Method and Apparatus for Adhering Large Food Flakes to a Food Substrate
AssigneeFrito-Lay North America, Inc.
InventorsHanny KANAFANI, Bernadette J. Domingo, Jack William Maegli, Destanie Amber Schneider
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for adhering large food flakes to a food substrate whereby the food flakes are substantially adhered to the food substrate by an adhesive. The food substrate may be any savory shelf-stable food known in the art such as a chips, pretzels, crispy bread products, popcorn, or nuts. A blend of the food flakes and the adhesive in its liquid form is applied to a food substrate. The topped food substrate is then subjected to changed process conditions to harden the adhesive, forming a bond between the food flakes and the food substrate.
Claims49
A method of adhering large food flakes to a food substrate, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an adhesive;
- b) providing a plurality of food flakes, wherein said food flakes have dimensions substantially between about 4-20 mm in length, about 3-6 mm in width, about 2-4 mm in thickness, and bulk density of 1.5-4.0 g/cc;
- c) blending said adhesive with said plurality of food flakes to form an adhesive-flake blend;
- d) providing a plurality of food substrates having a surface to apply said food flakes;
- e) applying said adhesive-flake blend to said plurality of food substrates to form topped snack food products;
- and
- f) solidifying said adhesive on said topped snack food products thereby substantially adhering said food flakes to said food substrates.
A method for producing a topped snack food product, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) blending a plurality of food flakes with an oil-joining adhesive to form an adhesive-flake blend, wherein said food flakes have dimensions substantially between about 4-20 mm in length, about 3-6 mm in width, about 2-4 mm in thickness, and bulk density of 1.5-4.0 g/cc;
- and
- b) applying said adhesive-flake blend to a plurality of food substrates to form topped snack food products.
An apparatus for adhering large food flakes to a food substrate comprising:
- a hopper for dispensing food flakes;
- a vessel for dispensing an adhesive;
- a blending device in fluid communication with said vessel via a first transport tube and in fluid communication with said hopper, wherein said blending device mixes said food flakes and said adhesive to form an adhesive-flake blend;
- a seasoning drum;
- and
- an applicator in fluid communication with said blending device via a second transport tube, wherein said applicator is located within said seasoning drum for dispersing said adhesive-flake blend.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.