# US 8,769,857 B2 · Apparatus for vacuum forming contoured edible pieces > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,769,857 B2 - Document ID: US8769857B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/187,686 - Filed: 2011-07-21 - Published: 2011-11-10 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2005-02-11 - Assignees: Mars, Incorporated - Applicants: Richard D. Ornelaz, Jr. - Inventors: Richard D. Ornelaz, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769857B2 ## CPC - B29C 51/18: Thermoforming apparatus - A23G 1/0063: {Processes in which the material is shaped at least partially in a mould, in the hollows of a surface, a drum or an endless band, or by drop-by-drop casting or dispensing of the material on a surface, e.g. injection moulding or transfer moulding} - A23G 1/0066: {Processes for laying down material in moulds or drop-by-drop on a surface, optionally with associated heating, cooling, portioning, cutting cast-tail or anti-drip processes} - A23G 1/0086: {Moulding in plastic or elastomeric material, or plastic or elastomer coated material} - A23G 1/0096: {Removing chocolate from a mould (discharging baked goods from tins A21B3/18)} - A23G 1/205: {Apparatus in which the material is shaped at least partially in a mould, in the hollows of a surface, a drum or an endless band, or by drop-by-drop casting or dispensing of the material on a surface, e.g. injection moulding or transfer moulding} - A23G 1/21: Apparatus for moulding hollow products, open shells or other articles having cavities, e.g. open cavities - A23G 1/22: Chocolate moulds (A23G1/21 takes precedence) - A23G 1/226: {Moulds of plastic or elastomeric material, or plastic or elastomer coated moulds} - A23G 1/28: Apparatus for removing chocolate from the moulds - A23G 1/50: characterised by shape, structure or physical form, e.g. products with an inedible support (liquid products or solid products in the form of powders, flakes or granules for making liquid products A23G1/56) - A23G 3/0263: {Moulding apparatus for hollow products, e.g. opened shell} - A23G 7/02: Cooling or drying apparatus - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF ## Abstract The described apparatus and method enable the production of thin edible products having complex contoured shapes that cannot be made using conventional molding technology. In particular, chocolates having detailed surface topology can be made utilizing a pliable substrate and a vacuum mold. The process may be made substantially continuous. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vacuum molding apparatus comprising: A continuous webbing of pliable substrate; A continuous supply of a mask operably disposed relative to the pliable substrate and having a cutout in a cross sectional area thereof permitting a deposit of edible starting material onto the pliable substrate; An edible starting material depositer operably disposed relative to the pliable substrate and; A first, depositing mold for forming an edible blank from the edible starting material supported on the pliable substrate; A second, forming mold for forming the edible blank into a finished edible piece; and At least one adjustable source of pressure operably disposed relative to the first and second molds; wherein at least a portion of the pliable substrate webbing is conveyed from the first depositing mold to the second, forming mold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first roll of the continuous webbing of pliable material from which the webbing is unwound. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a second roll of the continuous webbing of pliable material which takes up the webbing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor to support the pliable substrate and transfer it form the first, depositing mold to the second, forming mold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least the second source of pressure is sufficient to provide the finished edible piece with contoured opposing surfaces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depositing mold is operably disposed relative to two edible starting material depositors further operably disposed relative to sources of two different edible materials. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the edible starting material depositer is adapted to co-deposit different edible materials. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pliable substrate has an image deposited thereon that is transferred to the edible blank and/or finished edible piece. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mask is configured as an endless belt. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cavity of the forming mold is deeper than a cavity of the depositing mold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the depositing mold has a cavity having a variable depth. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forming mold is a rotating body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forming mold is operably disposed relative to a cooling source. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an additional source of pressure operably disposed relative to the forming mold for removal of the pliable substrate from the finished edible piece.