The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 12, 2001
Robert J. Germick, Plymouth, MN (US);
Scott F. Gillespie, Golden Valley, MN (US);
Jennifer M. Maack, Alexandria, MN (US);
Leslie D. Miller, Mendota, IL (US);
Jonathan P. Paul, Mound, MN (US);
Amanda Clare Hume Stewart, Winslow, IN (US);
Robert J. Germick, Plymouth, MN (US);
Scott F. Gillespie, Golden Valley, MN (US);
Jennifer M. Maack, Alexandria, MN (US);
Leslie D. Miller, Mendota, IL (US);
Jonathan P. Paul, Mound, MN (US);
Amanda Clare Hume Stewart, Winslow, IN (US);
General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, MN (US);
Abstract
A food product, preferably a food ingredient in the form of dye, pigment or similar colorant in a random pattern in refrigerated yogurt, is produced by supplying the food ingredient through a supply tube () extending through an injection tube () and into a fill pipe () and a fill tube (). In the preferred form, an elongated tubular member is formed around the fill tube () from a strip () of flexible material, with top and bottom seals being formed by a forming station (). In the preferred form, the injection tube () extends at an angle to the fill pipe () such that the supply tube () formed of stainless steel is generally linearly straight. The fill pipe () includes seal flanges () allowing its removal from the food material supply tubing () and the fill tube () to allow conventional cleaning of the remaining components of the apparatus (). The streaking effect is increased by introducing the second food ingredient through first and second ducts () on diametric opposite sides of and axially spaced along supply tube () and extending at an acute angle upstream of the supply tube ().