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US 2002/0119225 A1Published application
Ultrasonically activated continuous slitter apparatus and method
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorRoberto A. Capodieci
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus (30) and method for ultrasonically energized slitting of a slab of confectionary material wherein a slitting tool (33a) incorporates a plurality of slitting knives (37a) spaced apart in accordance with the desired width of the product, which strips are further processed by transverse cutting and/or molding or other processing steps such as chocolate enrobing to provide improved confectionary products.
Claims20
A method of forming individual strips of confectionery product, said method including the steps of:
- providing an ultrasonic slitting tool, having at least a pair of cutting edges, said tool having node and anti-node portions, said cutting edges being spaced apart a given distance equal to the width of a strip to be formed therewith;
- forming a generally planar and continuous slab of confectionery material;
- continuously advancing said slab along a given path toward a slitting station;
- locating said ultrasonic slitting tool in said slitting station;
- energizing said slitting tool to cause said cutting edges of said slitting tool to vibrate through a given amplitude at a ultrasonic frequency;
- contacting said slab with said energized slitting tool to form at least one strip of confectionery stock from said slab;
- and,
- continuously advancing said strip along said given path past said slitting station for further processing of said strip of confectionery product.
5 more elements
An apparatus for continuous slitting of a slab of confectionery material, said apparatus comprising:
- a slitting station;
- an input conveyor for supplying a continuous slab of confectionery stock to said slitting station;
- and,
- an ultrasonic stack located in said slitting station, said ultrasonic stack including an energy converter for changing electrical energy into ultrasonic vibration, a booster for increasing the amplitude of said vibration, and an ultrasonic slitting tool which includes an ultrasonic horn having at least a pair of parallel cutting edges spaced apart a given distance equal to the width of a strip to be formed in said slab, said cutting edges being positioned to contact said slab of confectionery material as it is passed through said slitting station.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.