Water based inks for printing on confectionery
AssigneesMars, Incorporated, BPSI Holdings, Inc.
InventorsArun V. Shastry, Pamela K. Gesford, Diane C. Kunkle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Non-pigmented, water-based inks are disclosed which are compatible with industrial piezojet printheads and which can be used to form high resolution images on edible substrates, including sugar shell confectionery polished with a hydrophobic wax polish. The ink comprises a hydrolyzable polysaccharide adhesive agent, such as tapioca dextrin or gum arabic, which enhances the compatibility of the ink for hydrophobic surfaces.
Claims22
A confectionery piece comprising an ink-jetted image comprised of individual dried ink droplets having a resolution greater than 100 dots per inch on a surface thereof, with at least one of the individual dried ink droplets printed in a non-pigmented water-based edible ink comprising an edible colorant and a hydrolyzable polysaccharide adhesive agent present in an amount effective to enhance the adhesion of the image to the surface.
A non-pigmented water-based ink-jettable edible ink substantially free of conductivity enhancing salts for printing on a hydrophobic edible substrate, comprising
- a) water;
- b) edible colorant;
- and
- c) a hydrolyzable polysaccharide adhesive agent for a hydrophobic edible substrate.
A non-pigmented water-based, edible ink substantially free of conductivity enhancing salts, comprising:
- about 50.0 to about 85.0 percent by weight water;
- about 7.0 to about 35.0 percent by weight C1-C6 alcohol, propylene glycol or a mixture thereof;
- about 0.5 to about 15.0 percent by weight of a fully solvated edible dye;
- about 2.0 to about 40.0 percent by weight binder;
- and
- a dextrin or gum present in an amount effective to enhance the adhesion of the ink to a hydrophobic surface.
A method for ink-jet printing images on confectionery pieces, comprising:
- positioning confectionery pieces having a hydrophobic surface proximate a print station comprising a piezojet ink-jet printhead having at least one ink reservoir;
- supplying to said ink reservoir a non-conductive, water-based, edible ink comprising a polysaccharide adhesive agent in an amount effective to enhance adhesion of the ink to the hydrophobic surface;
- printing with the piezojet ink-jet printhead on the hydrophobic surface in accordance with image data transmitted to said printhead to form an image comprised of individual dried ink droplets.
A water-based non-pigmented ink-jettable edible ink for printing on an edible substrate, comprising:
- a colorant;
- an aqueous carrier for the colorant;
- and
- an image setting system containing (a) an organic solvent, (b) an adhesive agent, and (c) a binder;
- the image setting system selected so that the ink has a viscosity in a range of about 5 centipoise to about 20 centipoise and a surface tension of less than 50 dynes per centimeter when applied to the edible substrate.
A printed edible product comprising:
- an edible substrate selected from the group consisting of baked goods, biscuits, cakes, cookies, nuts, chocolates, cheeses, crackers, chips, pastries, puddings, mousses, ice creams, creams, pet foods, pet treats, main meal snacks, cereals, sausage casings, and pharmaceutical tablets, pills, capsules, caplets and dragees, and
- an ink-jetted image comprised of individual dried ink droplets having a resolution greater than 100 dots per inch on a surface of the edible substrate with at least one of the individual dried ink droplets printed in a non-pigmented water-based edible ink comprising an edible colorant and a hydrolyzable polysaccharide adhesive agent present in an amount effective to enhance the adhesion of the image to the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.