Mars, Incorporated

General Kinematics Corporation

David Pontzer

Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr

Thomas M Collins

Bob Crossley

Alfred V Camporini

Gary Lee McQuilkin

Paul Capar

Robert Nagle

David Fyock

John Stough

Curt Knepper

Joseph Edward Massie

Jeffrey Frantz

Carlos Aponte

Alex A Hanna

Barry D Glazier

Keith A Chisholm

Thomas DeMare

Kenneth G Weaber, Jr

Peter Thomas Kashulines

Jonathan Hipps

Ronald P Layton, Jr

Michael Hill

Stephen E Beavers

Roy Peterson

Alfred Camporini

Robert Nagel

Gary Lee Mcquilkin

The present disclosure describes an ultrasonic rotary molding system that is used to form edible compositions or food products as they move along a conveyor belt. The food products are formed by an ultrasonic rotary wheel that includes one or more cutting tools that cut, and perhaps three dimensionally mold, food product strips. The system may include a movable backing plate that is located below the point where the ultrasonic rotary wheel cuts the food product strips. The movable backing plate may be spring loaded and it may exert force upwards against the conveyor belt and in turn against the food product.

Ultrasonic rotary molding

The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.

Confectionery having a formed hollow section

The present invention is directed to a shaped confectionery center made by a cold forming process comprising compressing a flowable, particulate fat based material through a forming apparatus comprising one or more forming pins to provide at least one hollow section therein, wherein the at least one formed hollow section has ends that are sealed by the fat based material and at least one hollow section extends through a substantial portion of the center, and wherein the shaped confectionery center has a percent density reduction of at least about 5% achieved by creating the at least one hollow section in the center.

Confectionery having a void formed by a forming pin

A conveying and marking apparatus is disclosed that can convey discrete pieces at high speeds, and in preferred embodiments permits marking on opposite sides of the pieces while the pieces remain in the same position on the conveyor.

Conveying and marking apparatus and method

Apparatus and process for preparing confectionery having an inclusion therein using forming rolls and a forming pin

A system, which may be used to perform simultaneous grinding and intimate mixing of edible fat-based slurries or emulsions, may include a cylindrical drum having a central longitudinal axis and a curved inner surface and mounted on springs, and a motor and tuned mass coupled to the cylindrical drum to vibrate the cylindrical drum about a center of vibration that is offset from the central longitudinal axis of the cylindrical drum. The system includes at least one pair of partition plates disposed at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical drum to divide the cylindrical drum into at least two process zones, the partition plates of the at least one pair having matching apertures and moveable relative to each other between alignment and misalignment. The system may be used, for example, in chocolate manufacture.

Mixing and grinding edible fat-based slurries and emulsions using a vibratory drum

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Sparta, NJ, United States of America

David Pontzer