Three dimensional food product forming apparatus and method
US5250314A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 15, 1992 |
| Grant date | Oct 5, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23P30/10
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional food product. In one embodiment, a piston is reciprocally positioned within a forming cavity and includes a face which has a three-dimensional contour. An elastic membrane is positioned over the face of the piston to assist in the separation of the product therefrom. In this regard, when a raw food material is provided to the forming cavity, such material stretches the elastic membrane into substantial conformance with the contour of the piston face to thereby form at least one three-dimensional surface for the food product. When the forming cavity is positioned to discharge the product, the elasticity causes the membrane to contract to move the membrane away from the piston face and thereby eject the product from the forming cavity.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.