Apparatus for preparing patterned confections

• US 6,267,073 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: French, William, Busse, Kurt A., Kuehl, Edward Morris
• Primary Examiner(s): EDWARDS, LAURA ESTELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/145,739
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 426/100, 426/101, 426/303-307, 426/249, 994/501, 995/16, 118/13, 118/14, 118/24, 118/25, 118/323, 118/313, 118/DIG.16, 118/50, 118/62-64, 239/223, 239/224
• US Class Current: 118/24
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 2220/20 with a composite structure, e.g. laminated products, coated products, microstructures, e.g. with encapsulated ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2092 Apparatus for coating with atomised liquid, droplet bed, liquid spray
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/28 Apparatus for decorating sweetmeats or confectionery
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/343 Products for covering, coating, finishing, decorating
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/54 Composite products, e.g. layered, coated, filled
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/245 for coating the products
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/26 for producing frozen sweets on sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/322 Products for covering, coating, finishing, decorating
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/48 Composite products, e.g. layered , laminated, coated, filled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 118/16 Slinger type

Abstract

An apparatus and process for preparing chocolate coatings having a marbled appearance, and confectionery products having a component provided with a chocolate coating having a marbled appearance thereon.

Claims

1. A chocolate coating apparatus comprising:

a supply of chocolate;

at least one feed device for supplying the chocolate;

at least one positioning device for receiving the chocolate from the at least one feed device and for centrifugally directing the chocolate onto a confectionery in a desired patterned arrangement as a coating, wherein the at least one positioning device directs the chocolate onto the confectionery which moves relative to the at least one positioning device; and

an enclosure surrounding the positioning device so as to capture excess chocolate that does not remain on the confectionery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one powered device for rotating each coating positioning device at a desired speed.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the positioning device is capable of being rotated at a speed of about 50 rpm to 2,500 rpm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein two feed devices are used for supplying two different types of chocolate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning device comprises at least one rotatable disk.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each rotatable disk comprises a substantially ellipsoidal or substantially circular shape.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the feed device supplies chocolate at an angle to the rotatable disk.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning device comprises at least one rotatable pipe.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning device comprises a rotatable cup having a plurality of apertures for directing the chocolate onto the confectionery.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the positioning device includes an overflow channel to facilitate recirculation of chocolate coating that does not pass through the apertures.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning device further comprises a metering device to control the output of chocolate coating.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning device comprises a divider to maintain the separation of different chocolate types for application to the confectionery.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the positioning device is capable of providing a discontinuous flow of chocolate.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coating modifying device for blowing an air stream onto the chocolate coating to modify its appearance.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a coating modifying device for dragging at least one probe across the chocolate coating for forming surface impressions to give random or streaked effects on the coating.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enclosure comprises a heating device for heating the chocolate to a temperature from about 28°

C. to 60°

C., thereby facilitating application and recirculation of the chocolate.

17. A chocolate coating apparatus comprising:

a chocolate supply means;

feed means for supplying the chocolate;

at least one positioning means for receiving the chocolate from the feed means and for centrifugally directing the chocolate onto a confectionery in a desired patterned arrangement as a coating, wherein the at least one positioning means directs the chocolate onto the confectionery which moves relative to the at least one positioning means; and

recirculation means surrounding the positioning means so as to capture excess chocolate that does not remain on the confectionery.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the feed means supplies two different types of chocolate coatings without combining the two coatings.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the positioning means comprises a rotatable disk to facilitate directing the chocolate onto the confectionery.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the positioning means comprises a rotatable cup having apertures therein to facilitate directing the chocolate onto the confectionery.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the positioning means comprises a rotatable pipe having apertures therein to facilitate directing the chocolate onto the confectionery.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the recirculation means comprises an enclosure disposed about the positioning means to contain the chocolate therein.