General Mills, Inc.

Ganesh S Ganesan

Todd Walter Gusek

Myron M Uecker

Michael A Helser

David A Sank

An apparatus (,) for forming popcorn bars utilizing methods according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is disclosed where popcorn popped in an air popper (,) and coated with a molten binder in the form of a caramel syrup in an auger mixer (,) is compressed into a sheet by a device (,). In the sheeting device (,), the coated popped popcorn is drawn into and passes between an input conveyor (,) and a compressing conveyor (,) arranged at a non-parallel angle thereto. An air manifold (,) directs cooled air to the upper surface of the compressing conveyor (,) to cool the belting (,) thereof, with the cooled air being deflected to cool a spreader box (,) which receives the coated popcorn from the auger mixer (,) and distributes it on the input conveyor (,). The coated popcorn is cooled while being transported by a transport conveyor (,) including belting in the form of a mesh by a multiplicity of fans (,) located above and below the transport conveyor (,) and mounted on a movable support. The sheet is cut into strips which can then be separated and cut into the desired lengths.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Ganesh S Ganesan