Apparatus and methods for making multiple, complexly patterned extrudates

US6251452A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• General Mills, Inc. · US

Inventors

• James N. Weinstein · Maple Grove, US
• Scott A. Tolson · Arden Hills, US
• James R. Borek · Burnsville, US
• Peter A. Huberg · Shoreview, US
• Thomas Jarl · Golden Valley, US
• Philip K. Zietlow · Wayzata, US
• Bernhard H. van Lengerich · Plymouth, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 1999
• Grant date: Jun 26, 2001
• Expiry date: Apr 23, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A23P30/25
• WIPO field: Food chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Apparatus (10) and methods are disclosed where plastic extrudable food product is provided such as by an extruder or pump and is combined with another food product without intermixing to form a complexly patterned food product, such as by a pattern forming die (20). The cross-sectional area of the patterned food product is reduced from an inlet end (34) to an outlet end (36) by a factor of 4:1 to as much as 50:1 at an average convergence angle of 5 to 65.degree. while maintaining the cross-sectional pattern to form a reduced cross-sectional patterned food product, and then is extruded through a die port having an opening equal to the reduced cross-sectional area to form a complexly patterned extrudate.