Seattle Food Tech, Inc.

Other

Chloe Grubb

Julia O'Donnell

Christie Dusty Lagally

Jeffray Behr

Margaret Rosner

Julia O'donnell

Christie Lagally

Systems and methods describe improvements in the automated production of meat analogues. Ingredients are provided, including oil, water, binding agent(s), and one or more forms of protein to be separately and continuously conveyed through a facility. Concurrently to the ingredients being conveyed through the facility, a number of actions occur. The system emulsifies the oil, water, and binding agent(s) within an emulsifying machine to form a final emulsion. A hydration process is separately applied to at least one of the forms of protein. The system mixes and conveys the protein(s) with the final emulsion in a final mixer to form a final dough.

Automated meat analogue production systems

A system configured to hydrate and process foodstuff materials can include an exterior tube, an inner shaft, and multiple water inlets. The exterior tube can have a foodstuff inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis, and can facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials along a material passage from the foodstuff inlet to the outlet. The inner shaft can be located within the exterior tube, can extend along the longitudinal axis, and can combine with the exterior tube to define the material passage. The inner shaft can be configured to be rotationally driven and can include one or more particle resizing features extending therefrom. The multiple water inlets can be spaced apart along the length of the material passage and can be configured to provide water to the foodstuff materials at different locations along the length of the material passage as the foodstuff materials are being conveyed along the material passage.

Foodstuff hydration and processing system

An apparatus configured to process foodstuff materials can include an exterior tube, an inner shaft, and multiple differently shaped protrusions. The exterior tube can have a foodstuff inlet, an outlet, and a longitudinal axis, and can be configured to facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials along a material passage from the foodstuff inlet to the outlet. The inner shaft can be located within the exterior tube, can extend along the longitudinal axis, and can combine with the exterior tube to define the material passage. The inner shaft can be configured to be rotationally driven. The multiple differently shaped protrusions can be coupled to and extend from the inner shaft, and these differently shaped protrusions can be configured to process the foodstuff materials when the inner shaft is rotationally driven. Processing can include conveying, agitating, and/or hydrating the foodstuff materials.

Foodstuff processing apparatus

An apparatus can include a hollow tube, central shaft, agitation components, and bidirectional fluted auger. The hollow tube can have an inlet, outlet, and longitudinal central axis, and can facilitate the conveyance of foodstuff materials from the inlet to the outlet. The central shaft can extend along the longitudinal axis and can be rotationally driven both clockwise and counterclockwise. The agitation components can be coupled to the central shaft and can agitate and mix foodstuff materials being conveyed along the hollow tube. The bidirectional fluted auger can be coupled to the central shaft proximate the outlet, can rotate with the central shaft when the central shaft is rotationally driven, and can have a flow rate limiting inner cylinder, clockwise-progressing flute features, and counterclockwise-progressing flute features. The clockwise and counterclockwise progressing flute features can convey foodstuff materials toward the outlet when the bidirectional fluted auger is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise.

Bidirectional fluted auger

Automated meat analogue production processes

Continuous process for automated meat analogue production

Systems and methods describe continuously and progressively hydrating and post-processing material, such as food material for meat analogue products. First, material is provided to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, with the rotating inner shaft including one or more particle resizing features extending around the rotating inner shaft. Concurrently, the material is post-processed, via the particle resizing features, to reduce the material into a plurality of smaller material particles. Also concurrently, water is continuously and progressively provided to the material to produce hydrated material particles.

Progressive hydration and post-processing system

Systems and methods describe continuously and progressively hydrating material, such as food material for meat analogue products. First, material is provided to be conveyed through a material passage between an exterior tube and a rotating inner shaft, with the rotating inner shaft including one or more agitation and/or progression features. The progression features could be, e.g., a series of imbricated protruding filled paddles arranged in a helical pattern, while the agitation features could take the form of, e.g., unfilled hoops, hooks, or paddles. Concurrent to conveying and hydrating the material through the material passage, a number of lumps, clumps, and/or unhydrated pieces of the material are broken up via one or more agitation features configured to produce uniform hydration and consistent dispersal of the material. Also concurrently or subsequently, water is continuously and/or progressively provided to the material to produce hydrated material particles.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Chloe Grubb