Mars, Incorporated

Ackley Machine Corporation

Other

James M Suttle

Neil A Willcocks

Thomas M Collins

Alfred V Camporini

Arun V Shastry

Michael E Webster

Michael S Wozniak

Samuel J Louden

George L Graham

E Michael Ackley, Jr

John M Martin

Eyal Ben-Yoseph

Keith A Chisholm

Stephen E Beavers

Eyal M Ben-Yoseph

Arun Shastry

Thomas Demare

George Graham

Bruce W Keen

Jennifer Tomasso

Thomas DeMare

Suresh S Narine

Robert Brandt

Douglas Shouse

Ryan Brown

Mark Harshman

Megan Walters

Samual J Louden

Michael E Ackley

Alfred Camporini

Thomas N Collins

Apparatus and methods for producing multiple extruded products having different characteristics from the extruded stream of a single main extruder are provided. A satellite extruder assembly is removably attached to a main extruder allowing for the production of a plurality of different extrusion products from a single stream from one main extruder that is divided into multiple streams channeled to a plurality of satellite extruders. Each of the extruders may be operated at different temperature, pressure, moisture and shear conditions. Additional components may be selectively added to one or more of the material streams.

Extruder system and method

Disclosed are methods of printing high resolution images on edible substrates with dispersed pigmented inks using a drop-on-demand ink-jet printer. Dispersed pigmented white inks useful with the inventive methods are also disclosed. White images having a resolution greater than 200 dpi can be printed on chocolate using the methods and inks disclosed herein. The inventive methods and inks may also be integrated with a consumer-driven site vending or e-commerce application in which the consumer provides the image to be printed and edibles bearing the printed image are prepared for rapid turnaround.

Edibles comprising a high resolution image

Aspects of the present invention are directed to methods for manufacturing shaped, comestible articles. Multiple comestible articles are connected by flash, and stress lines in the flash surround the articles. The comestible articles are subsequently separated from the flash at the stress lines. Additional aspects of the present invention are directed to an intermediate comestible product. In certain embodiments, the intermediate comestible product comprises multiple articles, web-like flash connecting the articles, and stress lines formed in the flash and about each article.

Pet food product bandolier

High resolution ink-jet printing on edibles and products made

A method for forming thin edible pieces uses two continuous belts that cooperate to form a fill cavity. An edible mass, such as chocolate, is flowed into the fill cavity where it forms an edible blank which is transported on a belt path with the two belts moving in tandem. After the edible blank is released from the first or second continuous belt, a three-dimensional shape may be imparted to the edible blank at a forming station using one or more stamping dies or a forming drum. Using the techniques and apparatus described herein, novel edible products, and particularly novel chocolate products, can be made having shape characteristics that cannot be obtained using known molding or forming techniques.

Methods and apparatus for forming contoured edible pieces

The present invention is directed to a tool and apparatus for forming a moldable material into a formed product having a desired shape, and optionally having a pouch for inserting pills, vitamins, and the like. The tool comprises a sleeve with a concentric insert, with a gap between the two for directing compressed air to eject the formed product from the tool. Exemplary apparatus using the tool and an associated method are also provided.

Tool and apparatus for forming a moldable material

Improved methods and apparatus for continuously molding chocolate are disclosed, including a method and apparatus for removing flash from chocolate pieces and products (both molded and otherwise); and a manifold for continuously providing liquid chocolate to a continuous mold and directing excess liquid chocolate away.

Apparatus for molding chocolate

Methods and apparatus for forming shaped edible pieces

High resolution ink-jet printing on edible substrates is disclosed in which fat or wax-based edible inks, which contain a colorant, a fat or wax dispersible carrier, and a fat or wax base, are used to produce high resolution images on edibles. The methods utilize a piezoelectric printhead; and the edible products include confectionery pieces having non-planar, hydrophobic surfaces, such as wax-polished sugar shell surfaces, with a printed image thereon having a resolution greater than 100 dpi, preferably greater than 300 dpi.

Edible inks for ink-jet printing on edible substrates

Methods and apparatus for molding chocolate

Multicolor image, formed from at least two component images, are printed on non-planar surfaces of edible pieces by maintaining registration of the pieces from one printing station to another. The registration is maintained by firmly securing the pieces to the transporting surface by applying a pressure differential, by a combination of a pressure differential with a resilient surface, or by trapping the pieces between a retaining member and a recess portion.

Method for printing multicolor images on edible pieces

Apparatus for printing multicolor images on edible pieces

Method to print multicolor images on edible pieces

A chocolate confectionery is disclosed having on a surface thereof a chocolate base layer, a non-delaminating integral substantially white or light colored edible image-substrate coating disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the chocolate base layer and a high resolution edible black and/or colored print image disposed on at least a portion of the edible image-substrate coating. A method is also disclosed for preparing the confectionery.

Chocolate confectionery having high resolution printed images on an edible image-substrate coating

Growing community of inventors

East Stroudsburg, PA, United States of America

James M Suttle