Abstract: The performance of an automated pouch filler to fill institutional quantity sized bags of foodstuff can be improved by maintaining the sealing edge of the filled bag under tension during the sealing of the bag. Unwanted air can also be removed from the bag by utilization of a pair of squeeze bars to momentarily push excess air from the bag or by evacuating air from the bag through a vacuum tube in combination with soft sealing bars to temporarily close the bag during this evacuation. The top sealing edge is maintained under tension by use of a spring loaded clamp which attaches to one corner of the bag. The rejection rate of seal is dramatically decreased by providing a neck on the bag to form a partially presealed bag which is then sealed along a segment of the top edge of the bag after filling. The rejection rate is also dramatically decreased by sealing the top edge under tension.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus adapted to be mounted over a can line for dispensing metered amounts of particulate material into cans in a high speed canning operation. The dispenser utilizes a metering unit which includes a reciprocating slide bar having a pair of spaced chambers, one of which is moved into a loading position and the other of which is moved into a discharge position during each reciprocation of the slide bar. A can detecting device and an air pressure operated actuating valve are provided to control reciprocating movement of the slide bar in response to the presence and speed of cans carried on the can line beneath the dispenser. Lubricating conduits are provided in the metering unit to ensure free movement of the slide bar.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating one or more additives throughout an expanded food product. An expandable mixture of moistened farinaceous and/or proteinaceous materials is extruded at elevated temperatures and pressures through the die orifice of an expander-cooker into the cylindrical bore of a tubular extrusion die which is secured to the external face of the extruder die plate. The cylindrical bore of the tubular die has the same cross-sectional area and shaped as the die orifice of the extruder, so that as the mixture passes longitudinally through the tubular die it is still radially confined and is maintained at the same high pressure and temperature as when extruded through the die orifice. One or more liquid additives are injected under pressure into the body of the farinaceous and/or proteinaceous mixture as it is passed through the tubular die, through a nozzle mounted concentrically within the cylindrical bore of the tubular die.

Abstract: A dry mix composition which may be added directly to boiling water to form a sauce or gravy substantially free of lumps. The dry mix contains as essential ingredients, a thickening agent such a starch or flour, and maltodextrin, with the mix containing a weight ratio of maltodextrin to thickening agent of at least 1:1.

Abstract: A process for producing dried bean powder which is instantly reconstitutable with water to form a product having the flavor, color and texture of conventional refried beans. The dried bean powder contains a major proportion of finely divided cooked bean particles and an appreciable quantity of larger size cooked bean skin particulate which provides the reconstituted product with a texture typical of refried beans. In the production of this product, raw beans are blanched in hot water to hydrate the beans, and the hydrated beans and blanch water are cooked under pressure in a suitable pressure cooker. Upon completion of cooking, the beans and water, which are under relatively high pressures and temperatures in the pressure cooker, are discharged from the cooker into a container at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure to provide an almost instantaneous release of pressure on the cooked beans.

Abstract: A process for producing instant-cooking pasta products such as noodles, spaghetti, macaroni and the like having a porous, cellular structure which enables the products to be rehydrated for consumption within a short period of time, and which exhibit good integrity, firm texture, and desirable flavor upon rehydration. A blend containing a major proportion by weight of a farinaceous starch-containing ingredient, such as semolina, and lesser amounts of gluten, microcrystalline cellulose and an edible vegetable oil is introduced into an extrusion cooker together with a sufficient amount of water to provide an expandable mixture. The mixture is subjected to severe mechanical working at elevated temperatures and pressure to rapidly cook the mixture, causing gelatinization of the starch and thermosetting of the gluten, and is extruded through a plurality of die orifices into the atmosphere.

Abstract: An animal litter having improved odor control properties comprising a major amount of an absorptive litter material and a minor amount of an odor control agent derived from sagebrush. The absorptive material may be an absorptive mineral, a fibrous organic material or a chlorophyll-containing grass. The odor control agent is ground sagebrush or sagebrush oil. The animal litter may contain from about 0.005%-10% by weight of the odor control agent.

Abstract: This invention provides a dried fat emulsion concentrate which contains a major proportion by weight of a water soluble carbohydrate, and an edible fat or oil, with the fat or oil particles being encapsulated with a lipophilic starch derivative. The dried emulsion concentrate when reconstituted with water forms an oil-in-water emulsion which is stable in the presence of a relatively high alcohol concentration and relatively high acidity, over a wide range of temperatures, including pasteurizing and freezing temperatures. The reconstituted emulsion is combined with wine having an alcohol concentration of 8%-20% (vol/wt) and a pH of about 2.5 to 5.0 to form a stable oil-in-water emulsion in the wine, thereby providing a unique wine based beverage having a creamy appearance and mouthfeel.

Abstract: A method of producing a porous pelletized food product.A mixture of finely divided, particulate edible materials, including at least one material which acquires surface stickiness when moistened and a chemical leavening system is contacted with a spray of water and formed into pellets on a pelletizing disc. The moist pellets are contacted with a stream of hot air to effect reaction of the components of the leavening system with the release of carbon dioxide gas to provide the pellets with a porous cellular structure, and to dry the pellets. The resulting dried pellets have a crisp, crunchy, friable texture, and sufficient mechanical strength to permit the pellets to be compacted at a pressure of 500-750 psi without crumbling or disintegration of the pellets. If desired, the pellets may be coated with an edible fat having a relatively high melting point to produce porous, non-hydrating food pellets.

Abstract: A tubular centerfilled food product having a rigid, friable, thermoplastic baked outer shell and a core of edible filling material is produced by a continuous, straight-through process. A semi-liquid batter having a relatively high content of mono- and/or disaccharides is carried between a pair of spaced-apart moving heated surfaces and baked to form a continuous, elongated flat thermoplastic sheet having a controlled thickness. The continuous thermoplastic sheet while warm and pliable is rolled around its longitudinal axis to form a continuous tube having a closed longitudinal, non-overlapping seam. As the baked sheet is rolled around its longitudinal axis, an edible filling material is injected into the core of the continuous tube as it is formed. The filled tube is cooled until the outer shell becomes rigid and is then cut into pieces of a desired length.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a tubular centerfilled food product having a rigid, friable baked outer shell and a core of edible filling material by a continuous, straight-through process. A semi-liquid batter having a relatively high content of mono-and/or disaccharides is carried between a pair of spaced apart heated moving surfaces and baked to form a continuous, elongated flat thermoplastic sheet having a controlled thickness. The continuous thermoplastic sheet is rolled around its longitudinal axis while warm and pliable to form a continuous tube having a closed longitudinal, non-overlapping seam. As the baked sheet is rolled around its longitudinal axis, a viscous edible filling material is injected into the core of the continuous tube as it is formed. The filled tube is cooled until the outer shell becomes rigid and is then cut into pieces of a desired length.

Abstract: A method of producing a meat emulsion product which is uniformly acidified throughout to an equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or below under conditions which prevent acid denaturation of the protein matrix of the emulsion prior to cooking of the emulsion, to thereby prevent breaking of the emulsion and separation of fat in the product. An edible acidogen is incorporated in the emulsified meat mix in an amount sufficient to reduce the pH of the emulsion to 4.6 or below by the time cooking of the emulsion is completed. Denaturation of the protein in the meat emulsion prior to cooking of the emulsion is prevented by incorporating in the emulsion a water soluble hydrocolloid with the acidogen or by the addition of an acidogen which is encapsulated with a material which delays formation of acid until cooking of the emulsion. After cooking, the acidified, set emulsion is combined with other foods having an equilibrium pH of 4.

Abstract: A process for preparing frozen par fried potatoes which, when finish fried, have a crisp surface texture and a mealy internal core, and remain crisp and rigid for extended periods of time after finish frying. Potatoes which have been peeled, trimmed, cut into strips and blanched, are subjected to a two stage drying procedure, in which the strips are first exposed to high velocity ambient air for a period of time sufficient to reduce their weight by about 8%-15%, and are then dried in circulating heated air to further reduce the weight of the strips by an additional 8%-15%. After drying, the potato strips are maintained in a quiescent state for a short period of time to permit equialization of moisture distribution in the strips, and are then par-fried, frozen and packaged.

Abstract: An improved wetting agent for use in the production of fat-containing powdered products which are spontaneously wettable and dispersible in cold aqueous liquids. The wetting agent comprises oil-free granular phosphatides containing at least 95% acetone insoluble matter dissolved in an oil which has a bland taste, a maximum iodine value of 2.0 and which is a liquid at temperatures as low as about 0.degree. C.

Abstract: Meats and meat by-products which are considered to be inedible for human consumption but which may be used in the production of animal foods are decharacterized by mixing such products with a U.S. Department of Agriculture approved FD&C decharacterizing color. When such decharacterized meat products are to be used in the production of an animal food, the decharacterized meat is counter-colored by mixing with a color which is complementary to the decharacterizing color to provide the inedible meat product with a substantially natural meat-like color. Approved FD&C colors and blends of approved FD&C colors, which are the complementary color of the FD&C color used in decharacterizing the meat product, are used in counter-coloring the meat product. Lakes of such colors and color blends may also be used.

Abstract: Non-dairy coffee whiteners can be provided with stability to the thermal and acid stresses of coffee by incorporating a water-soluble acetate salt in the whitener. The acetate salt may be used as a total or partial replacement of conventional stabilizing salts generally used in whiteners. Acetate salts which may be used include sodium acetate, potassium acetate, calcium acetate and mixtures thereof, and may be added to the whitener as such or formed in situ during the preparation of the whitener.

Abstract: Screens for use in screen process printing are prepared by applying a dry emulsion film to a layer of liquid emulsion carried on the outer surface of a screen fabric in such a manner that upon drying, the dry emulsion film and the liquid emulsion layer are coalesced into a unitary emulsion layer which surrounds the screen fabric. The coalesced emulsion layer has a smooth surface which extends a uniform distance above the screen fabric. Screens thus produced are used to prepare photographic stencils for use in screen process printing.

Abstract: A device for orienting filled and seamed two piece cans, in which a single line of randomly oriented cans is divided into two lines, all of the cans in one line being oriented in an upright position and all of the cans in the other line being oriented in an inverted position. The cans in one of the lines are then inverted and the lines combined to provide a single stream of cans oriented in one direction.The device has a rotatable turret body having a plurality of can receiving pockets around its periphery. A lever arm is pivotally mounted above each of the pockets and is adapted to engage the seamed end of the can in the pocket when the outer end of the lever arm is pivoted to a horizontal position. Cam means are provided to pivot the outer end of the lever arm from an elevated position to a horizontal position while the can is carried from a point adjacent a can inlet chute on a short arcuate path to one of a pair of can outlet chutes.

Abstract: A stable, dry, non-dairy fat emulsion product suitable for use as a coffee whitener is prepared without the use of protein by incorporating a chemically modified dextrinized starch having a lipophilic character in the formulation. The chemically modified starch is included in an aqueous emulsion containing fat or oil and a conventional emulsifier to stabilize the emulsion through the drying step so that upon reconstitution in coffee a stable emulsion is formed. The pH of the liquid emulsion must be controlled in order for the chemically modified starch to be effective in stabilizing the emulsion through the drying step. A buffering agent is mixed with the dried emulsion to improve the taste of coffee whitened with the dried emulsion.