# US 11,937,617 B2 · System and method for coating soft and sticky food cores > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,937,617 B2 - Document ID: US11937617B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/943,468 - Filed: 2022-09-13 - Published: 2023-03-16 - Granted: 2024-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-13 - Assignees: General Mills, Inc. - Applicants: General Mills, Inc. - Inventors: James Andrew Moss; Sorin Stingaciu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11937617B2 ## CPC - A23G 3/0068: {the material being shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of filled or multi-layered cross-sections or plates, optionally with the associated cutting} - A23G 3/54: Composite products, e.g. layered, coated, filled - A23G 3/0023: {Processes for cutting, modelling of sections or plates; Embossing, punching} - A23G 3/0063: {Coating or filling sweetmeats or confectionery (coating by casting A23G3/0091, by dipping A23G3/0093, by tumbling A23G3/0095)} - A23G 3/007: {the material being shaped at least partially in a mould, in the hollows of a surface, a drum, an endless band or by drop-by-drop casting or dispensing of the materials on a surface or an article being completed} - A23G 3/0091: {Coating by casting of liquids} - A23G 3/2015: {the material being shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of filled or multi-layered cross-sections or plates, optionally with the associated cutting device} - A23G 3/2023: {the material being shaped at least partially in a mould, in the hollows of a surface, a drum, an endless band or by drop-by-drop casting or dispensing of the materials on a surface or an article being completed} - A23G 3/22: Apparatus for coating by casting {of liquids} - A23G 3/343: {Products for covering, coating, finishing, decorating} - A23G 3/46: containing dairy products - A23P 20/18: by spray-coating, fluidised-bed coating or coating by casting (combined with breading A23P20/12) - A23P 30/20: Extruding - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF - A23P: SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS ## Abstract A product conveying and coating system includes multiple, sequentially arranged conveyor units, with at least one conveyor unit being an open belt type. A carrier sheet is placed on a first of the conveyor units, a web of coating material in liquid form is deposited on the carrier sheet and spaced ropes of soft and sticky material are deposited on and settle into the web. The carrier sheet, web and ropes are transferred to a second conveyor unit after the coating material of the web solidifies, whereupon the ropes are cut into bar-length pieces. Thereafter, the carrier sheet is removed while the web and pieces are transferred to the open belt conveyor unit and exposed to an enrober. The enrober coats the pieces while melting portions of the web between the pieces in order to form full coated or encapsulated food products with soft and sticky cores. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of producing coated food products comprising: applying a carrier sheet upon a first conveyor unit; dispensing a web of coating material laterally across a portion of the carrier sheet, with the coating material being in liquid form; delivering a plurality of laterally spaced ropes upon the web, with the ropes being made of a soft and sticky material; solidifying the coating material to form a solid web; transferring the soft and sticky material upon the carrier sheet and solid web onto a second conveyor unit; cutting the plurality of laterally spaced ropes into food pieces; removing the carrier sheet from beneath the solid web; transferring the soft and sticky material upon the solid web, without the carrier sheet, onto a third conveyor unit; and enrobing the food pieces while removing portions of the solid web between the food pieces in forming the coated food products having cores of the soft and sticky material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the third conveyor unit includes an open conveyor belt and removing portions of the solid web comprises melting the portions, with the coating material of the portions flowing through the open conveyor belt. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laterally spaced ropes are extruded onto the web and the cutting is performed with a cutting unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of laterally spaced ropes settle into the web prior to solidifying the coating material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein cutting the plurality of laterally spaced ropes is performed along the second conveyor unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the coating material of the web is constituted by fat-based or compound coating. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the coating material of the web is constituted by chocolate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the web has a thickness of approximately 1 mm. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the food pieces are enrobed with chocolate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the soft and sticky material is yogurt. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the carrier sheet is parchment paper. ### Claim 12 A system for producing coated food products comprising: a first conveyor unit; a carrier sheet located on the first conveyor unit; a dispensing unit configured to dispense a web of coating material in liquid form laterally across a portion of the carrier sheet; at least one extruder configured to deliver a plurality of laterally spaced ropes made of a soft and sticky material upon the web; a second conveyor unit configured to receive the carrier sheet, the web in solid form and the soft and sticky material on the web; a cutting unit configured to cut the plurality of laterally spaced ropes into food pieces; a third conveyor unit configured to receive the soft and sticky material upon the solid web, without the carrier sheet; and an enrober configured to enrobe the food pieces while removing portions of the solid web between the food pieces in forming the coated food products having cores of the soft and sticky material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the third conveyor unit includes an open conveyor belt and the enrober is configured to melt the portions of the solid web, with the open conveyor belt enabling the coating material of the portions to flow there through. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the cutter unit is provided along the second conveyor unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein dispensing unit is configured to dispense chocolate. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the enrober is configured to dispense chocolate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the extruder is configured to dispense yogurt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the carrier sheet is parchment paper. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the web at approximately 1 mm thick. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the enrober is configured to establish a coating having a thickness of about 1-2 mm for the coated food products.