General Mills, Inc.

Richard O Benham

Craig E Zimmermann

Timothy J Gluszak

Robert C Dechaine

Rene K Smethers

Sheryl S Brunken

Julie L Holmstrom

James N Weinstein

Daniel L Gordon

Laurie C Burgess

Lanny P Baumann

Apparatus ( ) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers ( ) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller ( ). The forming rollers ( ) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves ( ) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food ( ) is simultaneously fed between a continuous strip of support material ( ) and a continuous ribbon of film material ( ) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller ( ) and the anvil roller ( ). After extending partially around the periphery of the first forming roller ( ), the materials ( ) and the food therebetween pass around an adjustable idler roller ( ) to between a second abutment nip of the second forming roller ( ) and the anvil roller ( ). The food ( ) compressed upon the support material ( ) by the first abutment nip is in phase with the grooves ( ) of the second abutment nip. The film material ( ) removes the food ( ) from the grooves ( ) and can be discarded after passing through the second abutment nip and prior to the support material ( ) being cut to longitudinal lengths and widths between the embossed shapes of food ( ).

Food item fabricating methods

Apparatus (,) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (,) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (,). The forming rollers (,) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (,) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (,) is simultaneously fed between a continuous strip of support material (,) and a continuous ribbon of film material (,) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (,) and the anvil roller (,). After extending partially around the periphery of the first forming roller (,), the materials (,) and the food therebetween pass around an adjustable idler roller (,) to between a second abutment nip of the second forming roller (,) and the anvil roller (,). The food (,) compressed upon the support material (,) by the first abutment nip is in phase with the grooves (,) of the second abutment nip. The film material (,) removes the food (,) from the grooves (,) and can be discarded after passing through the second abutment nip and prior to the support material (,) being cut to longitudinal lengths and widths between the embossed shapes of food (,).

Food item fabricating method

A food item is disclosed produced in the preferred form by an apparatus (10) including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In a preferred form, the saddle (36') is in the form of a block having first and second lower surfaces (118, 120) corresponding to the shape and located adjacent the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20) in their mating side (32). A trough (24) is formed in the second lower surface (120) which is supplied by food under pressure flowing through conduits (140, 142, 144, 146, 150, 152). Radially disposed barriers (132) divide the trough (24) into axial portions. Radially disposed dividing walls (136) having lower tapering surfaces (138) and an axially disposed dividing wall (148) having a radially spaced lower end divide the trough (24) into volumes for receiving different foods (14a, 14b) to produce food items including integral food zones where the different foods (14a, 14b) are not intermixed.

Food item

A food item includes one or more continuous strings (14e, 14f) and one or more continuous, thin strips (14c, 14d) of food adhered to the support material (16).

Embossed shape food item

Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). After extending partially around the periphery of the first forming roller (18), the materials (16, 66) and the food therebetween pass around an adjustable idler roller (70) to between a second abutment nip of the second forming roller (21) and the anvil roller (20). The food (14) compressed upon the support material (16) by the first abutment nip is in phase with the grooves (24) of the second abutment nip. The film material (66) removes the food (14) from the grooves (24) and can be discarded after passing through the second abutment nip and prior to the support material (16) being cut to longitudinal lengths and widths between the embossed shapes of food (14).

Rotary molding apparatus for molding food

Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced patterns each formed including depressions (196, 198) and/or grooves (24). Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In the preferred form, the food items include one or more continuous strings (14e, 14f) and one or more continuous, thin strips (14c, 14d) of food adhered to the support material (16).

Food item fabricating apparatus and methods

Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced patterns each formed including depressions (196, 198) and/or grooves (24). Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In a preferred form, the saddle (36') is in the form of a block having a trough (24) supplied by food under pressure. Radially disposed barriers (132) divide the trough (24) into axial portions. Radially disposed dividing walls (136) having lower tapering surfaces (138) and an axially disposed dividing wall (148) having a radially spaced lower end divide the trough (24) into volumes for receiving different foods (14a,14b) to produce food items including integral food zones where the different foods (14a,14b) are not intermixed. An applicator (160) applies a thin layer of edible oil to the film material (66) prior to and on the side opposite of the forming roller (18) to provide more consistent and/or easier separation of the film material (66) from the food (14).

Disclosed are improved, intermediate moisture sweetened fruit compositions fortified with calcium supplied by calcium phosphate. The fruit compositions comprise: A) about 5 to 65% by weight of fruit solids; B) about 0.1 to 85% of carbohydrates; C) about 180 to 1500 mg/oz total calcium; and D) about 9 to 20% moisture. Also disclosed are methods for the preparation of such fruit products involving forming a concentrated slurry of calcium phosphate having a particle size such that at least 90% are less than 150 .mu.m, forming a wet blend of fruit ingredients, drying the wet blend to 9 to 20% moisture and admixing the dried fruit composition while warm with the slurry to form a dried sweetened calcium composition and forming into desired shaped and sized pieces.

Dried fruit products fortified with calcium and method of preparation

Apparatus (10) is disclosed including first and second forming rollers (18, 21) which rotatably abut with an anvil roller (20). The forming rollers (18, 21) each include a periphery forming a continuous forming surface including a plurality of axially and circumferentially spaced grooves (24) each formed as a continuous depression arranged in a serpentine and non-intersecting manner. Food (14) is simultaneously fed by a saddle (36, 36') between a continuous strip of support material (16) and a continuous ribbon of film material (66) as they pass between a first abutment nip of the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20). In a preferred form, the saddle (36') is in the form of a block having first and second lower surfaces (118, 120) corresponding to the shape and located adjacent the first forming roller (18) and the anvil roller (20) in their mating side (32). A trough (24) is formed in the second lower surface (120) which is supplied by food under pressure flowing through conduits (140, 142, 144, 146, 150, 152). Radially disposed barriers (132) divide the trough (24) into axial portions. Radially disposed dividing walls (136) having lower tapering surfaces (138) and an axially disposed dividing wall (148) having a radially spaced lower end divide the trough (24) into volumes for receiving different foods (14a, 14b) to produce food items including integral food zones where the different foods (14a, 14b) are not intermixed.

Growing community of inventors

New Hope, MN, United States of America

Richard O Benham