Method and system for forming a cooked product using ultrasonic energy
AssigneeMars, Incorporated
InventorsGary Skene, John M. Martin, Dennis Delaney, Laura Paluch, Roberto A. Capodieci
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Abstract
A system and method for forming a cooked, shaped product (e.g., an animal food) is provided. A flowable substrate is introduced into one or more shaping chambers in a fixture configured to both shape and cook the substrate. An ultrasonic energy source in communication with the fixture vibrates the walls of the one of more shaping chambers to cook the substrate in a desired manner. The fixture also may be configured to produce a shaped, hollow product and a multi-layer product.
Claims35
A manufacturing process for producing a shaped, cooked product from a first flowable substrate, comprising:
- placing the first flowable substrate between a first shaped surface and a second shaped surface, the second shaped surface substantially surrounding and spaced radially outward of the first shaped surface, the first shaped surface shaping an interior surface of the first flowable substrate, and the second shaped surface shaping an exterior surface of the first flowable substrate;
- and
- vibrating the first shaped surface and the second shaped surface to impart sufficient energy to the first flowable substrate to harden at least one of the exterior surface and the interior surface;
- wherein a shaped, cooked product is formed.
A process for manufacturing a shaped product, comprising:
- placing a first flowable substrate into contact with a first shaped surface, the first shaped surface imparting a shape to an interior surface of the first flowable substrate;
- placing the first flowable substrate into contact with a second shaped surface substantially surrounding and radially outward of the first shaped surface, the second shaped surface imparting a shape to an exterior surface of the first flowable substrate;
- and
- vibrating the first shaped surface and the second shaped surface to transfer sufficient energy to the first flowable substrate such that the interior surface and the exterior surface retain their respective shapes when removed from contact with the first shaped surface and the second shaped surface, respectively.
A manufacturing process for making a shaped, cooked product, comprising:
- feeding a first flowable substrate through a shaping chamber, the shaping chamber defined by a first surface and a second surface, wherein the second surface substantially surrounds and is spaced radially outward of the first surface, wherein the first surface shapes an interior surface of the first flowable substrate, and wherein the second surface shapes an exterior surface of the first flowable substrate;
- and
- while passing the first flowable substrate through the shaping chamber, vibrating the first shaped surface and the second shaped surface to impart sufficient energy to the first flowable substrate such that the interior surface and the exterior surface retain their respective shapes after exiting the shaping chamber;
- wherein a shaped, cooked product is formed.
A manufacturing process for making a shaped, cooked product from a flowable substrate, comprising:
- shaping the flowable substrate by feeding the flowable substrate through a shaping fixture comprising a plurality of chambers, each of the chambers defined by a wall having a shaped surface, each of the shaped surfaces having a unique shape;
- and
- vibrating each of the shaped surfaces to impart sufficient energy to cook the flowable substrate in the respective chambers, thereby producing a plurality of uniquely shaped, cooked products.
A manufacturing process for making a shaped, cooked product, comprising:
- shaping a flowable substrate by feeding the flowable substrate through a shaping chamber, the shaping chamber having a first shaped surface to impart a first shape to a first portion of the flowable substrate and a second shaped surface to impart a second shape to a second portion of the flowable substrate;
- and
- vibrating the first shaped surface and the second shaped surface to impart sufficient energy to the flowable substrate such that the first portion and the second portion of the flowable substrate retain their respective shapes after exiting the shaping chamber;
- wherein a shaped, cooked product is formed.
A manufacturing process for making a cooked, shaped product from a flowable substrate, comprising:
- feeding a flowable substrate through a shaping fixture at a flow rate, wherein the shaping fixture comprises at least one chamber defined by a wall having a shaped surface, and wherein a sufficient volume of the flowable substrate is introduced into the chamber such that the flowable substrate contacts substantially all of the shaped surface;
- vibrating the shaped surface to impart cooking energy to the volume of the flowable substrate;
- and
- controlling the flow rate of the flowable substrate through the shaping fixture such that sufficient cooking energy can be imparted to thoroughly cook the entire volume of the flowable substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.