# US 10,869,491 B2 · Process for manufacture of coated frozen confection

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- Number: US 10,869,491 B2
- Document ID: US10869491B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/528,861
- Filed: 2015-11-26
- Published: 2017-11-02
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2014-12-02
- Assignees: Conopeo, Inc.
- Applicants: Conopco, Inc.
- Inventors: Douglas George Brawn; Paul Edward Cheney; Andrew Hoddle
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869491B2

## CPC

- A23G 9/48: Composite products, e.g. layered {, laminated}, coated, filled
- A23G 1/305: {Products for covering, coating, finishing or decorating}
- A23G 9/04: Production of frozen sweets, e.g. ice-cream
- A23G 9/245: {for coating the products}
- A23V 2002/00: Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
- A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
- A23V: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AND LACTIC OR PROPIONIC ACID BACTERIA USED IN FOODSTUFFS OR FOOD PREPARATION

## Abstract

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a coated frozen confection, the process comprising the steps of (a) manufacturing a frozen confection, followed by; (b) imparting thermal energy to the surface of the frozen confection, sufficient to cause at least partial melting of the surface of the frozen confection, followed by; (c) allowing the surface of the frozen confection to refreeze, followed by; (d) coating the frozen confection in a liquid coating, which subsequently solidifies to provide a solid coating.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the manufacture of a coated frozen confection, the process comprising the steps of
a) manufacturing a frozen confection, followed by;
b) imparting thermal energy to the surface of the frozen confection, sufficient to cause at least partial melting of the surface of the frozen confection, followed by;
c) allowing the surface of the frozen confection to refreeze, followed by;
d) coating the frozen confection in a liquid coating, which subsequently solidifies to provide a solid coating;
characterised in that the thermal energy imparted in step b) is imparted by convective means or by radiative means.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein, the amount of thermal energy imparted to the surface of the frozen confection is from 1 to 500 J/cm2.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the thermal energy is evenly applied over the surface of the frozen confection in step (b).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the frozen confection is not contained within a mould during step (b).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1 wherein the frozen confection is at a core temperature of from −30° C. to −5° C. immediately prior to imparting thermal energy in step (b).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the frozen confection prior to step (b) has troughs with a volume of 1.5 to 550 mm3 and surface openings having a minimum diameter of from 0.05 to 7.5 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the frozen confection is manufactured by extrusion and cutting the extruded product.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A process according to claim 7, wherein the cut product is placed onto a freezing surface at a temperature of −15° C. or below.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A process according to claim 8, wherein the freezing surface is made of a metal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

A process according to claim 9, wherein the freezing surface is a stainless steel platform.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

A process according to claim 1, wherein the coating is chocolate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The process according to claim 9 wherein the metal is stainless steel or aluminum.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The process according to claim 10 wherein the stainless steel platform is arranged to carry the frozen confectionery through a freezer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The process according to claim 13 wherein the freezer comprises a blast freezer.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The process according to claim 2 wherein the amount of thermal energy imparted to the surface of the frozen confection is from 2 to 400 J/cm2.

### Claim 16 (depends on 2)

The process according to claim 2 wherein the amount of thermal energy imparted to the surface of the frozen confection is from 5 to 300 J/cm2.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The process according to claim 8, wherein the cut product is placed onto a freezing surface at a temperature of −25° C. or below.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The process according to claim 17, wherein the cut product is placed onto a freezing surface at a temperature of −30° C. or below.