Extruding Through Restricted Orifice To Give Desired Final Shape Patents (Class 426/516)
  • Publication number: 20080044518
    Abstract: The present invention discloses novel methods of using Phleum spp. seeds, especially Timothy grass (P. pratense L.) seeds, for making gluten-free food products and the food products produced using such methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Inventors: Duane L. Johnson, Bettie C. Stanislao, David C. Sands
  • Patent number: 7332186
    Abstract: A three-phase center-filled gum or bubble gum candy lollipop product. An extruded gum or bubble gum material has a semi-liquid center-fill material added to it in a batch forming mechanism simultaneously with the formation of an exterior candy shell. The three-phase rope of material is formed into lollipop candy members in a forming machine and lollipop sticks are inserted into them. The formed lollipop products are then cooled, tumbled and prepared for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Cadbury Adams USA LLC
    Inventors: Bharat Jani, Marc Degady, Richard Mark Warrington, Demian Arenas, Edward M. Janos
  • Publication number: 20080038427
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus for modifying the exterior structure of a co-extruded bar type food product, and products formed thereby. By lowering a blade into the outer dough jacket of a food bar, as it is extruded, a slit can be created in the outer jacket of the bar. This can expose the interior filling of the bar at the slit portions, aiding in identification of the fruit flavoring and improving the aesthetics of the finished bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventor: Adi Tya Varanasi
  • Publication number: 20080038416
    Abstract: Packaged food articles comprise at least one shaped food product disposed within sealed moisture resistant packaging. The shaped food products include an axially aligned center piece or rod as a core portion and at least one string wrapped around the periphery of the core piece. The shaped food piece is fabricated from a pliable or plastic food composition such as a sweetened intermediate moisture fruit or confection such as licorice. The center piece can be provided with a multiplicity of fins extending longitudinally about the exterior periphery of the core piece. The coiled string is peelably removable from the core piece. The combination of core piece and coiled string provide a child oriented wholesome food of enhanced play value. Methods for preparing the shaped food product are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Laurie Burgess, Jennifer M. Maack, Thomas Luehrs
  • Publication number: 20080032016
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Chris Willoughby, Charles A. Smith, Norbert Gimmler
  • Publication number: 20080032017
    Abstract: An ice confection is provided comprising: 1 to 8 wt % fat; a total solids content of from 10 to 25 wt %; an ice structuring protein (ISP); and at least 0.1 wt % aerating agent; the confection being obtainable by a process comprising aerating a mix with an aerating gas which contains at least 50% by volume of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide or mixtures thereof. A process for producing the ice confection is also provide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Allan Sidney Bramley, Teresa Jane Brawn
  • Patent number: 7323201
    Abstract: We report herein a composition comprising tricalcium citrate, wherein the tricalcium citrate has an X-ray powder diffraction pattern comprising peaks at 2-theta (2?) values of about 8.236, about 16.02, about 17.97, about 19.75, about 21.42, about 25.74, and about 28.65. This tricalcium citrate is produced at high temperatures in a low-water environment. This composition is highly soluble (more than about 200 mg per 8 fluid ounces) in potable aqueous solutions (beverages), and can be used to fortify beverages (such as fruit juices) or foods with calcium at higher doses than seen when using previously-known compositions of tricalcium citrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandria L. Bailey, Warren L. Nehmer, Roy O. Elmore
  • Patent number: 7320807
    Abstract: A cheese snack (10) includes an extruded annular cheese product (12) and a flavoring core (11) co-extruded within the cheese product. The core is normally flowable at room temperature. The product and core have substantially planar end faces with the core being exposed at the end faces. The cheese snack is processed such that the core does not substantially flow out of the cheese product prior to consumption when the product is stored at room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sorrento Lactalis, Inc.
    Inventors: Yashavantkumar J. Asher, Pierre Nurit, Larry R. Pokojski, Sebastien Robert, Jean F. Falcetta
  • Patent number: 7306449
    Abstract: A food shaping device for forming a three-layered food comprises: at least two first guide units and a food output unit. The food output device comprises a main tube; a middle tube; an inner tube; an inner circular path; an inner material guiding nozzle; and an outer material guiding nozzle. Stuffing is filled into a second guide unit; then the stuffing is pushed to the output end of the inner tube by a screw propeller to be as an inner layer material. Dough is fed into the inlets of the main tube from the two first paths and then is further processed to be as an outer layer material of the food product. A part of the dough horizontally passes through the transversal inlet of the middle tube and is further processed to be as a middle layer material. Thus a three layers food is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
  • Patent number: 7297357
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing puffed snack having a hard surface layer and soft inside, and having a good texture and a difference in color tone between the surface layer and the inside. After spraying a coating liquid or water onto the surface of a dough extruded from an extruder in the form of a rope, the extrudate is dried so that the moisture content of the sprayed extrudate becomes 5 to 12% by weight and then cut. The apparatus used for this manufacturing method comprises a spray device for uniformly spraying the surface of the dough extruded from a nozzle hole of an extruder, a drying device arranged on the downstream side of the driving device, a drawing mechanism comprising belts spanned in a tensioned state so as to clamp the extrudate, a holding cylinder for holding the extrudate and arranged adjacently on the downstream side of the drawing mechanism, and a cutting blade arranged in close proximity to the outlet side opening of the holding cylinder to cut the extrudate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Akimoto, Takahiro Miura, Taisuke Yamane
  • Patent number: 7293974
    Abstract: Apparatus for cutting a puff extrudate utilizing a blade that passes through the extrudate while the extrudate is in a viscous melt stage. The present invention utilizes a tube to facilitate production of a curly puff extrudate. A gap is provided in between the tube and the extruder die to allow a blade to access the extrudate as it exits an orifice in the die. The blade accesses the extrudate at the viscous melt stage, before the extrudate has cooled and hardened. The blade nicks the extrudate, as opposed to completely cutting it, which allows the extrudate to remain connected throughout processing such as curling in the containment tube. The gap also allows steam to be vented form the extrudate as it exits the orifice in the die. The nicked extrudate separates when fried or baked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugenio Bortone, Daniel Eugene Orr, Devang Jitendra Sutaria
  • Patent number: 7264836
    Abstract: A triple coextruded baked good having a bar shape with a desired substantially smaller height than width, is continuously produced with distinct, at least substantially uniform concentric fillings which are visually apparent at opposing cut ends of the baked piece. The bar-shaped products are preferably cookies with dissimilar fillings, such as a fruit filling and a cheese-cake filling. Undesirable excessive flow of a middle filling or layer towards the cross-sectional ends or sides rather than the top and bottom of the coextrudate is substantially reduced by obstructing and diverting the flow of the middle filling through the middle die orifice so that it flows towards the top and bottom elongated portions of the middle annulus. A baked product having a substantially even middle concentric layer which is desirably uniformly thick and continuous at least across the top and bottom is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Kevin McHugh, Robert John Profita, Jill Margaret Critchley, Nicole Remily
  • Patent number: 7255873
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a fatty acid salt, the method comprising reacting a fatty acid with a metal oxide or a metal hydroxide by use of an extruder having at least a stock supply zone, a kneading/reaction zone, and a cooling zone. The invention provides a high-productivity, highly efficient method for continuously producing a fatty acid salt and a method for effectively producing a fatty acid salt having a high unsaturated fatty acid content and a low melting temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Nichiyu Solution Incorporation
    Inventor: Masahide Nakata
  • Patent number: 7252847
    Abstract: An extruder die assembly and method for using same is disclosed that may be adapted to a wide variety of commercial-grade extrusion devices common in the food industry. The disclosed method comprises extruding a known composition of a farinaceous food product through the extruder die assembly of the present invention to produce a flavored direct-expanded food product exhibiting enhanced flavor characteristics, but requiring no post-extrusion drying or seasoning process. The injection section of the extruder die assembly is used to impart flavoring additives into the extrudate mass shortly before expansion, thereby preserving the flavoring characteristics of the additive by minimizing the heat exposure of the flavoring additive. The extruder die assembly may also include static mixing elements downstream from the injection section to homogenize the flavoring or seasoning media into the flowing mass of extrudate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Conrad Keller, Jorge C. Morales-Alvarez
  • Patent number: 7250186
    Abstract: A process for the manufacture of cooked cereals or dry pet food by preparing a mixture of water and a dry premix mainly comprising cereal flour or semolina, and pressing the mixture, with the aid of a gear pump, firstly through a heat exchanger wherein it is cooked and then through an extrusion die to form an extruded product. Also, an apparatus for carrying out the process and a product obtainable by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Werner Pfaller, Ernst Heck, Jean Horisberger
  • Patent number: 7235276
    Abstract: Disclosed are ready-to-eat puffed dried food products that are high both in protein and in fiber. The cereals contain sufficient amounts of at least one protein ingredient to provide a total protein content about 50% to 75% (dry weight) of the cooked food product; sufficient amounts of at least one dietary fiber ingredient to provide a total fiber content of about 1-45% (dry weight); and sufficient amounts of a starch containing ingredient to provide a starch content of about 5-45%. The food products have a crush strength raging from about 0.25 to 3.5 kg/cm3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Assignee: General Mills IP Holdings II, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick E. Allen, Gregory Flickinger, Terry T. Kirihara, Steven C. Robie
  • Patent number: 7232581
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing chewing gum granules. The method comprises at least the steps of feeding a gum composition including at least gum base into an extruder (2), pressurizing the gum composition in the extruder, extruding the gum composition through a die plate (5), and cutting the extruded gum composition in a liquid filled chamber (4). The extruded gum composition comprises at least 71% Wt, gum base and the cut granules are included in compressed gum tablets. The invention further relates to a chewing gum product, and to a chewing gum granulating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Gumlink A/S
    Inventors: Rikke Mikkelsen, Kaj Hovhave Nielsen, Niels Ravn Schmidt, Per Henrik Ertebjerg Christensen
  • Patent number: 7220441
    Abstract: A method of packaging and freezing food substance comprising shaping of a plate of unfrozen food substance and subsequent packaging and freezing of the unfrozen plate of food substance, and wherein a carton packaging is used for packaging the unfrozen plate of the food substance that comprises a substantially rectangular bottom panel with two opposed, long side panels and two opposed, short end panels and a substantially rectangular cover panel, wherein the cover panel and the bottom panel are preferably connected to each other via one of the short end panels; wherein the unfrozen plate of food substance is arranged directly on the bottom face of the carton packaging, following which the cover panel of the carton package is closed over the bottom panel, such that the unfrozen plate of food substance is enclosed completely by the bottom panel, cover panel and side panels of the carton packaging, and following which the carton packaging containing the unfrozen plate of food substance is arranged in a freezer wi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Beck Pack Systems A/S
    Inventor: Roar B. Schou
  • Patent number: 7220442
    Abstract: A nutrition bar which incorporates protein in the form of nuggets having high levels of selected proteins. By use of the nuggets of the invention, nutrition bars are formulated to have elevated levels of protein, yet good taste and other organoleptic properties. The nuggets according to the invention include greater than 50 wt % of a non-soy protein selected from the group consisting of milk protein, rice protein and pea protein, especially between 51 wt % and 99 wt %, more preferably between 52 wt % and 95 wt %, most preferably 55 wt % or above. The milk protein is preferably whey protein. The nuggets of the invention are preferably made using an extrusion process wherein the extrusion temperature is moderated so as to avoid damage to the whey proteins and concomitant off-taste. In this preferred process according to the invention, extrusion is conducted at temperatures of from 60 to 140° C., after which the protein is dried using a belt/conveyor drier or a fluid bed drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Slim-Fast Foods Company, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Akhilesh Gautam, Albert Johan Zwijgers, Mark Edward Johnke
  • Patent number: 7172783
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to nutritionally superior cheese products and their methods of manufacture. More particularly, this invention is directed to the manufacture of nutritionally superior cheese products having at least two phases wherein at least one phase is cheese (e.g., process cheese, uncured natural cheese, cured natural cheese, and the like) and at least one phase is a second edible phase (e.g., a cheese different from the first phase, vegetables, meats, mixtures of vegetables and meats, fruit, nuts, and the like). The nutritionally superior cheese products of the present invention are prepared by co-extruding the two or more phases such that the use of adhesives or heat to bind the at least two phases is not required. Nutritional supplements (e.g., vitamins, calcium, minerals, and the like) can be incorporated into one or more of the at least two phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Shannon Noreen Murray, Sheryl Lynn Cole, Dalip Kumar Nayyar, Qadri Mustafa Abdallah
  • Patent number: 7134861
    Abstract: An extrusion nozzle including an outlet port having a single opening with a first region, second region, and a pinched region between the two. The pinched region reduces the dimensions of the extrudate in relation to the dimensions associated with the first and second regions. In that way, the extrudate is joined together but may be easily separated into two separate pieces with dimensions related to the dimensions of the first and second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Barber Foods
    Inventor: Jeff Shorey
  • Patent number: 7125576
    Abstract: The subject invention provides novel protein-rich tortillas. In a specific embodiment, the subject invention provides flat, thin tortillas that have chicken protein. Other meats can also be used to provide the protein component. Advantageously, the tortillas of the subject invention can be used as a replacement for traditional flour or corn tortillas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Lauren April O'Kelley, Meghan Lea Meller, Michael Shaun Madden, Hordur G. Kristinsson
  • Patent number: 7114671
    Abstract: A device for separating the hard components for a grinder used in the field of the food industry, and more particularly of the mincing of meat, downstream of one or several cutting assemblies, includes a grid for stopping hard components which is associated with a separating cutter of for draining hard components towards the center, in order to cause them to pass into a collecting tube which is screwed into a supporting grid or spider according to an adjustable depth. The collecting tube includes, an axial recess capable of receiving the end of a driving shaft of the cutters of the grinder, so that the latter can be held transversely and rotate in it and, peripherally with respect to the axial recess, at least one channel allowing the transit of hard components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: ETS David Guy
    Inventor: Guy David
  • Patent number: 7108883
    Abstract: A procedure which comprises a second step of pressing of the Salvia Hispanica L. seeds with temperature control modifying the ratio between the polyunsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants contained as well as obtaining an expeller. The procedure comprises a third step in which the expeller obtained is let to cool until it reaches room temperature and a fourth step in which the expeller, at room temperature, is entered into a disc-driven mill to obtain different particle sizes of a partially low-fat flour with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially ?3 type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventors: Mariano Gustavo Lauria, Daniel Alfonso Nuñez
  • Patent number: 7097873
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of continuously preparing caseinate from milk proteins in non-soluble powder form in an extruder machine having two co-rotating and interpenetrating screws into which water and an alkaline reagent are introduced, and the mixture formed by the milk proteins, the water, and the alkaline reagent is subjected to a plurality of steps of kneading under pressure and of shearing with the temperature rising to obtain at the outlet from the extruder machine a caseinate paste, the caseinate paste is cooled to bring its temperature to below 20° C., a continuous thin sheet of caseinate paste is formed, and the sheet is cut up into a plurality of parallel strips, and these strips are cut up into small-sized pieces of caseinate. The invention also provides an installation for continuously preparing caseinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Clextral
    Inventors: Luis Asensio, Jean-Marie Bouvier, Laurent Bruyas, Daniel Durand
  • Patent number: 7090881
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method comprising the following steps: chopping up more or less noble meat, in a chopper; at the output of the chopper conveying the minced meat into a meat pump, continuously presented in the form of a tube or a continuous flattened strip; unwinding a film capable of forming a scaling sheath around the continuous tube or strip of minced meat; passing the sheathed minced meat tube or strip in a rolling device for spreading the minced meat into a strip configuration in a thin layer, in a compacting and texturing configuration not revealing the meat parts themselves; continuously unwinding in a dehydrating solution bath; curing the drawn minced meat strip at the output of the bath removing the sheath-forming film; and conveying the thin rolled minced meat strip to a cutting and packaging station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Adiv Development
    Inventors: Jean Sirami, Pascal Lhoutellier
  • Patent number: 7078068
    Abstract: Methods for coagulating collagen and producing a food product by contacting the collagen with a solution comprising at least about 40% by weight of a phosphate salt mixture wherein the phosphate salt mixture is comprised of at least two phosphate salts selected from the group consisting of monosodium phosphate, disodium phosphate, trisodium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, and tripotassium phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Astaris L.L.C.
    Inventor: Sharon L. Book
  • Patent number: 7074444
    Abstract: A method of preparing a reconstitutable, dehydrated whole bean product is shown. The method calls for utilizing a combination convection/microwave heating chamber to dry cooked whole beans in such a way as to preserve the integrity of the beans and, thus, significantly enhance the texture and quality of the bean product. The method requires a shorter amount of time than, and enables a significant reduction in the amount of bird mouthing that, is prevalent in existing methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Inventor: Geoffrey Margolis
  • Patent number: 7074450
    Abstract: A method for making a dehydrated mashed potato product by cooking fresh potatoes including defects, ricing the cooked potatoes by urging the same through multiple openings in a ricing barrier to form riced moist potato pieces exiting the ricing barrier separated from potato defects which do not pass through the ricing barrier, reforming (e.g., by extrusion) the riced moist potato pieces by applying pressure to form riced, reformed moist potato pieces, and drying the riced, reformed potato pieces to a moisture content of about 5–10%. A dried mashed potato product comprising dried potato pieces which reconstitute in water at 180° F. under light stirring conditions to a mashed potato product having soft lumps characteristic of fresh mashed potatoes at a concentration of about 10 g to 80 g of soft lumps per 400 g of rehydrated product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Basic American, Inc.
    Inventors: Tami Hill, Phil Bates, Seiji Shiratori, Kern Cooper, Warren Simon, Will McArthur, Lloyd Rockwood, Doug Davlin, Gary Dunn, Marlin Herrick, J. Layne Anderson, Ron Luedeman
  • Patent number: 7063868
    Abstract: A process of injection molding a natural resin into a mold cavity including lifter bars as part of the ejection system for extracting the molded animal chew of the mold cavity. The lifter bars are provided with a contacting area having a relatively high surface area ratio relative to surface area of the molded part that remains in contact with the mold after injection and mold opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: T.F.H. Publications, Inc.
    Inventor: Glen S. Axelrod
  • Patent number: 7048960
    Abstract: The present invention includes a high lignan concentrate (3% to 5% or greater) flax seed product, and product by process, which can be produced by 1) supplying a uniformly colored quantity of flax seeds with less than 5 percent visually darker seeds; 2) milling the selected seeds of a visually uniform color; 3) sifting the milled selected seeds into a second portion and a third portion using a preferred screen size from US# 12 up to an including US #18; 4) selecting the coarser fraction of the sifted, milled flax meal and aspirating it into a fourth lighter density portion and a fifth coarser portion, wherein the fourth lighter portion contains the valuable high lignan concentrate. As an added advantage, the high lignan flax seed meal can include approximately 40–50% insoluble dietary fiber and 50–60% soluble dietary fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Inventor: Glenn Roy Pizzey
  • Patent number: 7037551
    Abstract: A method for creating bite-sized or filled pieces of chewy or crunchy granola. The invention is an improved process for manipulating and shaping chewy granola without having the granola lose its characteristic texture. The improved process includes: adding extra water to the ordinary ingredients of chewy granola, allowing the water to soften the granola, extruding or shaping the softened granola, and drying or removing the water from the softened granola thereby restoring the granola to about its original texture and composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Steven Moore, Susan L. Franz
  • Patent number: 7033161
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for forming a continuous sheet of a molten material with particularly viscous, sticky properties. This molten material may be moldable, plasticized or a food product such as cheese. More specifically, the invention includes a manifold that discharges the molten material in a continuous layer upon the surface of a casting belt. This manifold comprises a roller, a chamber with a hollow interior, at least one inlet and a drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Fahs, Franco X. Milani, Shawn L. Owens
  • Patent number: 7029715
    Abstract: A method for automatically forming dough-based products, such as doughnuts involves pressurizing a tank containing dough. The dough is extruded to form a flight of dough-based products. The weight of the flight of dough-based products is measured. The weight data is transmitted to a computer. The measured weight is compared to a predetermined weight stored in the computer memory. The pressure in the tank is adjusted automatically before subsequent extrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: HDN Development Corporation
    Inventors: Garcie M. McCall, Stanley N. Lowry, Charles David Crawford, Joey R. Spruill, Robert Simpson
  • Patent number: 7029716
    Abstract: A method for producing a reconstitutable dehydrated food product, an apparatus for producing such a product, and a product produced thereby are described. The method calls for using a stationary vessel to separately hydrate at least two batches of raw beans with circulating water, as well as a second stationary vessel to separately pressure cook the hydrated beans using direct steam injection with minimal agitation. A first batch is then chopped and sized, and then formed into a generally flat, preferably ribbed sheet of texturized composition. The latter is then dried and broken into chunks. The second batch of beans is kept whole and, once cooked, is dried utilizing a combination convection/microwave heating chamber in such a way as to preserve the integrity of the beans. The dried whole beans are then added to the first batch of beans, and preferably, to the chunks produced therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Geoffrey Margolis
  • Patent number: 7026006
    Abstract: Dehydrated potato pellets are made by preparing an aqueous mixture of dried potato pieces, an emulsifier, and oil, and, optionally, a freshly cooked potato, homogenizing the mixture to produce a pumpable, flowable aqueous dispersion, mixing the dispersion with more dried potato pieces and, optionally, freshly cooked potatoes, forming the mixture into pellets, and drying them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Basic American, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. McArthur, Steven D. Elliott, Kimberly A. Killian
  • Patent number: 7022362
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for making confectionery pieces, comprising the steps of (a) providing a solid or semi-solid edible slab having at least three layers to at least two forming elements having a nip defined by the forming elements; and (b) passing the edible slab through the nip, thereby forming a sheet of confectionery pieces or individual pieces, wherein the edible slab has a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and at least one inner layer between the first and second outer layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Rabinovitch, Shane Benedict
  • Patent number: 7008214
    Abstract: A cooking utensil includes an all-in-one device that incorporates a partially perforated pan, circular in shape, with a permanent and continuous circumferential holder with one or more supports that provide stability and safety during the extrusion process of the soft batter. At the same time, this cooking utensil fits easily on top of commonly used cooking vessels regardless of lip configuration or vessel diameter. This cooking utensil also includes versions for removable type holders in kit form that can be used interchangeably with several pans with different hole sizes while providing multiple support and stability over commonly used cooking vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventor: Ibolya Faddi
  • Patent number: 7001636
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing feed pellets, and a plant for the implementation of this method have been explained. The aim has been to improve the manufacturing of porous pellets, first and foremost to achieve a better control of the porosity of the pellets than the known techniques. The pellets come from a pelletizing machine (1) into a pellet chamber (3) which is kept at a pressure lower than the ambient pressure. From the chamber (3) the pellets are passed through an outlet (5) having a gate lock body (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nutreco Aquaculture Research Centre AS
    Inventors: Odd Geir Oddsen, Harald Skjorshammer, Fred Hirth Thorsen
  • Patent number: 7001894
    Abstract: Glucosamine salts and derivatives are effective for the improvement of blood flow, and hence, for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases caused by blood flow disturbances, such as thrombosis. Use of glucosamine salts or glucosamine derivatives as active ingredients can provide blood flow improvers, thrombosis preventives or remedies, and dietetic drinks or foods for the improvement of blood flow or for the prevention and/or treatment of thrombosis. Administration of glucosamine salts or glucosamine derivatives can improve blood flow and can prevent and/or treat thrombosis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Saito, Koji Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6942888
    Abstract: A cheese extruding machine and process for producing pieces of cheese of an exact weight directly from unaged or semi-aged cheese curds of semi-hard and hard cheeses. The cheese extruding machine includes a standard screw-type vacuum filler which receives large blocks of compressed curds, grinds the blocks into pieces, and compresses the curds into an airless, homogenous cheese flow without significantly damaging the curds. The cheese flow is forced through an elongate cheese forming tube of a desired cross-sectional shape for the cheese. A water jacket disposed about a second half of the cheese forming tube chills the periphery of the cheese flow to increase the firmness and maintain the shape of the cheese flow upon extrusion from the cheese forming tube. Frictional engagement between the cheese flow and the cheese forming tube produces back-pressure against the vacuum filler to maintain the cheese flow at a predetermined extrusion pressure and consistent density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Minerva Dairy, Inc.
    Inventor: Adam P. Mueller
  • Patent number: 6932997
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for forming multiple rows of meat patties. An existing single row forming machine is modified by moving the fill slot relative to the existing stroke length so that the fill slot comes in contact or fluidly communicates with at least one newly added row of cavities. This is most easily achieved by modifying the existing fill plate and by adding cavities to the existing mold plate, so that the combination of modified plates operates with the existing stroke length (which is difficult to change), to produce multiple rows of consistent meat patties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: OSI International, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, Darren S. Lange, Richard C. Fausey
  • Patent number: 6905703
    Abstract: An edible product in accordance with the present invention involves an edible inner component made from a first material and an edible outer cover component substantially completely encapsulating the edible inner component. In one form of the invention, the inner component is in the form of a hairball treatment for cats and the outer component is a dough-like material. A system for producing the edible product includes a first material source for supplying a first edible material to form the inner component of the edible product, a second material source for supplying a second edible material to form the outer component of the edible product, and an extruder for continuously coextruding the first edible material and the edible second material to produce an elongated rope of edible product. A crimping apparatus receives the longitudinal rope extruded from the extruder for crimping the longitudinal rope to separate the longitudinal rope into individual edible products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: H.J. Heinz Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Rothamel, Lawrence Hawley, Donald Barnvos, Davor Juravic, Bill Keehn, Bruno Letinich, Steven Bautista
  • Patent number: 6887503
    Abstract: Two or more different materials such as food material are co-extruded through adjacent orifices of an extruder. The flows of the two materials are cut in a direction transverse to the flow to form segments of flow. These segments are interspersed so as to join upstream and downstream of each segment of first material to a segment of a second material. Generally two rows of joined segmented flows are extruded side by side. Preferably between the tow rows is formed a boundary cell wall which usually is transformed to a harder material after extrusion. Cell walls of the harder material may surround, in two or three dimensions, cells of softer of foamed material. The apparatus and method to provide the food product having the cell like structure is particularly useful for producing confectionery products formed of chocolate, marzipan or dough materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Inventor: Ole-Bendt Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 6881050
    Abstract: A forming apparatus to produce nonsymmetrical three-dimensional shaped products from a food extrusion device includes a vector drive controlling an induction motor through current flux control, which selectively actuates an iris diaphragm. Food product is pumped to the diaphragm, which shapes the product in accordance with settings from an encoder. The flux drive permits variable control of the diaphragm motor in segments of a 360° revolution. Alternatively, a servo drive may be used to drive a synchronous motor to operate in accordance with instructions from an encoder-shaping product from a food pump as it is forced through the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Reiser + Co. Inc.
    Inventors: John McIsaac, Eric Durrance
  • Patent number: 6881429
    Abstract: Methods for making an uncooked extruded dough product are provided, comprising extruding a dough composition of pre-gelatinized starch comprising at least about 75 percent of amylopectin, flour, leavening agent and water through a die under conditions so that the dough composition does not exceed 140° F. throughout the extrusion process. The resulting dough product when cooked has a baked specific volume of greater than about 3.0 cc/g. Products of this process, including filled products, are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: The Pillsbury Company
    Inventors: Quinghuang Geng, Doug L. Goedeken, Susan M. Hayes-Jacobson, James S. Thorson, Jean L. Weber
  • Patent number: 6878392
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a fat phase and having overrun of at least 90%, characterized in that at least 50 w/w % of said fat phase is liquid at ?5° C. The invention particularly relates to such compositions in the form of an ice cream. The invention also provides a process for the preparation of a composition, wherein said process comprises aerating a mix comprising a fat phase in a freezer barrel enclosing an internal volume, said internal volume comprising an aeration means, wherein said aeration means displaces less than 40% of said internal volume, characterized in that at least 50 w/w % of said fat phase is liquid at ?5° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Good Humor - Breyers Ice Cream, division of Conopco, Inc.
    Inventors: Suzanne Mary Spindler, Loyd Wix
  • Patent number: 6866878
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing co-extruded pasta such as stuffed rigatoni and for providing the ability to make a plurality of end crimps with a single die. The method involves distributing pasta dough from an extruder to multiple co-extrusion die inserts that are arranged in a straight line. The straight-line design allows the co-extruded dough strands to drop directly into a single crimp/cut die that has a selected straight, angular or other cut. The invention may be adapted and utilized on any new or pre-existing pasta dough extruders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: John M. Battaglia
  • Patent number: 6866862
    Abstract: Improved daily ration mammal feeds are provided which include minor amounts of heartworm preventative drugs, ensure that a mammal consuming the feed receives quantities of drug sufficient to establish and maintain substantially constant concentrations of the drug in the pet's bloodstream. The feeds may be produced by extrusion with addition of minor quantities of heartworm preventative drug so as to uniformly distribute the drug throughout the extruded product. Ivermectin levels of from about 2-1500 ?g/kg of extruded feed are preferred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Rubicon Scientific
    Inventors: Gordon R. Huber, David R. Jones, John C. Kuenzi, Kevin D. Kuenzi, Francisco A. Cabrera
  • Patent number: 6854970
    Abstract: An extruder die assembly and method for using same is disclosed which is designed for adaptation to a wide variety of commercial-grade extrusion devices common in the food industry. The extruder die assembly is inserted into an appropriate compartment within an extrusion device such that a first extrudate is directed down a coaxially aligned passageway within the forming section and combined with a fluid additive in the injection section whereupon the resulting food mass is compressed through a converging nozzle bore in the nozzle section to produce an extruded food product. The forming section and injection section are fabricated as a matching set. A novel feature of the invention is an injection nozzle which supplies fluid additives from an exterior pressurized source to a supply port formed in the extruder die assembly. The subject injection nozzle exhibits superior sealing qualities in conjunction with simplicity and flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lewis Conrad Keller, Jorge C. Morales-Alvarez, Edward Leon Ouellette