Method for rapidly making a 3-D food object
US6280784A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 28, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 10, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/49015
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A freeform fabrication method for making a three-dimensional food object from a design created on a computer, including: (a) providing a support member by which the object is supported while being constructed; (b) operating a material dispensing head for dispensing a strand of food composition in a fluent state with this food composition comprising a volatile ingredient; (c) operating a material treatment device disposed near the strand of food composition to at least partially remove the volatile ingredient for causing the food composition to achieve a rigid state in which the food composition is built up in a 3-D shape of the object; and (d) operating control devices for generating control signals in response to coordinates of the design of the object and controlling the position of the dispensing head relative to the support member in response to the control signals to control dispensing of the food composition for constructing the object while supported with the support member. The method optionally includes an additional step of removing the residual volatile ingredient from the resulting 3-D shape or applying a heat treatment to the 3-D shape upon construction of this shape.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.