Locking assembly and apparatus for making compressed food product with movement resistant frame

Abstract

A compression head assembly (114) comprises a first platen assembly (120) and a second platen assembly (122). The first platen assembly includes a compression head frame (130) and a first punch assembly (200) coupled with the compression head frame. The second platen assembly includes a moving frame (150) coupled with the compression head frame and a second punch assembly (201) coupled with the moving frame. At least one of the punch assemblies is movable relative to the compression head frame or the moving frame to apply a compressive force between the two punch assemblies. The moving frame is movable relative to the compression head frame between a lowered position a raised position. The compression head frame and the moving frame are interlocked in the lowered position to block movement of the compression head frame relative to the moving frame in response to a compressive force applied by the punch assemblies acting on compression head frame.

Description

[00147] Clause 41. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein, in an intermediate orientation, the locking block is in the extended position, disposed between an upper plate of the moving frame and an upper cover plate of the compression head frame.

[00148] Clause 42. The compression head assembly of clause 41, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein, in the intermediate orientation, a first gap is formed between the locking block and the upper plate of the moving frame and a second gap is formed between the locking block and the upper cover plate.

[00149] Clause 43. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein, in an unlocked orientation, the locking block is in the retracted position spaced apart from the second platen assembly to allow the moving frame actuator unit to move the second platen assembly relative to the compression head frame.

[00150] Clause 44. The compression head assembly of clause 41, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the locking block and the moving frame are disposed closer to the first punch assembly in the intermediate orientation than in the locked orientation.

[00151] Clause 45. The compression head assembly of clause 44, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the moving frame is raised in the locked orientation to slide the locking block up relative to the actuator assembly and remove the first gap and the second gap to engage the locking block with the upper plate and the upper cover plate.

[00152] Clause 46. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the locking assembly includes a first support plate and a second support plate coupled to the compression head frame.

[00153] Clause 47. The compression head assembly of clause 46, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the actuator assembly is disposed between the first support plate and the second support plate to couple the actuator assembly to the compression head frame.

[00154] Clause 48. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the actuator assembly includes an actuator, a first guide shaft, and a second guide shaft.

[00155] Clause 49. The compression head assembly of clause 48, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the actuator is configured to drive movement of the locking block between the unlocked orientation and the locked orientation.

[00156] Clause 50. The compression head assembly of clause 49, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the actuator is disposed between the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft.

[00157] Clause 51. The compression head assembly of clause 50, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the actuator, the first guide shaft, and the second guide shaft extend parallel to each other such that the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft support movement of the locking block between the unlocked orientation and the locked orientation.

[00158] Clause 52. The compression head assembly of clause 49, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein each of the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft include a respective bearing configured to allow the locking block to slide between the retracted and the extended position.

[00159] Clause 53. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the moving frame actuator unit is configured to translate selectively the second platen assembly between a first lowered position, a second lowered position, and a raised position relative to the compression head frame.

[00160] Clause 54. The compression head assembly of clause 53, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the locking block is in the retracted position when the second platen assembly is in the raised position.

[00161] Clause 55. The compression head assembly of clause 53, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein, when the second platen assembly is in the first lowered position, a distance between an upper plate of the second platen assembly and an upper cover plate of the compression head frame is greater than a height of the locking block such that when the locking block is extended.

[00162] Clause 56. The compression head assembly of clause 55, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein a first gap is formed between the locking block and the upper plate of the second platen assembly and a second gap if formed between the locking block and the upper cover plate of the compression head frame.

[00163] Clause 57. The compression head assembly of clause 53, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein, when the second platen assembly is in the second lowered position, the locking block is in the extended position and engaging the upper plate of the second platen assembly and the upper cover plate of the compression head frame.

[00164] Clause 58. The compression head assembly of clause 57, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the moving frame actuator unit and the locking block are configured to adjust to close the first gap and the second gap.

[00165] Clause 59. The compression head assembly of clause 58, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the moving frame actuator unit and the locking block are configured to move relative to the actuator assembly to close the gap between the locking block and the upper plate of the second platen assembly before a compression cycle of the compression head assembly.

[00166] Clause 60. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the second punch assembly and the first punch assembly are configured to compress and heat raw ingredients therebetween in the lowered position.

[00167] Clause 61. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head assembly further comprises a controller having a memory with instructions stored therein and at least one processor configured to perform the instructions.

[00168] Clause 62. The compression head assembly of clause 61, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the controller is programmed to operate the compression head assembly in a clean mode in which the controller instructs the moving frame actuator unit to move the second platen assembly away from the first platen assembly to increase a size of a gap between the second platen assembly and the first platen assembly.

[00169] Clause 63. The compression head assembly of clause 62, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein, in the clean mode, the controller is further programmed to instruct the locking assembly to move to the unlocked orientation.

[00170] Clause 64. The compression head assembly of clause 38, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head frame includes a base portion supporting the first punch assembly and a vertical support projecting upward from an end of the base portion.

[00171] Clause 65. The compression head assembly of clause 64, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the moving frame is coupled with the vertical support.

[00172] Clause 66. The compression head assembly of clause 65, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head assembly includes a first tension rod extending between the vertical support and the base portion on a first side of the compression head frame to apply a force to the compression head assembly that counters deflection caused by the compressive force during operation of the compression head assembly and allow the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly to be parallel with each other during operation.

[00173] Clause 67. A method of operating a compression head assembly adapted to make a compressed product, the method comprising lowering a first platen assembly from a raised position to a first lowered position.

[00174] Clause 68. The method of clause 67, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises positioning a locking assembly in an extended position between an upper plate of the first platen assembly and an upper cover plate of a second platen frame to block movement of a first platen frame relative to the second platen frame.

[00175] Clause 69. The method of clause 68, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein a first gap is disposed between the a locking block of the locking assembly and the upper cover plate and a second gap is disposed between the upper plate and the locking block.

[00176] Clause 70. The method of clause 69, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises raising the first platen assembly to a second lowered position to remove the first and second gaps and engage the locking block with the upper plate and the upper cover plate.

[00177] Clause 71. The method of clause 70, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises compressing raw ingredients by moving a first punch relative to the first platen frame towards a second punch.

[00178] Clause 72. The method of clause 71, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises cooking the raw ingredients with the first punch and the second punch while the raw ingredients are compressed to provide the compressed product.

[00179] Clause 73. The method of clause 72, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises moving the locking assembly to an unlocked orientation away from the first platen frame to allow the first punch and the first platen frame to be moved away from the second punch and the second platen frame.

[00180] Clause 74. The method of clause 73, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises moving the first punch and the first platen frame away from the second punch and the second platen frame to increase a size of a gap between the first platen frame and the second platen frame.

[00181] Clause 75. The method of clause 70, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises lowering the first platen assembly from the second lowered position to the first lowered position.

[00182] Clause 76. The method of clause 77, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises positioning the locking assembly in a retracted position spaced away from the first platen assembly.

[00183] Clause 77. The method of clause 76, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the method comprises raising the first plate assembly from the first lowered position to the raised position.

[00184] Clause 78. A compression head assembly for making a compressed product, the compression head assembly comprising a first platen assembly that includes a compression head frame and a first punch assembly.

[00185] Clause 79. The compression head assembly of clause 78, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head frame includes a base portion supporting the first punch assembly, a vertical support projecting upward from an end of the base portion.

[00186] Clause 80. The compression head assembly of clause 79, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head assembly comprises a second platen assembly that includes a moving frame coupled with the vertical support and a second punch assembly.

[00187] Clause 81. The compression head assembly of clause 80, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first punch assembly is configured to move selectively relative to the compression head frame and / or the second punch assembly is configured to move selectively relative to the moving frame.

[00188] Clause 82. The compression head assembly of clause 81, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the second punch assembly and the first punch assembly are configured to compress and heat raw ingredients therebetween to provide the compressed product.

[00189] Clause 83. The compression head assembly of clause 82, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head assembly comprises a moving frame actuator unit coupled with the compression head frame and the moving frame.

[00190] Clause 84. The compression head assembly of clause 83, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the moving frame actuator unit is configured to move selectively the moving frame relative to the compression head frame to cause the second platen assembly to move relative to the first platen assembly and increase accessibility to the first platen assembly and the second platen assembly.

[00191] Clause 85. The compression head assembly of clause 84, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head assembly comprises a first tension rod extending between the vertical support and the base portion on a first side of the compression head frame.

[00192] Clause 86. The compression head assembly of clause 85, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first tension rod is positioned to apply a force to the compression head assembly that counters deflection caused by the compressive force during operation of the compression head assembly.

[00193] Clause 87. The compression head assembly of clause 86, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein first tension rod is positioned to allow the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly to be parallel with each other during operation.

[00194] Clause 88. The compression head assembly of clause 87, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the vertical support includes an upper cover plate and a vertical plate.

[00195] Clause 89. The compression head assembly of clause 88, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the vertical plate projects upwards from the base portion.

[00196] Clause 90. The compression head assembly of clause 89, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the upper cover plate is coupled to an upper end of the vertical plate opposite the base portion.

[00197] Clause 91. The compression head assembly of clause 90, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein at least a portion of the upper cover plate extends aft from the vertical support opposite from the moving frame.

[00198] Clause 92. The compression head assembly of clause 91, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the tension rod is coupled to the upper cover plate aft of the vertical plate.

[00199] Clause 93. The compression head assembly of clause 87, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head assembly further comprises a second tension rod extending between the vertical support and the base portion on a second side of the compression head frame opposite the first side

[00200] Clause 94. The compression head assembly of clause 93, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first tension rod and the second tension rod each include a first end and a second end.

[00201] Clause 95. The compression head assembly of clause 94, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein each of the first ends are coupled to the upper cover plate of the compression head frame and each of the second ends are coupled to the base portion of the compression head frame.

[00202] Clause 96. The compression head assembly of clause 87, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first tension rod is positioned between the base portion and the upper portion of the of the compression head frame to deflect an upper portion of the compression head assembly downward towards to the base portion.

[00203] Clause 97. The compression head assembly of clause 96, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first tension rod is positioned between the base portion and the upper portion of the compression head frame to deflect the second platen assembly towards the first platen assembly.

[00204] Clause 98. The compression head assembly of clause 88, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head frame further includes a brace assembly coupled to the upper cover plate to increase the stiffness of the compression head frame.

[00205] Clause 99. The compression head assembly of clause 98, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the brace assembly includes an aft brace, a forward brace, and at least one support brace extending between the aft brace and the forward brace.

[00206] Clause 100. The compression head assembly of clause 87, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head frame includes a first brace coupled to a first sidewall of the base portion and disposed on the first side of the compression head frame.

[00207] Clause 101. The compression head assembly of clause 100, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the compression head frame includes a second brace coupled to a second sidewall of the base portion and disposed on the second side of the compression head frame.

[00208] Clause 102. The compression head assembly of clause 101, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first tension rod is coupled to the first brace and the second tension rod is coupled to the second brace.

[00209] Clause 103. The compression head assembly of clause 101, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first brace and the second brace are coupled to the base portion to provide rigidity to the compression head frame.

[00210] Clause 104. The compression head assembly of clause 87, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first tension rod and the second tension rod are turnbuckles.

[00211] Clause 105. The compression head assembly of clause 87, any other clause, or any combination of clauses, wherein the first tension rod and the second tension rod are configured to block twisting of the compression head frame when the first platen assembly and the second platen assembly compress the raw ingredients therebetween.

Claims

1. A compression head assembly for making a compressed product, the compression head assembly comprising:a first platen assembly that includes a compression head frame and a first punch assembly coupled with the compression head frame;a second platen assembly that includes a moving frame coupled with the compression head frame and a second punch assembly coupled with the moving frame, at least one of the first punch assembly is movable relative to the compression head frame or the second punch assembly is movable relative to the moving frame to apply a compressive force between the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly to provide the compressed product, the moving frame is movable relative to the compression head frame between a lowered position in which the second punch assembly is proximal to the first punch assembly and a raised position in which the second punch assembly is distal to the first punch assembly to increase accessibility between the first platen assembly and the second platen assembly, andwherein the compression head frame and the moving frame are interlocked in the lowered position to block movement of the compression head frame relative to the moving frame in response to a compressive force applied by the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly acting on compression head frame.

2. The compression head assembly of claim 1, wherein the moving frame and the compression head frame interlock at a rear portion of the moving frame and the compression head frame.

3. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 1-2, wherein one of the compression head frame and the moving frame is shaped to form an opening therein and the other of the compression head frame and the moving frame is shaped to form a tab extending into the opening in response to the moving frame being in the lowered position to block movement of the to the compression head frame relative to the moving frame.

4. The compression head assembly of claim 3, wherein the tab extends from one of the compression head frame and the moving frame in a direction of movement of the moving frame.

5. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 3-4, wherein the tab is included in the moving frame and the opening is formed in the compression head assembly.

6. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 3-5, wherein the tab is shaped to have a geometry corresponding to a shape of the opening.

7. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 3-6, wherein the opening is an elongated slot extending into the upper surface of the first platen assembly.

8. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 5-7, wherein the tab is disposed along a rear edge of the lower surface of the second platen assembly.

9. The compression head assembly of claim 5-8, wherein the tab projects outward from a lower surface of the second platen assembly.

10. The compression head assembly of claim 5-9, wherein a location of the opening on the first platen assembly corresponds to a location of the tab on the second platen assembly such that the tab is inserted into the opening when the second platen assembly is moved towards the first platen assembly.

11. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 1-10, wherein a moving frame actuator unit is configured to translate selectively the second platen assembly between the lowered position and the raised position relative to the compression head frame.

12. The compression head assembly of claim 11, wherein the second punch assembly and the first punch assembly are configured to compress and heat raw ingredients therebetween in the lowered position.

13. The compression head assembly of any of claims 11-12, further comprising a locking assembly movable between an unlocked orientation in which the locking assembly is configured to allow the moving frame actuator unit to move the second platen assembly relative to the compression head frame and a locked orientation in which the locking assembly is configured to block the second platen assembly from moving relative to the compression head frame, wherein the tab and the opening are configured to mitigate rotational movement being transferred from the compression head assembly to the locking assembly during compression.

14. The compression head assembly of claim 13, wherein the locking assembly engages the moving frame at an engagement location, the engagement location defining a vertical plane extending though the engagement location and dividing the moving frame into a rear portion and a front portion, the tab and the locating slot are located at the rear portion of the moving frame on a first side of the vertical plane, and the compressive forced applied by the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly is located at the front portion of the moving frame on a second side of the vertical plane.

15. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the compression head frame includes a base portion supporting the first punch assembly and a vertical support projecting upward from an end of the base portion, the moving frame coupled with the vertical support, and wherein the compression head assembly includes a first tensionrod extending between the vertical support and the base portion on a first side of the compression head frame to apply a force to the compression head assembly that counters deflection caused by the compressive force during operation of the compression head assembly and allow the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly to be parallel with each other during operation.

16. A compression head assembly for making a compressed product, the compression head assembly comprising:a first platen assembly that includes a compression head frame and a first punch assembly;a second platen assembly that includes a moving frame coupled with the compression head frame and a second punch assembly, at least one of the first punch assembly being configured to move selectively relative to the compression head frame or the second punch assembly being configured to move selectively relative to the moving frame;a moving frame actuator unit coupled with the compression head frame and the moving frame and configured to move selectively the moving frame relative to the compression head frame to cause the second platen assembly to move relative to the first platen assembly and increase accessibility to the first platen assembly and the second platen assembly; anda locking assembly coupled to the compression head assembly that includes an actuator assembly and a locking block, the actuator assembly configured to selectively translate the locking block between a retracted position in which the locking assembly is configured to allow the moving frame actuator unit to move the second platen assembly relative to the compression head frame and an extended position in which the locking assembly is configured to block the second platen assembly from moving relative to the compression head frame, the locking block coupled to the actuator assembly such that the locking block can slide relative to the lock actuator in a direction of movement of the moving frame.

17. The compression head assembly of claim 16, wherein in a locked orientation, the locking block is in the extended position, disposed between an upper plate of the moving frame and an upper cover plate of the compression head frame, and the locking block is engaged with the upper plate and the upper cover plate to block the second platen assembly from moving relative to the compression head frame.

18. The compression head assembly of any of claims 16-17, wherein, in an intermediate orientation, the locking block is in the extended position, disposed between an upper plate of the moving frame and an upper cover plate of the compression head frame, afirst gap formed between the locking block and the upper plate of the moving frame and a second gap formed between the locking block and the upper cover plate.

19. The compression head assembly of any of claims 16-18, wherein, in an unlocked orientation, the locking block is in the retracted position spaced apart from the second platen assembly to allow the moving frame actuator unit to move the second platen assembly relative to the compression head frame.

20. The compression head assembly of claim 18, wherein the locking block and the moving frame are disposed closer to the first punch assembly in the intermediate orientation than in the locked orientation, the moving frame raised in locked orientation to slide the locking block up relative to the actuator assembly and remove the first gap and the second gap to engage the locking block with the upper plate and the upper cover plate.

21. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 16-20, the locking assembly further including a first support plate and a second support plate coupled to the compression head frame, the actuator assembly disposed between the first support plate and the second support plate to couple the actuator assembly to the compression head frame.

22. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 16-21, the actuator assembly including an actuator, a first guide shaft, and a second guide shaft, the actuator configured to drive movement of the locking block between the unlocked orientation and the locked orientation.

23. The compression head assembly of claim 22, wherein the actuator is disposed between the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft, the actuator, the first guide shaft, and the second guide shaft extending parallel to each other such that the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft support movement of the locking block between the unlocked orientation and the locked orientation.

24. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 22-23, wherein each of the first guide shaft and the second guide shaft include a respective bearing configured to allow the locking block to slide between the retracted and the extended position.

25. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 16-24, wherein the moving frame actuator unit is configured to translate selectively the second platen assembly between a first lowered position, a second lowered position, and a raised position relative to the compression head frame.

26. The compression head assembly of claim 25, wherein the locking block is in the retracted position when the second platen assembly is in the raised position.

27. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 25-26, wherein, when the second platen assembly is in the first lowered position, a distance between an upper plate of the second platen assembly and an upper cover plate of the compression head frame is greater than a height of the locking block such that when the locking block is extended, a first gap is formed between the locking block and the upper plate of the second platen assembly and a second gap if formed between the locking block and the upper cover plate of the compression head frame.

28. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 25-27, wherein, when the second platen assembly is in the second lowered position, the locking block is in the extended position and engaging the upper plate of the second platen assembly and the upper cover plate of the compression head frame, the moving frame actuator unit and the locking block configured to adjust to close the first gap and the second gap.

29. The compression head assembly of claim 28, wherein the moving frame actuator unit and the locking block are configured to move relative to the actuator assembly to close the gap between the locking block and the upper plate of the second platen assembly before a compression cycle of the compression head assembly.

30. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 16-29, wherein the second punch assembly and the first punch assembly are configured to compress and heat raw ingredients therebetween in the lowered position.

31. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 16-30, further comprising a controller having a memory with instructions stored therein and at least one processor configured to perform the instructions, the controller is programmed to operate the compression head assembly in a clean mode in which the controller instructs the moving frame actuator unit to move the second platen assembly away from the first platen assembly to increase a size of a gap between the second platen assembly and the first platen assembly.

32. The compression head assembly of claim 31, wherein, in the clean mode, the controller is further programmed to instruct the locking assembly to move to the unlocked orientation.

33. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 16-32, wherein the compression head frame includes a base portion supporting the first punch assembly and a vertical support projecting upward from an end of the base portion, the moving frame coupled with the vertical support, and wherein the compression head assembly includes a first tension rod extending between the vertical support and the base portion on a first side of the compression head frame to apply a force to the compression head assembly that countersdeflection caused by the compressive force during operation of the compression head assembly and allow the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly to be parallel with each other during operation.

34. A method of operating a compression head assembly adapted to make a compressed product, the method comprising:lowering a first platen assembly from a raised position to a first lowered position;positioning a locking assembly in an extended position between an upper plate of the first platen assembly and an upper cover plate of a second platen frame to block movement of a first platen frame relative to the second platen frame, a first gap disposed between the a locking block of the locking assembly and the upper cover plate and a second gap disposed between the upper plate and the locking block; andraising the first platen assembly to a second lowered position to remove the first and second gaps and engage the locking block with the upper plate and the upper cover plate.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprisingcompressing raw ingredients by moving a first punch relative to the first platen frame towards a second punch;cooking the raw ingredients with the first punch and the second punch while the raw ingredients are compressed to provide the compressed product;moving the locking assembly to an unlocked orientation away from the first platen frame to allow the first punch and the first platen frame to be moved away from the second punch and the second platen frame; andmoving the first punch and the first platen frame away from the second punch and the second platen frame to increase a size of a gap between the first platen frame and the second platen frame.

36. The method of any one of claims 34-35 further comprisinglowering the first platen assembly from the second lowered position to the first lowered position;positioning the locking assembly in a retracted position spaced away from the first platen assembly; andraising the first plate assembly from the first lowered position to the raised position.

37. A compression head assembly for making a compressed product, the compression head assembly comprising:a first platen assembly that includes a compression head frame and a first punch assembly, the compression head frame including a base portion supporting the first punch assembly, a vertical support projecting upward from an end of the base portion;a second platen assembly that includes a moving frame coupled with the vertical support and a second punch assembly, at least one of the first punch assembly being configured to move selectively relative to the compression head frame or the second punch assembly being configured to move selectively relative to the moving frame, and the second punch assembly and the first punch assembly being configured to compress and heat raw ingredients therebetween to provide the compressed product;a moving frame actuator unit coupled with the compression head frame and the moving frame and configured to move selectively the moving frame relative to the compression head frame to cause the second platen assembly to move relative to the first platen assembly and increase accessibility to the first platen assembly and the second platen assembly;a first tension rod extending between the vertical support and the base portion on a first side of the compression head frame to apply a force to the compression head assembly that counters deflection caused by the compressive force during operation of the compression head assembly and allow the first punch assembly and the second punch assembly to be parallel with each other during operation.

38. The compression head assembly of claim 37, wherein the vertical support includes an upper cover plate and a vertical plate, the vertical plate projection upwards from the base portion, the upper cover plate coupled to an upper end of the vertical plate opposite the base portion, at least a portion of the upper cover plate and extending aft from the vertical support opposite from the moving frame.

39. The compression head assembly of claim 38, wherein the tension rod is coupled to the upper cover plate aft of the vertical plate.

40. The compression head assembly of any of claims 37-39, further comprising a second tension rod extending between the vertical support and the base portion on a second side of the compression head frame opposite the first side41. The compression head assembly of claim 40, wherein the first tension rod and the second tension rod each include a first end and a second end, each of the first ends coupled to the upper cover plate of the compression head frame and each of the second ends coupled to the base portion of the compression head frame.

42. The compression head assembly of any of claims 37-41, wherein the first tension rod is positioned between the base portion and the upper portion of the of thecompression head frame to deflect an upper portion of the compression head assembly downward towards to the base portion.

43. The compression head assembly of claim 42, wherein the first tension rod is positioned between the base portion and the upper portion of the compression head frame to deflect the second platen assembly towards the first platen assembly.

44. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 38-43, wherein the compression head frame further includes a brace assembly coupled to the upper cover plate to increase the stiffness of the compression head frame.

45. The compression head assembly of claim 44, wherein the brace assembly includes an aft brace, a forward brace, and at least one support brace extending between the aft brace and the forward brace.

46. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 37-45, wherein the compression head frame includes a first brace coupled to a first sidewall of the base portion and disposed on the first side of the compression head frame and a second brace coupled to a second sidewall of the base portion and disposed on the second side of the compression head frame.

47. The compression head assembly of claim 46, wherein the first tension rod is coupled to the first brace and the second tension rod is coupled to the second brace.

48. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 46-47, wherein the first brace and the second brace are coupled to the base portion to provide rigidity to the compression head frame.

49. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 37-48, wherein the first tension rod and the second tension rod are turnbuckles.

50. The compression head assembly of any one of claims 37-49, wherein the first tension rod and the second tension rod are configured to block twisting of the compression head frame when the first platen assembly and the second platen assembly compress the raw ingredients therebetween.

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