Chocolate candy imprinting process

• US 5,407,691 A
• Filed: 09/16/1992
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Planning Factory Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Planning Factory Incorporated
• Inventors: Przelomski, Cheryl L., Cowan, Dennis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALKER, WANDA LYNNE
• Application Number:
  US07/946,055
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 426/104, 426/249, 426/660, 426/106
• US Class Current: 426/249
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/205 Apparatus in which the material is shaped at least partially in a mould, in the hollows of a surface, a drum, an endless band or by drop-by-drop casting or dispensing of the material on a surface, e.g. injection moulding, transfer moulding
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/54 Composite products, e.g. layered laminated, coated, filled
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2023 the material being shaped at least partially in a mould, in the hollows of a surface, a drum, an endless band or by drop-by-drop casting or dispensing of the materials on a surface or an article being completed
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/28 Apparatus for decorating sweetmeats or confectionery
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/40 Colouring or decolouring of foods

Abstract

A method for making candy in which a high-resolution image of edible material is imprinted on another edible material, both of which are, in the preferred embodiment, chocolate. The invention includes steps of measuring heated chocolate into a mold, and allowing it to cool to a proper temperature. A screen mesh is laid over partially cooled chocolate pieces, and another chocolate, preferably of a different color than the chocolate pieces, is applied through the mesh. By using a proper combination of materials and conditions, a highly pleasing image is formed, supporting the attractiveness of the resulting candy, especially as a novelty item or souvenir.

Claims

1. A method of making a chocolate product, comprising the steps of:

(a) heating chocolate of a first color;

(b) pouring a measured amount of the heated chocolate of the first color into a mold having a substantially flat surface to provide a chocolate body of the first color having a surface engaging said substantially flat mold surface;

(c) imprinting an image on said surface of said chocolate body after cooling thereof by;

(i) placing a mesh having a pattern over said surface of said chocolate body of the first color;

(ii) spreading chocolate of a second color atop the mesh so as to print an image of the pattern on said surface of the chocolate body of the first color by passing some of said chocolate of a second color through said mesh; and

(d) removing the mesh.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said placing is the placing of a 200-mesh screen.

3. The process of claim 1, wherein said pouring is into mold having a substantially flat bottom surface.

4. A method of making a chocolate product, comprising the steps of:

heating first chocolate of a first color;

pouring a measured amount of the first chocolate into a mold;

partially cooling the first chocolate;

pouring a measured amount of a second chocolate of a second color into the mold atop the first chocolate;

partially cooling the second chocolate;

flipping the chocolates out of the mold;

placing a mesh having a pattern over the first chocolate;

spreading chocolate of a third color, which may be the same color as the second chocolate but is different than the color of the first chocolate, over the mesh and passing third color chocolate through said mesh so as to form an image of the pattern atop the first chocolate;

partially cooling the two layers of chocolate with the imprinted image thereon;

removing excess material from the partially cooled product;

cooling the product; and

packaging the product.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said placing is the placing of a 200-mesh screen.