Bacon press with slab ejector

Claim 1

In a press having a fixed bed, controls for operating the press located at one end thereof constituting the forward end of the press and thus defining an operator''s station where an operator stands to operate the press, a plurality of platens defining a chamber in which a slab of bacon or the like may be molded, means for moving at least one of the platens relative to the others for heightwise, lateral and endwise compression of the slab, one of said platens constituting a rear platen being fixed relative to said Bed, another of said platens constituting a front platen adjacent said operating station being movable between a compressing position in which it closes the front of the compressing chamber and a retracted position in which it is clear of the front of the chamber to permit a slab in the chamber to be ejected endwise therefrom, and another of said platens constituting a bottom platen being movable fore and aft relative to said bed below said rear platen, said bottom platen carrying said front platen when the latter is in its compressing position for endwise compression of the slab between said fixed rear platen and said movable front platen; means for at least partially ejecting a slab from the front of the chamber, said ejecting means comprising a fluid power unit secured to the back face of said fixed rear platen and immovable relative to said fixed bed, a piston rod extending through said rear platen, and a pusher carried by said rod, said fixed rear platen having an opening therein for reception of said pusher, the latter being movable between a retracted position in which it is received within said opening in said rear platen and forms a part thereof with its face flush with the face of said rear platen for engagement with the slab and for endwise compression of the slab and a forward ejecting position in which at least the forward end of the molded slab extends out of the chamber.