초록

Apparatus for manufacturing a multicolored aerated confection product utilizing individually adjustable multi-orifice extrusion systems.

대표청구항 ▼

A multi-orifice compound extrusion apparatus for extruding multicolored aerated confection strands comprising confection pumping means for providing a first-colored pressurized, fluid, aerated confection blend of a first color at a temperature of at least about 120°F. and at a pressure in the range

A multi-orifice compound extrusion apparatus for extruding multicolored aerated confection strands comprising confection pumping means for providing a first-colored pressurized, fluid, aerated confection blend of a first color at a temperature of at least about 120°F. and at a pressure in the range of at least about 30 psi, and for providing a second-colored pressurized, fluid, aerated confection blend of a second color different from said first color, at a temperature in the range of at least about 120°F. and at a pressure of at least about 30 psi, first elongated diffusion chamber means for receiving said first-colored aerated, pressurized confection blend and for distributing said first-colored confection blend received therein along a first diffusion chamber zone having a width to length ratio of at least about 10, first elongated extrusion chamber means for receiving said first-colored confection blend from said first elongated diffusion chamber means and for discharging said first-colored confection blend through a plurality of at least 10 separated extrusion ports, a first elongated diffusion means positioned between said first elongated diffusion chamber means and said first elongated extrusion chamber means comprising a first elongated barrier sheet extending along the width of said first diffusion chamber means having one or more passageways therethrough of cross-sectional area along the length of said first barrier sheet varying as an inverse function of the pressure of the confection blend in said first diffusion chamber zone adjacent said first barrier sheet, for transmitting and equalizing the pressure distribution of said first-colored confection blend from said first elongated diffusion chamber means to said first elongated extrusion chamber means along the width of said first extrusion chamber means, second elongated diffusion chamber means for receiving said second-colored aerated, pressured confection blend and distributing said second-colored confection blend received therein along a second diffusion chamber zone having a width to length ratio of at least about 10, second elongated extrusion chamber means for receiving second-colored confection blend from said second elongated diffusion chamber means and for discharging said second-colored confection blend through each of said plurality of at least 10 separate extrusion ports separately from said first-colored confection blend, a second elongated diffusion means positioned between said second elongated diffusion chamber means and said second elongated extrusion chamber means comprising a second elongated barrier sheet extending along the width of said second diffusion chamber means having one or more passageways therethrough of cross-sectional area along the length of said second barrier sheet varying as an inverse function of the pressure of the confection blend in said second diffusion chamber zone adjacent said second barrier sheet, for transmitting and equalizing the pressure distribution of said second-colored confection blend from said second elongated diffusion chamber means to said second elongated extrusion chamber means along the width of said second extrusion chamber means, a plurality of at least 10 compound extrusion nozzles each positioned adjacent to one of said separate extrusion ports for receiving a stream of said first-colored confection blend and a stream of said second-colored confection blend discharged through each said port, for combining and forming said first-colored stream and said second-colored stream in each said nozzle into a single, multi-colored strand of predetermined cross-sectional shape without substantial blending of said first-colored and said second-colored streams, to provide a plurality of at least 10 multi-colored confection strands, first-colored extrusion port valve means for individually adjusting the rate of flow of said first-colored aerated confection stream from said first elongated extrusion chamber through each said port, and second-colored extrusion port valve means for individually adjusting the rate of flow of said second-colored aerated confection stream from said second elongated extrusion chamber through each said port to permit individual adjustment of the flow rate of each of the first-colored and the second-colored confection blend components of each of said plurality of confection strands.