公开(公告)号：US5358727A

公开(公告)日：1994-10-25

申请号：US24602

申请日：1993-03-01

申请人： Robert L. Yates ,  Lyle Burkholder ,  Greg Roepka

发明人： Robert L. Yates ,  Lyle Burkholder ,  Greg Roepka

IPC分类号： A23P1/02 ,  A23G3/02 ,  A23L1/00 ,  A23P1/10 ,  B28B13/00 ,  B29C43/46 ,  B30B11/16 ,  A23P1/00

CPC分类号： B29C43/46 ,  A23G3/0236 ,  A23G3/0252 ,  A23P30/10 ,  B30B11/16 ,  B29C2043/463 ,  B29C2043/465 ,  B29C2043/468

摘要： Input food is extruded or otherwise deposited between a pair of counter-rotating wheels whose outer surfaces define mold cavities. The deposited input food is molded into pieces having desired shape (e.g., simulating pitted prunes or berries) by compression between aligned, counter-rotating mold cavity pairs. Preferably, the input food is heated prior to molding to prevent irreversible set up before compression between the mold cavities, and the wheels are chilled to cause deposited food to set up as it is compressed and carried between aligned, chilled mold cavities from a loading station to a release station. Preferably, the mold cavities are maintained at low temperature (e.g., in the range from about -10.degree. F. to 32.degree. F.). After the input food is molded and set up into pieces, the rotating cavities separate at a release station, allowing the molded pieces to fall away from the wheels. A positive product ejection assembly (such as a set of air knives) can be provided downstream from the release station for purging each cavity of its contents before refilling. To ensure ejection of all molded piexes from the cavities before refilling, it may be desirable to mist the empty cavities with a non-toxic release agent such as glycerine. The input food can be prune or other fruit paste mixed with glycerine and optionally also sorbitol (to give the molded pieces a desired water activity and humectancy), additives for providing a desired flavor and mouth feel, and mold releasing and solidifying agents.

摘要翻译： 输入食物被挤出或以其它方式沉积在一对反向旋转轮之间，其外表面限定模腔。 通过在对准的反向旋转的模腔对之间的压缩将沉积的食物模制成​​具有所需形状的片（例如，模拟凹陷的柠檬或浆果）。 优选地，输入食物在模制之前被加热以防止在模腔之间的压缩之前不可逆地设置，并且车轮被冷却以使得沉积的食物在被压缩并被装载在对准的冷藏模腔之间时从装载站 到一个发布站。 优选地，模腔保持在低温（例如，在约-10°F至32°F的范围内）。 输入的食物被模制成块之后，旋转的空腔在释放站处分开，从而允许模制件从轮子上脱落。 可以在释放站的下游设置积极的产品喷射组件（例如一组气刀），以在再填充之前清除其内容物的每个空腔。 为了确保在再填充之前将空腔中的所有模制压片喷出，可能需要用无毒的脱模剂如甘油来雾化空腔。 输入食物可以是与甘油和任选的山梨醇混合的修剪或其他果酱（以使成型片具有所需的水分活性和保湿性），用于提供所需风味和口感的添加剂以及脱模和固化剂。