Methods of high throughput hydrocolloid bead production and apparatuses thereof
AssigneeClearH2O, Inc.
InventorsJay Palmer, Paul Dioli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods of high throughput hydrocolloid bead production and related apparatuses are described herein. In the disclosed methods, drops of a hydrocolloid gel suspension are dropped into a reactant bath. The drops of hydrocolloid gel are exposed to the reactant bath for a predetermined period of time, during which the drops form firm or semi-firm beads. The beads are then removed from the reactant bath. The resulting hydrocolloid beads are advantageously resistant to syneresis and can provide high nutritional and water content.
Claims18
A method of creating hydrocolloid beads, the method comprising:
- a) dispensing drops of a hydrocolloid gel suspension into a reactant bath, wherein dispensing drops of the hydrocolloid gel suspension into the reactant bath is accomplished using a pressurized line to force the hydrocolloid gel suspension through a plurality of nozzles, and wherein the drops are formed due to gravity, vibration of the nozzles, and/or a spinning disk or wire;
- b) exposing the drops to the reactant bath for a predetermined period of time, wherein the drops form firm or semi-firm beads as they remain in the reactant bath;
- and
- c) removing the beads from the reactant bath.
A device for creating hydrocolloid beads, the device comprising:
- a delivery system configured to dispense gel drops into a reactant bath platform, wherein the reactant bath platform comprises a tray that contains a reactant solution, the tray arranged so as to allow the gel drops to be exposed to the reactant solution for a predetermined time to allow the gel drops to form semi-firm or firm beads, wherein the reactant bath platform further includes an exit port through which the semi-firm or firm beads may exit the tray;
- a rinse platform configured to capture the semi-firm or firm beads as they exit the reactant bath platform;
- and
- at least one gate, wherein the at least one gate is configured to form a barrier across a portion of a width of the tray;
- and a gap formed between the at least one gate and a sidewall of the tray.
A device for creating hydrocolloid beads, the device comprising:
- a delivery system configured to dispense gel drops into a reactant bath platform, wherein the reactant bath platform comprises a tray that contains a reactant solution, the tray arranged so as to allow the gel drops to be exposed to the reactant solution for a predetermined time to allow the gel drops to form semi-firm or firm beads, wherein the reactant bath platform further includes an exit port through which the semi-firm or firm beads may exit the tray;
- and
- a rinse platform configured to capture the semi-firm or firm beads as they exit the reactant bath platform;
- wherein a base of the tray further comprises at least one of:
- an inclined surface and a conveyor system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.