METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS

• US 20090029018A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cadbury Adams USA LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Elejalde, Cesar, Jani, Bharat
• Application Number:
  US12/180,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20090029018A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/284
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0068 the material being shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of filled or multi-layered cross-sections or plates, optionally with the associated cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/06 Batch-rolling, rope-forming, or sizing machines
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2015 the material being shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of filled or multi-layered cross-sections or plates, optionally with the associated cutting device
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/043 for composite chewing gum coating A23G4/025
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 7/0018 Apparatus for cutting or dividing chocolate or candies
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 7/0068 Cutting or dividing chocolate or candies

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for producing a center-filled consumable product. The apparatus and method include an extruder, which extrudes a continuous tubular rope of consumable product, a rope sizer, a relaxation conveyor, and a cutting apparatus for forming individual pieces of center-filled consumable products.

Claims

1. An apparatus for preparing a center-filled consumable product comprising:

a. an extruder, which extrudes a continuous tubular rope of consumable product;

b. a rope sizer for reducing the diameter of said extruded continuous tubular rope;

c. a cutting apparatus for cutting said continuous rope into said consumable product; and

d. a relaxation conveyor for moving said rope from said rope sizer to said cutting apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said rope sizer includes a plurality of pairs of rollers aligned longitudinally for receipt of said tubular rope.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said rope sizer includes a first pair of rollers for accommodating said tubular rope, a last pair of rollers for permitting egress of said tubular rope, and at least one additional pair of rollers therebetween.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said last roller pair moves at a speed of rotation greater than the speed of rotation of said first roller pair.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the distance between said pairs of rollers decreases from said first pair of rollers to said last pair of rollers.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said relaxation conveyor includes a conveyor belt, said conveyor belt moving at a speed that is about 50% of the speed of the fastest roller in the rope sizer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said relaxation conveyor further comprises a swing arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said swing arm oscillates to deposit the rope of consumable product onto said relaxation conveyor in a continuous wave pattern.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said cutting apparatus moves at a speed that is about 10% to about 20% slower than the fastest roller in the rope sizer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an injection port for filling said tubular rope of consumable product with a second consumable product.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a means for applying an anti-sticking agent to at least one of the extruder, the rope sizer, the cutting apparatus, the relaxation conveyor, or the rope.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said anti-sticking agent is a powder or an oil.

13. A method of forming a center fill consumable product comprising the steps of:

a. extruding a continuous tubular rope of said consumable product;

b. reducing the diameter of said extruded continuous tubular rope;

c. transporting said reduced diameter extruded rope along a movable relaxation conveyor; and

d. cutting said extruded continuous rope into individual pieces of said consumable product.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of reducing the diameter further includes providing a rope sizer, said rope sizer including a first pair of rollers for accommodating entry of said extruded tubular rope, and a last pair of rollers for permitting egress of said extruded tubular rope, and at least one pair of rollers therebetween.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said step of reducing the diameter further includes mutually rotating each said pair of rollers at different speeds.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said step of reducing the diameter further includes mutually rotating said last pair of rollers at a faster speed than the speed of rotation of said first pair of rollers.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said transporting step includes moving said relaxation conveyor at a speed about 50% of the speed of the last roller pair.

18. The method of claim 13, further including the step of depositing the rope of consumable product onto said relaxation conveyor in the shape of a continuous wave.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said depositing step further includes the steps of:

a. providing a swing arm for accommodating said rope; and

b. oscillating said swing arm.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of applying an anti-sticking agent to the rope prior to said reducing step.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said anti-sticking agent is a powder or an oil.

22. A method for forming a center-filled consumable product comprising the steps of:

a. extruding a continuous tubular rope of said consumable product;

b. passing said extruded rope through a rope sizer; and

c. passing said rope into a cutting apparatus, wherein the cutting apparatus cuts the rope into individual pieces.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said rope sizer includes a plurality of pairs of rollers aligned longitudinally for receipt of said tubular rope.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said rope sizer includes a first pair of rollers for accommodating said tubular rope, a last pair of rollers for permitting egress of said tubular rope, and at least one additional pair of rollers therebetween.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each of said roller pairs rotate at different speeds.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said last roller pair moves at a speed of rotation greater than the speed of rotation of said first roller pair.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein said cutting apparatus moves at a speed that is about 10% to about 20% slower than the fastest roller in the rope sizer.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising an injection port for filling said tubular rope of consumable product with a second consumable product.

29. A method for forming a center-filled consumable product comprising the steps of:

a. extruding a continuous tubular rope of said consumable product;

b. passing said rope along a relaxation conveyor; and

c. passing said rope into a cutting apparatus, wherein the cutting apparatus cuts the rope into individual pieces.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein said relaxation conveyor includes a conveyor belt, said conveyor belt moving at a speed that is about 50% of the speed at which said tubular rope is extruded.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein said relaxation conveyor further comprises a swing arm.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein said swing arm oscillates to deposit the rope of consumable product onto said relaxation conveyor in a continuous wave pattern.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising an injection port for filling said tubular rope of consumable product with a second consumable product.

34. An apparatus for preparing a center-filled consumable product comprising a rope sizing apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of rollers aligned longitudinally for receipt of said center-filled consumable product, wherein said rope sizer includes a first pair of rollers for accommodating said center-filled consumable product, a last pair of rollers for permitting egress of said center-filled consumable product, and at least one additional pair of rollers therebetween, and wherein said last roller pair moves at a speed of rotation greater than the speed of rotation of said first roller pair.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein said roller pairs include grooved surfaces for accepting said center-filled consumable product.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the distance between said pairs of rollers decreases from said first pair of rollers to said last pair of rollers.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said pairs of rollers move said center-filled consumable product at velocities from about 10 m/min to about 125 m/min.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said rope sizer reduces the thickness of said center-filled consumable product by about 30% to about 70%.

39. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising a means for applying an anti-sticking agent to at least one of said rope sizer or said center-filled consumable product.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein said anti-sticking agent is a powder or an oil.

41. An apparatus for preparing a center-filled consumable product comprising a relaxation conveyor for moving said center-filled consumable product.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said relaxation conveyor further comprises a swing arm.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein said swing arm oscillates to deposit the center-filled consumable product onto said relaxation conveyor in a continuous wave pattern.

44. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising a means for applying an anti-sticking agent to at least one of said relaxation conveyor or said center-filled consumable product.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said anti-sticking agent is a powder or an oil.