Abstract:
An extruder die designed to produce a spiral corn-based snack food product with consistent, tight spiral pitch and the resultant food product. The extruder die has a center post parallel to the flow path along with three cone-shaped receiving ports arranged in a cloverleaf pattern around the center post. The die has three curved slots on the output side of the die which are in fluid communication with the cone-shaped receiving ports. At the distal end of each of these slots is a semi-circular tip. The tip has a diameter larger than the width of its associated slot. Further, the tip is located at the apex of a cone-shaped receiving port with which it is in fluid communication, thus providing for the highest flow velocity of the extrudate through the tip. The resultant flow profile produces the consistent spiral shape of the snack product produced by the die design described.
Abstract:
A partially metallized packaging film and method of making is disclosed. In one aspect, at least one portion of a vaporized metal stream is shielded from contacting a sheet of packaging film during the metallization process. The shield is a rigid plate and can be shaped to provide a sharp transition from transparent film to opaque film, or it can provide a gradual transition from transparent film to opaque film. The partially metallized packaging film can be used with a form, fill and seal machine or other packaging machine to create a food package with a product viewing window. In one aspect, the barrier web comprises a bio-based film.
Abstract:
A blade clamp for use in an automated, high speed potato slicing apparatus to slice chips to a predetermined size for packaging purposes. The blade clamp includes a cutting head; a blade mount having a slot therein; a first knife element between the cutting head and the blade mount, the first knife element having a first cutting edge; and optionally a second knife element having a second knife edge, the second knife element extending from the slot of the blade mount, such that the first and second cutting edges are substantially orthogonal to each other.
Abstract:
Acrylamide reducing agents are added to molasses prior to heat treatment at temperatures above about 120° C. Preferably, citric acid is added to reduce the pH of the molasses, and asparaginase and/or lysine is added to the reduced pH molasses before it is heat treated at temperatures above about 120° C.
Abstract:
A method for analyzing moisture content in an analyzer. In one embodiment a sample is introduced into an analyzer and an initial weight is obtained. The sample is then fortified where it is allowed to pick-up moisture. The temperature of the analyzer is increased and an initial fortified point is obtained wherein the sample has returned to its initial weight. Thereafter the analyzer obtains the final moisture content of the sample at a test finish time. In one embodiment satellite analyzers are biased against a standard analyzer so that more uniform results are obtained.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed towards a paper-based composite packaging structure comprising a paper layer and a filler layer which may be laminated or otherwise adhered to the paper layer. In certain embodiments, the filler layer comprises a polymer or bio-based polymer. An optional barrier layer may be deposited on to one side of the paper layer or filler layer as desired to provide functional barrier characteristics. The composite paper-based film structure(s) may comprise additional layers such as one or more optional primer layers, adhesive layers, ink layers, and/or sealant layers that can be incorporated into the composite film structure as desired to enable the required functional characteristics of the composite film structure described herein. The paper-based composite packaging structure is substantially compostable and/or recyclable as both the paper and the bio-based polymer filler layers will break down under composting conditions and/or meet standardized recyclability requirements.
Abstract:
A novel method and apparatus of detecting unique items as they are inserted into a product packaging system that is easily adaptable to current product packaging and prize insertion systems. A number of different types of sensors may be used in conjunction with the insertion device to detect the unique prize before it is inserted into a product packaging system. The sensor used will vary depending on the particular application. Sensors that may be used include a capacitive proximity sensor, a thickness sensor, a reflectivity sensor, a transmissivity sensor, a stiffness sensor, a color sensor, or even an odor or chemical sensor. Ideally, the type sensor used will detect a feature of the unique item that is easily distinguishable from other items being inserted. Once the sensor detects the prize and generates a signal, this signal can be used to perform a variety of useful functions. In one embodiment of the invention, the signal is used to control a foreign matter detector (FMD) during the insertion of unique prizes that would ordinarily trigger the FMD. After detecting the unique prize, the controller for the insertion device shuts down the FMD for a pre-determined period of time to allow the unique prize to pass through without triggering the FMD. The controller may also increase a counter each time one of the unique prizes is detected to keep track of the number of unique prizes inserted. Once the unique prize passes through, the FMD is turned back on so that foreign objects may again be detected. The amount of time that the FMD is turned off is minimized.
Abstract:
An automatic touchless dispenser capable of providing one or more crispy and fresh food products to customers independent of the type of food product or container.
Abstract:
A dispenser for stored product such as food products includes a generally hollow housing having a cavity configured to retain product; an outlet provided at a lower portion of the housing with a proximal portion adjacent the cavity and a distal portion spaced from the proximal portion; a gate disposed between the cavity and the distal portion or disposed at the distal portion; an actuator coupled to the gate to selectively position the gate between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position product disposed within the cavity cannot move to the outlet and in the open position product falls by gravity from the cavity to the outlet; and optionally an environmental control unit to control an environmental control apparatus to modulate at least one of temperature, moisture content, or oxygen content within the dispenser or an agitator assisting movement of the product to the outlet.
Abstract:
An expression vector that includes a polynucleotide having a heterologous regulatory element operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence derived from Solanum tuberosum and encoding a xylosyltransferase capable of glycosylating gentisic acid to produce gentisic acid 5-O-β-D xylopyranoside, a transcription template having such a polynucleotide and adapted for in vitro transcription in a cell-free system, a method for producing gentisic acid 5-O-β-D xylopyranoside by culturing a recombinant host cell containing such an expression vector under conditions in which the cell expresses the xylosyltransferase from the polynucleotide, and a method for producing gentisic acid 5-O-β-D xylopyranoside by contacting a composition including gentisic acid and UDP-xylose with a recombinant xylosyltransferase. The recombinant host cell containing such an expression vector can be a bacterial cell, a plant cell, or a fungal cell, an animal cell, or a multicellular organism such as a plant.