Abstract: A container for food includes an enclosure, a lid, and pulling structures. The enclosure includes an interior and an opening. The pulling structures pull food layers from each other. A last pulling structure may pull a bottom food layer from the interior. An opening partition member may separate the lid from a top food layer. Separating portions may seal against the interior of the enclosure. At least one of the pulling structures may extend from at least one of the separating portions to a grip. The grip may be positioned outside of the interior of the enclosure, at least when the container is in a storage configuration.

Abstract: A container has features to indicate tampering and to discourage reuse as a deterrent to use with counterfeit goods. A lid hinged to a thermoformed thermoplastic base defines a product compartment. A line of weakened material surrounds a retention tab within a base upper wall. The tab is secured to a lid upper wall such as by a weld. The retention tab is secured to the lid through an opening in an enclosure element such as a card of thermoformed sheet. When the lid is separated from the base the retention tab is detached from the base along the weakened line of material and retained by the secured connection to the lid with the enclosure element retained by the retention tab to the lid upper wall. The retention tab interferes with the removal of the enclosure element from the lid and its reuse with counterfeit goods.

Abstract: Improvements in containers are provided, and in particular improvements in containers for preparing and dispensing foamable beverage and food products. The package may contain at least a liquid primary ingredient and a secondary ingredient and comprises at least one wall defining a chamber at least partially filled with the primary ingredient, an outlet for dispensing the prepared product, and a capsule surrounding the primary ingredient separating the secondary ingredient from the primary ingredient. The capsule may be attached to insides of opposing walls of the package such that as the opposing walls are moved further apart the capsule breaks. At least one of the ingredients may include a foaming agent such that the foamed product is produced when the capsule is broken and the primary and secondary ingredients mix.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing and cutting animal feed comprising a container with a side wall, a rotary mixing and cutting device positioned inside the container and arranged to be driven by a driving unit. At least one counter element is provided at the sidewall. The apparatus comprises positioning device for moving the counter element between a retracted position and an inserted position, and a control unit to control the positioning device of the counter element and arranged to determine an indication of the amount of power consumed by the driving units for driving the rotary mixing and cutting device and to control positioning device based on the determined indication of the amount of power.

Abstract: The system comprises a conveyor for conveying a plurality of molds along a production path on which is located a plurality of stations, each of which can execute at least one corresponding operation. Each mold carries an electronic identification device including memory devices from and to which information or data can be read and written without contact by means of an antenna. Each station is provided with an electronic unit including a processor, having memory devices and at least one antenna, and designed to read and/or write information or data from or to the memory devices of a mold passing through the station. An initial input station transfers or writes to the memory devices of each mold passing through it information identifying the products to be formed in the mold and relating to corresponding forming operations.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method for preparing a decorative cake coating, the method comprising the steps of: providing a contour of a figure, the contour being made of a first edible solid substance, such as chocolate; filling the spaces between the lines of the contour with a second edible substance, such as colored candies; pouring dough made of a third edible substance (e.g., hot chocolate) onto the figure; and turning the coating upside down, thereby enabling placing the coating on the cake with the decorative figure on top.

Abstract: An apparatus for making frozen comestibles including a base having a plurality of apertures formed within said first site thereof, and a plurality of molds attached to or formed integrally with the base. Each of the molds includes a receiving surface and an opening aligned with a corresponding one of the apertures of the base. Each of the molds is moveable between a first position, in which a substantial portion of at least one mold is positioned within the interior portion of the base and said receiving surface forms a molding cavity that is adapted to receive a comestible to be frozen, and a second position, in which a substantial portion of the mold extends outwardly from the first side of the base and the receiving surface of the mold is exposed externally.

Abstract: An automated preparation of flatbread, particularly tortillas, by an apparatus for includes packing dough portions in capsules for enabling the dough to be suitable for extended refrigerated and unrefrigerated storage. The capsules are gas-tight sealed with a foil and conveyed in upside-down position on a conveyor belt. The foil is removed by two adjacent shafts which grip the foil and tear it off. The capsule is then positioned on a holding ring and the dough portion falls downwardly onto a lower pressing and baking plate. An upper pressing and baking plate swivels downwardly by an actuator for pressing and baking the dough. After lifting the upper plate away, the finished flat bread glides out of the apparatus.

Abstract: The invention provides molded products having particulates and a method and device for applying particulates to the surface of the molded products. In a general aspect, the molded product comprises an undistorted three-dimensional design and has particulates that do not distort the shape of the three-dimensional design. The molded product can be made by a method comprising filling a mold in a die roll with one or more particulates, filling the mold with a dough, compressing the dough into the mold, and releasing the compressed dough from the mold to form the molded product.

Abstract: Described are flour-based oil-in-water emulsion compositions, packaged emulsion compositions, and related methods, the emulsions being refrigerator stable in a non-pressurized package and optionally containing ingredients that include glucose oxidase, the package optionally being re-sealable.

Abstract: A string cheese-forming machine provides for extrusion of cheese into control volumes, for example, implemented with tubes each movably blocked with a piston having a stop. Complete filling of each tube is detected before ejection of the cheese from the tubes is undertaken, thereby ensuring consistent product volume and weight.

Abstract: The present invention provides an innovative packaging for microwave preparation of expandable food, such as cookies, an innovative food product prepared from the packaging and the method of preparation thereof. The innovative packaging includes first and second susceptor sheet portions each having an accordion-like shape; one or more members for spacing the susceptor sheet portions at a predetermined distance; and an expandable uncooked food placed between the two susceptor sheets, wherein the food is in intimate contact with sheet portions and becomes efficiently browned and crisped during microwave cooking. The food is preferably a cookie dough.

Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.

Abstract: An incremental eating tool. The incremental eating tool can include a container having at least one sidewall enclosing an interior cavity having an open end, and a tray having a first end and a second end. The tray can be sized to fit in the interior cavity of the container and can be slidably removable therefrom. The tray can include a longitudinal spine and a plurality of flaps, each flap including a pair of side edges, the flaps being attached to and extending laterally outward from the spine.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a utensil that can be used to manipulate batter. In one embodiment, the utensil is a slotted batter spatula that comprises: (i) an elongated handle comprising a front end and a back end; (ii) a fork-shaped head attached to the front end of the elongated handle, said fork-shaped head having at least two substantially parallel tines; and (iii) a slotted head cover mounted over the fork-shaped head so that a slot of the head cover extends between each of the substantially parallel tines of the fork-shaped head. The present disclosure also relates to a method of manipulating batter with the slotted batter spatula. This method involves using the slotted batter spatula to lift, spread, stir, scrape, move, and/or remove batter from one or more surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for the manufacture of a chocolate piece or tablet having a core or cavity passing through the thickness of the piece or tablet which comprises a mold (10) comprising a surrounding wall (11) and base (12), a central aperture having a predetermined cross-sectional shape passing through the base, and a former (14) having a cross-sectional shape conforming to that of the central aperture adapted to reciprocate through the central aperture between a retracted position where its upper surface is level with the base (12) of the mold to an advanced position where its upper surface lies at any level from above the base of the mold to the top of the mold.

Abstract: A device for raising and lowering a basket out of and into the tank of a cooking appliance. The device has a support adapted to rest on the cooking appliance and to be coupled to the basket for moving the basket with respect to the support between a raised position and a lowered position, and a handle mounted for movement between a first position to place the basket in the raised position, and a second position to place the basket in the lowered position. The support includes a hub mounted to have a certain degree of rotational freedom, together with the basket, with respect to the appliance about an axis extending in the direction of the basket, and the handle is connected to the hub for movement between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a food product-forming apparatus, with a movable form-body, in which the food product is formed, and a knock out cup, which executes a knock-out-movement, that removes the food product from the form-body, whereas the knock out cup comprises an at least partially permeable bottom, through which a fluid-medium can be ejected and whereas, during the knock-out movement, a fluid-medium cushion is created, at least temporarily beneath the permeable bottom. The present invention furthermore comprises a process for the production of food products.

Abstract: A method of in-molding a food item in a package defining at least one cavity for holding the food item and having an opening for accessing the food item. Liquid food product is introduced into the at least one cavity and allowed to solidify to form a solid food product, which is then unseated.

Abstract: A first preliminary product comprising individual frozen pieces of a first food and a second preliminary product comprising individual frozen pieces of a second food are combined by precompacting the frozen individual pieces of the first preliminary product in a premolding process so as to form a concavity in the first preliminary product and placing the frozen individual pieces of the second preliminary product into the concavity of the first preliminary product to form a single frozen starting product that is put into at least one mold cavity. There the single frozen starting product is molded into a ready-to-prepare frozen end product by compacting the single frozen starting product.

Abstract: A cooked rice molding method includes a first supplying step of spreading cooked rice in a plate form on rolling-up plates deployed horizontally, a second supplying step of placing a dried laver sheet and ingredients on the cooked rice, a first pressing step of folding a first rotating plate and a second rotating plate disposed on two sides of a base plate in a direction to erect at approximate right angles with respect to the base plate, and a second pressing step of folding the third rotating plate rotatably attached to the first rotating plate at a side opposite to the base plate, to a base plate side. Then, the method includes a repositioning step of deploying the rolling-up plates in the horizontal state, and rotating the cooked rice about 90 degrees on the rolling-up bamboo plate. Finally, the first pressing step is repeated again.

Abstract: The present invention provides a preformed dollop that is inserted into a dollop receptacle and a method for using and manufacturing the preformed dollop in the dollop receptacle.

Abstract: A baking pan assembly including a frame with at least three contiguous walls defining an upper opening and a lower opening, and having a lip at least partially bordering the lower opening. The assembly further includes at least one removable sheet sized to block the lower opening of the frame, and at least one divider array sized to rest on the sheet within the frame. The array defines a plurality of compartments to receive goods to be baked.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food forming drum comprising a multitude of rows of cavities. The present invention further relates to the process of manufacturing the inventive drum.

Abstract: A confectionary food article support is disclosed that comprises a structure having a letter, number, or symbol shape. The device displays food articles along its upper surface and in alignment with its shape. The support comprise a raise upper surface and an article support means therealong, wherein the support means comprise either discrete apertures or an elongated channel for a plurality of food articles to be placed and aligned therein. The exact symbol can be chosen from any number of recognizable symbols, while several supports of differing shape may be displayed adjacent to one another to form an overall message or phrase. It is desired to disclose a food article support, and particularly a support for cupcakes, that provides a decorative and functional design, whereby the support may serve for simply display purposes, or further the support material may be suitable for use as a baking pan and display article.

Abstract: An automated casing removal system for removing the casing of encased food products supported on a support frame. An inclined surface on the support frame has a staging area onto which encased food product is loaded. The staging area has a cutting member moveable along a portion of the length of the staging area, and a stop mechanism downstream from the cutting member on the inclined surface. The stop mechanism extends within a plane which intersects the inclined surface to prevent the food product from moving down the inclined surface. The staging area has retaining member upstream of the stop mechanism which retains the casing to unravel the casing from the food product as the food product rolls down the inclined surface when the stop mechanism is removed.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods and devices for mass producing cooked, cooled egg products having a grill fried egg appearance. One device includes a portion for positioning whole, intact, shelled eggs positioned laterally across and above a cooking mold conveyor, and a portion for cracking the eggshells and depositing the eggs into cooking molds on the conveyor. Some devices and methods include an egg yolk splitter for rupturing the egg yolk sac to deposit a whole egg having a ruptured egg yolk into each mold. Other devices and methods include irregular shaped egg molds for providing a mass produced cooked egg having a natural, irregular shaped outlines and/or surfaces. Devices and methods according to the present invention can be used to produce irregular, outlined shaped cooked egg products including whole eggs, formulated eggs, or eggs made from scrambled egg mixes.

Abstract: A solid food product is molded in a mold cavity and is thereafter packaged in the mold cavity. The mold cavity is formed in a sheet and includes a side wall which extends from the sheet and a bottom wall which includes an inverting portion which extends from said side wall and a central portion. The central potion of the bottom wall includes a plurality of ridges which form a decorative design. A liquid food product is introduced into the mold cavity and allowed to solidify to form a molded solid food product. The central portion of the bottom wall is thereafter pushed into the mold cavity to invert said inverting potion and to push the molded food product away from the central portion of the bottom wall. The molded food product includes ridges which correspond to the ridges in the bottom wall of the mold cavity. A lid is attached to the sheet to enclose and package the molded food product within the mold cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for the formation of products comprising an edible material, preferably meat and an interleaver.

Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.

Abstract: A method for producing blocks of cheese from curd, wherein a curd mass is deposited in at least one cheese mold provided with a follower and in the at least one cheese mold is subjected to a vacuum treatment and pressing treatment, which pressing treatment is carried out while the at least one cheese mold is situated in a holder in which a vacuum prevails, wherein the vacuum treatment comprises at least a first and a second step, wherein in the first step in the holder with the aid of vacuum pump means a vacuum with a first vacuum pressure is created to draw air and whey entrained with the air from the curd mass, and in the second step the vacuum pressure in the holder is reduced further to a second vacuum pressure, which has a value at which the whey present in the curd mass starts to boil and residual air and free whey are pushed from the curd mass.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a consumer-friendly, ready-to-bake food item containment product (100) containing a food item (104) disposed on a planar sheet (102) of ovenable material, wherein the sheet has a compact configuration for shipping and storage that is capable of being transformed to an expanded configuration in which the food item portions are arranged in spaced locations on the sheet in position for baking into the individual baked food item products. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing individual food item portions for baking wherein a plurality of food item portions are disposed on a planar sheet of ovenable material capable of being transformed from the compact configuration to a flat planar configuration and changing the sheet from the compact configuration to the flat planar configuration to arrange the food item portions on the sheet for baking. The food items may include appetizers, entrees, or dessert type items, including sweet doughs.

Abstract: A method for preparing a ground meat product and a kit therefor is described and which includes the steps of providing and preparing an uncooked ground meat product; depositing the uncooked ground meat product in the internal cavity of a food product forming container; providing a rolling pin, engaging the rolling pin with the food product forming container so as to provide a densely packed ground meat layer having a given height dimension; removing the resulting uncooked ground meat layer from the internal cavity, and cooking the prepared, uncooked ground meat layer in a cooking appliance.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing food products, such as mousse products, includes the steps of: providing a transport conveyor having a transport surface, providing a molding conveyor having molding apertures therein, the molding apertures being positioned above the transport surface, making the transport surface of the transport conveyor and the molding apertures of the molding conveyor move in unison from an input end towards an output end, positioning a mold within a molding aperture of the molding conveyor and on top of the transport surface of the transport conveyor near the input end, applying a food substance within the mold, removing the products including the mold and the food substance from the molding apertures near the output end.

Abstract: A food serving dispenser and protected food servings dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser comprises a cylindrical container having a central stem that extends upward from the base of the container. The stem and container walls are dimensioned to receive a cylindrical protected food serving that comprises a food serving, such as a slice of cream cheese, that is sandwiched between two layers of film, preferably a plastic film such as cellophane or similar. The plastic film layers have tabs that are staggered within the cylindrical container to allow removal of a single protected food slice by grasping the tabs and pulling the protected food slice from the cylindrical container. The food servings are sealed within the plastic film, which is separable at perforations by pulling the tabs apart.

Abstract: A technique for allowing the convenient and orderly withdrawal of contents is disclosed. An apparatus according to the technique may include a container which includes an enhancement at the rim of the container. The enhancement provides the functionality to move edible and/or inedible substances onto objects. In one example, the enhancement may protrude inwardly as a smoothed surface that may push substances onto objects as the objects are removed from the container.

Abstract: An artificial shell for cooking includes, a top portion, having a fill opening therethrough, a bottom portion, and a fill opening cover. The top portion is removably attachable to the bottom portion and the top portion and bottom portion together define an inner storage chamber. Furthermore, the fill opening cover completely covers the fill opening.

Abstract: It is disclosed a container for storing muffins and for their serving. The container includes a bottom, a cover attachable to the bottom, and doors connected to the cover. In a closed state, the door defines together with the bottom and with the cover a sealed compartment for storing the muffins, which are disposed in dishes. In an opened state, most of the stored cakes are accessible for being taken out of the compartment. The dishes have several cake concavities of substantially uniform shape. The bottom may be a baking dish of six or more concavities. The cover includes a handle for carrying the container. The cover is locked to the bottom, and the door is locked to the cover. The container may have an oval or round shape. In a round container, the door is slidably connected to the cover.

Abstract: A method for filling an edible shell, in particular, a taco shell is achieved by gathering a first filling ingredient for a taco and layering the first filling ingredient along a first plane, gathering a second filling ingredient for a taco and layering the second filling ingredient along a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane, and inserting the layered first and second filling ingredients within a taco shell. A template for the preparation of a layered taco is also provided. The template includes a guide member having a concave recess shaped and dimensioned for receiving the open end of a taco shell, the concave recess being defined by a facing wall in the generally shape of the open end of the taco shell. The template also includes a support shelf transversely positioned within the concave recess.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a food packaging product constructed of a non-rigid material. Initially, an interior cavity of the food packaging product contains a food product. To prepare the food product for consumption, a consumer opens the food packaging product and empties the food product into a container. After emptying the food product into the container, the consumer pours a liquid into the interior cavity of the food packaging product such that a top surface of the liquid is substantially level with a fill line marked on the food packaging product. The fill line is visible on the interior cavity of the food packaging product. The material of the food packaging product prevents the liquid from leaking out of the interior cavity of the food packaging product. The consumer then pours the liquid into the container, thereby creating a mixture of the food product and the liquid.

Abstract: An ice-candy forming container is provided which produces ice-candies having a complicated shape copying the face of a cartoon character or the like with higher quality and without a loss in shape. A forming container includes a first mold having a pattern portion formed in one face thereof, and a second mold configured to slide over and along the one face of the first mold, in a close contact relation, in directions designated by arrows A1-A2, so as to contain the first mold therein. In such a containing position, the second mold contacts externally and closely substantially an entire surface of the outer periphery of the pattern portion.

Abstract: A hollow body is made from a flat baked wafer cake by first juxtaposing the wafer cake with a cavity of a deep-drawing mold and then forming edge regions of the cake with a plurality of deformations out of a plane of the cake at a uniformly spacing around a periphery of the cake. Then the cake is pushed by a deep-drawing punch into the cavity to it into a hollow body and to form each of the deformations into a multilayer fold.

Abstract: An ice pop making apparatus for rapid or “on demand” ice pop production involves an apparatus and method whereby one or more mold inserts are removable from the ice pop making apparatus subsequent to an edible product being frozen in the mold insert. The mold insert is exposed to ambient conditions or a fluid bath or stream to release the edible material from the mold insert. The mold insert may be cleaned and/or filled remotely from the ice pop making apparatus so that the ice pop making apparatus will be kept clean and there is no cross-contamination of edible products or flavors between consecutive batches of ice pops.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the invention, systems and methods relate to a container formed by a compressible mat and flexible strip. The strip can be formed into a closed shape, positioned on top of the compressible mat and pressed into the mat. A crevice can thereby formed along a bottom edge of the strip. The crevice can prevent material poured into the formed closed area from leaking underneath the strip.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an apparatus for baking a food product. The apparatus comprise a first piece and a second piece, the first piece and the second piece comprise at least one mold which receives and shapes the food product. The apparatus further comprises an alignment mechanism which aligns and fastens the first piece and the second piece together.

Abstract: A method is for handling a sterilized food product including sterilizing an intermodal container comprising a rigid shell with opposed closed ends and a discharge port in one of the closed end, and aseptically filling the intermodal container with the sterilized food product. The method further includes transporting the filled intermodal container while maintaining the sterilized food product in aseptic conditions. In addition, the method may include, at an emptying site, moving the intermodal container to an incline angle of at least 8 degrees from horizontal, and emptying the sterilized food product from the discharge port.

Abstract: Food packaging of the present invention is particularly adapted for microwave, conventional oven, stove top and boiler cooking techniques and includes an integral pocket or trap compartment for receiving fluids created by the cooking process, such as grease. Embodiments further include food packaging having food compartments that may contain food products that may be individually selected and/or combined together to form combination food products.

Abstract: Process for producing multi-layer frozen confections, comprising the steps of a. filling a first mold, having a mold bottom, mold walls and an open mould top, at least partly with at least one first substance to be frozen; b. freezing said at least one substance into a frozen part; c. releasing said frozen part from the first mold; d. positioning said frozen part in the first mold or in a further mold having a mold bottom, mold walls and an open mold top, leaving room between the frozen part and the mold bottom and mold walls; e. feeding at least one further substance to be frozen into the first mold during or after step d) or into the further mold before, during or after step d); f. freezing the frozen part and the further substance into a unitary frozen confection; and g.

Abstract: Process for producing frozen confections, comprising the steps of a) filling a mould, having a mould bottom, mould walls and an open mold top, with the substance to be frozen; b) freezing said substance into a frozen confection; c) releasing said frozen confection from the mould; characterized in that the mould is filled through at least one opening in the lower part of the mould walls or in the mould bottom and apparatus for producing frozen confections.

Abstract: A diagonal knock out system that is designed to remove mold food portions from a mold plate in a direction other than vertical.