A breather air and food product fines pumping system for a reciprocating
mold plate food product forming machine pumps air and fines to a
collection area. A pumping surface is provided by a rearward facing
surface of the mold plate. A pumping chamber is arranged between the
pumping surface and a food product fines collection area. The rearward
facing surface of the mold plate defines a movable limit of the pumping
chamber. A valve element of a first valve is arranged between the pumping
chamber and the collection area to create suction in the pumping chamber
when the rearward facing surface of the mold plate is moving forward, and
to allow the pumping chamber to pump air and fines into the collection
area when the rearward facing surface of the mold plate is moving
rearward. Breather holes in a breather plate are in communication with a
breather passage that is in communication with the pumping chamber and
with outside air through further valve arrangements. The further valve
arrangements and the first valve act to flush the breather passage with
outside air to drive air and fines in the breather passage into the
pumping chamber where it is then pumped to the collection area.