavity 100 and moved much more rapidly than the speed at which the plate 80 is moving from the forming section 34 to the ejection section 36. contact with the conveyor belt 210 that is running. As a result, the product P is torn and becomes unusable. Alternatively, if the conveyor belt 210 is moving too slowly compared to the forward speed of the plate 80, the product may be bent by the conveyor's deceleration and still be unnecessarily shredded. It can be. To prevent such undesirable and unnecessary fracturing, the operating speed of motor 228 (and thus also as a result of the power coupling described above, FIG.
The forward speed of the conveyor in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. This can then be done by controlling the amount of power supplied to the motor 228 using an SCR or other control element contained within the housing 240 (see FIG. 1) or by using a variable ratio gearing system. This can be achieved by allowing the rotational speed of the conveyor belt 210 to vary. The control device used in the preferred embodiment of the invention is of a substantially entirely pneumatic type and includes a plurality of normally closed pneumatically actuated limit switches (actually valves and acting as valves). ) and a source of cooled, clean compressed air is required. However, it goes without saying that such a pneumatic control device could be replaced by an electrical control device, which would also allow control of the operation of the molding machine 20 in substantially the same manner. In addition, in the description of the operation and function of the control device described below,
The same reference numerals are used to designate elements or elements previously described. Cooled dry air is supplied to the main line from an air source. This main line can supply air at a pressure of 100 pSi and at a flow rate of 100 CFM (cubic feet per minute) in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The air source is connected to one side of conduit 242 (see FIG. 11), and the other side of the conduit is connected to the normally closed inlet of limit ◆ switch 132a.

The limit switch 32a has an outlet connected to the inlet of the limit switch 132b via a conduit 244, and in this way the two limit switches 132a, 132b are connected to the molded plate 80 in FIG. In the position shown, the piston rods 116, 118 are in the operating cylinder 112.
, 114, and are connected in series to each other so as to be actuated at the left end of the forming plate 80 when extending from the forming plate 80. limit·
The outlet of switch 132b is connected by conduit 246 to the inlet side of main switch 248. The outlet of the main on/off switch is connected by a conduit 250 to a pilot valve 252 of a control valve 254 . The general operation of this configuration will be explained later. Control valve 254 is connected to an air source via inlet conduit 256 and directs air received via conduit 256 to one of two outlet conduits 260, 262.
The main valve main body 258 is provided to allow the main valve to pass through the main valve body 258.

Which of conduits 260, 262 receives air through valve body 258 is determined by pilot valve 252, which alternately receives air through conduits 250, 264. Air is routed through conduit 250 to pilot valve 25
2, air entering control valve 254 via conduit 256 is directed into conduit 262 by actuation of the pilot valve.

On the other hand, as pilot valve 252 receives air via conduit 264 , valve body 258 directs the incoming air into conduit 260 . When control valve 254 directs air into conduit 262, air is supplied to the left portion of the piston within cylinders 112, 114 and piston rods 116, 118 are forced to retract.

Retraction of the piston rods 116, 118 causes the plate 80 attached thereto to be transferred from the forming section 34 to the removal section 36. Similarly, the piston rods 116, 118
is in the retracted position and air is flowing through pilot valve 2.
52 via conduit 264, air entering control valve 254 via conduit 256 exits from the valve to conduit 260.

This conduit 260 supplies air to the right-hand portions of the double-acting cylinders 112, 114 and thereby
18 is extended, and the plate 80 moves from the take-out section 36 to the forming section 34. In a similar manner, the air source is conduit 2
66 to the inlet of limit switch 136b located on the right side of the machine as viewed in FIGS.

The outlet of this limit switch is connected by conduit 268 to the inlet of limit switch 136a, thus connecting two limit switches 136a and 136b.
are connected in series. The outlet of limit switch 136a is connected by conduit 270 to one shot valve 272. This one-shot valve is a valve that allows a single pulsed flow of air to pass through. This valve 272 then prohibits the passage of additional air until reset, which occurs only when air pressure within the conduit escapes. The outlet of valve 272 is connected by conduit 274 to pilot valve 276 of control valve 277 . The other side of the pilot valve 276 of the control valve 277 is connected to the limit switch 1 by a conduit 280.
50 (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 11), and the inlet of switch 150 is connected to the outlet of conduit 28 (see FIGS. 4, 5, and 11).
2 to an air supply source. Valve 277 receives air from an air source via conduit 284, and when conduit 274 supplies air to pilot valve 276, valve body 278 supplies air from conduit 284 to conduit 286 for punch actuation. Biasing the double acting cylinder 162 and associated punch mechanism downward. On the other hand, if pilot valve 276 receives air via conduit 280, the air supplied to valve 277 via conduit 284 will flow through conduit 28.
8 to cylinder 162, which forces the double acting piston and associated punch mechanism upwardly.

Limit switch 154 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 1)
1) via conduit 290. Air is received at the inlet and when the limit switch is actuated by cam 148, air is supplied to one shot valve 294 via conduit 292.

When valve 294 is reset, it is connected to conduit 26.
4 through the pilot section 2 of the valve 254.
52. When pilot valve 252 receives air via conduit 264, valve body 258 receives air via conduit 256 and directs the air to pistons 112, 11 via conduit 260.
The piston rod 116 is supplied to the right side of the double acting cylinder No. 4,
118, thereby forming the forming plate 80 or 80a.
The molding cavity 110 or 110a is transferred from the take-out part 36 to the molding part 34.

Limit switch 152 (FIGS. 4, 5 and 1)
1) receives air at its inlet from an air supply via conduit 296 and, when actuated by cam 148, directs air via conduit 298 to one-shot valve 30.
Send it to the entrance of 0.

If valve 300 has been reset by a previous release of air pressure in conduit 298, a pulsed flow of air is sent to valve 304 through conduit 302. Valve 304, the operation of which will be described below, is a spring loaded valve with an outlet conduit 306 and an inlet conduit 308. valve 31
0 inlet is connected to an air supply via conduit 312. The outlet of the valve 310 is connected by a conduit 314 to the left side of a double-acting cylinder 54 for drum valve actuation. The piston rod 66 of the cylinder 54 is moved to the right as the valve 310 allows air to flow through the conduit 314. The other outlet of the valve 310 is connected via a conduit 316 to the double-acting cylinder 5 for actuating the drum valve.
4, so that when air is supplied to cylinder 54 via conduit 316, piston rod 66 and associated mechanisms move to the left as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 11. Limit switch 105 (see FIGS. 2 and 11) has an inlet that communicates with a source of compressed air via conduit 318.

The outlet of valve 105 is connected to the inlet of valve 310 by conduit 320. Limit switch 104 (Fig. 2,
11) receives pressurized air from a source at its inlet via conduit 322. When limit switch 104 is actuated by actuating member 64, air flows from the outlet of limit switch 104 via conduit 324 to conduit 308.
supplied to Spool valve 73 receives pressurized air from a source via conduit 326 and operates members 73a, 7
Depending on the position of 3b, it supplies the received air to either conduit 328 or 330 connected to it.

The outlet of the spool valve 73 is connected to the right side of the double-acting cylinder 62 by a conduit 328, and when air is supplied through the conduit 328, the piston 60 and the piston rod 56 secured thereto are It moves to the left as seen in Figures 3 and 11.

The conduit 330 is connected to the outlet of the valve 73 and the double-acting cylinder 62 on the left, so that when air is supplied through the conduit 330, the piston 60 and the piston rod 56 fixed thereto are moved to the right (first Figure, Figure 2,
(See Figures 3 and 11).

In operation, the elements described below are in one normal position as follows.

The food material feed piston 58 and related mechanisms are in the leftmost position as shown in FIG. A predetermined supply or charge of the gel-forming material (containing a gel-forming material) is contained therein. The drum valve body 72 is in the position shown in FIG. 2 and communicates with the interior of the hopper 38. Double acting cylinder 11
2, 114 is in the position where the piston rods 116, 118 are extended, and the molding plate 80 has the molding cavity 110 in the molding part 3.
4 in alignment with cavity supply opening 126 .
The punch actuating double-acting cylinder 162 is in the retracted position shown in FIG. 4, and the weir members 166, 172 are
A bath B of a suitable gel-forming, mold release and lubricant liquid containing an alkaline earth element such as calcium chloride is contained up to the level of each overflow wall 170,176. moreover,
An appropriate amount of food material slurry S is transferred to the hopper 38 and the conduit 108.
, contained within cavity 124 and opening 126. When switch 248 is actuated from the off position to the on position,
When plate 80 is in its normal leftmost position as shown in FIG.
32b are both actuated by the leftmost edge of the forming plate 80;
Air supplied through conduit 242 is supplied to limit switch 132a1 conduit 244, limit switch 132b
1 conduit 246, switch 248 and conduit 250 to pilot valve 252 of valve 254.

Air entering pilot valve 252 of valve 254 via conduit 250 causes air entering valve 254 via conduit 256 to flow through conduit 262 through valve body 258, which splits the air into two streams. Cylinder 112, 11
4 is supplied to the left side of piston rod 1 and collides with the piston.
16,118 is drawn in. Piston rod 116, 118
Upon retraction, the plate 80 with the forming cavity 110 moves to the right, translating the cavity from the forming section 34 toward the ejection section 36 . When the rightmost edge of molded plate 80 moves to the right and is in position to actuate two limit switches 136a and 136b, limit switch 136 is activated via conduit 266.
Pressurized air enters b through conduit 268, actuated limit switch 136b and conduit 270 to valve 27.
2 inlet.

If valve 272 has been previously reset, conduit 27
4 through pilot valve 2 of valve 277.
76.

Pressure continues to be maintained within conduit 270, thereby preventing additional air pulse flow from being sent through valve 272. However, this is so long as limit switches 136a and 136b are activated, and when they are removed, venting via conduit 270 causes valve 272 to automatically reset. This reset does not occur until plate 80 has moved to the left. When the air pulse flow enters pilot valve 276 of valve 277 via conduit 274, valve 27
7 directs air through conduit 284 to conduit 286 .

This conduit 286 is connected to the top of the punch actuating cylinder 162 so that its piston and piston rod 160 (see FIG. 5) are connected to the punch bracket 162.
40 and the punch 134 attached thereto are pressed downward. Limit switch 136a, 136b
is located horizontally to the molding plate 80, and the empty
These limit switches and punch actuation cylinders 162 until the cavities 110 are aligned with their respective punches 134.
Note that this is not activated as described above. As understood from FIGS. 4 and 11, j piston rod 1
When 60 is in the retracted 1 normal position, cam 148
contacts and actuates the two limit switches 152, 154, and when the piston rod 160 is in the extended position as shown in FIG. 5, both limit switches 152 and 154 are actuated. There isn't.

Cam 14 when the piston rod and punch 134 operatively connected thereto are in the fully extended position shown in FIG.
8 actuates limit switch 150. limit·
When switch 150 is actuated, air is supplied to the inlet of the switch via conduit 282, and as a result of switch 150 being actuated, air is supplied to the switch and conduit 28.
0 flows to the pilot valve 276 of the passage valve 277.

When pilot valve 276 receives air through conduit 280, air flows from conduit 284 to conduit 288, which activates upward movement of punch actuating cylinder 162, causing piston rod 160 (see FIG. 4) and its The connected punches 134 are . The punch 134 is the hollow 11
From the extended position of FIG. 5 in which they extend to zero and intersect, they return to the normal position of FIG. When cam 148 moves upwardly out of contact with activation switch 150, normally closed activation switch 150 closes and pressurized air is no longer supplied to conduit 280.

Note that the conduit 280 allows exhaust through the switch 150. However, due to the operation of pilot valve 276, valve 277 continues to direct air from conduit 284 through conduit 288 to the bottom of working cylinder 162. When the piston rod 160 returns to its normal position, the actuation cam 14
8 operates the limit switch 152 first, then the limit switch 154 operates. be moved.

Limit switches 152 and 154 remain actuated by cam 148 as long as actuation cylinder 162 maintains piston rod 160 in one normal position. When limit switch 152 is actuated, conduction! Air supplied thereto via pipe 296 (see FIG. 11) is transferred to conduit 29.
8.

One shot valve 300 provides a pulsed flow of air to valve 304 via conduit 302 . When valve 304 receives this air pulse flow from conduit 302, it occasionally causes
The spring-loaded valve body disengages from the valve seat, allowing air to momentarily escape from the bi-pumping portion of valve 310 through outlet 306 to the atmosphere. With the release of air from the pilot valve of valve 310, valve 310 supplies air received via conduit 312 to the right side of drum valve actuating double-acting cylinder 54 to force piston rod 66 to the left, which Communication is thereby established between the interior of the food material supply cylinder 44 and the conduit 108 via the left passage 96 and the right passage 98 of the valve body 72 .

In this case, the valve body 72 is rotated because the actuating arm 70 is connected to the piston rod 66 via the connecting arm 68 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 11). )
When the actuating cylinder 54 extends its piston rod 66 to the left as far as its stroke allows, the actuating member 76b at the right end of the piston rod contacts the operating rod 73b of the valve 73, and the rod 7
Move 3b to the left. As a result, the internal spool is pushed into the spool valve 73, and the left operating rod 73a moves to the left. Air from the source is then passed through conduit 326, spool valve 73 and conduit 330 to actuating cylinder 6.
2 and acts on the piston 60. As a result, piston 60, piston rod 56, and associated mechanisms are forced to the right in the direction indicated by arrow C (see FIG. 3). With this movement, the food material feed piston 58 transfers a predetermined amount of the food material slurry S contained in the cylinder 44 to the conduit 10.
8 to the forming section 34. The piston rod 56 moves to the right and the actuating member 64 moves to the limit switch 1.
05 (see FIGS. 2 and 11), air enters limit switch 105 through conduit 318, through the switch, and into valve 310 via conduit 320.

Valve 310 thus switches air flowing into conduit 312 from conduit 316 into conduit 314, forcing the piston within cylinder 54 and the piston rod 66 attached thereto to the right, so that the drum valve body 72 rotates to the right with the aforementioned leakage, and there is a left passage 9 of the valve body 72 between the inside of the hopper 38 and the food material supply cylinder 44.
6 and a bottom passage 94 (see FIGS. 2 and 11). When the piston rod 66 moves the full stroke to the right, the actuating member 76a abuts the operating rod 73a to actuate it to the right.

As a result, the spool in the spool valve 73 is displaced to the right (the operating member 73b is also displaced to the right), and the air flowing into the spool valve 73 via the conduit 326 is transferred from the conduit 330 to the conduit 3.
28. Air entering conduit 328 is supplied to the right side of actuating cylinder 62 and acts on piston 60, moving it and associated piston rod 56 and actuating member 64 at its end to the left.

When piston rod 56 has moved sufficiently to the left to cause actuating member 64 to actuate limit switch 104, air enters limit switch 104 via conduit 322 and through conduit 324 to valve 310. , thereby creating pressure again in the pilot section of the valve 310.

When the piston rod 56 is moved to the left under the pressure of air supplied to the right side of the cylinder 62 via the conduit 328, the piston 58 moves a quantity of food material slurry S from the supply hopper 38 into the interior of the cylinder 44. bring it into. The amount of food material slurry is controlled by controlling the stroke length of cylinder 62. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the strong back stopper 102 is configured to control the leftward stroke limit of the piston rod 56.
It is adjustably attached to the extension arm 52.

In this way, the amount of food material slurry S injected during each actuation of the cylinder 62 can be predetermined. The amount of food material slurry S injected depends on the compressibility of the material, the size of the mold cavity, the leakage rate, and many other variables. As previously mentioned, when actuating member 64 actuates limit switch 104, the pressure in conduit 324 resets the pilot valve of valve 310.

Valve 310 is thus conditioned to release pressure on its pilot valve when valve 304 receives a pulsed flow of air from conduit 302 through valve 300. By receiving such a pulsed flow of air, the above-described supply sequence is restarted. Valve 152 continues to supply air to one shot valve 300. This valve 300 does not allow additional pulsed airflow until it is reset. The valve 300 is configured such that the pressure applied thereto is caused by the piston rod 16
0 and its associated downward movement of cam 148. When pressure is released, conduit 298 connects piston rod 160 and cam 148.
exhaust through switch 152, which is reactivated by moving upward again. As mentioned above, when the piston rod 160 moves upwardly, the cam 148 first contacts the limit switch 152 and actuates the switch.

Cam 148 then contacts limit ● switch 154 and actuates it. When limit switch 154 is actuated, air from the source is routed through conduit 290 to the inlet of switch 154 and through the switch and conduit 292 to one shot valve 294. Valve 294 provides a pulsed air flow to conduit 264 that is routed to pilot valve 252 of valve 254 . When air is received by pilot valve 252 of valve 254, air supplied to valve body 258 from conduit 256 is switched from conduit 262 to conduit 260. Conduit 260 diverts the supply air to the right side of cylinders 112, 114, which causes pistons 116, 118 and attached plate 80 to move to the left. The molding cavity 110 is thus transferred from the take-off section 36 towards the molding section 34 . It is noted that the transition of the forming plate 80 with the cavity 110 from the take-off section 36 to the forming section 34 does not begin until the punch 134 is uninterlaced with the cavity.

This is because the operation of cylinders 112 and 114 is performed by punching.
This is because the cam 148 attached to the bracket 140 cannot be activated until the limit switch 154 is actuated. This actuation does not occur until the punch 134 exits the cavity 110. As previously stated, when the cam 148 actuated the limit switch 152 in the previously described sequence, the cylinder 62 releases air from the conduit 330. In response, the piston 60 is moved to the right, causing the piston 58 in the cylinder 44 to transfer the food material slurry S to the conduit 108.
to move through.

During movement of food material slurry S in conduit 108 , the slurry enters through opening 122 through food material distribution plate 120 and into manifold cavity 124 . When sufficient operation of forming machine 20 has occurred, sufficient food material slurry S has been provided to completely fill manifold cavity 124 and cavity feed opening 126 in food material passage plate 128.

Manifold cavity 12 communicating all openings 126
4 ensures even distribution of the food material slurry into each of the openings 126 before the food material slurry fills the mold cavity 110.

When the forming plate 80 moves to the left toward the forming section 34, the switch 152 is actuated by the cam 148, and the supply of a predetermined amount of the food material slurry S is started.

Once the forming cavity 110 is in communication with the supply opening 126,
The food material slurry S begins to be pushed into the cavity, and the molding of the product P begins. The forming process is complete when the forming plate 80 has moved the entire distance to the left and the cavity 110 is completely located within the forming section 34. As previously mentioned, the metering of gelling and mold release agent is carried out from weir members 166, 172 via conduits 202 and T-tubes 204 to form a continuous layer of gelling agent on both sides of the confines of forming section 34. This is done in sufficient quantity to overflow the edges 170, 176.

When forming plate 80 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, a continuous bath of gelling agent flows from weir member 172 onto forming plate 80 and flowing across the width of the plate. When the plate 80 moves to the left after the cylinder 162 pulls the punch 134 back from the cavity 110, the entire surface of the forming plate, including the empty forming cavity 110, is exposed to the underside of the falling bath of gelling agent from the weir member 172. pass. A significant amount of gelling agent remains on the top surface of the forming plate 80, which is swept downwardly over the edge of the cavity 110 as the plate 80 moves to the left. It is wiped away by the rightmost edge of . Ru.

When the molding cavity 110 is completely located within the molding section 34 and below the food material passage plate 128, a portion of the gelling agent forms a pool below the molding cavity on the support plate 130. . Therefore, the food product fed into the molding cavity 110. As soon as the material slurry S is filled into the cavity 110, it contacts the gelling agent to gel the gel-forming material on the surface of the food material to be formed.

When the molding plate 80 is moved to the right toward the take-out section 36,
This forming plate will again pass under the continuous bath of gelling agent from the weir member 172, which will gel the gel-forming material on the top surface of the food material slurry S, and the entire product P will be thus Thus, the molded product P is gelled before being taken out from the molding cavity 110 by the punch 134.

In addition to the function of gelling all the gel-form materials in the food material slurry S, the gelling agent also functions as a mold release agent that enables easy removal of the molded product P from the cavity 110.

Furthermore, the gelling agent is applied to the food material passage plate 128 and the support plate 13.
This facilitates the sliding action of the plate 80 between the plate 80 and the plate 80. The gap between the food material passage plate 128 and the support plate 130 must be large enough to allow reciprocating movement of the forming plate 80 between the forming section 34 and the dispensing section 36; The bottom of the material passage plate 128 and the forming plate 8
It cannot be so large that undesirable extrusion of the slurry S occurs between the top surface of the

To facilitate containing the food material slurry S within the forming section 34, the weir member 166 continuously applies gelling agent to form a continuous layer of gelling agent on the top surface of the forming plate 80. supply.

Due to the reciprocating motion of plate 80, the applied gelling agent forms a bead at the junction of the left edge of food material distribution plate 128 and the adjacent top exposed surface of forming plate 80. Similarly, a similar bead of gelling agent is formed at the junction of the right edge of food material passage plate 128 and the adjacent top surface of plate 80. These two gelling agent beads not only facilitate the reciprocating movement of the forming plate 80, but also, more importantly, the gelling agent beads within the forming section 34 defined by the left and right edges of the food material passage plate 128. It acts to help confine the food material slurry S in the food material slurry S.

A manifold cavity 124 is provided within the food material distribution plate 120 in communication with all supply openings 126 of the food material passageway plate 128.
The provision of 2-4 ensures an even distribution of the food material slurry S to each of the mold cavities 110 when the mold cavities 110 are aligned with the manifold cavities 126.

This construction eliminates the need for separate conduits 108 in communication with each individual cavity 110. Furthermore,
A food material passage plate 128 communicates with the reciprocating forming plate 80.
The provision of openings 126 reduces the exposed area of food material presented to reciprocating forming plate 80, thereby minimizing the amount of food material slurry that is not trapped in forming section 34 and leaks from the forming section.

Further, the reduction in leakage from the molded part 34 is due to the reduction in leakage from the weir member 166.
, 172 on the left and right sides of the forming section 34.
This is further facilitated by forming beads on the left and right edges.

Since the apparatus of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with food material slurries and it is desirable to maximize the amount of slurry confinement within the forming section, the predetermined It is particularly advantageous to obtain a quantity of slurry.

As mentioned earlier, the stopper plate 10 provided on the arm 52
2 can vary with respect to the position of the actuating cylinder 62. Thus, in the manner described above, the actuating member 64 provided at the left end of the piston rod 56 can stop at a variable distance from the cylinder 62 and in this way also vary the stroke length of the piston 58. can do. As a result of this, it is also possible to vary the amount of slurry S sucked into the cylinder 44 during the suction stroke of the piston 58. Thus, the cavity 110 becomes the cylinder 44.
The amount of food material slurry S supplied to the cavity 110 when communicating with the interior of the cavity 110 also varies. Different products have different cavity configurations and, for example, different wedge-forming plates are used.
The predetermined amount of slurry applied can also be varied to provide the appropriate amount of slurry for the particular cavity being used. Furthermore, since slurries of different materials with different properties are used, the predetermined amount of slurry can be varied accordingly.

Furthermore, the pressure applied to the food material slurry S can be changed by changing the stroke length of the cylinder 62.

For example, this is required to achieve complete filling of the mold cavity. This can be achieved by adjusting the stroke of the cylinder to be slightly larger than the volume of the cavity, thereby increasing the pressure exerted on the extruded food material. As mentioned above, it is well known in the art to feed an extrudable food material into a mold cavity and apply a compressive force thereto to give it the shape of the cavity before removing the molded food product. Alternatively, the exposed exterior of the extruded food product containing the gel-forming material may be coated with a gelling agent to gel the gel-forming material on the exterior of the molded article, thereby producing a molded article having a gel-like shell. is also known.

However, prior to the present invention, a predetermined amount of food material slurry containing gel-forming material was fed into a mold cavity and molded with very simple equipment, such as the weir members 166, 172 according to the present invention. It was not known to coat products with gelling agents.

Furthermore, it is also known that during the introduction of the slurry S into the forming cavity during the forming process, it coats the entire surface of the shaped food product, including the underside of the surface that contacts the inner part of the forming device (support plate 130). I wasn't being held back.

The lack of a method and apparatus for wetting the surface of a shaped food product containing a gel-forming material with a gelling agent in a forming apparatus without the use of complex and expensive equipment has so far created a commercially advantageous machine. development has been suppressed. In contrast, according to the present invention, substantially the entire food product is wetted with a bath of gelling agent while the food material slurry containing the gel-forming material is present in the molding section, and also requires a very simple apparatus. A simple, inexpensive, and economical apparatus and method is provided for producing a plurality of shaped food products from the food material slurry described above while immediately wetting the product with a bath of gelling agent upon exiting the forming station using a It was done.

Furthermore, in the apparatus of the present invention, positive control means are provided to ensure that the product being formed is homogeneous and complete, and furthermore to ensure that certain operations are not started until other operations are completed. Provision has been made to ensure that the device of the present invention does not malfunction by providing safety measures. The molded food product P conveyed from the molding machine 20 by the conveyor 210 can undergo additional processing.

Examples include beating the food before freezing, coating it with breadcrumbs and frying it, or beating it before frying it, covering it with breadcrumbs and freezing it. During the frying process, the moisture in the product P or Pa evaporates and the product tends to bulge out, thereby smoothing out the sharp corners of the product shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. According to the apparatus of the present invention, it is also possible to produce molded products having shapes other than the fish-shaped product with a substantially uniform cross-section shown in FIG. 7 and the baby bird's leg-shaped product with a substantially wedge-shaped cross-section shown in FIG. Of course.

Other molded product shapes include shrimp with fan-shaped tails, egg rolls, and other molded products. In addition, by using suitably shaped molding plates and food material channel plates with flat or suitably shaped support plates, products with other uneven cross-sections, such as wrinkled moldings, for example. It is also possible to manufacture In order to manufacture a product resembling the leg of a baby bird shown in FIG. 8
The provision of the reciprocating molding plate (which is a term used for the direction of motion of 0a) is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting.

Additionally, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, it is apparent that the present invention may be implemented in other specialized embodiments for the manufacture of other articles without departing from its spirit and scope. It is.

It should be noted that the specific examples described herein are merely illustrative and not restrictive, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view partially cut away and partially shown in cross section of a specific example of a molding machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an elevational view partially cut away and shown in cross section of a food material supply/distribution device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway elevational view similar to FIG. 2, particularly showing a feed hopper in communication with a food material feed piston connected to a forming cavity according to the invention. FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional elevational view of the forming and dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, showing the forming plate in the forming section in position to receive food material within its mold cavity; FIG. Figure 5 is a partially cutaway elevational view similar to Figure 4 showing the molding plate in the molded article ejection position and with the ejection means intersecting the cavity of the molding plate and extending partially into the cavity; 6 is a partial top plan view of a forming plate and feeding device according to the invention taken in the direction of the arrow at line 6--6 in FIG. 4; FIG. FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial perspective view showing the formed food material being released from the forming plate, and FIG. 8 is a partial plan view similar to FIG. One embodiment of the plate is shown, FIG. 9 being a partial perspective view similar to FIG. 7 but with the wedge-formed part released, and FIG. 10 taken along line 1 of FIG.
0-10 is a right side elevational view, partially cut away, of the forming plate of FIGS. 8 and 9, taken in the direction of the arrow, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the device. 20. Molding machine, 22. Frame, 2 4. Horizontal support member, 26. Caster, 28. Frame member, 30. Table, 32. Food material supply section, 3
4... Molding section (station), 36... Take-out section (station), 38... hopper, 40... Supply conduit, 4
2. Food material supply drum valve, 44. Food material supply cylinder, 46. Frame member, 48. Support body, 50
・・Support leg, 52・・Extension arm, 54・・Double acting cylinder,
56,66...Piston rod, 58,60●Piston, 6
2. Operating cylinder, 64. Operating member, 68. Connecting arm, 70. Operating arm, 72. Drum valve body, 73. Spool valve, 73a, 73b. Operating member, 74. Bracket, 80. ...Molded plate, 82,83...Transverse support rod,
86... Support rod, 84, 85... Guide bearing, 88, 89
●●Support block, 78, 90・●Housing, 92・
・Opening, 96, 98...branch arm passage, 100...passage,
102... Stopper, 104.105● Limit switch, 106● Passage, 108... Conduit, 110...
Molding cavity, 160, 116, 118... Piston rod, 1
12,114...Cylinder, 120・Distribution plate, 124・
・Cavity, 128...Food material passage plate, 126...Opening,
130, 142... Support plate, 134. Punch, 138.
・Punch board, 140... Bracket, 144... Guide member, 150, 152, 154 ● Limit switch, 148... Operating cam, 156... Support angle material, 1
58...Mounting member, 164...Wall, 162...Double acting cylinder, 172,166...Weir member, 192,182,
176, 174, 170, 168... Wall, 178... Opening, 188... Screen, 190... Collection tank, 1
96...Motor, 194...Centrifugal pump, 206,20
4,200,198...conduit, 210...conveyor belt, 220,222,226...drive wheel, 22
4. Drive chain, 228. Drive motor, 230.
·housing.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A molded plate provided with a source of food material slurry containing a gel-forming material and in which at least one molded cavity of a predetermined shape defining a predetermined space is formed. A method of forming a food product formed from a food material slurry containing a gel-forming material using the step of measuring an amount of the food material slurry substantially equal to the predetermined volumetric space formed in the forming plate. , the peripheral surface of the molding cavity is moistened with a gelling agent and a mold release agent, and the food material slurry is molded into the shape of the molding cavity in a molding section to form a predetermined volume of the food material slurry. is supplied to the molding cavity, and the surface of the food material slurry supplied to the molding cavity is coated with the gelling agent and the mold release agent to gel the surface of the food material slurry within the molding cavity. forming the molded product into a product, transferring the filled molding cavity with the molded product to a discharge section, and removing the molded product from the molding cavity in the discharge section. A method of forming food materials. 2. In the method according to claim 1, in the wetting step, a predetermined amount of the gelling agent and the mold release agent are continuously supplied to the upper surface of the molded plate, and in the removing step, In the ejecting section, the forming cavity is aligned with a punch provided in the ejecting section and the punch is actuated to intersect with the forming plate and extend into the forming cavity, thereby removing the formed product from the A method characterized by detachment from a cavity. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an upper plate and a lower plate are provided on both sides of the molded plate in sliding contact with the molded plate, and the laterally extending ends of each of these plates are perpendicular to each other. by positioning the upper plate and the lower plate substantially completely across the forming plate in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the forming plate between the forming section and the ejecting section; , an amount of the gel sufficient to maintain the food material slurry not present in the mold cavity within the mold section and to form a sliding contact joint between the upper plate and the laterally extending end of the mold plate. A method characterized in that a gelling agent and a mold release agent are supplied to continuously form a bead of gelling and mold release agent at the joint. 4. A forming plate is formed with at least one forming cavity having a predetermined external shape used for forming the food material slurry into a molded article and is movable between the forming section and the ejecting section. In addition, an apparatus for forming at least one shaped food product from a food material slurry,
food material dispensing means 32, 38, 7 provided in operative association with the forming section 34 for periodically supplying a predetermined amount of the food material slurry to the forming cavity 110;
2. Applying a mold release agent B to the surface of the unfilled molding cavity and the food material applied to the cavity to subsequently assist in releasing the molded food product from the molding cavity. covering means 166, 172 provided in operative association with said forming section; means for preventing food material not present within said forming cavity from leaving said forming section 34; and means operatively associated with said ejection section. a punch 134 associated therewith and having substantially the same external shape as the forming cavity;
mounting the punch so that it is movable between a normal position where the punch is located in the take-out section and does not intersect the forming cavity and an extended position where the punch intersects and extends into the forming cavity that is located in the take-out section; means 158, 1
60; means 148, 152 for activating the food material dispensing means to supply and fill the predetermined amount of food material into the mold cavity; means 86, 112, 114 for moving to said ejection station and aligning with said punch, and actuating said punch from said normal position to said extended position to remove said filling only when said forming cavity is aligned with said punch; control means 1 for detaching the food material from the molding cavity;
30a, 136b, and means 1 for actuating said moving means to move said forming cavity from said ejection section to said forming section only when said punch returns to said normal position.
54. A food material molding device characterized by comprising: 5. The forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the food material slurry contains a gel-forming material, and the mold release agent performs gelling for gelling the gel-forming material on the surface of the food material. A molding device characterized by containing an agent. 6. The molding apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, in which at least two molding cavities are provided in order to mold a plurality of molded foods, and the feeding means is arranged such that the molding cavity is located within the molding section. Molding cavity 1 for when
10, and further comprising a food material distribution member having a manifold chamber 124 in communication with each of the passage member openings and a food material supply;
A molding apparatus characterized in that at least two punches are provided in the molding cavity so as to extend in an intersecting manner. 7. In the forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, the forming plate 80 is mounted so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction, and the forming plate has a substantially uniform cross section in the longitudinal direction. 1. A forming device characterized in that it has a cross section that is non-uniform in the transverse direction. 8. The molding apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the covering means is disposed in the molding section and is attached to the molding plate 80 in sliding contact with the lower plate 13.
0 and a weir member 166 or 172 operatively mounted above said molding section, said weir member containing a supply of said gelling agent and a predetermined amount of said gelling agent. means 170 or 176 for directing a quantity of gelling agent from said weir member to said forming plate, and further comprising means 170 or 176 for directing a quantity of said gelling agent to said weir member so as to continuously supply a predetermined quantity of said gelling agent to said weir member, thereby A forming apparatus characterized in that means 196 are provided for directing a continuous flow from said weir member to said forming plate. 9. A forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein means for preventing food material not present in the forming cavity from leaving the covering means comprises an upper plate in sliding contact with the forming plate 80. , and the upper plate and the lower plate each have laterally extending ends that are aligned perpendicularly to each other, and the forming portion extends in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the forming plate between the forming section and the take-out section. A forming device characterized in that it extends substantially completely across the plate. 10 In the molding apparatus according to claim 9,
The forming plate 80 has a top surface exposed on the forming plate that is not aligned with the forming portion, and the continuous feeding means 196 supplies the gelatin to both laterally extending ends of the upper plate. the gelling agent is continuously supplied to form a continuous bead of the gelling agent at the junction of the laterally extending ends of the upper plate and the exposed top surface of the molded plate; A molding device characterized by: 11. The forming apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that the control means utilizes pneumatic pressure, and the punch actuation means includes at least one pneumatic limit switch. molding equipment. 12. The molding apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 11, wherein the transfer means transports the filled mold cavity 110 from the molding section 34 to the ejection section 36 in a given direction at a given speed. and a conveyor means 210 is provided for transporting the molded food product removed from the dispensing station, the conveyor means 210 having a surface aligned with the molding cavity as it is transferred from the molding station. and means for moving said conveyor surface in said given direction at a given speed. 13. The forming apparatus of claim 6, wherein the cross-sectional area of each of the openings 126 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of each of the forming cavities 110, whereby the predetermined amount of the food material slurry is A molding device, characterized in that the molding cavity is completely filled with the food material slurry when the food material slurry is fed into the cavity. 14. In the molding device according to claim 7,
The uneven cross-section of the molding plate 80a has a thickened portion and a continuous thinned portion, while the molding cavity has a
It is in the shape of a chicken leg oriented transversely to said forming plate, the proximal end of the leg being located in said thickened section and the distal end of said leg being located in said thinner section of uneven cross section. A molding device characterized in that it is located in the section.