Method and apparatus for making co-extruded food product
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorRalph A Stenvik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A snack bar is produced in accordance with a method employing an extrusion apparatus to include a base or crust, a primary filling provided on the base and a second filling or topping embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling. The primary and secondary fillings are co-extruded, with an extrusion nozzle for the secondary filling being located directly adjacent an extrusion port for the primary filling. The primary filling is non-flowable, while the secondary filling is preferably flowable. The extrusion nozzle can be repositioned either between or during extrusion operations to alter a repeating pattern for the secondary filling.
Claims13
A method of making snack bars comprising:
- extruding a primary filling, constituted by a non-flowable material, from an extrusion port and onto a base;
- co-extruding a secondary filling with the primary filling, wherein the secondary filling is extruded from an extrusion nozzle within the extrusion port and pushed into the primary filling within the extrusion port as to be embedded in, yet externally exposed from, the primary filling on the base;
- and
- cutting the primary filling, secondary filling and base into individual snack bars, the method further comprising
- extruding the primary filling to have a smooth top surface, and co-extruding said secondary filling to be substantially flush with and visible from the top surface;
- extruding the primary filling to a depth established between the smooth top surface and a bottom surface;
- co-extruding the secondary filling so as to push the secondary filling into the primary filling to approximately half of the depth;
- and
- pushing the secondary filling into the primary filling within the extrusion port so as to deform the primary filling.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.