US20010014362A1 - Tacked coiled food products and methods of fabricating - Google Patents
Tacked coiled food products and methods of fabricating Download PDFInfo
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- US20010014362A1 US20010014362A1 US09/802,631 US80263101A US2001014362A1 US 20010014362 A1 US20010014362 A1 US 20010014362A1 US 80263101 A US80263101 A US 80263101A US 2001014362 A1 US2001014362 A1 US 2001014362A1
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- Prior art keywords
- strip
- food
- fork
- tacked
- coil
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
- A23G3/00—Sweetmeats; Confectionery; Marzipan; Coated or filled products
- A23G3/02—Apparatus specially adapted for manufacture or treatment of sweetmeats or confectionery; Accessories therefor
- A23G3/20—Apparatus for coating or filling sweetmeats or confectionery
- A23G3/2007—Manufacture of filled articles, composite articles, multi-layered articles
- A23G3/2015—Manufacture of filled articles, composite articles, multi-layered articles the material being shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of filled or multi-layered cross-sections or plates, optionally with the associated cutting device
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
- A23G3/00—Sweetmeats; Confectionery; Marzipan; Coated or filled products
- A23G3/02—Apparatus specially adapted for manufacture or treatment of sweetmeats or confectionery; Accessories therefor
- A23G3/0236—Shaping of liquid, paste, powder; Manufacture of moulded articles, e.g. modelling, moulding, calendering
- A23G3/0242—Apparatus in which the material is shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of cross-sections or plates, optionally the associated cutting device
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
- A23P—SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS
- A23P20/00—Coating of foodstuffs; Coatings therefor; Making laminated, multi-layered, stuffed or hollow foodstuffs
- A23P20/20—Making of laminated, multi-layered, stuffed or hollow foodstuffs, e.g. by wrapping in preformed edible dough sheets or in edible food containers
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to food items and methods of fabricating, and in particular to the packaging of a food material strip in a manner appealing to consumers.
- a snack product such as FRUIT ROLL-UPS has found wide market acceptance.
- This product comprises a dehydrated fruit-based strip of material that must be unrolled and peeled from the packaging.
- dehydrated fruit-based snacks are not new, the process of unrolling and peeling a strip of candy from its packaging is appealing to children and some adults.
- the present invention is a food item and a method of fabricating wherein the food item is packaged in a manner promoting marketability.
- the food item includes a food material strip or belt having a predetermined length defined by a leading end and a trailing end.
- the strip is rolled around its leading end into a roll having multiple rotations with an outermost layer in contact with an inner layer. Furthermore, a region of the outermost layer proximate to the trailing end is tacked to the inner layer.
- the food item can be manufactured by using a fork to coil the strip of food Then, the outermost layer of the coil proximate to the trailing end of the strip can be tacked to an inner layer of the coiled strip.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food item in accordance with the present invention that has been removed from a bag and includes a tacked coiled strip of food material coated with sugar granules;
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the coiled food item of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a tacking device along with the coiled food item of FIG. 1 prior to tacking;
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the food item shown in FIG. 3 taken along plane 4 - 4 ;
- FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but with the tacking device injected into the coiled food item;
- FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but with the tacking device withdrawn from the coiled food item;
- FIG. 7 is a table listing the preferred ingredients of the food material of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a fabrication system having a plurality of mechanisms for coiling and tacking strips of food material in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 9 is an elevated view of one of the coiling and tacking mechanisms of FIG. 8, before receiving a strip of food material, and having a fork, a tacking device and a sensor device;
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tacking device associated with the coiling and tacking mechanism of FIG. 9;
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the coiling and tacking mechanism of FIG. 9;
- FIG. 12 is an elevated view of the mechanism of FIG. 9 receiving a strip of food material
- FIG. 13 is an elevated view of the mechanism of FIG. 12 after coiling the strip of food material
- FIG. 14 is an elevated view of the mechanism of FIG. 13, but with the prongs of the tacking device injected into the coiled strip of food material;
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 14, but with the tacked coiled strip of food released from the mechanism;
- FIG. 16 is a partial plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 15 depicting the fork in the retracted, second position, to release the tacked coiled strip of food.
- a food item 10 in accordance with the present invention comprising a tacked coiled belt or strip 12 of food material 14 sanded or coated with sugar granules.
- the food strip 12 consists of candy or a like food substance such as a sour flavored food material comprising the ingredients shown in FIG. 7.
- the food strip has two planar side surfaces 18 , 20 , a leading end 22 , an opposite trailing end 24 , and two parallel edges 26 , 28 extending longitudinally,
- the length of the food strip 12 extends from the strip's leading end 22 to its trailing end 24 .
- the width of the food strip 12 extends between the strip's parallel edges 26 and 28 .
- the strip of food material 12 is sanded or coated on both side surfaces 18 , 20 with sugar or the like.
- the strip 12 is coiled multiple times around the leading end 22 to define a plurality of loops or layers in overlapping relationship. Each loop or layer has a side surface in contact with, and thus supported by, another side surface of the strip of food material 12 .
- an end portion or region 36 of the strip 12 proximate to the trailing end 24 is attached by tacking to an inner layer of the strip to prevent uncoiling of the food item.
- the coiled food item 10 can be enclosed within a sealed plastic bag 38 or the like to preserve the freshness of the food material.
- FIGS. 3 - 6 an embodiment of a method for fabricating a food item 10 in accordance with the present invention is depicted.
- a tacking device 40 prior to tacking the coiled strip 12 of food material 14 , a tacking device 40 is provided having, in an embodiment, a heating element 42 and a pair of prongs or needles 44 and 46 .
- the heating element 42 heats the needles 44 , 46 to a predetermined temperature of, preferably, about 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- the needles 44 , 46 are injected into the coiled strip 12 such that the needles 44 , 46 penetrate the outermost layer 48 of the coil and also penetrate into an inner layer 50 adjoining the outermost layer as shown in FIG. 5.
- the needles 44 , 46 can be injected through multiple layers of the coiled strip 12 . Further, only one needle can be used for tacking the coiled strip 12 , or if desired, more than two needles.
- the region 36 of the strip 12 proximate to the trailing end 24 is tacked or welded to the inner layer 50 of the strip 12 by pressing portions of the outermost layer 48 against portions of the inner layer.
- no heat is used to tack the layers together.
- FIG. 8 provides a schematic view of a fabrication system 52 having a plurality of mechanisms 80 for coiling and then tacking strips of food material by pressing portions of two layers together.
- the system 52 includes an extrusion head 56 for forming a plurality of spaced, parallel, narrow strips 12 of food material 14 .
- the extrusion head 52 receives food material that is heated to an amorphous state allowing for even extrusion of the strips 12 of food material onto an endless conveyor belt 58 .
- the strips 12 of food material 14 are directed through a bath 60 of edible oil 62 and onto another endless conveyor belt 64 extending through a cooling tunnel 66 .
- the oil such as CAPOL or the like, preferably consists of a curing agent to keep acid in the strips 12 .
- the temperature of the food material 14 is lowered as it passes through the cooling tunnel 66 for converting the food material 14 from an amorphous state to a pliable solid.
- the strips 12 of food material exiting the cooling tunnel 66 are next directed onto an endless stainless steel wire mesh conveyor belt 68 .
- the conveyor belt 68 extends through a conventional device, known in the art as a sander 70 , for evenly spreading and pressing granules of sugar onto the strips 12 .
- This process known in the art as sanding, attaches the sugar granules to the outer surface of the strips 12 .
- the strips 12 of food material exiting the sander 70 are passed onto an inclined endless conveyor belt 72 for transporting the strips onto an elevated conveyor system 74 consisting of a plurality of elevated conveyors 76 separated from each other by a plurality of divides 78 .
- an elevated conveyor system 74 consisting of a plurality of elevated conveyors 76 separated from each other by a plurality of divides 78 .
- Mounted below the elevated conveyor system 74 are a plurality of mechanisms or stations 80 for individually coiling and tacking the strips 12 of food material as explained in detail further herein.
- each strip 12 of food material is transferred from the elevated conveyor system 74 onto a respective inclined endless conveyor belt 82 wherein the strip is cut by a knife 84 to define the trailing or cut end 24 of the strip.
- the leading end 22 of each strip 12 is received between first and second spaced parallel legs or tines 86 , 87 of a fork 88 associated with a corresponding coiling and tacking mechanism 80 .
- the legs 86 , 87 of each fork 88 preferably have a length at least equal to the transverse width of an individual strip 12 of food material 14 .
- each coiling and tacking mechanism 80 is operably connected, via a shielded drive coupling 91 , to a motor 90 for rotating the fork 88 about an axis located parallel to the legs 86 , 87 .
- Fork 88 is reciprocated between a first, engaged or extended position (FIGS. 9 , 11 - 14 ) extending generally in line with the path of the strip 12 exiting the associated inclined conveyor belt 82 (FIG. 8), and a second, disengaged or retracted position (FIGS. 15 and 16) located to one side of the inclined conveyor 82 and transversely spaced from the first, engaged position.
- fork 88 is reciprocated from the first and second positions, and vice versa, by a double-action pneumatic cylinder 92 .
- Each coiling and tacking mechanism 80 includes a pressure application device 94 for maintaining pressure against the food strip 12 as the strip is being coiled. Accordingly, the strip 12 is prevented from uncoiling by the pressure application device 94 before, and while, the coiled strip is being tacked.
- the pressure application device 94 preferably consists of a metal or metal alloy beam 96 having an arcuate end 98 and a bias member attachment end 100 .
- the pressure application device 94 is pivotally coupled to a fixed intermediate member 102 to allow the beam 96 to pivot about the fixed member 102 .
- the attachment end 100 of the beam 96 is coupled to a spring-load 104 comprising a spring 106 mounted about a shaft 108 having a distal end cap 109 attached thereto and in abutting relationship to the spring.
- the arcuate end 98 of the pressure application device 94 reciprocates between a first inner position (FIGS. 9 and 12), wherein the arcuate end 98 is radially spaced by a predetermined distance “d” from the fork 88 in its extended position, and a second outer position (FIGS. 13 and 14), wherein the arcuate end 98 is radially spaced from the fork in its extended position by a distance greater than “d.”
- the arcuate end 98 of the pressure application device 94 is pressed against the food strip 12 by the spring-load 104 during at least a portion of the coiling of the food strip. Accordingly, the arcuate end 98 of the pressure application device 94 is moved from the first inner position (FIG. 9) to the second outer position (FIGS. 13 and 14 ) as the outer diameter of the coiled food strip 12 increases in outer diameter size during the coiling process. Correspondingly, once the coiled food item is removed from the fork 88 , the arcuate end 98 of the pressure application device 94 moves from the second outer position to the first inner position by the force applied by the spring-load 104 to the bias attachment end 100 of the pressure application device.
- the leading end 22 of a food strip 12 is fed by the inclined conveyor belt 82 (FIG. 8) between the legs 86 , 87 of the fork 88 while the fork is positioned in its first engaged position and being stationary with the legs located to allow the leading end 22 of the food item to be fed therebetween.
- a sensor device 133 is provided for detecting when the leading end 22 of the food strip 22 has been fed between the legs 86 , 87 of the fork 88 .
- the sensor device 133 is a conventional laser sensor that emits a laser beam 137 .
- the laser beam 137 reflects off the strip and back to the sensor.
- the sensor detects the reflection and, as a result, provides for enabling the motor 90 to rotate the fork 88 about an axis parallel with the legs 86 , 87 .
- the fork 88 is preferably rotated in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow “A.”
- the motor 90 can rotate the fork 88 at adjustable speeds such that rotation of the fork is gradually decreased once the food strip 12 begins coiling about the fork.
- the speed of conveyor belt 82 can be increased as the food strip coils about the fork 88 .
- the coil comes into contact against the pressure device's arcuate end 98 in its first, inner position.
- the pressure device's arcuate end 98 places pressure on the rolling, coiled-up strip of food.
- the fork 88 acts as a rotating anvil, and with the pressure member's arcuate end 98 , sandwiches the coiled-up strip of food therebetween.
- a tacking device 140 having a pair of prongs 144 and 146 (FIG. 10) maintained in spaced parallel relationship to each other are injected into the coiled strip 12 .
- the prongs 144 , 146 are connected to a double-action pneumatic cylinder 123 for injecting and, if desired, retracting the tips of the prongs 144 , 146 from the coiled strip 12 .
- the prongs 144 , 146 are a pair of spaced coplanar elongated strips fabricated of a metal or metal alloy with each prong having a tip 153 for injecting into the coiled food strip 12 .
- the tips 153 of the prongs 144 , 146 are injected into the outermost layer 48 of the coil to penetrate into the layer 50 adjoining the outermost layer.
- a portion of the pressure application device's arcuate end 98 is positioned between the prongs while maintaining pressure against the coil to keep the coil from unraveling.
- the terminal distal ends 173 of the prongs 144 , 146 are blunted so that, by being injected into the coiled strip, the outer outermost layer 48 of the coil is pressed into, and thus becomes tacked to, the inner adjoining layer 50 of the coil.
- the fork 88 is axially slid from the coiled food item 10 by reciprocating the fork transversely from its first, engaged position shown in FIGS. 9 and 11- 14 to its second, disengaged position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
- the fork 88 is reciprocated by cylinder 92 , with the individual tacked coiled strip of food 14 falling from the fork 88 as it is retracted.
- the tacked coil of food falls onto a suitable collector means or removal conveyor, not shown.
- the legs 86 , 87 of the fork 88 are retracted through a corresponding pair of apertures 183 in a rotatable stationarily mounted disk 185 , with the coiled strip of food abutting the disk and axially sliding from the fork as the fork is transversely reciprocated into the apertures.
- the fork 88 After the fork 88 has reciprocated to its second, disengaged position as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, so the coiled strip 12 of food 14 falls therefrom, the fork is moved back to its first, engaging position of FIG. 12 by cylinder 92 , wherein legs 86 and 87 are positioned to accept the leading end of the next strip 12 of food 14 .
- prongs 144 , 146 are retracted away from fork 88 by double-action pneumatic cylinder 123 .
Abstract
A food item and method of fabrication is disclosed wherein the food item is packaged in a manner promoting marketability. The food item includes a fruit-based strip having a predetermined length defined by a leading end and a trailing end. The strip is rolled around its leading end into a roll having multiple rotations with an outer layer in contact with an inner layer. Further, a region of the outer layer proximate to the trailing end is attached to the inner layer of the roll.
Description
- This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/158,456, filed Oct. 8, 1999.
- 1. Technical Field
- The present invention generally relates to food items and methods of fabricating, and in particular to the packaging of a food material strip in a manner appealing to consumers.
- 2. Background of the Invention
- The merchandising of snack-type food products is a highly competitive business. In addition to the particular type of food material within these products, the novelty and play value are also important factors to consumers when deciding whether to purchase the product.
- For example, a snack product such as FRUIT ROLL-UPS has found wide market acceptance. This product comprises a dehydrated fruit-based strip of material that must be unrolled and peeled from the packaging. Although dehydrated fruit-based snacks are not new, the process of unrolling and peeling a strip of candy from its packaging is appealing to children and some adults.
- The present invention is a food item and a method of fabricating wherein the food item is packaged in a manner promoting marketability. The food item includes a food material strip or belt having a predetermined length defined by a leading end and a trailing end. The strip is rolled around its leading end into a roll having multiple rotations with an outermost layer in contact with an inner layer. Furthermore, a region of the outermost layer proximate to the trailing end is tacked to the inner layer.
- The food item can be manufactured by using a fork to coil the strip of food Then, the outermost layer of the coil proximate to the trailing end of the strip can be tacked to an inner layer of the coiled strip.
- In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food item in accordance with the present invention that has been removed from a bag and includes a tacked coiled strip of food material coated with sugar granules;
- FIG. 2 is a side view of the coiled food item of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a top view of an embodiment of a tacking device along with the coiled food item of FIG. 1 prior to tacking;
- FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the food item shown in FIG. 3 taken along plane4-4;
- FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, but with the tacking device injected into the coiled food item;
- FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but with the tacking device withdrawn from the coiled food item;
- FIG. 7 is a table listing the preferred ingredients of the food material of FIG. 1;
- FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a fabrication system having a plurality of mechanisms for coiling and tacking strips of food material in accordance with the present invention;
- FIG. 9 is an elevated view of one of the coiling and tacking mechanisms of FIG. 8, before receiving a strip of food material, and having a fork, a tacking device and a sensor device;
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the tacking device associated with the coiling and tacking mechanism of FIG. 9;
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the coiling and tacking mechanism of FIG. 9;
- FIG. 12 is an elevated view of the mechanism of FIG. 9 receiving a strip of food material;
- FIG. 13 is an elevated view of the mechanism of FIG. 12 after coiling the strip of food material;
- FIG. 14 is an elevated view of the mechanism of FIG. 13, but with the prongs of the tacking device injected into the coiled strip of food material;
- FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the mechanism of FIG. 14, but with the tacked coiled strip of food released from the mechanism; and,
- FIG. 16 is a partial plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 15 depicting the fork in the retracted, second position, to release the tacked coiled strip of food.
- While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
- Referring to FIGS.1-2, a
food item 10 in accordance with the present invention is depicted comprising a tacked coiled belt orstrip 12 offood material 14 sanded or coated with sugar granules. Thefood strip 12 consists of candy or a like food substance such as a sour flavored food material comprising the ingredients shown in FIG. 7. - The food strip has two
planar side surfaces end 22, an oppositetrailing end 24, and twoparallel edges food strip 12 extends from the strip's leadingend 22 to itstrailing end 24. The width of thefood strip 12 extends between the strip'sparallel edges - The strip of
food material 12 is sanded or coated on bothside surfaces strip 12 is coiled multiple times around the leadingend 22 to define a plurality of loops or layers in overlapping relationship. Each loop or layer has a side surface in contact with, and thus supported by, another side surface of the strip offood material 12. - In an embodiment, an end portion or
region 36 of thestrip 12 proximate to the trailingend 24 is attached by tacking to an inner layer of the strip to prevent uncoiling of the food item. Moreover, the coiledfood item 10 can be enclosed within a sealedplastic bag 38 or the like to preserve the freshness of the food material. - Turning to FIGS.3-6, an embodiment of a method for fabricating a
food item 10 in accordance with the present invention is depicted. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, prior to tacking the coiledstrip 12 offood material 14, atacking device 40 is provided having, in an embodiment, aheating element 42 and a pair of prongs orneedles heating element 42 heats theneedles needles coiled strip 12 such that theneedles outermost layer 48 of the coil and also penetrate into aninner layer 50 adjoining the outermost layer as shown in FIG. 5. - The heating of the
food material 14 about theneedles portion 38 of theoutermost layer 48 to the inner adjoininglayer 50 of thecoiled strip 12. Then, theneedles coiled strip 12 can, if desired, be deposited into abag 38 or the like. - In an alternative embodiment, the
needles coiled strip 12. Further, only one needle can be used for tacking thecoiled strip 12, or if desired, more than two needles. - Turning back to FIGS.1-2, in another embodiment, the
region 36 of thestrip 12 proximate to the trailingend 24 is tacked or welded to theinner layer 50 of thestrip 12 by pressing portions of theoutermost layer 48 against portions of the inner layer. In this alternative embodiment, no heat is used to tack the layers together. - FIG. 8 provides a schematic view of a
fabrication system 52 having a plurality ofmechanisms 80 for coiling and then tacking strips of food material by pressing portions of two layers together. Thesystem 52 includes anextrusion head 56 for forming a plurality of spaced, parallel,narrow strips 12 offood material 14. Theextrusion head 52 receives food material that is heated to an amorphous state allowing for even extrusion of thestrips 12 of food material onto anendless conveyor belt 58. - The
strips 12 offood material 14 are directed through abath 60 ofedible oil 62 and onto anotherendless conveyor belt 64 extending through acooling tunnel 66. The oil, such as CAPOL or the like, preferably consists of a curing agent to keep acid in thestrips 12. The temperature of thefood material 14 is lowered as it passes through thecooling tunnel 66 for converting thefood material 14 from an amorphous state to a pliable solid. - The
strips 12 of food material exiting the coolingtunnel 66 are next directed onto an endless stainless steel wire mesh conveyor belt 68. The conveyor belt 68 extends through a conventional device, known in the art as asander 70, for evenly spreading and pressing granules of sugar onto thestrips 12. This process, known in the art as sanding, attaches the sugar granules to the outer surface of thestrips 12. - The
strips 12 of food material exiting thesander 70 are passed onto an inclinedendless conveyor belt 72 for transporting the strips onto anelevated conveyor system 74 consisting of a plurality ofelevated conveyors 76 separated from each other by a plurality ofdivides 78. Mounted below theelevated conveyor system 74 are a plurality of mechanisms orstations 80 for individually coiling and tacking thestrips 12 of food material as explained in detail further herein. - As shown in FIG. 8, each
strip 12 of food material is transferred from theelevated conveyor system 74 onto a respective inclinedendless conveyor belt 82 wherein the strip is cut by aknife 84 to define the trailing or cutend 24 of the strip. The leadingend 22 of eachstrip 12 is received between first and second spaced parallel legs ortines fork 88 associated with a corresponding coiling and tackingmechanism 80. Thelegs fork 88 preferably have a length at least equal to the transverse width of anindividual strip 12 offood material 14. - Turning to FIGS. 9 and 11, the
fork 88 of each coiling and tackingmechanism 80 is operably connected, via a shieldeddrive coupling 91, to amotor 90 for rotating thefork 88 about an axis located parallel to thelegs Fork 88 is reciprocated between a first, engaged or extended position (FIGS. 9, 11-14) extending generally in line with the path of thestrip 12 exiting the associated inclined conveyor belt 82 (FIG. 8), and a second, disengaged or retracted position (FIGS. 15 and 16) located to one side of theinclined conveyor 82 and transversely spaced from the first, engaged position. Preferably,fork 88 is reciprocated from the first and second positions, and vice versa, by a double-action pneumatic cylinder 92. - Each coiling and tacking
mechanism 80 includes apressure application device 94 for maintaining pressure against thefood strip 12 as the strip is being coiled. Accordingly, thestrip 12 is prevented from uncoiling by thepressure application device 94 before, and while, the coiled strip is being tacked. Thepressure application device 94 preferably consists of a metal ormetal alloy beam 96 having anarcuate end 98 and a biasmember attachment end 100. Thepressure application device 94 is pivotally coupled to a fixedintermediate member 102 to allow thebeam 96 to pivot about the fixedmember 102. Theattachment end 100 of thebeam 96 is coupled to a spring-load 104 comprising aspring 106 mounted about ashaft 108 having adistal end cap 109 attached thereto and in abutting relationship to the spring. - The
arcuate end 98 of thepressure application device 94 reciprocates between a first inner position (FIGS. 9 and 12), wherein thearcuate end 98 is radially spaced by a predetermined distance “d” from thefork 88 in its extended position, and a second outer position (FIGS. 13 and 14), wherein thearcuate end 98 is radially spaced from the fork in its extended position by a distance greater than “d.” - The
arcuate end 98 of thepressure application device 94 is pressed against thefood strip 12 by the spring-load 104 during at least a portion of the coiling of the food strip. Accordingly, thearcuate end 98 of thepressure application device 94 is moved from the first inner position (FIG. 9) to the second outer position (FIGS. 13 and 14) as the outer diameter of the coiledfood strip 12 increases in outer diameter size during the coiling process. Correspondingly, once the coiled food item is removed from thefork 88, thearcuate end 98 of thepressure application device 94 moves from the second outer position to the first inner position by the force applied by the spring-load 104 to thebias attachment end 100 of the pressure application device. - Turning to FIG. 12, in operation, the leading
end 22 of afood strip 12 is fed by the inclined conveyor belt 82 (FIG. 8) between thelegs fork 88 while the fork is positioned in its first engaged position and being stationary with the legs located to allow theleading end 22 of the food item to be fed therebetween. Preferably, asensor device 133 is provided for detecting when the leadingend 22 of thefood strip 22 has been fed between thelegs fork 88. In an embodiment, thesensor device 133 is a conventional laser sensor that emits alaser beam 137. When thestrip 22 is fed between thefork legs laser beam 137 reflects off the strip and back to the sensor. The sensor detects the reflection and, as a result, provides for enabling themotor 90 to rotate thefork 88 about an axis parallel with thelegs - With reference to FIG. 12, the
fork 88 is preferably rotated in a clockwise direction as shown by arrow “A.” As thefork 88 is rotated, it can be appreciated that thestrip 12 offood 14 is rolled into a coil around its leadingend 22 on, and around, thelegs motor 90 can rotate thefork 88 at adjustable speeds such that rotation of the fork is gradually decreased once thefood strip 12 begins coiling about the fork. Likewise, if desired, the speed ofconveyor belt 82 can be increased as the food strip coils about thefork 88. - Also, as the
strip 12 offood 14 is rolled, the coil comes into contact against the pressure device'sarcuate end 98 in its first, inner position. In its first inner position, the pressure device'sarcuate end 98 places pressure on the rolling, coiled-up strip of food. Thus, thefork 88 acts as a rotating anvil, and with the pressure member'sarcuate end 98, sandwiches the coiled-up strip of food therebetween. - Turning to FIG. 14, after the
fork 88 has rotated the desired amount of times to completely coil thestrip 12 offood 14, rotation of the fork is slowed to a complete stop. At that time, a tackingdevice 140 having a pair ofprongs 144 and 146 (FIG. 10) maintained in spaced parallel relationship to each other are injected into the coiledstrip 12. Theprongs pneumatic cylinder 123 for injecting and, if desired, retracting the tips of theprongs strip 12. Preferably, theprongs tip 153 for injecting into the coiledfood strip 12. - In an embodiment, the
tips 153 of theprongs outermost layer 48 of the coil to penetrate into thelayer 50 adjoining the outermost layer. As theprongs arcuate end 98 is positioned between the prongs while maintaining pressure against the coil to keep the coil from unraveling. Preferably, the terminal distal ends 173 of theprongs outermost layer 48 of the coil is pressed into, and thus becomes tacked to, the inner adjoininglayer 50 of the coil. - After the coiled
strip 12 has been tacked, thefork 88 is axially slid from the coiledfood item 10 by reciprocating the fork transversely from its first, engaged position shown in FIGS. 9 and 11-14 to its second, disengaged position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Thefork 88 is reciprocated bycylinder 92, with the individual tacked coiled strip offood 14 falling from thefork 88 as it is retracted. In an embodiment, the tacked coil of food falls onto a suitable collector means or removal conveyor, not shown. - As shown in FIG. 16, the
legs fork 88 are retracted through a corresponding pair ofapertures 183 in a rotatable stationarily mounteddisk 185, with the coiled strip of food abutting the disk and axially sliding from the fork as the fork is transversely reciprocated into the apertures. After thefork 88 has reciprocated to its second, disengaged position as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, so the coiledstrip 12 offood 14 falls therefrom, the fork is moved back to its first, engaging position of FIG. 12 bycylinder 92, whereinlegs next strip 12 offood 14. Before the next strip of food is coiled,prongs fork 88 by double-actionpneumatic cylinder 123. - While the specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.
Claims (28)
1. An item comprising:
a food strip having an outer surface and a length defined by a leading end and a trailing end, the strip being rolled around the leading end into a roll having multiple rotations to define two or more layers lying in contact with each other; and
a tacked region on the strip about the trailing end that attaches two of the layers together.
2. The item of wherein the food strip is fruit-based.
claim 1
3. The item of further comprising a granular edible coating adhered to the outer surface of the food strip.
claim 1
4. The item of wherein the tacked region includes at least one region attached by prior application of heat.
claim 1
5. The item of wherein the tacked region includes at least one region attached by prior application of pressure.
claim 1
6. The item of further including a bag containing the food strip.
claim 1
7. An article of manufacture comprising a substantially spirally wound strip of pliable food material having an end portion attached to another portion of the strip proximate to the end portion.
8. The article of wherein the end portion includes a trailing end of the strip.
claim 7
9. The article of wherein sugar is attached to the strip.
claim 7
10. The article of wherein the end portion is attached to the other portion of the strip by tacking the portions together.
claim 7
11. The article of wherein the portions are tacked together by application of heat to the strip.
claim 10
12. The article of wherein the portions are tacked together by application of pressure to the strip.
claim 10
13. The article of further including a bag containing the food strip.
claim 7
14. A method comprising the steps of:
winding a strip of food material into a coil having an outer trailing end adjoining another portion of the strip;
injecting a prong into the coil about the outer trailing end to tack portions of the coil together; and
retracting the prong from the tacked roll.
15. The method of further comprising the step of extruding the food material to form the strip.
claim 14
16. The method of further comprising the step of directing the strip through a bath of edible oil to maintain acid within the strip.
claim 14
17. The method of further comprising the step of directing the strip through a cooling tunnel to cool the strip.
claim 14
18. The method of further comprising the step of adhering a granular edible coating to the strip.
claim 14
19. The method of further comprising the step of cutting the strip to define the outer trailing end.
claim 14
20. The method of further comprising the step of heating the prong.
claim 14
21. The method of further comprising the step of tacking at least two layers of the coil together by applying pressure.
claim 14
22. The method of further comprising the step of tacking at least two layers of the coil together by applying heat.
claim 14
23. The method of further comprising the step of applying pressure to an outer surface of the coil during the step of winding the strip.
claim 14
24. The method of further comprising the step of feeding a leading end of the strip between legs of a fork before the step of winding the strip.
claim 14
25. The method of further comprising the step of detecting when the leading end of the strip is fed between the legs of the fork.
claim 24
26. The method of further comprising the step of providing a laser sensor for detecting the leading end of the strip.
claim 25
27. The method of further comprising the step of rotating the fork to wind the strip about the fork.
claim 25
28. The method of further comprising the step of retracting the fork to release the coil from the fork.
claim 27
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/802,631 US20010014362A1 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 2001-03-08 | Tacked coiled food products and methods of fabricating |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15845699P | 1999-10-08 | 1999-10-08 | |
US09/502,140 US6200617B1 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-02-11 | Method of making a tacked coiled food product |
US09/802,631 US20010014362A1 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 2001-03-08 | Tacked coiled food products and methods of fabricating |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/502,140 Division US6200617B1 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-02-11 | Method of making a tacked coiled food product |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20010014362A1 true US20010014362A1 (en) | 2001-08-16 |
Family
ID=26855043
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/502,140 Expired - Lifetime US6200617B1 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-02-11 | Method of making a tacked coiled food product |
US09/802,631 Abandoned US20010014362A1 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 2001-03-08 | Tacked coiled food products and methods of fabricating |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/502,140 Expired - Lifetime US6200617B1 (en) | 1999-10-08 | 2000-02-11 | Method of making a tacked coiled food product |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US6200617B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1217906B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE257654T1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU7850600A (en) |
DE (1) | DE60007763D1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001026492A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
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---|---|---|---|---|
US6548090B2 (en) * | 2001-04-13 | 2003-04-15 | Promotion In Motion Companies, Inc. | Extrudable candy fruit flavored food product |
US20030072853A1 (en) * | 2001-10-12 | 2003-04-17 | Murray Joseph M. | Segmented rolled food item |
US20080020100A1 (en) * | 2006-07-20 | 2008-01-24 | John Alan Madsen | Fruit snack product |
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US7033625B1 (en) * | 1998-09-10 | 2006-04-25 | General Mills, Inc. | Labelless, rolled food item and its fabrication |
ES2187376B1 (en) * | 2001-11-07 | 2004-08-16 | Industrial Mecanica Conservera Del Sureste, S.A. | SWEET ENROLLER MACHINE. |
US20040043134A1 (en) * | 2002-08-27 | 2004-03-04 | Corriveau Christine Leclair | Rolled edible thin film products and methods of making same |
US6783786B1 (en) * | 2003-04-03 | 2004-08-31 | Conagra Foods, Inc. | Food winding method |
CA2538269A1 (en) * | 2003-09-19 | 2005-03-31 | Kellogg Company | Multi-piece food product and method for making the same |
US20060196444A1 (en) * | 2005-03-01 | 2006-09-07 | Dad's Products Company, Inc. | Animal treat and method of making same, and containers for holding an improved animal treat |
US20060251780A1 (en) * | 2005-05-09 | 2006-11-09 | Sainz Jose R | Comestible product dispenser including a cover having multiple movable sections and method of using same |
ES2379663T3 (en) * | 2007-02-01 | 2012-04-30 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Nutritious manufactured snack products |
US8277865B2 (en) * | 2007-03-02 | 2012-10-02 | Paul Ralph Bunke | Nutritious fabricated snack products |
US20090004356A1 (en) * | 2007-06-26 | 2009-01-01 | Paul Ralph Bunke | Nutritious fabricated snack products |
US20090202700A1 (en) * | 2007-08-16 | 2009-08-13 | Paul Ralph Bunke | Nutritious snack products |
EP2201849A1 (en) * | 2008-12-23 | 2010-06-30 | Wolfgang Schmitz | Coiling device for flat coilable food |
EP2340727B1 (en) * | 2009-12-30 | 2012-08-01 | Creation Bois Giroult (Sarl) | Method and device for manufacturing pie toppings using apple pulp |
ES2363548A1 (en) * | 2011-03-04 | 2011-08-08 | Casa Eceiza, S.L. | Roller for food canutillos (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) |
US20130340685A1 (en) * | 2011-12-06 | 2013-12-26 | Radio Systems Corporation | Chew Item Enhancement For Animals |
FR3063873B1 (en) * | 2017-03-15 | 2019-04-19 | Fromageries Bel | PROCESS FOR PRODUCING CHEESE SPIRAL AND WINDING DEVICE FOR SUCH PRODUCTION |
WO2021030601A1 (en) * | 2019-08-13 | 2021-02-18 | Ferrara Candy Company | Dispenser for use with an elongated edible confection |
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-
2000
- 2000-02-11 US US09/502,140 patent/US6200617B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-10-04 WO PCT/US2000/027264 patent/WO2001026492A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 2000-10-04 AT AT00968622T patent/ATE257654T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2000-10-04 AU AU78506/00A patent/AU7850600A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-10-04 EP EP00968622A patent/EP1217906B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2000-10-04 DE DE60007763T patent/DE60007763D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2001
- 2001-03-08 US US09/802,631 patent/US20010014362A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6548090B2 (en) * | 2001-04-13 | 2003-04-15 | Promotion In Motion Companies, Inc. | Extrudable candy fruit flavored food product |
US20030072853A1 (en) * | 2001-10-12 | 2003-04-17 | Murray Joseph M. | Segmented rolled food item |
US6878390B2 (en) | 2001-10-12 | 2005-04-12 | Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc. | Segmented rolled food item |
US20050170050A1 (en) * | 2001-10-12 | 2005-08-04 | Murray Joseph M. | Segmented rolled food item |
US20080020100A1 (en) * | 2006-07-20 | 2008-01-24 | John Alan Madsen | Fruit snack product |
US20080020101A1 (en) * | 2006-07-20 | 2008-01-24 | Sun-Rype Products Ltd. | Edible fruit product |
US20100021603A1 (en) * | 2006-07-20 | 2010-01-28 | Sun-Rype Products Ltd. | Edible fruit product |
US20110027449A1 (en) * | 2006-07-20 | 2011-02-03 | Sun-Rype Products Ltd. | Edible fruit product |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2001026492A1 (en) | 2001-04-19 |
DE60007763D1 (en) | 2004-02-19 |
ATE257654T1 (en) | 2004-01-15 |
EP1217906A1 (en) | 2002-07-03 |
AU7850600A (en) | 2001-04-23 |
EP1217906B1 (en) | 2004-01-14 |
US6200617B1 (en) | 2001-03-13 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |