Method and apparatus for making co-extruded food product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11490625-B2
Application number	US-201414575686-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

Abstract

A snack bar is produced in accordance with a method employing an extrusion apparatus to include a base or crust, a primary filling provided on the base and a second filling or topping embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling. The primary and secondary fillings are co-extruded, with an extrusion nozzle for the secondary filling being located directly adjacent an extrusion port for the primary filling. The primary filling is non-flowable, while the secondary filling is preferably flowable. The extrusion nozzle can be repositioned either between or during extrusion operations to alter a repeating pattern for the secondary filling.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of making snack bars comprising:
extruding a primary filling, constituted by a non-flowable material, from an extrusion port and onto a base;
co-extruding a secondary filling with the primary filling, wherein the secondary filling is extruded from an extrusion nozzle within the extrusion port and pushed into the primary filling within the extrusion port as to be embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling on the base; and
cutting the primary filling, secondary filling and base into individual snack bars, the method further comprising
extruding the primary filling to have a smooth top surface, and co-extruding said secondary filling to be substantially flush with and visible from the top surface;
extruding the primary filling to a depth established between the smooth top surface and a bottom surface;
co-extruding the secondary filling so as to push the secondary filling into the primary filling to approximately half of the depth; and
pushing the secondary filling into the primary filling within the extrusion port so as to deform the primary filling.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: co-extruding the secondary filling from the extrusion nozzle, wherein the extrusion nozzle is located upstream of, but directly adjacent, an outlet opening of the extrusion port.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the secondary filling is co-extruded within the primary filling in a repeating pattern.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: oscillating the extrusion nozzle during extruding of the primary and secondary fillings to produce the repeating pattern.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the repeating pattern is non-linear.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the repeating pattern is sinusoidal.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the secondary filling is extruded from the extrusion nozzle which is at an acute angle to a direction of extrusion of the primary filling.

8. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: oscillating the extrusion nozzle relative to the extrusion port.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising: controlling a flow of the secondary filling with a regulator, said regulator being oscillated in unison with the extrusion nozzle.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the base is established as a graham cracker or chocolate base.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primary filling is cheesecake.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the secondary filling is a fruit filling.

13. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: co-extruding the secondary filling within the extrusion port within about one-half inch of the outlet opening.

Assignees

• Gen Mills Inc

Inventors

• Stenvik Ralph A

Classifications

• A21D13/32

  filled or to be filled after baking, e.g. sandwiches · CPC title

• A23L7/126

  Snacks or the like obtained by binding, shaping or compacting together cereal grains or cereal pieces, e.g. cereal bars · CPC title

• A23G3/0021

  Processes in which the material is shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of cross-sections or plates, optionally the associated cutting · CPC title

• A23P20/20

  Making of laminated, multi-layered, stuffed or hollow foodstuffs, e.g. by wrapping in preformed edible dough sheets or in edible food containers · CPC title

• A21D13/37

  Co-extruded products, i.e. products obtained by simultaneous extrusion of the dough and the filling · CPC title