Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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TITLE
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING
FROZEN CONFECTIONS INCLUDING EDIBLE PARTICULATE MATERIAL
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The invention rela~es generally to a method and
apparatus for producing frozen confections and more
particularly to a method and apparatus for producing a
frozen confection having edible particulate matter disposed
upon a frozen confectionary base and enrobed in a coating
such as chocolate.
Lines for the automated production of frozen
confections take many forms and provide many and varied
functions depending upon the complexity and configuration
of the confection. Broadly, a flow of semi-frozen viscous
product such ~s ice cream, ice milk, or other sweetened
dairy mixtuxe is formed into an appropriate base
configuration/ ~he flow is cut or separated into individual
product bodies. Finally, additional layers, particulate
matter and/or coatings are applied. Preferably, such
operations are performed in a continuous manner on a
mach~ne assembly typically utilizing a conveyor for the
transfer of the product in its various states from one
method step performing station to another.
One such process is illustrated in my co-owned United
States Patent No. 4,188,768. Here, an apparatus is
disclosed wherein a comestible cone receives a chocolate
layer on its inner surface through an atomizing process, a
comestible ingredient such as ice cream, ice milk,
sherbert, or the li1ce is delivered into the chocolate
coated interior o~ the cone and edible particulate material
such~as chopped nuts or the like is applied to the
comestible ingredient disposed within the cone. The device
disclosed therein for applying the particulate material
generally comprehends a metering and delivery device
disposed generally above the moving conveyor and spaced
several inches from the tops of the confectionary product.
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So disposed, a certain small portion of the particulate
material may not be applied to the product but may fall to
the conveyor segments, 810wly building up thereupon. Such
material represents a problem not only from a maintenance
standpoint hut also from a cost stan~point since such lost
material generally cannot be reused. Furthermore, since
such edible material, oftentimes nuts, is relatively
costly, even a small percentage loss of this material is
significant.
Another similar production line is illustrated in my
co-owned United States Patent No. 4,189,289. Here, frozen
bodies or disks of a confection such as ice cream, ice
milk, or other edible material disposed on sticks are
advanced successively through a chocolate coating spray,
the chocolate coating is allowed to cool and congeal and
then is rapidly and superficially softened by the
application of heat in order to render it tacky such that
edible particulate material such as chopped nuts and the
like may be adhered to the chocolate coated confection. In
this production line assembly, such edible particulate
matter is supplied to a chamber through which the chocolate
covered confections pass and which includes a pair of
rapidly spinning vanes or rotors which agitate and propel
the supply of particulate matter within the chamber at
sufficient velocities that impact with the chocolate
coating secures them thereto. Since the chamber of
necessity includes entrance and exit openings (for the
confections), a certain portion of the relatively randomly
propelled particulate matter will escape from the chamber
with~ut adhering to the confections. In this instance such
lost particulate matter can generally be resupplied to the
chamber, if desired. The foregoing discussion reveals that
improvements in confectionary production lines especially
in those apparatuses and processes which relate to the
application of particulate matter are both possible and
desirable.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is directed to a method of and
apparatus for producing frozen confections consisting of a base of
ice cream, ice milk, or other edible material having particulate
matter disposed thereon and the base portion and particulate matter
enrobed in a coating such as chocolate.
The invention provides a method of producing frozen
confections comprising the steps of: severing a flow of confec-
tionary material into individual bodies, positioning said
individual bodies of confectionary material on a moving conveyor,
dispensing a measured individual amount of edible particulate
matter, providing a chamber having an open end and a vent, trans-
lating said open end of said chamber over one of said individual
bodies in substantially sealing contact with said one of said
individual bodies, maintaining said chamber in said substantially
sealing contact with said one of said individual bodies on said
rnoving conveyor while providing a flow of fluid for moving said
individual measured amount of particulate matter into said chamber
and onto said one of said individual bodies, venting said fluid to
the atmosphere through said vent, and translating said chamber out
of said substantially sealing contact with said one of said individ-
ual bodies.
The invention also provides an apparatus for producing
confections comprising, in combination: means for providing a
flow of confectionary material, means for severing such flow of
material into individual bodies, means for providing measured
amounts of edible particulate matter, means for receiving said
measured amounts of edible particulate matter and applying said
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matter to said individual bodies, means for reciprocating said
receiving means into and out of at least close proximity with said
individual bodies, and conduit means extending generally between
said providing means and said receiving means for transporting such
measured amounts of edible particulate matter from said providing
means to said receiving means.
The apparatus preferably includes a mixing head which
receives one or more flows of semi-frozen, viscous dairy products
such as ice cream, ice milk, or other edible material such as semi-
liquid marshmallow or caramel and combines them into a single flow.A slicing mechanism which transversely severs the flow of the
confection reciprocates in timed relation to the lateral motion of
an associated conveyor having segments which receive the severed
individual bodies of confection. The linear speed of the downward
flow of the confectionary material is, of course, adjusted relative
to the conveyor speed (and slicing mechanism) such that a desired
thickness of product is achieved. Next, an assembly having vibra-
tory portion dispensing means and an air jet delivery and adhering
assembly which is synchronized to the motion of the bodies on the
conveyor provides accurately measured portions of edible particulate
material such as nuts and the like. This material is applied uni-
formly as to quantity and dispersion and without loss. A refriger-
ated zone then receives the bodies and chills and solidifies them.
Finally, a spray or bath of chocolate or similar material is dis-
posed to receive the chilled confections and provides a coating of
chocolate to the bodies which cools and congeals rapidly due to the
reduced temperatur~ of the bodies. Finally, the completed are pro-
vided to a packing area where they are suitably packaged and boxed.
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Advantages of the lnstant invention will become apparent
by reference to the following description of the preferred embodi-
ment and appended drawings, wherein:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of anapparatus for producing bodies of frozen confection according to
the instant invention;
Figure 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a first
station assembly of an apparatus for producing bodies of frozen
confection according to the instant invention;
Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a second,
particulate applying station assembly of an apparatus for producing
bodies of frozen confection according to the instant invention.
Figure 4A is a diagrammatic side view of a portion of
the particulate applying station assembly of an apparatus
639~
for producing bodies of frozen confection according to the
instant invention; and
~ lgure 4B is a diagrammatic side vîew o~ a por~ion of
the particulate applylng station assembly of an apparatus
for producing bodies of rozen confection accordin~ to the
instant invention.
D CP~IPTION OF HE PREFERRXD EMBODIMENT
Referring now to Figure l, an apparatus for the
production of bodies of frozen confection is illustrated
and generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The
apparatus lO cornprehends a plurality of stations or
assemblies spaced along portions of a continuous conveyor
assembly 12 having a plurality of relatively small,
preferably rectangular pallets 14 interconnected by
suitable, pivotable or flexible links 16. The convPyor
assembly 12 and particularly the pallets 14 are circula~ed
on a suitable support or track tnot illustrated) by
conventional means such as a motor and speed reducing unit
~both not illustrated~ The stations include a confection
mixing and forming station assembly 20, an edible
particulate matter measurement and appli.cation station
assembly 22, a refrigeration reyion 24, a coating station
; assembly 26 and, optionally, a packaging region 28. The
various station assemblies of the apparatus 10 will now be
described individually in the foregoing sequence.
Referring now to Figure 21 the mixing and forming
station assembly 20 generally includes a fru~to conical
mixing head 32 which receives one, or more typically, a
plura]ity of flows of conectionary constituents such as
various flavor o~ ice cream, or caramel or ma.rshmallow in a
semi~fluid state through the conduits 34. The various
flows of confectionary material are mixed in accordance
with various pr~cedure~ within the mixing head 32 and may
define distinct, uniform regions as they exit an OlltpUt
nozzle 36 or may be swirled or mi~ed as desired. At the
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nozzle 36, the confectionary material is formed into a
continuous stream having a desired profile, ~ypically
circular, and flows llniformly from the mixing head 3~.
The mixinq and orming station assembly 20 further
includes a slicing mechanism ~0. The slicing mechanism 40
includes a reciprocating carrier arm 42 having a pair of
spaced apart ends 4AA and 44B between which extends a
cutting wire 46. The reciprocating carriex arm 42 is
constrained to reciprocate along a path substantially
parallel to the travel of the conveyor pallets 14 but at a
slight angle which lower~ the position of the cuttiny wire
46 as it traverses with the conveyor pallets 14. The
downward motion of the cutting wire 46 corresponds on a per
cycle basis to the downward flow of the ccnfectionary
material exiting the nozzle 36. Such movement may be
achieved by a constraining structure sllch as the obliquely
oriented slot 50 which cooperates with supports 52 of the
carrier arm 42 and a reciprocating drive assembly 54 such
as a rotatin~ wheel and cran~ arm illustrat.ed~ In the
arrangement illustrated, the reciprocating drive assel~ly
54 is timed to operate with the longitudinal movement of
the conveyor pallets 14 as well as the downward Elow of the
confectionary material such that it cuts or slices two
confectionary bodies 60 per conveyor pallet 14. The
cutting wire 46 thus uniformly slices the flow exiting the
nozzle 36 into substantially right circular cylinders as
the confectionary bodies 60 are illustrated. It should be
understood that no particular signif.icance should be
ascribed to the relationship between number~ of
confectionary bodies 60 on each indi.vidual palle~ 14
inasmuch as such ratios are primarily matters of de.sign
choice relating to pallet size, product size, conveyor
speed confectionary matexial flow rate, etc. as those
fami~iar with such processes will readily appreciate.
Referri~g now to Figure 3, the edible particulate
matter measurement and application station assembly 22 will
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now be described. The stat.ion assembly 22 is disposed
generally proximate the conveyor assemhly 12~ The edible
particulate matter measurement and application station
assem~ly 22 preferably incl~des a storage tank or cham~er
66 having a volume sufficient to supply edible particulate
matter 68 contained therein to the associated apparatus for
an extendQd pexiod of time. When empty or suhstantially
so, the chamber 66 may be filled manually from bulk
supplies of the particulate matter 68. The chamber 66
communicates with one and preferably a pair of exit
conduits 70 which extend downwardly from the bottom of the
chambex ~6 and terminate slightly above a respective pair
of inclined chutes 72. The vertical spacing between the
lowermost portion of the conduits 70 and the inside bottom
surfaces of the chutes 72 i5 such that the particulate
matter 68 may not readily flow out of the conduits 70 but
is sufficiently large, preferably slightly great2r thall the
maximum dimension of any paxticulate matter 6B, such that
no particles will be trapped therebetween. The chutes 72
are secured to and supported by a subframe 74 which in turn
is coupled to the output member of a mechanical vibrator
76. The vibrat~r 76 may be of any conventional design and
is preferably electrically driven. When the vibrator 76 is
activated, the vi~ratory motion of the chutes 72, combined
with their inclined orientation, moves the particulate
matter 68 from the end adjacent the conduit 70 to the open
end of the chute 72. Intermittent ackivatlon of the
vibrator 76 results in an accurate quantity of particulate
; matter advancing along and off the chutes 72. Thus, timed
intermi~tent activation of the vibrator 76 ef~ectively and
repeatedly measures accurately controlled portion~ o L the
edible particulate matter 68 in relation to, for example,
the motion of the conveyor assembly 12.
Disposed generally beneath and vertically aligned with
35 the open en~s of the chutes 72 are a respective pair of
frusto-conica~ funnels 80 which receive the measured
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quantities of particulate matter 68. Each of the funnels
80 merges into a respective pair of delivery conduits 82.
The delivery tubes 82 may be rigid though it is preferable
that they also include flexi~le portions 84 which may be
rubber tubing, plastic tubing or tubing of a similar
flexible material. Passing through the wall of each of the
conduits 82 and disposed generally adjacent and below the
funnels 80 in a region of the conduits 82 wherein the
particulate matter 68 generally settles after having fallen
through the funnels 80 and conduits 82 axe air injection
nozzles 86. As illustrated, the nozzles 86 are directed
generally axîally along the conduits 82, in a direction
away from the funnels 80. The nozzles 86 are supplied with
pulses of compressed air through suitable tubing 88 which
are provided in appropriate timed relationship, for
example, after the particulate matter 66 has fallen into
the tubes 82 by an electropneumatic valve 90 which is
cycled by a suitable timing pulse preferably related to or
supplied by ~ensors asr~ociated with the conveyor assembly
12.
Application of compressed air to the nozzles 86 and
into the conduits 82 rapidly drives the edible particulate
matter 68 along the conduits 82, through the flexible
portions 84 and into an application assembly 96.
Specifically, the particulate matter 68 enters into one of
a pair of cylindrical chambers 98 having an open lower end
100 and an open upper end 102 having a screen or similar
structure 104 disposed thereacross to prevent the escape of
particulate matter 68 in an upward direction but which
permits the ready escape of compressed air. The
cylindrical chambers 98 are supported upon a vertically
reciprocating subXrame 106 by a pair of bushings 108 and
suitably sized vertical guides 110, for example. Vertical
motion may be imparted to the subframe lOo and associated
components by a spring return or double acting pneumatic
cylinder 112 which is illustrated in Figures 4A and 4B.
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The subframe 106 is also supported such that it may
reciprocate longitudinally along the direction of and in a
manner intermittently synchronous with the motion of the
conveyor assembly 12. This is preferably accomplished by
reciprocating the entire assembly 96 including the subframe
106 and pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 112 by
supporting it upon a common frame and driving it through,
for example, an eccentric drive linkage 118. It should be
appreciated that throughout the instant disclosure and
particularly the above disclosure relating to the edible
particulate matter measurement and application station
assembly 22, elements of the apparatus are disclosed in
pairs. Such pairing of components and thus attainment of a
given operation twice during a single operating cycle is
primarily a matter of design choice. It should therefore
be understood that the components may be increased in
number to 3, 4 or more, or just as readily reduced to a
single component or element as desired. It should thus be
appxeciated that whexeas certain components àre disclosed
as being utilized in pairs, it is exemplary and
illustrative only and should not be considered as limiting
to the disclosure of the instant invention.
The cycle of operation of the assembly 96 and the
overall assembly 22 thus includes longitudinal motion in a
direction oppvsite to that of the travel of the conveyor
assembly 12 until the openings 100 are vertically aligned
with a pair of the confectionary bodies 60 on one of the
pallets 14 of the conveyor assembly 12 as generally
illustrated in Fig. 4A. At this time, the eccentric drive
linkage 118 reverses the direction of the assembly 96 and
the subframe 106 such that it begins to synchronously
follow one of the pallets 14 of the conveyor assembly 12.
Next, the pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 112 lowers
the subframe 106 sucn that the openings 100 are disposed
immediately above and preferably in contact with the upper
surfaces of the confe~tionary bodies 60. Appr~ ately
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simul~aneous to this activity, the vibrator 76 is activated
to dispense a measured portion of particulate matter 68
into the funnels 80 and conduits 82. While the chambers 98
and specifically the ope~ings 100 are so disposed, the
subframe 106 and the entire assemhly 96 is traversing at a
horizontal speed equal to that of the conveyor assembly 12
such that the adjacent, aligned relationship between the
chambers 98 and confectionary bodies 60 is maintained.
During this time, ~e electropneumatic valve 90 is
activated providing a blast of air through the conduits 82
which carries the particulate matter 68 into the chambers
98 where it both falls by gravity and is driven randomly by
the energy imparted to it by the compressed air onto the
upper surfa~es of the confectionary bodies 60, as
illustrated in
Figure 4B. Excess air, of course, escapes through the
screens 104 in the openings 102 in the upper portion of the
chambers 9~. A short interval later, the pneumatic piston
and cylinder assembly 112 is activated such that the
subframe 106 rises from its lowered position and the drive
linkage 118 again moves the application assembly 96 in a
direction opposite to that of the traverse of the conveyor
assembly 12 such that an adjacent pallet 14 with its
confectionary bodies 60 is engaged. The cycle then
repeats.
Final steps of the process include moving the
confectionary bodies 60 with the edible particulate matter
68 disposed thereupon through a refrigeration region 24
where they are fully solidiied. Since the edible
particulate matter 68 i~ applied to the bodies 60 when they
are in a semi-solid state, the particulate matter 68
adheres readily ~nd is then securely adhered by the
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hardening of the viscous material in the refrigeration
region 24. ~inally, a coating such as a chocolate coating
may be applied to the confectionary bodies 60 according to
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a conventional process and the bodies 60 provided to a
conventional packing region 26.
From the foregoing disclosure, it is apparent that use
of the invention provides a method and apparatus for
producing confectionary bodies having a base portion,
particulate matter and a coating. Specifically, the
instant invention relates to an apparatus and method for
applying particulate matter wherein individually measured
portions of a particulate matter are provided by
intermittent activation of a mechanical vibrator connected
to an open ended chute filled with such particulate matter
supplied by a bulk supply. The size of each measured
amount of particulate matter can be increased or decreased
by increasing or decreasing the activation time of the
vibrator or the amplitude of its vibration. The
premeasured quantity of particulate matter drops by gravity
into a feed conduit where it is driven by a properly timed
pulse of compressed air into an application chamber which
is intermittently positioned over the confectionary bodies.
The bottom portion of the chamber is placed in sealing
contac~ with the upper surface of the confection such that
no spillage or loss of the particulate material is
possible. Such contact and elimination of waste is a
significant feature of the instant invention. The
confectionary bodies may then be refrigerated and utimately
coated with an external coating such as chocolate and
appropriately packaged.
The foregoing disclosure is the best mode devised by
the inventor for practicing the invention. It is apparent,
however, that apparatus and methods incorporating
modifications and variations will be obvious to one skilled
in the art of fabrication of confections. Inasmuch as the
foregoing disclosure is intended to enable one skilled in
the pertinent art to practice the instant invention, it
should not be construed to be limited thereby but should be
construed to include such aforementioned obvious variations
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and be limited only by the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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