Method and Apparatus for Making Co-Extruded Food Product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016174580-A1
Application number	US-201414575686-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

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

1 . A method of making snack bars comprising:
extruding a primary filling, constituted by a non-flowable material, onto a base; co-extruding a secondary filling with the primary filling, wherein the secondary filling is embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling; and cutting the primary filling, secondary filling and base into individual snack bars.

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

3 . The method of claim 2 , 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.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the primary filling is extruded to a depth and the secondary filling is co-extruded so as to push into the primary filling to approximately half of the depth.

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

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising: oscillating the extrusion nozzle during extruding of the primary and secondary fillings to produce the repeating pattern.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the repeating pattern is non-linear.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the repeating pattern is sinusoidal.

9 . An apparatus for producing snack products comprising:
a conveyor for supporting a base for the snack products; an extruder including an extrusion port for extruding a primary filling and an extrusion nozzle for co-extruding a secondary filling upon the base on the conveyor, wherein the extrusion nozzle is located upstream of, but directly adjacent, the extrusion port such that the secondary filling will be embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the extrusion port is arranged at an acute angle to a direction of extrusion of the primary filling.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising: a mechanism for oscillating the extrusion nozzle relative to the extrusion port.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising: a regulator for controlling a flow of the secondary filling, said regulator being oscillated by the mechanism in unison with the extrusion nozzle.

13 . A snack bar comprising:
a base establishing a crust; and a filling provided on the crust, said filling including a primary filling constituted by a non-flowable material and a secondary filling, wherein the secondary filling is embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling.

14 . The snack bar of claim 13 , wherein the primary filling has a smooth top surface, said secondary filling being substantially flush with and visible from the top surface.

15 . The snack bar of claim 14 , wherein the primary filling has a depth and the secondary filling extends approximately half of the depth.

16 . The snack bar of claim 13 , wherein the secondary filling extends within the primary filling in a repeating pattern.

17 . The snack bar of claim 16 , wherein the repeating pattern is non-linear.

18 . The snack bar of claim 17 , wherein the repeating pattern is sinusoidal.

19 . The snack bar of claim 13 , wherein the crust defines a graham cracker or chocolate base for the snack bar.

20 . The snack bar of claim 13 , wherein the secondary filling constitutes a flowable material.

21 . The snack bar of claim 13 , wherein the primary filling is cheesecake.

22 . The snack bar of claim 21 , wherein the secondary filling is a fruit filling.

23 . The snack bar of claim 13 , wherein the snack bar has an overall length and an overall width, each being in the order of 2-3 inches (approximately 5-7.5 cm).

Assignees

• Gen Mills Inc

Inventors

• Stenvik Ralph A

Classifications

• A21D13/0025 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A21D13/08

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A21C15/007 Primary

  Apparatus for filling baked articles (filling pieces of dough A21C9/06; filled bakery products A21D13/30, A21D13/80) · CPC title

• A21D13/0038

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A23P10/25

  Agglomeration or granulation by extrusion or by pressing, e.g. through small holes, through sieves or between surfaces · CPC title