Method of preparation of food product with edible images
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorDonald J. Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A topical high resolution image of edible ink and having a resolution of at least 100 dots per inch is applied to a top major surface of a length of food (14) in the form of a thin fruit based paste or confection slurry by a digital imaging printer (130). The length of food (14) is at a temperature of at least about 75° C. at the time of application. During application, the food (14) is supported upon a moveable platform (136) mounted by parallelogram links (138) and which is moved parallel to the digital imaging printer (130) according to a condition of the top major surface upon which the topical high resolution image is applied and detected by detecting provisions (144).
Claims26
A method of applying a topical image to a food, comprising:
- moving a length of food in the form of a thin fruit based paste or confection, with the length of food having a top major surface adapted to receive a first topical high resolution image and an opposed bottom major surface, with the length of food having an original color, with the length of food having a shape and an area;
- directly applying the first topical high resolution image on the top major surface of the length of food with a printer arranged spaced from the top major surface by a throwback distance while the length of food is maintained at a temperature of at least about 75° C. (170° F.), with the first topical high resolution image having a resolution of at least 100 dots per inch (“DPI”) in at least one direction at the time of application and including at least one edible ink that is different from the original color of the length of food in color or hue;
- and
- adjustably maintaining the throwback distance substantially constant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.