Patterned chocolate coatings, methods, and apparatus for preparing same
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsGary P. Maul, William French
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A product with a striped coating, method for making, and an apparatus for applying a coating to a confectionery to produce a confectionary with a striped appearing coating. The striped appearing coating preferably includes more than one type of chocolate, preferably two types of chocolate. Advantageously, the striped appearing coating is formed from two layers of chocolate, a foundation chocolate layer and a striped chocolate layer, thus giving the striped appearing chocolate coating a three dimensional texture.
Claims21
A method of making a striped confectionary product comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one confectionary having a first surface;
- providing a liquid coating material;
- simultaneously spraying a plurality of spaced stripes of liquid coating material from an applicator upon the first surface of the confectionary as the confectionary moves vertically past the applicator;
- and
- solidifying the stripes on the confectionary to form a striped confectionary product.
A coating apparatus for applying stripes of liquid coating material on a confectionary comprising:
- a conveyor for moving the confectionary along a path;
- a holding member associated operatively associated with the conveyor for at least temporarily holding the confectionary in a vertical position;
- at least one nozzle for spraying a stripe of coating material onto the confectionary as the confectionary moves past the nozzle on the conveyor while being held in the vertical position;
- at least one manifold containing coating material in a liquid form having a viscosity and temperature sufficient to prevent plugging of the nozzle, the manifold being operatively associated with the at least one nozzle for providing the coating material(s) thereto;
- and
- at least one link member for moving the nozzle(s) to control the configuration of the stripe(s) as they are sprayed onto the confectionary.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.