Methods and apparatus for forming shaped edible pieces
First Claim
1. A method of forming an edible piece comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a first continuous belt moving on a first belt path and having at least one cutout through the entire thickness of the belt, which forms a through hole, and a second continuous belt moving with the first continuous belt, wherein a portion of the second continuous belt is positioned below the through hole in the first continuous belt at a first position on the first belt path so as to create a cavity having walls defined by the cutout through hole and a bottom formed by the second continuous belt;
b) adding a fluid edible mass to the cavity at the first position on the first belt path to form an edible blank;
c) transporting the cavity and the edible blank to a second position on the first belt path;
d) cooling to set the edible blank to a semisolid state;
e) separating the first continuous belt from the second continuous belt at the second position on the first belt path; and
f) releasing the edible blank from the first or second continuous belt.
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Abstract
A method for forming thin edible pieces uses two continuous belts that cooperate to form a fill cavity. An edible mass, such as chocolate, is flowed into the fill cavity where it forms an edible blank which is transported on a belt path with the two belts moving in tandem. After the edible blank is released from the first or second continuous belt, a three-dimensional shape may be imparted to the edible blank at a forming station using one or more stamping dies or a forming drum. Using the techniques and apparatus described herein, novel edible products, and particularly novel chocolate products, can be made having shape characteristics that cannot be obtained using known molding or forming techniques.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of forming an edible piece comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a first continuous belt moving on a first belt path and having at least one cutout through the entire thickness of the belt, which forms a through hole, and a second continuous belt moving with the first continuous belt, wherein a portion of the second continuous belt is positioned below the through hole in the first continuous belt at a first position on the first belt path so as to create a cavity having walls defined by the cutout through hole and a bottom formed by the second continuous belt; b) adding a fluid edible mass to the cavity at the first position on the first belt path to form an edible blank; c) transporting the cavity and the edible blank to a second position on the first belt path; d) cooling to set the edible blank to a semisolid state; e) separating the first continuous belt from the second continuous belt at the second position on the first belt path; and f) releasing the edible blank from the first or second continuous belt. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification