# US 7,608,141 B2 · Printing process with edible inks

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- Number: US 7,608,141 B2
- Document ID: US7608141B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/565,006
- Filed: 2006-11-30
- Published: 2007-04-19
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2001-04-20
- Assignees: Decopac, Inc.
- Inventors: John R. Russell; Andrew M. Candler; Angela Wright
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7608141B2

## CPC

- A23G 3/28: Apparatus for decorating sweetmeats or confectionery
- A23L 5/43: using naturally occurring organic dyes or pigments, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives
- C09D 11/02: Printing inks (C09D11/30 takes precedence)
- Y10T 428/24802: Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]
- A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An edible ink with a viscosity of about 2000 to about 16000 cp at 25° C.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of printing with an edible ink, comprising:
obtaining a decorating kit that includes a transfer sheet having an edible ink lithographically printed thereon to form an image layer, the edible ink having a viscosity of about 2000 to about 16000 cp at 25° C. and having a pigment density of about 0.1 g/l to about 0.25 g/l and an ink density of about 1.1 g/l to about 2.0 g/l;
contacting the edible ink of transfer sheet with an exposed surface of an edible article; and
removing the transfer sheet from the exposed surface of the edible article while a least a portion of the edible ink remains on the edible article.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the edible ink is lithographically printed on the transfer sheet to form the image layer having thickness of about 4 microns to about 6 microns.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the image layer comprises multiple colors of edible ink.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the edible ink comprises less than about 20% by weight water and has viscosity of about 2000 to about 3100 cp at 25° C.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the edible ink comprises about 10% to about 20% by weight water, about 70% to about 80% by weight of at least one sweetener, about 5% to about 10% by weight of at least one emulsifier, and about 1% to about 5% of a humectant.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the edible ink comprises about 70% to about 80% by weight of a barrier forming compound, about 1% to about 10% by weight of a drying agent, about 10% to about 20% by weight of a film former, about 1% to about 3% by weight of an emulsifier, about 1% to about 5% by weight water, and about 1% by weight of a water repellant.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting the edible ink of the transfer sheet to the exposed surface of the edible article causes the edible ink to become flowable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising maintaining the transfer sheet in contact with the exposed surface of the edible article for about 20 seconds.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising moistening the exposed surface of the edible article with a wetting agent before contacting the edible ink of the transfer sheet with the exposed surface of the edible article.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the exposed surface of the edible article is cake icing.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the edible ink is flowable such that the edible ink penetrates into a porous surface of the cake icing.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer sheet comprises a coating of a plastic or a wax.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the decorating kit is obtained after the transfer sheet having an edible ink lithographically printed thereon has been transported.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the edible ink has viscosity of about 2400 to about 3100 cp at 25° C.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the edible ink has viscosity of about 2900 to about 3000 cp at 25° C.