# US 4,394,395 A · Process for the production of a molded food product by sintering

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- Number: US 4,394,395 A
- Document ID: US4394395A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/310,744
- Filed: 1981-10-13
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1980-10-31
- Assignees: Societe d'Assistance Technique pour Produits Nestle S.A.
- Inventors: Walter Rostagno; Alfred Morand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394395A

## CPC

- A23G 3/0289: {Compression moulding of paste, e.g. in the form of a ball or rope or other preforms, or of a powder or granules}
- A23P 10/28: Tabletting; Making food bars by compression of a dry powdered mixture
- B65G 2201/0205: Biscuits
- 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
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

The invention relates to a process for producing a food product in the form of an individual article, particularly a bar, by sintering a powder-form starting material. To carry out the process, the powder is introduced into the cells of a mould, lightly compacted in the cells, heat-treated in a furnace for a period and at a temperature such that the individual particles melt at their surface and adhere to one another, after which the articles are removed from their moulds and cooled. The process is applicable to culinary products and to articles of confectionery or chocolate. The articles obtained may be coated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for the production of a food product in the form on an individual article made from a powder-form starting material comprising the steps of:
(a) introducing a food powder having a particle size of from 0.1 to 3.0 mm and a moisture content of less than 20% by weight into the cells of a mold, said food powder capable of being superficially softened under the effect of heat and having a high level of fluidity;
(b) lightly compacting the food powder in the cells by applying a pressure on the powder of from 1 to 8 kg/cm.sup.2 ;
(c) subjecting the compacted powder to a sintering treatment in a furnace for 3 to 10 minutes at a product temperature of from 45.degree. to 120.degree. C. such that the individual particles melt at their surface and adhere to one another to form an individual article;
(d) removing the articles from the mold; and then
(e) cooling the articles.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powder has a fat content of less than 25% by weight.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting material is a culinary product selected from vegetable, meat, fish or yeast extracts, protein hydrolysates, cheese, milk, cereals, starches, modified starches and dextrins.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

A process as claimed in claim 3, wherein the starting material contains one or more additives selected from spices, flavourings, colourants, fats, sugars and salts.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the starting material is a product of the type used in the production of confectionery or chocolate selected from fruit extracts, sugars, maltodextrins, cocoa, coffee, chicory, malted cereals, milk and fats.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the starting material contains one or more additives selected from flavourings, lecithins, boiled sugars, honey, caramel, nougatine, expanded cereals, dried fruit and candied fruit.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5, 6)

A process as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the starting material contains cocoa, malted cereals, skimmed milk powder, butter oil, sucrose, lecithin, vanillin, mineral salts and vitamins.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the article is cooled to a temperature below 25.degree. C. and coated in one or two stages with a chocolate-based coating.