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US 8,771,775 B2Granted
Multi layer extrusion
AssigneeT.F.H. Publications, Inc.
InventorsGlen S. Axelrod, Ajay Gajria
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pet chew may be manufactured by co-extruding multiple compositions to form a layered construction. Separate extruders may be provided to tailor processing conditions to heat and/or shear sensitive compositions, such as nutritional additives, and the respective extrudates may be combined such that relatively higher levels of nutritional compositions may be provided as an outer layer.
Claims10
A process for forming a pet chew comprising:
- providing a first extruder operable with a first extruder die providing a first extruder die profile shape, a second extruder operable with a second extruder die providing a second extruder die profile shape and a third extruder operable with a third extruder die having a third extruder die profile shape;
- providing a first composition containing a nutritional additive to said first extruder and a second composition to said second extruder and a third composition containing a nutritional additive to said third extruder;
- extrusion processing said first composition through said first extruder and said first extruder die to form a first extrudate having a first extrudate profile shape;
- extrusion processing said second composition through said second extruder and said second extruder die to form a second extrudate having a second extrudate profile shape;
- extrusion processing said third composition through said third extruder and said third extruder die to form a third extrudate having a third extrudate profile shape;
- joining said first extrudate, said second extrudate and said third extrudate to one another with a combining die located downstream of the first extruder die, the second extruder die and the third extruder die;
- wherein said first extruder is operating at a selected barrel temperature (BT1), including a selected residence time for said first composition (RT1) and a selected shear rate (γ1);
- wherein said second extruder is operating at a selected barrel temperature (BT2), a selected residence time for said second composition (RT2) and a selected shear rate (γ2);
- wherein said third extruder is operating at a selected barrel temperature (BT3), a selected residence time for said third composition (RT3) and a selected shear rate (γ3);
- wherein at least one of the following conditions is present:
- BT1<BT2
- RT1<RT2
- γ1<γ2;
- and
- wherein at least one of the following conditions is present:
- BT3<BT2
- RT3<RT2
- γ3<γ2;
- and
- wherein said first and third extrudates each provide a portion of an outer layer and said second extrudate provides a core, and wherein the first and third extrudates are each directly bonded to the second extrudate forming the core and completely surround the second extrudate forming the core;
- wherein said nutritional additive of said first composition is a thermally degradable and/or shear degradable nutrient additive;
- wherein said nutritional additive of said first composition is not present in the second composition;
- and
- wherein said nutritional additive of said first composition comprises a vitamin or mineral or herb, wherein 75% or more by weight of said nutritional additive in said composition remains non-degraded after processing in said first extruder.
21 more elements
A process for forming a pet chew comprising:
- providing a first extruder operable with a first extruder die providing a first extruder die profile shape, a second extruder operable with a second extruder die providing a second extruder die profile shape and a third extruder operable with a third extruder die having a third extruder die profile shape;
- providing a first composition containing a nutritional additive to said first extruder and a second composition to said second extruder and a third composition containing a nutritional additive to said third extruder;
- extrusion processing said first composition through said first extruder and said first extruder die to form a first extrudate having a first extrudate profile shape;
- extrusion processing said second composition through said second extruder and said second extruder die to form a second extrudate having a second extrudate profile shape;
- extrusion processing said third composition through said third extruder and said third extruder die to form a third extrudate having a third extrudate profile shape;
- joining said first extrudate, said second extrudate and said third extrudate to one another with a combining die located downstream of the first extruder die, the second extruder die and the third extruder die;
- wherein said first extruder is operating at a selected barrel temperature (BT1), including a selected residence time for said first composition (RT1) and a selected shear rate (γ1);
- wherein said second extruder is operating at a selected barrel temperature (BT2), a selected residence time for said second composition (RT2) and a selected shear rate (γ2);
- wherein said third extruder is operating at a selected barrel temperature (BT3), a selected residence time for said third composition (RT3) and a selected shear rate (γ3);
- wherein the following conditions are present:
- BT1<BT2
- RT1<RT2
- γ1<γ2;
- and
- wherein the following conditions are present:
- BT3<BT2
- RT3<RT2
- γ3<γ2;
- and
- wherein said first and third extrudates each provide a portion of an outer layer and said second extrudate provides a core, and wherein the first and third extrudates are each directly bonded to the second extrudate forming the core and completely surround the second extrudate forming the core;
- wherein said nutritional additive of said first composition is a thermally degradable and/or shear degradable nutrient additive;
- wherein said nutritional additive of said first composition is not present in the second composition;
- and
- wherein said nutritional additive of said first and third composition comprises a vitamin or mineral or herb, wherein 75% or more by weight of said nutritional additive in said first and third composition remains non-degraded after processing in said first and third extruders.
21 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.