Apparatus for co-extrusion of a dough mass with particulate matter in

Abstract

A continuous co-extruded food product is formed having dissimilar inner and outer portions wherein the inner portion is enveloped by the outer portion and the outer portion is a dough containing particulate material such as chocolate chips. The product is formed by an inner extrusion port being recessed a distance d from an outer extrusion port with the distance d being sufficient for permitting particulate material in the outer dough portion to pass through an exit passage between the inner and outer extrusion ports without clogging or agglomeration. Turbulence is induced in the outer dough portion which envelops the inner portion thereby causing the particulate material to tumble whereby at least a portion of the particulate material partially penetrates the exterior surface of the outer dough portion enveloping the inner portion. Dough is removed from the surface of the part of the particulate material penetrating the exterior surface of the outer dough portion. In a preferred embodiment, the outer extrusion port includes a land surface generally parallel to the axis of the outer extrusion port and a bevel surface at the interior surface of the outer extrusion port. The land surface intersects the beveled surface at a generally sharp line of intersection. The generally sharp line of intersection and the bevel surface cause the tumbling of the particulate material. The land surface removes dough from the surface of the particulate material which penetrates the exterior surface of the outer dough portion.