US 11,678,674 B1
Patty forming machine for forming heated food patties
Paul Taylor, Munster, IN (US); and Richard James Cygan, Tinley Park, IL (US)
Assigned to PROVISUR TECHNOLOGIES, INC., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed by Provisur Technologies, Inc., Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Sep. 4, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/12,292.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/895,582, filed on Sep. 4, 2019.
Int. Cl. A22C 7/00 (2006.01); A23P 30/10 (2016.01); A47J 37/06 (2006.01)
CPC A22C 7/0076 (2013.01) [A23P 30/10 (2016.08); A47J 37/06 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A patty forming machine for forming heated food patties comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of mold plates connected together to form an endless loop and supported on the frame, the endless loop defining an endless loop enclosed cavity;
the endless loop of connected mold plates having:
a horizontal upper run of mold plates;
a horizontal lower run of mold plates;
a front end run of mold plates at a forward end of the endless loop, configured to couple together the horizontal upper run and horizontal lower run at the forward end; and
a rear end run of mold plates at a rearward end of the endless loop, configured to couple together the horizontal upper run and horizontal lower run at the rearward end;
wherein the plurality of mold plates are driven to circulate as the endless loop, each mold plate having at least one food product cavity therein which is open to an upper surface of the mold plate and open to a lower surface of the mold plate;
a manifold provided in the endless loop enclosed cavity, wherein the manifold is above the lower run, the manifold configured to receive a supply of moldable food material and deliver the food material to the at least one food product cavity of the respective mold plates;
an upper oven positioned within the endless loop enclosed cavity downstream of the manifold;
a knockout mechanism mounted within the endless loop enclosed cavity downstream of the upper oven;
a lower heater plate positioned below the lower run, the lower heater plate extending underneath the manifold and extending along a substantial portion of the lower run for supporting the food material in the mold plates traverse along the lower run; and
a lower oven positioned below the lower heater plate downstream of the manifold, and upstream of the knockout mechanism.