Patents by Inventor Roberto A. Capodieci
Roberto A. Capodieci has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6231330Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. In still other embodiments, the confectionery material may comprise grains of a puffed cereal. In some instances, a matrix of plasticizable material holds the grains together and the confectionery material may also include, in addition to the puffed cereal, candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1999Date of Patent: May 15, 2001Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 6210728Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. The confectionery material may also include candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: Mars IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 6143336Abstract: A apparatus and method for infusing flavors into cereal grains and agglomerating the grains into a unitary food product. Grains of cereal, powdered soluble flavors and a moisturizing liquid are supplied to a mixer. The flavors, liquid and cereal grains are thoroughly mixed and the grains surface moisturized and then discharged into a product-forming chamber which is ultrasonically energized for a sufficient period of time so that the flavors are infused within the interiors of the grains which are agglomerated into a unitary product.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 1998Date of Patent: November 7, 2000Assignee: Mars IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 6068868Abstract: The invention provides processes for the preparation of puffed cereal cakes, in particular puffed rice cakes. The processes comprise molding puffed or unpuffed cereal grains under pressure with the application of ultrasound. The ultrasound assists bonding of the cereal grains to form a solid cake. The ultrasound reduces fouling of the mold and increases processing speed. In one aspect, the starting material is prepuffed cereal grains, and these grains are coated with a binder agent and then bonded together at low temperature using ultrasound energy. This permits the formation of puffed cereal cakes with edible inclusions of temperature-sensitive foodstuffs, and also the rapid formation of puffed cereal cakes with shaped or profiled top and/or bottom surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 1999Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5928695Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultrasonically energized slitting of a slab of confectionery material wherein a slitting tool incorporates a plurality of slitting knives spaced apart in accordance with the desired width of the product, which strips are further processed by transverse cutting and/or molding or other processing steps such as chocolate enrobing to provide improved confectionery products.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 1997Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5871783Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. The confectionery material may also include candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5871793Abstract: The invention provides processes for the preparation of puffed cereal cakes, in particular puffed rice cakes. The processes comprise molding puffed or unpuffed cereal grains under pressure with the application of ultrasound. The ultrasound assists bonding of the cereal grains to form a solid cake. The ultrasound reduces fouling of the mold and increases processing speed. In one aspect, the starting material is prepuffed cereal grains, and these grains are coated with a binder agent and then bonded together at low temperature using ultrasound energy. This permits the formation of puffed cereal cakes with edible inclusions of temperature-sensitive foodstuffs, and also the rapid formation of puffed cereal cakes with shaped or profiled top and/or bottom surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1996Date of Patent: February 16, 1999Assignee: Mars IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5861185Abstract: The invention provides for the manufacture of food products. In one preferred form, methods and apparatus are provided for cutting individual confectionery products from a slab or strip of product material into a product with a particular silhouette. In another form, the invention provides methods and apparatus for both cutting and forming individual confectionery products from strips or ropes. The process can be used for simply forming products from pre-cut segments or other blanks of confectionery material, including imparting a relatively precise texture, finish or detail to such products. The products may, but need not, be subsequently enrobed in chocolate or another coating. In still other embodiments, the confectionery material may comprise grains of a puffed cereal. In some instances, a matrix of plasticizable material holds the grains together and the confectionery material may also include, in addition to the puffed cereal, candied fruit bits, dry fruits, nuts, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1996Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5846584Abstract: A apparatus and method for infusing flavors into cereal grains and agglomerating the grains into a unitary food product. Grains of cereal, powdered soluble flavors and a moisturizing liquid are supplied to a mixer. The flavors, liquid and cereal grains are thoroughly mixed and the grains surface moisturized and then discharged into a product-forming chamber which is ultrasonically energized for a sufficient period of time so that the flavors are infused within the interiors of the grains which are agglomerated into a unitary product.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1997Date of Patent: December 8, 1998Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5591476Abstract: A process and a system for combining and physically working chocolate-making ingredients are provided. A variable frequency drive controls the motor of a conching device to increase the efficiency by which energy is imparted to chocolate ingredients during conching. This automatic variable speed approach permits the power to be maintained at a relatively constant and maximum rate, with the speed being determined by the consistency of the ingredients themselves. Feedback associated with the automatic speed variation can be used in order to reduce conching times and vary the quantity of certain ingredients and the timing of and location of their introduction. By the invention, it is possible to standardize the chocolate product during the conching operation and thereby avoid a post-conching standardization procedure with respect to characteristics such as viscosity and fat content.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1995Date of Patent: January 7, 1997Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5460840Abstract: A process and a system for combining and physically working chocolate-making ingredients are provided. A variable frequency drive controls the motor of a conching device to increase the efficiency by which energy is imparted to chocolate ingredients during conching. This automatic variable speed approach permits the power to be maintained at a relatively constant and maximum rate, with the speed being determined by the consistency of the ingredients themselves. Feedback associated with the automatic speed variation can be used in order to reduce conching times and vary the quantity of certain ingredients and the timing of and location of their introduction. By the invention, it is possible to standardize the chocolate product during the conching operation and thereby avoid a post-conching standardization procedure with respect to characteristics such as viscosity and fat content.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1994Date of Patent: October 24, 1995Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5332588Abstract: A process and a system for combining and physically working chocolate-making ingredients are provided. A variable frequency drive controls the motor of a conching device to increase the efficiency by which energy is imparted to chocolate ingredients during conching. This automatic variable speed approach permits the power to be maintained at a relatively constant and maximum rate, with the speed being determined by the consistency of the ingredients themselves. Feedback associated with the automatic speed variation can be used in order to reduce conching times and vary the quantity of certain ingredients and the timing of and location of their introduction. By the invention, it is possible to standardize the chocolate product during the conching operation and thereby avoid a post-conching standardization procedure with respect to characteristics such as viscosity and fat content.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1993Date of Patent: July 26, 1994Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci
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Patent number: 5200220Abstract: A process and a system for combining and physically working chocolate-making ingredients are provided. A variable frequency drive controls the motor of a conching device to increase the efficiency by which energy is imparted to chocolate ingredients during conching. This automatic variable speed approach permits the power to be maintained at a relatively constant and maximum rate, with the speed being determined by the consistency of the ingredients themselves. Feedback associated with the automatic speed variation can be used in order to reduce conching times and vary the quantity of certain ingredients and the timing of and location of their introduction. By the invention, it is possible to standardize the chocolate product during the conching operation and thereby avoid a post-conching standardization procedure with respect to characteristics such as viscosity and fat content.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 1992Date of Patent: April 6, 1993Assignee: Mars, IncorporatedInventor: Roberto A. Capodieci