Continuous Production Of Edible Food Products With Selected Shapes
First Claim
1. A method for forming food products of selected shape from edible compositions by extrusion comprising the steps of:
- providing an extruder including a barrel and a die having an adjustable orifice capable of providing a variety of cross-sectional dimensions;
providing an extrudable composition comprising edible resin and water;
introducing said composition to said barrel and subjecting said composition to shear and heat to form a melt;
conveying said melt through said orifice while varying the cross-section dimensions of said orifice to form an extrudate having thickness dimensions that vary along its length wherein the water content of said composition is sufficient to provide that said composition can be varied in cross-section when conveyed through said orifice with variation in said orifice cross-sectional dimension.
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Abstract
A food product of non-uniform shape may be manufactured from an edible composition such as starch by introducing said composition to an extruder having a barrel and subjecting the composition to shear and heat to form a melt, and conveying the melt through an adjustable orifice while varying the cross-section dimensions of the orifice to form an extrudate having thickness dimensions that varies along its length. This may be followed by cutting the extrudate to length. The extrudate may also be passed between cooperating cavities and formed to shape. The extrudate may also be guided into predetermined patterns by repositioning the die relative to a molding surface.
96 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method for forming food products of selected shape from edible compositions by extrusion comprising the steps of:
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providing an extruder including a barrel and a die having an adjustable orifice capable of providing a variety of cross-sectional dimensions; providing an extrudable composition comprising edible resin and water; introducing said composition to said barrel and subjecting said composition to shear and heat to form a melt; conveying said melt through said orifice while varying the cross-section dimensions of said orifice to form an extrudate having thickness dimensions that vary along its length wherein the water content of said composition is sufficient to provide that said composition can be varied in cross-section when conveyed through said orifice with variation in said orifice cross-sectional dimension. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for forming food products of selected shape from an edible composition by extrusion, comprising the steps of:
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providing a first extruder, a second extruder and a third extruder, wherein said first extruder includes a first profile die, said second extruder includes a second profile die and said third extruder includes a third profile die; providing a first edible composition to said first extruder and a second edible composition to said second extruder and a third edible composition to said third extruder; processing said first and second compositions through said first and second extruders including through said first and second profile dies to form first and second extrudates which are then joined to one another in a shaping die, the shaping die having an opening substantially the same shape as the combined shapes of the first and second profile dies; processing said third composition through said third extruder including through said third profile die to form a third extrudate; intermittently joining said third extrudate with said combined first and second extrudates in a second shaping die, the second shaping die having an opening substantially the same shape as the combined shapes of the first and second and third profile dies. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method for forming food products of selected shape from edible compositions by extrusion, comprising the steps of:
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providing an extruder including a barrel and a die; providing an extrudable composition comprising an edible composition and water; introducing said composition to said barrel and subjecting said composition to shear and heat to form a melt; conveying said melt through said die to form an extrudate; passing said extrudate between cooperating mold cavities having complementary shapes which form the shape of said food product while said extrudate is at a temperature and moisture level which allows said extrudate to form within said cooperating mold cavities; and forming said extrudate into the shape of a food product. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for forming food products of selected shape from edible compositions by extrusion, comprising the steps of:
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providing an extruder including a barrel and a die; providing an extrudable composition comprising an edible composition and water; introducing said composition to said barrel and subjecting said composition to shear and heat to form a melt; conveying said melt through said die to form an extrudate; providing a surface to receive said extrudate; guiding said die over said surface in a predetermined pattern to position said extrudate on said surface in said predetermined pattern. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification