IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
UP-0925325
(2007-10-26)
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등록번호 |
US-7820215
(2010-11-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Bortone, Eugenio
- Hanson, Perry
- Sutaria, Devang Jitendra
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
33 |
초록
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An apparatus and associated method for varying the color and/or flavor of an extruded food product during a single production run of a single extrusion device. The apparatus includes a multi-additive injection system, which is attached to a fluid supply line of an extrusion device. The injection sys
An apparatus and associated method for varying the color and/or flavor of an extruded food product during a single production run of a single extrusion device. The apparatus includes a multi-additive injection system, which is attached to a fluid supply line of an extrusion device. The injection system is comprised of a plurality of additive supply tanks, which are each in fluid communication with the fluid supply line via an injection manifold, and a metering mechanism which selectively controls the amount of additive injected into the supply line by each individual supply tank. The injection system may also include a central control mechanism for calibrating the amount of additive injected into the supply line and for maintaining a constant fluid volume added to the extrusion device. Each of the additive supply tanks may contain a different colorant and/or flavoring. Two variants of the injection manifold are provided as well as a novel injection sequence for use with the disclosed system.
대표청구항
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The invention claimed is: 1. A method for adding a plurality of additive substances to an extruded food product, comprising: (a) affixing an additive injection system to a fluid supply line, which supplies a stream of fluid from a fluid source to a feed port in an extrusion device, which is admixed
The invention claimed is: 1. A method for adding a plurality of additive substances to an extruded food product, comprising: (a) affixing an additive injection system to a fluid supply line, which supplies a stream of fluid from a fluid source to a feed port in an extrusion device, which is admixed with a plastic food mass as the food mass is conveyed through said extrusion device, wherein said fluid source is upstream of said additive injection system, and wherein said fluid supply line comprises a pump for regulating the flow of fluid from said fluid source which is located downstream of said fluid source, wherein said additive injection system comprises i) an injection manifold having a plurality of injection ports, each comprised of a conduit which connects one of a plurality of supply tanks in fluid communication with said fluid supply line, wherein each supply tank contains a distinct additive substance, and ii) a metering mechanism positioned on each conduit which selectively actuates to open or close the conduit; and iii) a flow sensor attached to said fluid supply line and positioned downstream of said manifold, which senses the flow of the resulting combined fluid and additive prior to entering the extruder device; (b) selectively actuating a first metering mechanism to open a first conduit thereby dispensing a first additive substance into said fluid stream for a first period of time; (c) after passage of said first period of time, selectively actuating said first metering mechanism to close said first conduit; (d) selectively actuating a second metering mechanism to open a second conduit thereby dispensing a second additive substance into said fluid stream for a second period of time; and (e) after passage of said second period of time, selectively actuating said second metering mechanism to close said second conduit. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: f) selectively actuating a third metering mechanism to open a third conduit thereby dispensing a third additive substance into said fluid stream for a third period of time; and (g) after passage of said third period of time, selectively actuating said third metering mechanism to close said third conduit. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: h) selectively actuating a fourth metering mechanism to open a fourth conduit thereby dispensing a fourth additive substance into said fluid stream for a fourth period of time; and (i) after passage of said fourth period of time, selectively actuating said fourth metering mechanism to close said fourth conduit. 4. A method for adding a plurality of additive substances to an extruded food product, comprising: (a) affixing an additive injection system to a fluid supply line, which supplies a stream of fluid from a fluid source to a feed port in an extrusion device, which is admixed with a plastic food mass as the food mass is conveyed through said extrusion device, wherein said fluid source is upstream of said additive injection system, and wherein said fluid supply line comprises a pump for regulating the flow of fluid from said fluid source which is located downstream of said fluid source, wherein said additive injection system comprises i) an injection manifold having a plurality of injection ports, each comprised of a conduit which connects one of a plurality of supply tanks in fluid communication with said fluid supply line, wherein each supply tank contains a distinct additive substance, and ii) a metering mechanism positioned on each conduit which selectively actuates to open or close the conduit; and iii) a flow sensor attached to said fluid supply line and positioned downstream of said manifold, which senses the flow of the resulting combined fluid and additive prior to entering the extruder device; (b) injecting a plurality of additive substances into said stream of fluid by selectively actuating said metering mechanisms positioned on each conduit in accordance with a repeatable injection sequence, said sequence comprising i) actuating a first metering mechanism to open a first conduit thereby dispensing a first additive substance into said fluid stream for a first period of time, ii) prior to the passage of said first period of time, actuating a second metering mechanism to open a second conduit thereby dispensing a second additive substance into said fluid stream for a second period of time, iii) after passage of said first period of time, actuating said first metering mechanism to close said first conduit, and iv) after passage of said second period of time, actuating said second metering mechanism to close said second conduit. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said repeatable injection sequence, further comprises: v) prior to the passage of said second period of time, selectively actuating a third metering mechanism to open a third conduit thereby dispensing a third additive substance into said fluid stream for a third period of time, vi) prior to the passage of said third period of time, repeating said sequence, and vii) after passage of said third period of time, selectively actuating said third metering mechanism to close said third conduit. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein said first additive substance is a yellow hued colorant, said second additive substance is a red hued colorant, and said third additive substance is a blue hued colorant. 7. A method for adding a plurality of additive substances to an extruded food product, comprising: (a) affixing an additive injection system to a fluid supply line, which supplies a stream of fluid from a fluid source to a feed port in an extrusion device, which is admixed with a plastic food mass as the food mass is conveyed through said extrusion device, wherein said fluid source is upstream of said additive injection system, and wherein said fluid supply line comprises a pump for regulating the flow of fluid from said fluid source which is located downstream of said fluid source, wherein said additive injection system comprises i) an injection manifold having a plurality of injection ports, each comprised of a conduit which connects one of a plurality of supply tanks in fluid communication with said fluid supply line, wherein each supply tank contains a distinct additive substance, and ii) a metering mechanism positioned on each conduit which selectively actuates to open or close the conduit; and iii) a flow sensor attached to said fluid supply line and positioned downstream of said manifold, which senses the flow of the resulting combined fluid and additive prior to entering the extruder device; (b) selectively actuating a first and second metering mechanisms to open a first and second conduits thereby dispensing a first and second additive substances into said fluid stream for a first period of time; (c) after passage of said first period of time, selectively actuating said first and second metering mechanisms to close said first and second conduits; (d) selectively actuating a third and fourth metering mechanisms to open a third and fourth conduits thereby dispensing a third and fourth additive substances into said fluid stream for a second period of time; and (e) after passage of said second period of time, selectively actuating said third and fourth metering mechanisms to close said third and fourth conduits. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said first and third additives are distinct colorants and said second and fourth additives are distinct flavorings. 9. A method for coloring an extruded food product, comprising: (a) affixing an additive injection system to a fluid supply line, which supplies a stream of fluid from a fluid source to a feed port in an extrusion device, which is admixed with a plastic food mass as the food mass is conveyed through said extrusion device, wherein said fluid source is upstream of said additive injection system, and wherein said fluid supply line comprises a pump for regulating the flow of fluid from said fluid source which is located downstream of said fluid source, wherein said additive injection system comprises i) an injection manifold having a plurality of injection ports, each comprised of a conduit which connects one of a plurality of supply tanks in fluid communication with said fluid supply line, wherein each supply tank contains a distinct additive substance, and ii) a metering mechanism positioned on each conduit which selectively actuates to open or close the conduit; and iii) a flow sensor attached to said fluid supply line and positioned downstream of said manifold, which senses the flow of the resulting combined fluid and additive prior to entering the extruder device; (b) selectively actuating in unison a first and second metering mechanisms to simultaneously open a first and second conduits thereby dispensing a first quantity of a first colored additive substance and a second quantity of a second colored additive substance into said fluid stream for a first period of time; (c) admixing the first quantity of the first colored additive substance and the second quantity of the second colored additive substance in said fluid stream to form a first colored solution in said fluid stream.
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