General Mills, Inc.

Bruce J Button

Goeran Walther

Craig S Lundquist

Troy Alan Heuring

Ivan Hajovy

Jennifer E Folstad

Anthony Reuter

Constance M Lindman

A method and system for mass producing cereal pieces provides images on the cereal pieces. In particular, the invention is directed to incorporating a printing operation into a cereal production process, wherein a series of printing operations are performed for each cereal piece such that a common image is printed on an exposed face portion and then re-printed multiple times on the image in order to effectively establish a sharp, discernible image on the resulting cereal piece. In addition, the process includes performing each printing operation in a timed and controlled sequence with a cereal piece cutting operation such that the final image is located entirely within a periphery of the resulting cereal piece. In a preferred embodiment, the images constitute emojis.

Method and system for producing cereal pieces with printed images

Cereal food piece with emoji

A food product is coated by applying a first coating to an exterior of the food product with a first depositor. Next, the food product is located in a dough proofer. Then, a second coating is applied to the exterior of the food product with a second depositor. Afterwards, the food product is baked in an oven. Optionally, prior to applying the first coating, a tacking agent is applied to the exterior of the food product with a third depositor. In a preferred embodiment, multiple coatings of a combination sugar and cinnamon are applied to filled dough products.

System and method for coating food product

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Minneapolis, MN, United States of America

Bruce J Button