Abstract: The heat recovery system includes an oven having a treatment air with a treatment air temperature and a treatment air dew point temperature to treat a product or product in process. A zone outlet exhaust waste treatment air following the treatment of the product. A preheating zone includes a preheating inlet for the introduction of preheating air having a preheating air temperature and a preheating air dew point temperature to preheat the product. A transfer duct extends between the zone outlet of the oven and the preheating zone to transfer a portion of waste treatment air from the oven to the preheating zone to create the preheating air to preheat additional product. The preheating air preheats the product in the preheating zone to a product temperature that is at least equal to the treatment air dew point temperature to eliminate surface condensation on the product during treatment in the oven.

Abstract: A packaging system (20) for forming and filling a transportable container (22) of plurality of bulk goods includes a frame (26) having a bottom support (48) and an upper support (32). An upper turntable (34) is rotatably supported within the upper support (32) and a lower turntable (50) is rotatably supported on the bottom support (48). A drive system (58) includes at least one pulley system (62, 64, 66) interconnected to the upper and lower turntables (34, 50) for simultaneously driving and synchronizing rotation of the upper and lower turntables (34, 50) with the at least one pulley system (62, 64, 66). A slip frame former (42) extends downwardly from the upper turntable (34) and a roll of stretch wrap (92) is disposed in overlapping relationship with the slip frame former (42) and the bottom support (48) during simultaneous and synchronized rotation of the turntables (34, 50) with the at least one pulley system (62, 64, 66).

Abstract: A packaging assembly is provided and may include a first cup having a first end, a second end formed on an opposite end of the first cup from the first end, and an interior defined between the first end and the second end that receives food product, whereby the first end has an opening in communication with the interior. The packaging assembly may also include a wrap that extends around the first cup and a cap that is selectively attached to the first cup at the first end to close the opening. The cap and the second end may extend through respective apertures formed in the wrap.

Abstract: A shaping assembly for producing a discrete spiral shaped food product includes a die that defines at least one aperture that is centered on an aperture axis. The at least one aperture extends to an aperture exit and allows for the movement of a stream of food mass through the aperture and out the aperture exit. A shaping tool includes at least one slicing blade that is disposed over at least a portion of the aperture exit to slice the stream of food mass into a plurality of food mass portions. A coupling arrangement engages the shaping tool to facilitate rotation of the slicing blade to spin the plurality of food mass portions into a spiral shaped stream of food mass. The slicing blade simultaneously slices and spins the stream of food mass to create the spiral shaped stream of food mass. A crimper is used to cut the spiral shaped stream of food mass into the discrete spiral shaped food products.

Abstract: The packaging system forms a transportable container for bulk goods having stretch wrap that is spirally wrapped about a bottom support and bulk goods to define the transportable container. The stretch wrap contacts at least a portion of the bulk goods to squeeze and lock together the bulk goods. During filling, the bottom support of the transportable container lowers as the transportable container is formed to accommodate additional bulk goods. The stretch wrap is prestretched from a non-stretched state to a stretched state prior to disposing the wrap about a slip frame former in the stretched state. The wrap returns to its non-stretched state as it is disengaged from the slip frame former to squeeze and lock together the bulk goods disposed therein. The packaging system results in a transportable container that is optimally packed and shaped for the efficient filling of a truck for shipping.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a substantially spiral shaped food product is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a die defining a plurality of apertures disposed in a circle about a center. The apparatus also includes at least one cutting blade disposed for rotation about the center and operable to intermittently pass fully across each of the apertures during rotation. The apparatus also includes a plurality of slicing blades arranged for individual rotation about one of the plurality of apertures. The plurality of slicing blades are also arranged for continuous extension less than fully across the one aperture. The apparatus also includes a planetary coupling arrangement operably disposed to facilitate reciprocating rotation between the at least one cutting blade and the plurality of slicing blades.

Abstract: A gas assisted co-extrusion apparatus includes a co-extrusion die in communication with an extruder. A nozzle that is defined by a bore in the co-extrusion die extends about a nozzle axis to a nozzle exit of the co-extrusion die. An injector extends through the bore of the co-extrusion die along the nozzle axis. The injector and nozzle together form a dough into a rope that is tubular with a wall portion and an inner cavity surrounded by the wall portion as the dough is extruded out of the nozzle exit and about the injector. A compressed gas source provides a compressed gas out of an injector outlet and into the inner cavity of the rope to radially stretch the wall portion of the rope as the rope is dispersed from the injector. The co-extrusion die is spaced from the extruder to define a void therebetween. A delivery system delivers an entrainable material to the compressed gas in a pipe. The pipe is connected to an injector inlet of the injector in the void.

Abstract: A method of producing an edible food product includes the step of forming a vessel core with a first material having a first level of susceptibility to heating by induction. The method also includes the step of casting an apron of a second material with a second level of susceptibility to heating by induction lower than said first level around at least a first portion the vessel core in an in situ casting process to form a clad cooking vessel having a cooking surface. An uncooked food product is then disposed on the cooking surface of the clad cooking vessel and heated to produce the edible food product by subjecting the vessel core to a magnetic field.

Abstract: Disclosed are nonlimiting embodiments comprising a novel process for forming and shaping crunchy granola food products. The process comprises using rotary molding processes to form and shape a granola mass into a variety of desired shapes. The granola mass is able to be rotary molded as a result of use of a unique binder composition that comprises at least one pre-gelatinized starch in the binder composition. The pre-gelatinized starch enables the binder viscosity to increase and increases the tackiness of the granola mass such that it can be formed by a rotary molder and such that it releases from the mold as a unitary piece of shaped and formed granola food product.

Abstract: A container of the present invention is designed for shipping and holding various items. The container is formed from a blank of a material, such as corrugated material, plastic, paperboard, etc. and includes side panels extending between a top portion and a bottom portion. A tear line extends around the side panels for disengaging the top portion from the container thereby exposing all of the items extending along the side panels. An improved configuration of the perforations or slits along the tear line prevents the corners defined between the side panels from being damaged and deformed and provides for smooth tearing of the tear line from the container. A second tear section is defined in the a portion of the container by a perforation line with the tear section being separable from the top portion thereby partially exposing the items contained in the container.

Abstract: Disclosed is a reduced sugar coating for coating a variety of food products including ready-to-eat cereals, granola, trail mix, energy bars, granola bars, cookies, cakes, pies, crackers, and muffins. The reduced sugar coating provides a frosted appearance to the food products and permits up to 50% reduction of the sugar in a coating composition while maintaining the taste, texture and function of a full sugar coating composition. The removed sugar is replaced by a type 4 resistant starch in an amount of from 0.1 to 1.0 parts of type 4 resistant starch per every 3 parts of removed sugar. Preferably the source of the type 4 resistant starch is potato, however the source can also comprise wheat, corn, rice, tapioca, quinoa, a legume, barley, banana, sorghum, oat, millet, sweet potato, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A packaging system, for opening and unloading a plurality of articles onto a display, includes a plurality of articles arranged to define a unit. The unit includes a front side, a back side, a pair of lateral sides extending between the front and back sides, a bottom, and a top. The unit may include a tray. A tubular film that extends between first and second ends, encircles the unit to secure the plurality of articles defining the unit. A series of first perforations are defined in the film and arranged in two bottom lines that are spaced from each other and extend along the bottom of the unit from the first end to the second end of the film. The bottom lines are spaced on the bottom to define the film into a lower portion that extends between the two bottom lines and a remaining portion.

Abstract: A food piece with a first dough sheet having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a first peripheral edge. The food piece also includes a second dough sheet having a second inner surface, a second outer surface, and a second peripheral edge. The first peripheral edge of the first dough sheet is joined together with the second peripheral edge of the second dough sheet to define a perimeter. The food piece also includes an embossment positioned within the perimeter. The embossment extends upon at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface and includes at least one line along which the first and second dough sheets are joined.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite structure may include positioning a composite sheet adjacent to a die opening. A portion of the composite sheet may be constrained between a first forming surface and a second forming surface. The first forming surface may be spaced a gap distance from the second forming surface. The gap distance may be substantially equal to or greater than the sheet thickness. The composite sheet may be urged through the die opening and along a third forming surface to form a composite bottom from the composite sheet.

Abstract: A composite container for storing perishable products may include a composite body and a composite bottom. The composite bottom may include a bottom fiber layer, a bottom oxygen barrier layer, and a bottom sealant layer, such that the composite bottom has an upper surface and a lower surface. A hermetic seal may be formed between a sealing portion of the composite bottom and an interior surface of the composite body. When an internal pressure is applied to the interior surface of the composite body and the upper surface of the platen portion of the composite bottom, an external pressure is applied to the exterior surface of the composite body and the lower surface of the composite bottom, and the internal pressure is about 20 kPa greater than the external pressure, the platen portion of the composite bottom may not extend beyond the bottom edge of the composite body.