Importance

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Abstract

A food depositing apparatus for depositing a semi-solid food product within a fixed area defined by a receptacle includes a depositing mechanism. The depositing mechanism includes an extrusion device having an opening through which semi-solid food product can be fed into the extrusion device. A pressure element coupled to a drive mechanism is configured to extrude the semi-solid food product from the extrusion device through an exit port. A valve located at the exit port is adapted to selectively control the flow of extruded semi-solid food product. An air knife positioned adjacent to the cutoff valve cuts the continuous stream of semi-solid food product into semi-solid food pieces. These pieces are deposited on the receptacle which is positioned on a scale. A control module is coupled to the scale and cutoff valve to control operation of the depositing mechanism. To deposit an amount of semi-solid food product whose total weight is within a preselected target weight range, a first amount of semi-solid food product is deposited on the receptacle and weighed to determine its precise weight. The precise weight is fed to the control module which then actuates the depositing mechanism for a second time if necessary to deposit a second amount of semi-solid food product on the receptacle. The total weight of the first and second amounts falls within .+-.10% of a desired target weight.

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First Claim