Method of conching bulk chocolate in a mixing apparatus

Abstract

Bulk chocolate is added into a mixing apparatus whereby a plurality of conching tools (10) is fixed together with several others, on a shaft (11). The shaft (11) is rotatably mounted in end walls (21) of a horizontal drum (12). The ends of the mixing tools (10) are located a short distance from the inside wall (18) of the drum, and the shaft (11) has a drive which turns the direction of rotation of the shaft (11), the clearance between the leading edge (19) of each tool (10) and the inside wall (18) of the drum is greater than the clearance between the trailing edge (20) of the tool and the inside wall (18) of the drum. The shaft (11) is rotated to press the bulk chocolate between a bottom wall of mixing tools (10) and the inside surface of the drum (12) whereby the bulk chocolate first enters the leading edge (19) to experience a pressing force as it travels across from the leading region to the trailing region of the mixing tool (10).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.