Cutter having varied cavity draft angle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016007628-A1
Application number	US-201414772309-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2014
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

There is provided a cutter or mold having at least one sidewall defining a cavity, wherein the cavity draft angle varies. In some embodiments, the cutter may also include a base, i.e., the cutter can be a mold. The cutter or mold exhibits better release properties of food products molded or cut therewith than conventional cutters or molds having no cavity draft angle, or a uniform cavity draft angle. Rotary cutting wheels, that in some embodiments may be ultrasonically activated, as well as systems incorporating the cutters or molds are also provided, as are methods of forming food products using the cutters or molds.

First claim

1 . A cutter for a food product having at least one sidewall defining a cavity, the cavity comprising a varied cavity draft angle.

2 . The cutter of claim 1 , wherein the cutter further comprises a base defining a bottom of the cavity, wherein the base is optionally contoured or patterned.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The cutter of claim 1 , wherein the cavity draft angle is from 0 to 10 degrees.

5 . The cutter of claim 4 , wherein the cavity draft angle approaches 0 at at least one point, or along a length, of the sidewall.

6 . The cutter of claim 1 , wherein sidewall segments on opposite sides of an axis of symmetry have approximately the same cavity draft angle.

7 . The cutter of claim 1 , wherein sidewall segments on opposite sides of an axis perpendicular to an axis of symmetry have approximately the same cavity draft angle.

8 . The cutter of claim 1 , wherein sidewall segments on opposite sides of an axis of symmetry have a first cavity draft angle and sidewall segments on opposite sides of an axis perpendicular to an axis of symmetry have a second cavity draft angle and the first and second cavity draft angles are different.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The cutter of claim 1 , wherein the cavity is vented via the provision of discontinuities in the sidewall.

11 . A rotary cutting wheel for a food product comprising one or more cutters, the cutter having at least one sidewall defining a cavity, the cavity comprising a varied cavity draft angle.

12 . The rotary cutting wheel of claim 11 , wherein the cutter further comprises a contoured or patterned base defining a bottom of the cavity, wherein the base is provided by a surface of the rotary cutting wheel.

13 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . The rotary cutting wheel of claim 11 , wherein all of the cutters have a varied cavity draft angle.

16 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . The rotary cutting wheel of claim 11 , wherein the cutter is ultrasonically activated.

19 . The rotary cutting wheel of claim 18 , wherein at least one cutter comprises a vented cavity, the rotary cutting wheel is also vented and the cavity vent and the rotary cutting wheel vent are connected.

20 . (canceled)

21 . A system for forming a food product comprising:
A rotary cutting wheel comprising one or more cutters, at least one cutter having at least one sidewall defining a cavity, the cavity comprising a varied cavity draft angle; and a conveying element that moves a food product in relation to the rotary cutting wheel.

22 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . The system of claim 21 , further comprising a movable backing plate disposed beneath the surface of the conveying element and beneath the approximate center of mass of the rotary cutting wheel whereby, as the rotary cutting wheel rotates, the one or more cutters of the rotary cutting wheel contact the food product at the approximate location of the movable backing plate.

26 . A method of forming a food product comprising the steps of:
forming one or more food product strips; cutting the food product strips into a plurality of food product shapes by contacting the food product strips with a cutter having at least one sidewall defining a cavity, comprising a varied cavity draft angle.

27 - 29 . (canceled)

30 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising moving the one or more food product strips along a feed path that includes a conveyor belt.

31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein forming one or more confectionery product strips comprises:
forming a confectionery sheet; and slitting the confectionery sheet into the one or more confectionary product strips.

32 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising applying a coating or confectionery layer to said food product shapes after said cutting.

33 . The method of claim 26 , further comprising subjecting said confectionery product shapes to a surface treatment after said cutting.

Assignees

• Mars Inc

Inventors

• Capar Paul

Classifications

• A23P30/10 Primary

  Moulding · CPC title

• B26F1/3846

  cutting out discs or the like (B26F1/384, B26F1/40 and B26F1/44 take precedence) · CPC title

• B26D7/20

  Cutting beds {(B26D7/018 takes precedence; supporting beds for severing by means of a fluid jet B26F3/008)} · CPC title

• B26F1/384

  using rotating drums · CPC title

• B26D7/086

  by vibrating, e.g. ultrasonically · CPC title