Thin film forming
AssigneeMars UK Limited
InventorsPeter Clarke, Will Taylor, Sergey Vodvud, Allen Donnelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and method for producing a regular film of foodstuff, comprising a first roll on to which foodstuff is applied in fluid or plastic form, and an independent second roll spaced from the first by a distance t1 on to which a film of foodstuff of thickness t1 is applied by means of the first roll. Also apparatus and method for producing a layered foodstuff produce additionally comprising a doctor blade on the second roll and a rotary former including a number of cavities in which the foodstuff is collected.
Claims46
Apparatus for producing a regular film of foodstuff, comprising a first roll on to which foodstuff is applied in fluid or plastic form, and an independent second roll spaced from the first by a distance t1 on to which a film of foodstuff of thickness t1 is applied by the first roll.
A method of producing a regular film of foodstuff on a roller, the method comprising:
- (a) applying a foodstuff in fluid or plastic form to a first roll;
- (b) transferring a film of the fluid or plastic foodstuff to a second roll spaced from the first roll by a distance t1 and rotating in an opposite direction;
- (c) optionally smoothing out the film on the second roll by means of a third roll, separated from the second roll by a distance t2;
- and
- (d) optionally heating or cooling the film of foodstuff sufficiently that it takes the form of a plasticised film.
A method of forming a layered foodstuff product, the method comprising:
- (a) applying a foodstuff to a first roll in fluid or plastic form;
- (b) transferring a film of the fluid or plastic foodstuff to a second roll spaced from the first roll by a distance t1 and rotating in an opposite direction;
- (c) optionally smoothing out the film on the second roll by means of a third roll, separated from the second roller by a distance t2;
- (d) optionally adding a second layer of foodstuff to the film on the second roll by any suitable means
- (e) optionally heating or cooling the film of foodstuff sufficiently that the foodstuff takes the form of a plasticised film;
- (f) removing the film of plasticised foodstuff from the second roll in a controlled manner by means of a doctor blade;
- (g) receiving the plasticised foodstuff in cavities in a rotary former, the film adopting a predetermined pattern in each cavity;
- and
- (h) ejecting the formed layered product from the cavities in the rotary former.
A method as claimed in chaim 29, wherein the further components are added by a combination of further rolls and hoppers.
A layered confectionery product in which the product comprises a single film surrounding a central mass of layered or rippled product.
A layered confectionery product in which the layers take on the form of a spiral.
A layered confectionery product in which the layers extend outwardly from a central point in a flower petal type form.
(canceled)
(canceled)
Layered confectionery products in which different components form adjacent layers in the product.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.