A patty-forming apparatus has a machine base that includes a cooling air system that closes up the base upon loss of power. The apparatus includes a food product hopper (25) and conveyor (30) that are hingedly retractable. The hopper includes a controllable level sensing mechanism (53) arranged to be moved by food product level within the hopper. A hydraulic pump (26) is positioned to be at least partially submerged in hydraulic fluid, to be pumped by the pump, within a reservoir. A mold cover lift system (800) includes a secondary nut to limit the unexpected downward movement of the mold cover. A lubrication system (1000) includes lubrication for mold plate drive rods, knock out mechanism and knockout rods and a tube valve. A frame structure includes an angular strut (510a,510b) configuration for resisting horizontal reciprocating forces caused by the reciprocating mold plate (32), and a tie rod arrangement for resisting reaction forces caused by food product compression in a food product plunger pump.
