Patents Assigned to NESTECS S.A.
  • Apparatus and process for rolling-up sheet material
    Patent number: 5756138
    Abstract: A material sheet is conveyed to a hollowed pipe member which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and which has one or more circumferential openings and which is positioned for, by vacuum suction via the pipe hollow and circumferential openings and by rotation, sucking up and rolling up the sheet. The pipe member is mounted so that it reciprocates transversely to the direction of sheet travel for positioning for sucking up and rolling up the sheet and for retracting from a rolled sheet on the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Slobodan Milohanic
  • Peptide isolated from micrococcus varians and use thereof
    Patent number: 5756665
    Abstract: An isolated peptide which in a microorganism, and particularly in Micrococcus varians, is a signal peptide which initiates expression of a bactericide composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Beat Mollet, John Peel, David Pridmore, Nadji Rekhif, Bruno Suri
  • Ultrasonic cutting device
    Patent number: 5752423
    Abstract: An ultrasonic cutting device includes an ultrasonic vibrating device which, in operation, generates ultrasonic vibrations in a longitudinal direction. At least one solid horn, whose length is a multiple of half-wavelengths, is connected to and extends away from the vibrating device, in the longitudinal direction of the ultrasonic vibrations. A plurality of tubular spacer horns, each having vibrating end faces and a length of substantially one half-wavelength, are arranged end to end about and along the solid horn. At least one cutting blade is connected to the solid horn, between the vibrating end faces of a pair of adjacent tubular spacer horns. The blade is positioned in a plane extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of vibrations. A clamping device for pressingly retaining the tubular spacer horns along the solid horn is positioned at the end of the solid horn, away from the vibrating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Francis F. H. Rawson
  • Method of making coffee particles containing aroma
    Patent number: 5750178
    Abstract: A method of producing coffee particles containing entrapped aroma. Soluble coffee solids and up to 10% by weight water are introduced into a heating and mixing zone and to raise the temperature to about 85.degree. C. to about 130.degree. C. to form a molten mass. Aroma-containing substrate is introduced into the molten mass to form a molten mixture containing a gas under a pressure of about 2.0 MPa to about 7.0 MPa. The molten mixture is extruded into a pressure zone in which the pressure is greater than the pressure of the gas in the molten mixture and the molten mixture is retained in the pressure zone until it solidifies to form a hardened glass. The hardened glass is ground into coffee particles of size of about 0.5 mm to 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Pu-Sheng Cheng, Robert Garwood, Zenon Ioannis Mandralis, James Tuot, Scott Westfall
  • Process for providing filled, extruded dough products
    Patent number: 5750170
    Abstract: A process for the production of filled dough products in which dough and a filling are co-extruding to provide a filled tube of the dough surrounding the filling. The filled tube is then transported on a movable support. While being transported, the filled tube is cut into segments using a plurality of blades which move with the filled tube and which progressively cut into the filled tube with progressive movement of the filled tube so that filling in the portion of the tube to be cut is progressively pushed out of this portion prior to cutting when the blade engages the moving support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Alain Daouse, Alain Plessier
  • Preparation of thiols with food-acceptable micro-organisms
    Patent number: 5747302
    Abstract: Flavorant compounds and compositions for food substances are prepared in a food-acceptable manner by bio-conversion of a cysteine S-complex with a food-acceptable micro-organism, particularly a yeast or filamentous fungus, which, upon incubation with the complex, splits the complex at a terminal carboxyl group in a beta position to yield a product including a thiol and at least one metabolite compound, and the product is isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Tuong Huynh-Ba, Daniel Jaeger, Walter Matthey-Doret
  • Sustained release microparticulate caffeine formulation
    Patent number: 5744164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for increasing the alertness of an individual through the administration of a stimulant such as xanthine or an xanthine derivative and preferably caffeine. A particular composition has one or more layers containing the stimulant arranged about the cores of microparticles. This allows the composition to release a significant portion of the stimulant within about two hours after administration so that a level of alertness can be readily achieved. Thereafter, the balance of the composition is released within about 6 to 10 hours, so that the stimulant can provide alertness during that time, but then can dissipate to levels which would not affect the individual's ability to sleep. Also, the formulation is carefully designed so that the stimulant does not accumulate in the individual's system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Francoise Chauffard, Mark Y. A. Enslen, Pierre Tachon
  • Preparation of lipid compositions for cosmetic products
    Patent number: 5744145
    Abstract: Oil mixtures, which provide lipid compositions for restraining skin degeneration, contain, by weight, 30% to 50% rice bran oil and 15% to 25% sesame oil and also contain additional oil, which includes in particular, oil from among maize oil, wheat germ oil and sunflower oil, so that the composition contains linoleic acid and contains vitamin E for protecting the composition against oxidation, the composition being prepared from oils containing gum, color and odor which are subjected to degumming, decoloring and deodorizing, the deodorizing being carried out under conditions of temperature and vacuum so that the composition has at least 2% by weight unsaponifiable oil matter and particularly from 2% to 3% unsaponifiable oil matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Constantin Bertoli, Umberto Bracco, Angiolino Delvecchio, Armand Malnoe
  • Aromatisation process used in food packaging
    Patent number: 5744182
    Abstract: A process for introducing an aroma into the headspace of a package containing a food product during the gas packaging of the food product which comprises introducing a modified atmosphere into the headspace, and introducing a food acceptable aroma dissolved in a liquid food acceptable gas under pressure into the headspace of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Bo Andersson, Dominique Villot
  • Aroma concentration process
    Patent number: 5736182
    Abstract: A process for the production of a concentrated aroma solution from an aqueous solution containing water-soluble aroma components; for example coffee, tea or fruit aroma components. Soluble solids are added to the aqueous solution to provide a fortified solution. Then the fortified solution is chilled to provide ice and a concentrated aqueous liquid. The concentrated aqueous liquid has a concentration of soluble solids above about 9% by weight and contains water-soluble aroma components. At least a portion of the concentrated aqueous liquid is collected as the concentrated aroma solution. Little or no aroma components and soluble solids are lost in the ice and little or no deterioration of the aroma components occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Joseph Victor Jimenez, Richard Tien-Szu Liu
  • Lactic bacteria producing exopolysaccharides
    Patent number: 5733765
    Abstract: DNA fragment of genomic origin coding for at least one enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of an EPS, and capable, following the transformation of a lactic bacteria, of restoring the production of an EPS in the said bacterium not initially producing any EPS, or of modifying the structure of the EPS initially produced by the said bacterium. Proteins of the Streptococcus thermophilus strain CNCM I-1590 encoded by the chromosome and which are involved in the biosynthesis of the EPS having the composition Glc:Gal:GalNac=1:2:1. Method for the manufacture of a new EPS, in which a DNA fragment coding partially or totally for at least one enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of an EPS is cloned into a vector, lactic bacteria producing another EPS are transformed with the recombinant vector, and a lactic bacterium producing a new EPS is then selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Beat Mollet, Francesca Stingele
  • Homogenized starch-based cheese product and methods of making same
    Patent number: 5731026
    Abstract: A cheese sauce comprising a water-in-oil emulsion containing, based on the weight of the sauce, from 1 to 25% by weight of cheese and from 3 to 10% by weight of a homogenized modified starch or a mixture of homogenized modified and unmodified starch containing up to 40% by weight of unmodified starch based on the weight of the mixture of the starches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Kim C. Krumhar, Amuerfina Natividad Phillips, Kenneth Richard Moffitt, Dominick Damiano
  • Ice confectionery product and preparation thereof
    Patent number: 5728419
    Abstract: A frozen ice confectionery product has a first ice layer containing a first effervescence-producing agent and a second ice layer containing a second effervescence-producing agent. The first and second ice layers are juxtaposed and are not separated by a water-impermeable intermediary. Upon dissolution of the first and second ice layers in the mouth upon eating, the first and second effervescence-producing agents react to produce carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Pierrette Caron, Sylvie Jousset
  • Twisted quick cooking pasta
    Patent number: 5728418
    Abstract: Twisted quick cooking pasta having, in transverse section, the shape of a helix having at least one blade attached to an axis, the axis being hollow, the wall thickness of the axis and of the blade or blades being between 0.3 and 1.1 mm, and the degree of twisting being such that it has a density of between 0.2 and 0.7 g/cm.sup.3, the volume being defined as the cylindrical space occupied by the pasta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas Wilhelm Hauser, Lorenzo Panattoni
  • Die for forming extrudate having two visible longitudinal components
    Patent number: 5718926
    Abstract: A die for extrusion of an extrudate from an extruder has a tubular member, a hollowed distributor portion and a hollowed nozzle portion configured and arranged so that extrudate issuing from the die has two visible longitudinal components. The tubular member has three successive and integral portions wherein first and third portions are, in cross-section, continuous and wherein the second portion is, in cross-section, discontinuous. The first tubular member portion has an interior wall surface which, in cross-section, has radial projections and recesses therebetween so that the interior wall surface defines a shape which is an outline of a star-like shape, and the second tubular member portion has longitudinal openings which are in alignment with the first portion projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Marc Dambrine, Osvaldo La Violette Geromini, Denis Janot
  • Whey protein and casein co-precipitate for texturizing dairy products
    Patent number: 5714182
    Abstract: A texturizing product for dairy products including yogurt and fresh cheese is prepared by adding a quantity of sweet whey proteins to a milk-based raw material to prepare a mixture having a casein:whey protein ratio of from 70:30 to 40:60 and by preparing the mixture so that it has a pH of from 6.1 to 6.7, and then the mixture is heated to obtain a casein and whey protein co-precipitate-containing mixture which then is subjected to shear to obtain the texturizing product. The texturizing product, such as in a dehydrated form, is combined with a milk for preparing a yogurt or fresh cheese.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Bisson, Giovanni Prella
  • Antioxidant composition and process for the preparation thereof
    Patent number: 5714094
    Abstract: An antioxidant composition and a process of recovering the same from a gelatinous retentate of spent ground coffee oil, comprising from 20 to 60% wt of complex lipids and from 10 to 75% wt of carboxylic acids 5-hydroxytryptamides, in which the 5-HT are for example those of behenic, arachidic and/or lignoceric acids, and the complex lipids are phospholipids and glycolipids. This composition may be advantageously used in food products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Raymond Bertholet, Ladislas Colarow, Andrej Kusy, Vincent Rivier
  • Compositions to enhance taste of salt used in reduced amounts
    Patent number: 5711985
    Abstract: The salty taste of a food or beverage is enhanced by adding to the food or beverage a dehydrated composition containing from about 15% to about 65% by weight of an ammonium salt and from about 35% to about 85% by weight of a proteolyzed protein. The dehydrated composition contains from about 0.2% to about 3% free lysine and from about 0.2% to about 3% free arginine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Arturo Guerrero, Steven Soon-Young Kwon, Dharam Vir Vadehra
  • Granular particulate food composition and method of making
    Patent number: 5702741
    Abstract: A granular particulate composition, which may be employed to coat an exterior surface of a food, particularly meat, to provide for fluid retention, is prepared by combining individual particles of aggregated solids of intracellular starch, undenatured milk protein and uncoagulated egg albumen, the individual particles being formed by at least one of the milk protein, egg albumen and intracellular starch solids. The granular composition may be prepared by drying an aqueous mixture of egg albumen, milk protein, and intracellular starch under conditions of temperature which substantially avoid coagulation of the albumen, denaturation of the protein and gelatinization of the starch to obtain a mixture dried suitably for being formed into granules and by forming the dried mixture into granules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventor: Ernest Reutimann
  • Sustained release microparticulate caffeine formulation
    Patent number: 5700484
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for increasing the alertness of an individual through the administration of a stimulant such as xanthine or an xanthine derivative and preferably caffeine. A particular composition has one or more layers containing the stimulant arranged about the cores of microparticles. This allows the composition to release a significant portion of the stimulant within about two hours after administration so that a level of alertness can be readily achieved. Thereafter, the balance of the composition is released within about 6 to 10 hours, so that the stimulant can provide alertness during that time, but then can dissipate to levels which would not affect the individual's ability to sleep. Also, the formulation is carefully designed so that the stimulant does not accumulate in the individual's system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Francoise Chauffard, Mark Y. A. Enslen, Pierre Tachon