Double row molding apparatus

1. Field of the Invention A double row molding apparatus provides greatly increased production of food patty molding machines. The apparatus comprises a mold plate having front and back cavities in longitudinal and transverse alignment. When the mold plate is at a retracted position, front and back fill slots enable flow of the food product from a manifold simultaneously to all the cavities. At an extended position, all the patties are ejected simultaneously by a knockout mechanism. The front and back fill slots may be either one long fill slot, or multiple short fill slots in communication with respective mold plate cavities. In a modified embodiment, a single fill slot communicates only with the back cavities when the mold plate is in its retracted position. As the mold plate advances toward its extended position, the row of back cavities passes over the fill slot and enables the food product to flow into the back cavities.