Meat ball forming machine

Claim 2

A machine for forming products from moldable material, such as meat balls from ground meat, which comprises: a feeding unit for feeding a suitable charge of the material and including a feeding nozzle through which the material is extruded; a forming unit for receiving the charge and forming the product therefrom and including an open-ended tube for receiving the charge, axially opposed forming cups aligned axially with each other and aligned with the tube during the forming operation, and means for moving the cups axially into cooperative forming relationship within the tube, moving them while together out of the tube and separating them to release the formed product; a transfer unit including a rotatably supported disc having a plurality of said tubes mounted thereon in angularly spaced relationship and means for intermittently rotating said disc to successively displace said tubes between said feeding unit in alignment with the feeding nozzle and forming unit cups; and a control system for sequentially controlling said feeding, transfer and forming units in their operations including a selectively operable clutch for controlling said feeding unit, cam means for controlling axial movement of said forming heads and a selectively operable clutch for controlling said cam means and said means for rotating said disc.

Claim 3

A machine according to claim 1 in which said forming cups are provided with air passages for permitting exhaust of air during the forming operation.

Claim 4

A machine according to claim 2 in which means is provided for supplying air pressure to the cups during their separation to release the product, said means being under the control of said control system.

Claim 5

A machine according to claim 1 in which said forming cups axially engage with each other in the forming operation, and resilient means cooperating with said cups biasing them into engagement but permitting limited separation thereof.

Claim 6

A machine according to claim 1 in which said control system includes a contact member positioned axially in the tube and engaged by the charge of material fed into the tube, said member being carried by linkage, movement of said linkage actuating a limit switch which is connected in an electric circuit with said clutches and an electric motor for driving said clutches.

Claim 7

A machine according to claim 1 which includes a knife selectively movable between the nozzle and a tube to sever the extrusion of material and means for operating said feeding unit and said knife in timed relationship.

Claim 8

A machine for forming products from moldable material, such as meat balls from ground meat, which comprises: a feeding unit for feeding a suitable charge of the material and including a feeding nozzle through which the material is extruded; a forming unit for receiving the charge and forming the product therefrom and including an open-ended tube for receiving the charge, axially opposed forming cups aligned axially with each other and aligned with the tube during the forming operation, said cups provided with air passages for permitting exhaust of air during the forming operation, means for moving the cups axially into cooperative forming relationship within the tube, moving them while together out of the tube and separating them to release the formed product, a fixedly supported ring disposed coaxially relative to said forming cups to receive one cup therein for assisting in release of the product from that cup, and means supplying pressurized air to the cups during their separation to release the products; a transfer unit including a rotatably supported disc having a plurality of said tubes mounted thereon in angularly spaced relationship and means for intermittently rotating said disc to successively displace said tubes between said feeding unit in alignment with the feeding nozzle and forming unit cups; and a control system for sequentially controlling said feeding, transfer and forming units in their operations.

Claim 9

A machine for forming products from moldable material, such as meat balls from ground meat, which comprises: a feeding unit for feeding a suitable charge of the material and including a feeding nozzle through which the material is extruded; a forming unit for receiving the charge and forming the product therefrom and including an open-ended tube for receiving the charge, axially opposed forming cups aligned axially with each other and aligned with the tube during the forming operation, said cups provided with air passages for permitting exhaust of air during the forming operation, means for moving the cups axially into cooperative forming relationship within the tube, moving them while together out of the tube and separating them to release the formed product, a fixedly supported ring disposed coaxially relative to said forming cups to receive one cup therein for assisting in release of the product from that cup, and means supplying pressurized air to the cups during their separation to release the products; a transfer unit including a rotatably supported disc having a plurality of said tubes mounted thereon in angularly spaced relationship and means for intermittently rotating said disc to successively displace said tubes between said feeding unit in alignment with the feeding nozzle and forming unit cups; and a control system for sequentially controlling said feeding, transfer and forming units in their operations.