Abstract: A confectionery aeration system comprising a confectionery material re-circulation circuit (7), the circuit comprising an aerator (12) and a confectionery vessel (2), the confectionery material re-circulation circuit being arranged such that a re-circulation outlet (8) of the vessel is connected to an inlet (9) of the vessel, the re-circulation circuit being without any de-aeration means for producing any substantial de-aeration material in the flow path between the re-circulation outlet and the aerator, the aerator being arranged in the re-circulation circuit to further aerate aerated confectionery material flowing from the re-circulation outlet of the vessel to the vessel inlet, the vessel inlet being provided with a back-pressure producing device (10) arranged so as to maintain a super-atmospheric pressure in the confectionery material in that part of the re-circulation circuit between the aerator and the vessel inlet, the circuit being provided with a supply connection (14) for feeding fresh confectionery

Abstract: A process for producing an aerated confectionery coating comprises supplying a liquid confectionery material to a coating head, maintaining the material under substantial super-atmospheric pressure up to the vicinity of the coating head, and forming, by gas injection, gaseous bubbles in the pressurized confectionery material prior to the confectionery material reaching the coating head, the rate of injection of gas into the confectionery material being controlled in response to a measure of the density of confectionery material in the supply to the coating head, excess liquid confectionery material available after coating by the coating head being recirculated into said supply.

Abstract: A method of measuring the density of an aerated liquid in a flowing supply of aerated liquid comprises passing sound vibrations through a portion (9) of the liquid supply and utilising the velocity of the sound through that liquid supply portion as a measure of the density, the pressure of that liquid supply portion being controlled (by 10; 13). A flow line (2) of aerated liquid is provided with a branch connection (3) to a branch line (9, 5, 7) which includes a through-flow density meter (4), a pressure transducer (8) being connected to the branch line for measuring the pressure in the branch line.

Abstract: A confectionery aeration system comprising a confectionery material re-circulation circuit (7), the circuit comprising an aerator (12) and a confectionery vessel (2), the confectionery material re-circulation circuit being arranged such that a re-circulation outlet (8) of the vessel is connected to an inlet (9) of the vessel, the re-circulation circuit being without any de-aeration means for producing any substantial de-aeration material in the flow path between the re-circulation outlet and the aerator, the aerator being arranged in the re-circulation circuit to further aerate aerated confectionery material flowing from the re-circulation outlet of the vessel to the vessel inlet, the vessel inlet being provided with a back-pressure producing device (10) arranged so as to maintain a super-atmospheric pressure in the confectionery material in that part of the re-circulation circuit between the aerator and the vessel inlet, the circuit being provided with a supply connection (14) for feeding fresh confectionery

Abstract: A process for producing an aerated confectionery coating comprises supplying a liquid confectionery material to a coating head, maintaining the material under substantial super-atmospheric pressure up to the vicinity of the coating head, and forming, by gas injection, gaseous bubbles in the pressurized confectionery material prior to the confectionery material reaching the coating head, the rate of injection of gas into the confectionery material being controlled in response to a measure of the density of confectionery material in the supply to the coating head, excess liquid confectionery material available after coating by the coating head being recirculated into said supply.