CN107047903A - The consumable products of off-contact printing - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to the consumable products of off-contact printing.Consumable products include edible ink mark of the off-contact printing on edible substrate surface.Consumable products can also include organoleptic component of the distribution on edible substrate surface.Edible ink marks the consumer appeal that product is added with organoleptic component.

Description

The consumable products of off-contact printing

The application is that International Application Serial No. PCT/US2007/065390 entered National Phase in China, Shen on November 24th, 2008 Please number for 200780018844.7, the division of entitled " consumable products and its production equipment and method of off-contact printing " Application.

Technical field

Generally speaking, this disclosure relates to confectionary product.More particularly, this disclosure relates to the confectionary product of off-contact printing And its production method.

Background technology

The confectionary product or composition for having many types are printed on edible ink thereon.Such confectionary product can include Such as chewing gum or candy.Edible ink is printed onto on confectionary product and is widely known by the people, and visual appearance begs for the sugar of happiness Food product can cause the sales force increase to consumer.

The content of the invention

Present disclose provides the system, apparatus and method for producing consumable products.Specifically, using in edible substrate Consumable products are generated the enhancing on a variety of sense organs by the upper edible material of off-contact printing.This causes consumer to this hair The interest increase of bright consumable products.The consumable products of the present invention provide the product for having visual attraction, are the consumption of product Bring additional stimulation and pleasure.

There is provided the equipment of the consumable products of production printing in embodiments.The equipment includes being used for edible substrate The extruder of tablet is squeezed into, and edible ink is printed on to the non-contact print devices on tablet.Printing equipment can be spray Ink brush device.The equipment can also include dusting device, be sized roller (sizing roller), cutter device, cooling dress Put, curing room (curing charmber), coating device, packing device and combinations thereof.

Non-contact print devices can be located at any position in device.Printing equipment can be located at extruder downstream and The upstream of dusting device, the downstream of dusting device and be sized the upstream of roller, be sized the downstream of roller and the upstream of cutter device, Under the downstream of cutter device and the upstream of cooling device, the upstream in the downstream of cooling device and curing room and coating device On the position of trip.

In embodiments, edible substrate can be the dough of any eatable material that can be squeezed out.For example, edible base Body can be any starch prepared material and/or confectionery material.In embodiments, edible substrate can be confectionery material such as mouth Fragrant sugar.

In embodiments, equipment can include multiple printing equipments.First printing equipment can be located at the of tablet Side, second printing equipment can be located at the second side of tablet.First and second printing equipments can be in the opposite of tablet The upper edible ink of face printing.First and second printing equipments can print on tablet simultaneously.Or, first and second prints Brush device can print on tablet in succession.

In embodiments, edible ink-indicia is printed on tablet by printing equipment.Edible ink-indicia can Be from printing equipment distribute edible ink composition product.The edible ink composition for forming edible ink-indicia can To be absorbability ink, solvent-based inks, wax-based inks, and combinations thereof.In one embodiment, the composition of edible ink can It is adjusted with the position according to printing equipment relative to other components of equipment.In one embodiment, edible ink group Compound can include organoleptic component.

In embodiments, edible ink can equably be printed on one or more surfaces of tablet by printing equipment On.Or, edible ink can be printed on the select location of tablet by printing equipment.

In embodiments, device includes the cutter device that tablet is cut into single-piece.Then printing equipment can be by can Ink is eaten in single-piece.In one embodiment, single-piece can be the chewing gum of bar, piece or pellet form, and can To be coated or not be coated.In another embodiment, single-piece can be the core chewing gum for being coated or not being coated.

There is provided the method for the consumable products of production printing in embodiments.This method includes squeezing out edible substrate Tablet, and edible ink is printed on material in the case of not contacted using printing equipment on the surface of tablet with printing equipment On piece.This method, which is additionally may included on tablet, distributes organoleptic component.Organoleptic component can be the composition of edible ink.Or, Organoleptic component can separate with edible ink, it is possible to be allocated by the distributor outside printing equipment.

In one embodiment, this method includes tablet cutting into individual confectionery, and edible ink is printed on into list On part.Single-piece can be chewing gum (bar, pellet, piece) and/or filled chewing gum.This method is additionally may included in edible ink Printing stock on individual confectionery before individual confectionery is coated.This method can include single-piece being placed in packaging, make Must be through packaging it can be seen that edible ink.Packaging can be blister package, and single-piece, which can be placed in bubble-cap, to be caused through bubble Cover is it can be seen that edible ink.

In embodiments, method includes edible ink being printed on multiple faces of tablet.Edible ink can print On first face of tablet and second opposite face.

In embodiments, method can be included edible ink ink jet printing on tablet.

In embodiments, method can be included in printing process mobile tablet.Or, when edible ink is printed When on to the surface of tablet, tablet can be static.In embodiments, printing equipment is moveable relative to tablet.

There is provided the method for the consumable products for producing printing in embodiments.This method includes squeezing out filled confectionery Material bar rope simultaneously prints edible ink in bar rope.Method can include by bar rope formation single-piece center-filled confectionery material and Edible ink is printed in single-piece.Method can also include the single-piece of center-filled confectionery material being placed in packaging so that pass through Packaging is it can be seen that edible ink.It can be blister package to pack, and single-piece can be placed in bubble-cap and allow to through bubble Cover sees edible ink.

There is provided edible product in embodiments.Edible product includes edible substrate and is printed on edible substrate Edible ink-indicia.Edible ink-indicia has feature.Edible product includes the sense organ corresponding to edible ink-indicia feature Composition.

In embodiments, edible substrate can be confectionery.Confectionery can be coated confectionary, chewing gum, coated chewing gum, The filled chewing gum of filled chewing gum or coating.

In embodiments, edible ink-indicia can be word, image, color, symbol, object, alphabet-numeric playing table Show, letter, text, shape, the imagination shape, symbol, mark, figure or advertising sign.Edible ink-indicia is printed on On one or more surfaces of edible substrate.

In embodiments, organoleptic component can be flavouring agent, coolant agent, hot taste agent, taste agent, numb taste agent, gas generating agent, Sweetener, acid, bitters, brightener for tooth, breath freshening agents, anti-caries agent or sounding agent.Can be with edible substrate In the presence of one or more organoleptic components.

In embodiments, feature can be the characteristic of ink-indicia.Feature can be the key element of ink-indicia, ink Sensation, ink-indicia produced by meaning that the color of water-mark, ink-indicia are passed on, ink-indicia and see ink The concept exchanged between the people of water-mark.For example, edible ink-indicia can include word.Feature can be the meaning of word Justice, and organoleptic component can correspond to the meaning of word.

In embodiments, edible ink-indicia is ink-jet mark.Edible ink-indicia can be the ink of multiple color Water-mark and/or high-resolution ink-indicia.

There is provided other edible products in embodiments.Edible product includes edible substrate and is printed on edible base Edible ink-indicia on body.Edible substrate includes feature.Edible product include corresponding to edible substrate feature sense organ into Point.Feature can be the property of edible substrate, the structure of such as edible substrate, the composition of edible substrate, the composition of edible substrate, The surface texturisation of edible substrate or the hardness of edible substrate.

In embodiments, edible substrate is chewing gum, is characterized in the sandwich of chewing gum.Organoleptic component corresponds to folder Center portion point.

There is provided edible product in embodiments.Edible product is included with first and second opposite face Edible substrate.First edible ink-indicia is appeared on first face, and second edible ink-indicia appears in second On face.A part for first edible ink-indicia is in contact with a part for second edible ink-indicia.First and Second edible ink-indicia contacts with each other along one or more edges of edible substrate.First and second edible ink Water-mark is ink-jet mark.There can also be organoleptic component on edible substrate.

In embodiments, first and second edible ink-indicia cover edible substrate completely or generally Whole peripheries or exterior surface area.

There is provided the method for production edible product in embodiments.This method is included edible ink-indicia noncontact Ground is printed on edible substrate.Method is additionally included in the sense organ placed on edible substrate corresponding to edible ink-marker characteristic Composition.

In embodiments, method includes word being non-contactly printed on edible substrate, and distribution corresponds to word The organoleptic component of justice.

In embodiments, method includes high-resolution image being non-contactly printed on edible substrate.

There is provided the method for another production edible product in embodiments.This method is included edible ink-indicia Non-contactly it is printed on edible substrate, and organoleptic component of the distribution corresponding to edible substrate feature on edible substrate.Side Method, which is additionally included on edible substrate, forms surface texturisation, and the surface texturisation is feature.Then by corresponding to the sense organ of surface texturisation Composition is distributed on edible substrate.

There is provided another method for preparing edible product in embodiments.Method includes edible ink-indicia is non- Contiguously be printed on edible substrate, and on edible substrate distribute correct dose organoleptic component.Accurate dosage can be with Distributed by way of ink jet printing.Method can also include weighing edible substrate determining accurate dosage.

There is provided the edible product of packaging in embodiments.Product includes being equipped with edible advertisements in its surface The edible substrate of note.Product also includes transparent packing material.It is edible AD tagged to see through packing material.It is AD tagged It can be high-definition picture.AD tagged can also be ink-jet mark.

In embodiments, it is AD tagged can be substantially coextensive with the surface region of edible substrate surface.In embodiment In, it is AD tagged to cover the exposed surface of one or all of edible substrate, substantially to cover all of edible substrate Surface region.

In embodiments, organoleptic component can be arranged on the surface of edible substrate.In another embodiment, feel Official's composition can correspond to AD tagged feature.

There is provided the edible product of another packaging in embodiments.The edible product of packaging includes having on its surface There are the edible substrate and the packing material around edible substrate of edible ink-indicia.Packing material is included on the surface that it exposes Pack substance markers.The mark of packing material matches with edible ink-indicia.Packing substance markers can be with edible ink-indicia one Cause.The packaging substance markers for providing matching to assign edible product outward appearance still as packaged, even from edible production On product after removing packing material.

There is provided the method for packaging edible product in embodiments.This method, which is included on the surface of edible substrate, to be printed Brush is edible AD tagged, and with transparent wrapper packaged edible substrate.It is AD tagged to see through packing material.Method It can include being printed on AD tagged in the essentially all of surface region of edible substrate.Printing can be noncontact print Brush, high-resolution printing and/or ink jet printing.Printing can also be included AD tagged first table for being printed on edible substrate On face and second opposite surface.

In embodiments, method can include replacing opaque packing material with transparent packing material.

There is provided the method for sale edible product in embodiments.This method includes event product being distributed to disappearing Fei Zhe.Event product includes edible ink-indicia relevant with event on edible substrate.Event can be current events, sport event, Holiday, religious event, political event, seasonal event, Culture Events, personal event and combinations thereof.

Distribution can occur during the time before event, during event, after event and combinations thereof.Implementing In scheme, distribution can occur in event.Distribution can also occur in about 24 hours of event.

In embodiments, method may include waiting for the result of event, and result is printed on edible product.As a result It can be printed after result generation in about 1 second to about 24 hours.In embodiments, the distribution of event product will be in event And/or occur after result generation in about 1 minute to about 24 hours.

There is provided the method for advertisement in embodiments.This method includes giving consumer's Distribution Events product advertising.Event Product advertising is included in the edible substrate on edible substrate with the edible ink-indicia relevant with event.Edible advertising indicia It also is located on edible substrate.Event can be any of above event.The distribution of event product advertisement can occur as described above. Edible ink-indicia and edible advertising indicia can be ink-jet marks.Event product advertisement can include relevant with event three Tie up object.

There is provided the equipment of production edible product in embodiments.The equipment includes distributor, for by thawing Rubber-based composition is sprayed onto on edible substrate.Distributor can with the source of the rubber-based composition of thawing with fluid connections, Rubber-based composition is maintained thawing or liquefied state by source.Distributor can be non-contacting distributor, for example, spray Ink brush device or valve-injector (valve-jet) flusher.Equipment can also include conveyer, for by edible base Body shifts near distributor.In embodiments, device can include the controller connected with distributor operability.Controller can With the spraying parameter for the rubber-based composition for controlling sprinkling process and thawing.

In embodiments, equipment can include printing equipment.Edible ink-indicia can be printed onto by printing equipment can On the rubber-based composition for eating matrix and/or thawing.Printing equipment can be non-contacting printing equipment.

There is provided confectionary product in embodiments.Confectionary product includes edible substrate and sticked on edible substrate The rubber-based composition of thawing.Edible substrate can be confectionery, the confectionery being coated, chewing gum, the chewing gum being coated, sandwich mouth perfume Sugar, the filled chewing gum being coated and combinations thereof.The rubber-based composition of thawing can be elastomer, resin, softening agent, wax and its group Close.The rubber-based composition of thawing can include one or more organoleptic components.

In embodiments, edible ink-indicia can be located on the rubber-based composition melted and/or edible substrate.Can Food ink-indicia can be the edible ink-indicia of ink-jet.Edible ink-indicia can include feature.Feature can be with thawing Rubber-based composition property and/or edible substrate property it is corresponding.

In embodiments, confectionary product can include the gum base composition of first thawing on edible substrate Part I The rubber-based composition of second thawing on thing and edible substrate Part II.The rubber-based composition of first thawing can contain One or more compositions different from the rubber-based composition of second thawing.

In embodiments, the rubber-based composition of thawing forms object on the surface of edible substrate.Object can be Three-dimensional body on edible substrate surface.

There is provided other confectionary product in embodiments.The confectionary product can include first layer edible substrate with And the rubber-based composition of the second melting layer of adhesion on the first layer.First layer can be substantially coextensive with the second layer.Confectionary product The rubber-based composition that can melt containing third layer.Third layer can be adhered on the second layer or edible substrate.

In embodiments, the second layer can the rubber-based composition containing about 30% to about 100 weight % thawing And from about 0% to about 70 weight % one or more organoleptic components.

There is provided the method for production confectionary product in embodiments.This method is included the rubber-based composition of thawing Spraying particles are on the surface of edible substrate and forming multiphase confectionary product.The rubber-based composition of thawing can be in edible substrate Forming layer on one or more surfaces.Furthermore, it is possible to form the matrix group of thawing on the initial layers of the rubber-based composition of thawing The second layer of compound.

In embodiments, method includes the rubber-based composition of thawing forming object on edible substrate surface.Object It can be three-dimensional body.

In embodiments, method be included in sprinkling during change thawing rubber-based composition composition.Method may be used also Organoleptic component is distributed to be included on edible substrate.When the rubber-based composition of thawing is sprayed on edible substrate, sense organ into The composition divided can also change.

In embodiments, method includes being sprayed onto the rubber-based composition of first thawing into the Part I of edible substrate On, the rubber-based composition of second thawing is sprayed onto on the Part II of edible substrate.The rubber-based composition of first thawing One or more compositions can from second thawing rubber-based composition composition it is different.

In embodiments, method can be included on the chewing gum base composition of thawing and/or edible substrate and distribute Organoleptic component.

In embodiments, method can include by edible ink-indicia be printed on thawing rubber-based composition and/or can Eat on matrix.

There is provided the method for production chewing gum product in embodiments.Method includes providing thickness less than predetermined thickness Gum base, and by the chewing gum base composition of a melting layer be sprayed onto on gum base formed have predetermined thickness Chewing gum product.In order to obtain predetermined thickness, sprinkling step can be repeated.Predetermined thickness can be the thickness of gum strip The thickness of degree, the thickness of chewing gum tablet or chewing gum pellet.

There is provided confectionary product in embodiments.Confectionary product includes the edible substrate with surface and be printed on can Eat the edible ink on matrix.Edible ink can cover at least about the 5% of surface.Or, edible ink can cover table At least about the 75% of face.Similarly, edible ink can cover about the 100% of surface.Edible ink can be a variety of face Color.In addition, only a kind of edible ink of color can be appeared in any part of edible substrate surface.Edible ink can To be ink-jet ink.

In embodiments, edible substrate can be gum strip, chewing gum tablet, chewing gum pellet, be coated chewing gum, Sandwich chewing gum or its combination.In addition, edible substrate can include chewing gum leftover pieces (trim).Edible ink can be covered Lid is due to any inconsistency caused by the presence of leftover pieces in edible substrate.

In another embodiment, edible substrate has first surface and second opposite surface, and edible Ink is only printed on first surface.Edible ink can cover at least about the 5% of first surface of edible substrate.Equally Ground, edible ink can be printed on first and second surface of edible substrate each on.Or, edible ink can cover At least about the 50% of first and second surface of lid edible substrate.In addition, edible ink can cover edible substrate first It is individual and second surface at least about 75%.Similarly, edible ink can cover first and second of edible substrate About the 100% of surface.

There is provided confectionary product in embodiments.Confectionary product includes edible substrate, and edible substrate has main body and position In first and second surfaces of the opposite face of edible substrate.Product also includes the edible ink being printed on edible substrate, its Middle edible ink covers at least about the 5% of first surface, and without the whole main body of extension, therefore in edible substrate It can't see on second surface.Or, edible ink can cover at least about the 50% of first surface, and not extend whole Individual main body.In addition, edible ink can cover at least about the 75% of first surface, and whole main body is not extended.

In embodiments, edible ink can cover first of edible substrate and/or second surface about 100%.It is completely covered one of edible substrate or the two surfaces assigns the outward appearance that confectionary product extrudes product altogether.It is completely covered One or two surface also makes scrap material be attached in edible substrate, because edible ink can cover or cover scrap material Any inconsistency.In addition, in embodiments, scrap material can produce the first color of edible substrate.Edible ink The color of water can be chosen to the color same with edible substrate, and ink has the color depth higher than edible substrate.For example Edible substrate containing leftover pieces can be light red (or pink), and being applied to the edible ink on edible substrate can be It is wine-colored.

In another embodiment, edible ink is printed on second surface of edible substrate.Edible ink can To be ink-jet ink.Edible ink can be with about 3600 points per square inch to about 36,400 points per square inch Dot density is printed on edible substrate.

In embodiments, edible substrate can be gum strip, chewing gum tablet, chewing gum pellet, be coated chewing gum, Sandwich chewing gum or its combination.In addition, edible substrate, which may be embodied in chewing gum production process, is recycled to main body Scrap material in blender.

There is provided the method for production confectionary product in another embodiment.This method includes connecing edible ink is non- Touch and be printed onto on the surface of edible substrate, cover its at least about 5% surface.Method can include covered with edible ink to Few about 50% surface.Method can also include being covered at least about 75% surface with edible ink.Method can also be wrapped Include the surface with edible ink covering at least about 100%.Edible ink can be ink-jet ink.

In embodiments, method includes the edible ink of off-contact printing multiple color.

In embodiments, method is included with about 3600 points per square inch to per square inch about 36,400 The dot density of point applies edible ink.Method can also include edible substrate passing through printing equipment at least one times.

In embodiments, method includes making edible ink partially absorb the whole main body through edible substrate, to provide The common extrusion outward appearance of edible substrate.

There is provided equipment in another embodiment.Equipment includes removing at least a portion fluctuating from confectionery material The removal device of uneven sizing material (compound), and in confectionery material off-contact printing edible ink-indicia printing Device.

In embodiments, equipment further comprises the conveyer of the confectionery material under mobile printing equipment.

In embodiments, printing equipment can be flusher.Or, printing equipment can be ink-jet printing apparatus.

In embodiments, removal device can be vacuum system, brush device, sponge device and combinations thereof.

In embodiments, equipment can also include the detection means connected with printing equipment operability.In this embodiment party In case, after detection means detects confectionery material in predetermined position, printing equipment is by edible ink off-contact printing in sugar On edible material.Detection means can include at least one photographic film (photoeye).

In embodiments, confectionery material can be gum strip, chewing gum tablet, chewing gum pellet, be coated chewing gum, Sandwich chewing gum and combinations thereof.

There is provided equipment in another embodiment.Equipment includes the transmission that confectionery material is moved to precalculated position The detection means of the presence of confectionery material and the printing dress connected with detection means operability on device, detection precalculated position Put.In the present embodiment, after detection means detects confectionery material in predetermined position, printing equipment by edible ink- Off-contact printing is marked in confectionery material.

In embodiments, device can also include the up-and-down sizing material of removing at least a portion from confectionery material Removal device.

There is provided the method for production confectionary product in another embodiment.Method includes removing from confectionery material Up-and-down sizing material, and by edible ink-indicia off-contact printing in confectionery material.Method also includes from confectionery material The up-and-down compound of removing about 80% to about 99%.

In embodiments, removal is such action, such as from confectionery material vacuum suck up-and-down sizing material, Up-and-down material is brushed off from confectionery material, up-and-down sizing material is wiped with sponge from confectionery material, and combinations thereof.

In embodiments, method can also include when edible ink-indicia on a predetermined position when by the ink-indicia Off-contact printing is in confectionery material.

There is provided the method for production confectionary product in another embodiment.Method includes confectionery material being moved to The presence of confectionery material on predetermined position, detection precalculated position, and by edible ink-indicia off-contact printing in confectionery material On material.

In embodiments, up-and-down glue is removed before method is included in untouchable printing from confectionery material Material.

There is provided the method for production chewing gum product in embodiments.This method includes providing selection sense to consumer The ability of official's composition, and chewing gum product of the production with the organoleptic component after consumer selects.Method is also included mouth Fragrant sugar product is delivered to consumer.Internet website can provide the list of organoleptic component for consumer.Chewing gum product can be with Consumer is delivered to by mailing or similar express system.

In embodiments, method, which is included on the surface of chewing gum product, distributes organoleptic component.

In embodiments, method includes the ability that selected marker is provided to consumer, and production has the mark Chewing gum.Mark can be printed on the surface of chewing gum product with edible ink.

In embodiments, method, which can be included in, produces the list of organoleptic component, receives choosing in computer-readable medium The data of at least one organoleptic component are selected, director data is produced from the data received and sends director data to distribution Device.Then distributor can distribute organoleptic component according to director data on the surface of edible substrate.

In embodiments, the data received can include flag data, and director data can include flag data print Brush finger makes.Method can also include flag data print order being sent to printing equipment.Then printing equipment is according to reference numerals According to print order edible ink-indicia is printed on the surface of edible substrate.

There is provided the method for producing income in embodiments.Method includes allowing consumer by selecting organoleptic component The chewing gum of customization is produced, and produces the chewing gum product for having selectable organoleptic component.Method can also include allowing consumption Person's selected marker, and produce the chewing gum product with the mark.Method can also include being paid by consumer, and expense is based on sense The quantity of official's composition, the quantity marked, required quantity of chewing gum product and combinations thereof.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the improved method of manufacture chewing gum.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided improved chewing gum.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the device for being printed on edible product.

The equipment that the advantage of the disclosure there is provided the consumable products of production printing, wherein printing equipment can be set positioned at this Any position on standby and/or production line.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided edible ink, and it constitutes can be according to printing equipment relative to equipment other groups The position of part is adjusted.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the equipment that can be printed on multiple surfaces of edible substrate.

The advantage of the disclosure is that the printing improved to consumer appeal is produced in the way of simple and cost effective Consumable products.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the consumable products that a variety of sensory experiences are transmitted in consumption.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the consumable products of printing, and it is by the content printed on edible product and product Feeling of being experienced when being consumed links together.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the consumable products of the printing with increased consumer appeal.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the improved advertisement to edible product.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the product distributed by new occasion.

The advantage of the disclosure is that the edible product that time sensitivity information is directly printed on product is distributed in consumer.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the confectionary product with improved taste, color and shape.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the chewing gum product of the normal size containing less chewing gum.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the ability for the composition for changing chewing gum product immediately in process of production.

The advantage of the disclosure is to add to add during the extrusion technique that chewing gum is produced in chewing gum product Organoleptic component.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided multiphase confectionary product.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided multilayer confectionery product.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the confectionary product with the confectionary product outward appearance extruded altogether.

The advantage of the disclosure there is provided the confectionary product printed with edible ink, the wherein impermeable product of edible ink.

Another advantage of the disclosure there is provided aesthetic attractive confectionary product.

Another advantage of the disclosure there is provided multilayer or extrude the confectionary product of outward appearance altogether.

Another advantage of the disclosure there is provided the confectionary product containing scrap material in edible substrate.

Another advantage of the disclosure there is provided the substantially flat gum strip for being printed on edible ink thereon.

Another advantage of the disclosure there is provided produces edible ink with improved adhesiveness off-contact printing in confectionery Equipment on product.

Another advantage of the disclosure there is provided the improved method and apparatus of defect in detection confectionary product.

Another advantage of the disclosure is by being removed before off-contact printing edible ink-mark from confectionery material Removing up-and-down sizing material, there is provided high-quality edible ink-indicia.

The advantage of the disclosure is the method for the chewing gum product of production customization.

Other feature and advantage are described herein, are illustrated from following with figure, they will become bright It is aobvious.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is the schematic diagram of the equipment of the disclosure.

Figure 1A is the perspective view of the printing equipment of the disclosure.

Fig. 2 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Fig. 3 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Fig. 4 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Fig. 5 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Fig. 6 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Fig. 6 A are the perspective views of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Fig. 7 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Fig. 8 is the perspective view of the edible product of the disclosure.

Fig. 9 is the perspective view of the edible product printed in the packaging of the disclosure.

Figure 10 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Figure 11 is the edible product of the disclosure and the perspective view of packaging.

Figure 12 is the perspective view of the printing equipment printed on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Each of Figure 13 A, 13B and 13C are the perspectives for the equipment for distributing eatable material on the edible substrate of the disclosure Figure.

Each of Figure 14 A and 14B are the perspective views for the equipment for distributing eatable material on the edible substrate of the disclosure.

Figure 14 C are the distributor of the disclosure and the perspective view of edible substrate.

Figure 14 D are the perspective views of the confectionary product of the disclosure.

Figure 14 E are the perspective views of the confectionary product of the disclosure.

Figure 14 F are the perspective views of chewing gum product.

Figure 14 G are the perspective views of the gum base of the disclosure.

Figure 14 H are the perspective views of the chewing gum product of the disclosure.

Figure 15 A are the top perspective views of the event product of the disclosure.

Figure 15 B are the bottom perspective views of Figure 15 A event product.

Figure 16 is the perspective view of the event product of the disclosure.

Figure 17 A are the top perspective views of the event product advertisement of the disclosure.

Figure 17 B are the bottom perspective views of the event product advertisement in Figure 17 A.

Figure 18 is the printing equipment of the disclosure and the perspective view of edible substrate.

Figure 19 is the perspective view of the confectionary product for the edible ink for being printed on the disclosure thereon.

Figure 20 is the perspective view of the confectionary product for the edible ink for being printed on the disclosure thereon.

Figure 21 is the perspective view of the confectionary product for the edible ink for being printed on the disclosure thereon.

Figure 22 is the perspective view of the confectionary product for the edible ink for being printed on the disclosure.

Figure 23 is the perspective view of the confectionary product for the edible ink for being printed on the disclosure.

Figure 24 is the perspective view for the equipment being printed on edible ink on the confectionary product of the disclosure.

Figure 25 is the perspective view for the equipment being printed on edible ink on the confectionary product of the disclosure.

Figure 26 is the perspective view for the equipment being printed on edible ink on the confectionary product of the disclosure.

Figure 27 is the perspective view for the equipment being printed on edible ink on the confectionary product of the disclosure.

Embodiment

This disclosure relates to the equipment of the product for printing.In general, with reference to figure, particularly Fig. 1, it is shown that production print The schematic diagram of the equipment 10 of the edible product of brush.Equipment 10 can be the system of continuous production edible product.Extruder 12 will be edible The tablet 14 of matrix is forced on conveyer 16.It should be understood that equipment 10 can comprising one or more conveyers (or transmission Machine), so as to which tablet 14 to be moved to positions different in system.Tablet 14 can any can be forced out in the fabrication process The dough of the eatable material of transmission.Being adapted to the non-limitative example of the material of tablet 14 includes confectionery material and starch food. Tablet 14 can be continuous or discrete.As generally understanding in the art, tablet 14 can have Any unrestricted shape or geometric format, such as with any the streak of required thickness, sheet and wire.Herein In use, " edible " product or " edible " matrix are to be adapted to consumption and nontoxic composition.Eatable material can also be met Using standard, such as food, medicine, cosmetics (FD＆C) regulation and/or the European ATM Bureau experimental center of European Union in the U.S. (E.E.C.) material of standard.The non-limitative example of suitable edible substrate includes confectionery material, starch food such as paddy Class and wheaten food, the snacks such as biscuit and snacks potato chips (snack chips), fruit juice jelly, pastry, pet food extruded Product, cereal preparation, sausage, frozen dairy product and cheese.

In embodiments, edible substrate can be confectionery material.Confectionery material can be any hard candy, soft sweets, chewing Candy, chewing gum or other confectionery materials with fluid phase or can take the sizing material of flowable form.In other words, it is sugared Edible material can be the art generally understand can be heated, melt, dissolving fusing, forming syrup or be dissolved in liquid It is changed into flowable any material in body.Professional and technical personnel will recognize that, the moisture of confectionery material (and therewith Viscosity) there can be great change.The moisture of the flowable phase of confectionery matrix generally can be in the big of confectionery material weight In the range of about 0.5% to about 20%.Flowable confectionery material then can room temperature cool down or solidify, formed solid or Semisolid confectionery.It is hard that the non-limitative example of suitable confectionery material that is flowable or being placed in flowable state includes manufacture The sugared sugar of soft sweets (fondants), taffy, jelly, chewing gum, chocolate, gelatin and Niu Zha is stepped on by sugar, soft sweets, lollipop, side Slurry, liquid or solid.Confectionery material can be comprising sugar, or can be sugar-free.Pigment can be added to confectionery matrix on demand In.Confectionery material can also include drug products or medicine.In embodiments, tablet 14 can be chewing gum.

In embodiments, tablet 14 can be sandwich extrudate.The nonrestrictive example of suitable Sandwich materials Including any liquid, syrup, sauce, colloid or solid eatable material.In embodiments, tablet 14 can be containing packing material Confectionery material, packing material such as hard candy (boiled candy), hard candy (hard candy), soft sweets, taffy, jelly, Syrup, sauce, chewing gum, bubble gum, chocolate, gelatin, caramel, taffy, ox prick sugar, particulate sugar, and combinations thereof.At another In embodiment, tablet 14 can be as internal confectionery material with chewing gum as outside and any of above Sandwich materials Material.

According to the composition of confectionery material, equipment 10 can be included or not comprising dusting device 18 and/or powdery sizing material.Example Such as, when tablet 14 is soft sweets or chewing gum, equipment 10 can not include dusting device.In embodiments, when tablet 14 is During chewing gum material, equipment 10 can include dusting device 18.Dusting device 18 can be by powdery sizing material (such as talcum powder, sugar Or starch) be dispersed on tablet 14, to reduce the adhesion between tablet and device components.In another embodiment, may be used To apply a small amount of powdery sizing material on tablet 14 to improve printing quality.

In embodiments, equipment 10 can include apparatus for coating, powdery sizing material is evenly distributed on tablet 14.It is adapted to The non-limitative example of apparatus for coating include entity brush, air brush, spatula and any powdery sizing material be evenly distributed on material Device on piece 14.Being uniformly distributed of powdery sizing material promotes tablet 14 and receives composition for ink, and this is discussed below.

Roller 20 be used to determine size or make tablet 14 is thin to arrive any required size.In embodiments, roller 20 can be with The specification of tablet 14 is adjusted to flat or substantially plain film confectionery material.In another embodiment, piece can have About 0.058 inch to about 0.062 inch or about 0.060 inch of thickness.In another embodiment, tablet 14 Can be the extrusion chewing gum of thick tablet form, it can reduce into any required thickness by using one or more stacks Piece.Once reaching required thickness, tablet can be printed, indentation, part indentation and/or cut into final products size. Or, tablet 14 can be sized to be formed the confectionery part of pellet shape or plate shape.

After thickness needed for the size of tablet 14 is adjusted to by roller 20, confectionery material of the cutter device to rolloff can be passed through Material is cut and/or indentation.Cutter device 22 can be directly from the tablet 14a formation individual confectioneries of confectionery material.Or, cut Large stretch of confectionery material can be cut by cutting device 22 (such as scratching device), and they then can be scored to form individual confectionery 24. In another embodiment, part 24 can be the core confectionery part from the formation of filled confectionery bar.Part 24 may be advanced to cooling In device 26 and other processing such as curing rooms 28, and optional coating device 30, the confectionery part of coating is formed there 24a.Individual confectionery 24,24a uncoated and be coated may be advanced in packing machine, and this is known to the art.

As showing in figure ia, equipment 10 further comprises by ink compositions print continuous tablet 14, Printing equipment 32 on individual confectionery 24 without interruption or the confectionery part article 24a being coated.In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be any non-contact print devices that the art generally understands.As used herein, " off-contact printing " is In the case where printing equipment is not contacted with the matrix surface of ink to be applied, composition for ink is applied on material.It is non-to connect Touch printing equipment composition for ink is directly applied or distributed on matrix, do not have between printing equipment and matrix it is any in Between structure.Off-contact printing can include spraying composition for ink, distribute or being applied on one or more surfaces of matrix. Therefore, the part of non-contact print devices is not contacted with edible substrate such as tablet 14 and/or part 24,24a surface.

In another embodiment, printing equipment 32 can be ink-jet printing apparatus.Ink-jet printer generally requires print Brush is in fluid communication with one or more ink reservoirs, and print head is suitable to ink jet printing.In ink jet printing, print head is from storage By in the fine drop ejection or " injection " of ink to the matrix of receiving in liquid device.It should be understood that printing equipment 32 can be with It is configured to therefrom to distribute or jet ink composition or other fluids.In fact, any sprayable fluid can Distributed from printing equipment." sprayable " fluid or material can be that its property is enough to make the material ripe by the art institute Any material (solid or liquid) for the inkjet material dispensers selective deposition known.Ink jet printing is advantageous, is particularly For edible product, because it is provided：1) high-resolution printing, and 2) not contacted with edible product, so as to avoid To eating the risk that article causes harm.The non-limitative example of suitable non-contact print devices includes ink-jet printing system example Ink-jet such as the inkjet dispenser of thermal actuation, mechanically actuated inkjet dispenser, the inkjet dispenser of electrostatically actuated, magnetic actuation divides Orchestration, continuous ink jet printing machine, (also referred to as " the pulse ") ink-jet printer dripped on demand and acoustics ink-jet system.

In continuous inkjet system, ink is passed under pressure through at least one nozzle and sprayed with continuous stream.By to ink Apply vibration or pressure pulse, the stream is broken into drop.This can by using piezo-electric crystal vibrating nozzle or nozzle assembly, Or by the way that vibration probe such as piezo crystals body rod is immersed in into ink in itself in realize.Generally, the ink in continuous inkjet system Drop is formed by the piezo-electric crystal vibrated near ink stream with controlled frequency.In order to control the stream of ink droplets It is dynamic, make ink powered by applying voltage between the ink and charged electrode of injection before ink-jet is broken into drop, making Obtain each drop and carry known electric charge.Then powered drop is passed through into the deflecting electric field of application herein by deflecting electric field Them are made to deviate from their flight straight line.The degree of deviation will determine that drop hits the site of the matrix by printing machine, and And change electric charge and/or deflecting electric field to instruct drop to reach the required position on matrix.Not printed drop not by Deflection, but be caught in grabber or go out in groove, and return to ink reservoir to re-use.

The spraying system dripped on demand includes piezo jet and foaming injection (sometimes referred to as thermal inkjet) system.In foaming In spraying system, bubble is formed by the resistance heater in ink reservoir.Ink is forced to lead to from the pressure wave of bubble formation Orifice plate is crossed, when heat is removed, bubble starts to collapse broken, and drop is ejected.Or, the system dripped on demand can be formed discontinuously Ink droplets, they are sprayed from row's nozzle, and matrix is opened by nozzle, nozzle with required frequency and required order It is dynamic, so as to form required image on matrix.Therefore, printing machine can be that its ink inside passes under pressure through valve control Mode flows to the printing machine of nozzle, and wherein valve is activated under the control of computer etc. so that ink flow to needed for nozzle and from The nozzle sprays drop.

In acoustic ink jet printing, one or more acoustic beams are sent from one or more acoustic radiators, with corresponding acoustic beam The Free Surface of irradiating liquids ink.Each of generally such acoustic beam is focused on or near the surface of liquid reservoir (i.e. liquid Body/Air Interface).In addition, it is to be independently adjusted sound by the input data sample according to image to be printed that printing is conventional Radiator excites to carry out.This regulation can be such that each acoustic beam of radiation pressure puts on free ink surface, from And it is simple, sufficiently high stress level is controllably offset to, to overcome the restraining force of surface tension.This makes each ink droplets again Sprayed when needed from free ink surface with enough speed, make to be deposited into image on their nigh recording mediums Configuration.Acoustic beam can be with adjusting strength, or focuses on/defocus to control injecting time, or can use external source when needed from Drop is extracted in the liquid that sound is excited on ink reservoir surface.No matter use which kind of timing mechanism, the size of the drop ejected be by What the ripple waist diameter (waist diameter) of the acoustic beam of focusing was determined.Acoustic ink jet printing is attractive, because it is not Need small nozzle or small spray-hole.The size of spray-hole is the important design parameter of ink-jet, because it determines that injector sprays Ink droplets size.Acoustics printing inherent reliability increase, because no nozzle can be blocked.As should be appreciated Like that, the exclusion of the fault mode of plug nozzle and the reliability of the ink ejector of big array are especially relevant, such as containing several The array of the injector of thousand separation.In addition, small spray-hole is avoided, so acoustics printing can use a large amount of different inks To carry out, including the ink with viscosity higher and the ink containing pigment and other special compositions.

As shown in Figure 1A, printing equipment 32 can contain one or more injector heads 34, and they pass through passage 35 and one Or multiple liquid reservoirs 36 are in fluid communication.In embodiments, liquid reservoir 36 can contain ink composition, so that printing equipment can be with Ink or composition for ink are delivered to continuous tablet, single-piece or are coated on part.In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be with Be configured to that there are 4 liquid reservoirs, each liquid reservoir contains the edible ink composition of typical color, for example cyan, magneta colour, Yellow and black or white, to provide the image of multiple color.If desired, printing equipment 32 can be configured to be directed to or Many or few color has more or less liquid reservoir.Just as well known in the art, each injector head 34 can be wrapped Containing one or more nozzles.For example, injector head 34 can contain from 1 to 10,50,100,500,1000 or 5000 or more Individual nozzle or spout.Each injector head 34 can be in fluid communication with one or more fluid reservoirs 36.Injector head 34 can be with Arrange in any desired manner, composition for ink is delivered to continuous tablet 14,14a, part 24 and/or part 24a is coated On.For example, injector head 34 can be arranged in single file.Or, injector head 34 can be arranged in a series of row to form matrix class The printing profile of type.

Composition for ink can be the art generally understand any water-based ink, solvent-based inks, wax-based inks, Absorbability ink, the edible ink containing pigment or without pigment.Water-based ink may be considered containing water compare non-aqueous solvent Many inks.Water-based ink generally comprises the dispersant (such as polyalcohol) of water, pigment, pigment, and can containing a kind of or A variety of non-aqueous solvents (such as one or more alcohol) and dyestuff.In embodiments, composition for ink can be water base color Plain ink, the pigment of about 3% to about 45% amount of water, ink weight containing about 30% to about 85% weight, Amount is dispersant such as glycerine, polypropylene glycol or the polyethylene glycol of about 1.0% to about 50% weight.In embodiments, Water-based pigments ink can contain one or more dyestuffs from about 100ppm to about 2 weight % amount.

In embodiments, composition for ink can be solvent-based inks water composition.Solvent-based inks water composition can be recognized For be containing composition for ink of the non-aqueous solvent more than water.Solvent-based inks water composition can have pigment or non-pigment, and Can be based on fat or oil.Solvent-based inks, which are generally comprised, allows organic solvent (ketone, the alkane of ink firm attachment matrix Alcohol, alkyl acetates, Arrcostab, alkyl carboxylic acid), solvent seasoning quickly so that printing ink anti or smearing so that quilt The matrix of printing can be touched almost immediately after printing.There is provided available for printing for the easy dissolving dye/pigment of organic solvent The composition for ink of the wide scope of brush device.In embodiments, solvent-based inks water composition can have pigment, and containing about Non-aqueous solvent in 15% to about 80% weight range, such as glycerine, polypropylene glycol or polyethylene glycol, about 1% to greatly Water in about 20% weight range, and the pigment that amount is about 5% to about 50% weight.

In embodiments, edible ink can be absorbability ink.Absorbability ink generally comprises water, pigment, pigment Dispersant (such as polyalcohol), and one or more non-aqueous solvents (such as one or more alcohol) and dye can be contained Material.In embodiments, absorbability ink can be water-based pigments ink, the water containing about 30% to about 85% weight, About the 3% of ink weight arrives the pigment of about 45% amount, the dispersant example of about 1.0% to about 50% amount of weight Such as glycerine, polypropylene glycol or polyethylene glycol.In embodiments, water-based pigments ink can contain from about 100ppm to about One or more dyestuffs of 2 weight % amount.

The non-limitative example of absorbability ink is the ink based on propane diols.Propane diols, also referred to as propane -1,2- bis- Alcohol, usually tasteless, transparent, oily liquid, it has hygroscopicity, can be miscible with water, acetone and chloroform.Due to its toxicity Low, colorless and odorless, outstanding solvent properties and good lubricating property, are widely used in food applications.Propane diols can also Carrier as active component, and pigment, emulsifying agent, the solvent of antioxidant and enzyme.

In embodiments, absorbability ink can contain propane diols, glycerine, water, one or more dyestuffs, stabilizer example Such as polyglycerol ester and alkali such as sodium hydroxide.The amount that propane diols is present can be the about 5-95% of absorbability ink weight, or Any value between them.The amount that glycerine is present can be the about 5-95% of absorbability ink weight, or appointing between them What is worth.Dyestuff can account for about 0.5% to about the 5% of absorbability ink weight, or any value between them.In embodiment party In case, absorbability ink can contain about 45 weight % glycerine and about 55 weight % propane diols.The art Ordinary skill will recognize that, in order to increase/reduce the amount of dye being dissolved or dispersed in absorbability ink, thus it is possible to vary The ratio of propane diols and glycerine.

In embodiments, composition for ink can be cerul edible ink (also referred to as heat fusing edible ink).Cerul Ink can contain the dyestuff being dispersed or dissolved in fat, wax or oil.Wax can include the wax of any food-grade, including non-limit The example of property processed such as microcrystal wax, paraffin and the wax of natural or synthesis.In another embodiment, the edible ink of cerul Water can containing the edible dyestuff of about 3% to about 6% weight, the hydrogenated resin of about 10% to about 20% weight, And about 74% to about 87% the wax of weight for example light up wax, Brazil wax, microcrystal wax and combinations thereof.

Edible ink composition can contain food grade dyes or color lake, and the wherein Specific amounts in dyestuff/color lake can be with the mankind Absorb and will not typically cause effect harmful to health.The example of food grade compounds includes those U.S.'s food and drug control In office's (" FDA ") " being commonly considered as safe " (" GRAS ") compound, and the food available for human consumption of FDA approvals Colouring agent.It can include synthetic dyestuffs, natural dye or its combination for producing the food grade dyes of colored fluid.At this Term " dyestuff " used herein refers to the dyestuff for being dissolved in water and/or other cosolvent, it include considerable amount of polyalcohol and/or In glycerine, in current colored fluid.The non-limitative example of suitable synthetic dyestuffs includes food-grade Pontamine, No. 2 foods are black, No. FD＆C-3 it is red, No. FD＆C-33 it is red, No. FD＆C-40 red, FD＆C-1 indigo plants, FD＆C-2 indigo plants, FD＆C-10 Huangs, FD＆C-5 Huangs, FD＆C-6 Huangs and No. FD＆C-3 are green.The FD＆C dyestuffs that can be used are red (red including No. 3 Moss is red), No. 40 red (temptation red), No. 6 Huangs (sunset yellow, FCF), No. 5 Huangs (tartrazines), No. 3 green (fast green, FCF), No. 1 indigo plants it is (bright Indigo plant, FCF), No. 2 indigo plants (indigo), and their mixture.Suitable natural dye includes turmeric oleoresin, carmine extraction Thing, cape jasmine flower extract and the natural pigment from water.The non-limitative example bag of other suitable natural dyes Include beet root extract, glucose bark extract and extract (such as nettle extract, extractive of alfalfa and spinach containing chlorophyll Dish extract).For the tone and the depth needed for obtaining, colored liquid can be comprising more than one synthesis and/or natural The mixture of food grade dyes.In a typical embodiment, colored fluid, which contains, accounts for about 0.1 to the 10 of dissolved solid Weight % food grade dyes.

In embodiments, just as well known in the art, composition for ink can contain additive, for example Condiment, preservative, defoamer, micronutrient, dispersion stabilizer, film forming agent, adhesive, surface tension modifier, thickener, Antioxidant, preservative, buffer and/or antimicrobial.Composition for ink can also contain adhesion enhancer, such as surface Activating agent or film-forming resin.Surfactant can be cation, anion or both sexes, it is possible to including nonrestrictive example For example poly- olein of son, monostearate, polysorbate, monoglyceride and diglyceride and phosphatide such as lecithin Fat.The non-limitative example of suitable film-forming resin can include edible resin for example acrylic copolymer, rosin ester, shellac, Polyvinyl ester, ketone resins, urea urea formaldehyde, vinyl chloride/vinyl ethers or vinyl acetate copolymer, cellulose ether and ester, Polyamide, styrene/maleic ester resin, polyvinyl pyrrolidone resin, vinyl pyrrolidone/vinyl acetate are common Polymers, polystyrene resin, melmac, thermosetting acrylic resin, the acrylic acid of Polyurethane resin and radiation curing Resin.Composition for ink can also contain organoleptic component and/or activating agent, and they will be discussed in more detail below.

It should be understood that composition for ink can be compatible with printing equipment, so as not to damage injection head assembly or cause spout Discontinuous injection.Composition for ink can also be compatible with edible substrate, to provide the high score sticked on edible substrate surface Resolution ink-indicia.In embodiments, ink is solid or is in solid state at ambient temperature.

Printing equipment 32 can be placed on from anywhere in equipment 10, so as in tablet 14,14a, confectionery part 24 or bag On clothing confectionery part 24a all or separated parts print, distribute, place, injection, sprinkling or selectivity injection it is a certain amount of can Eat ink.In embodiments, edible ink can form the ink-indicia being discussed more fully below.Printing equipment 32 can To be one way or multi-way printing equipment, to form the image of monochromatic or multiple color on matrix.Or, printing equipment 32 can To be static, when edible ink is dispensed on tablet 14, tablet 14 can be moved on conveyer.Such as printing dress Position A can be placed on by putting 32, can be imprinted on ink-indicia in the upstream in the downstream of extruder 12 and dusting device 18 On the tablet 14 for eating matrix.Position A is probably favourable, because the contact between composition for ink and tablet 14 is not by powdered adhesive Expect the obstruction existed.In addition, position A printing be probably it is beneficial because tablet 14 from extruder 12 come out when typically from In elevated temperature.The temperature rise of tablet 14 may promote the rapid draing of composition for ink and/or edible ink to be adsorbed onto On tablet.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be located at the position B of the downstream of dusting device 18 and the upstream of roller 20.Work as printing When device 32 is located at position B, rapid-curing cutback, the ink that adhesiveness is strong can be used.When wishing ink-indicia by the torsional deformation of roller 20 Or when not caused damage to the printing consumable products of finished product so, position B is probably favourable.High-resolution ink is not being needed Position B can also be used during water-mark.For example, ink-indicia can be band, striped or geometry such as one or many Bar line, parallel lines, circle or polka round dot, or will not be out of shape and/or lose definition being dimensioned when roller 20 deploys Mark.Apparatus for coating can be located at the downstream of dusting device 18, to ensure that the uniform of powdery sizing material is sent out, and eliminate powdery sizing material Any agglomerate or cluster.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be placed on the position C of the downstream of roller 20 and the upstream of cutter device 22.Printing Device 32 can also be located at the position D of the downstream of cutter device 22 and the upstream of cooling device 26.In the downstream of cutter device 22 and cooling The position D of the upstream of device 26, can use printing equipment 32 that multiple and/or multiple single-pieces are printed into upper ink-indicia.Position D is probably favourable, because before cooling device 26 is entered, continuous single-piece 24 may be at elevated temperature.Part 24 Temperature rise can promote the 1) drying of composition for ink and/or 2) adhesion of composition for ink and edible substrate surface and/ Or edible ink is absorbed by edible substrate.

In embodiments, when needing to print on the hard or firm surface of edible substrate, printing can be filled Put the 32 position E for being placed on the downstream of cooling device 26 and the upstream of curing room 28.When using slow curing ink or ink need not be absorbed When, position E is probably favourable.In embodiments, equipment 10 can include first and second printing equipment.First Printing equipment can be located at or be placed on first face of the confectionery part 24 continuously provided, be named as E.Second printing dress Putting can be placed on another face of the part 24 of offer, be named as E.In such configuration, first and second printing Edible ink composition can be printed on the opposite face of part 24 by device.Printing equipment can be arranged to top/bottom Relation.Or, printing equipment can be arranged to first face/the second relation of plane, so as to first printing equipment position In the left side of part 24, second printing equipment is located at the right side of part 24.First and second printing equipment can be substantially same When composition for ink is delivered on the opposing face of part.It is appreciated that multiple printing equipments can be in apparatus 10 it is any Used on position, composition for ink is delivered to tablet 14, part 24 or is coated on part 24a opposing face.

In embodiments, printing equipment can also be located at the position F in the downstream of coating device 30.In position F, ink can be with Containing adhesion enhancer such as wax, adhered to the coating surface for promoting and being coated matrix edible substrate.In another embodiment party In case, printing equipment 32 can as required before packaging machine or on any position.In embodiments, packing device Can be the packing device of blister package, when edible substrate is sent to bubble-cap or when edible substrate is had been placed in bubble-cap When, edible ink-indicia is printed on edible substrate by printing equipment 32.The single-piece of edible substrate can be printed and pack, The edible ink of every is seen through blister package., as required, can basis as being described herein The composition and/or printing equipment of composition for ink are changed in the position of printing equipment in apparatus 10.

In embodiments, the composition of edible ink can be according to printing equipment 32 relative to other components of equipment 10 Position is adjusted.For example, when printing equipment 32 is in position A or B, using the edible ink of solvent base for the fast rapid-curing cutback of ink Dry is probably beneficial.When printing equipment 32 is located at position C, absorbability ink can be used, so that printing equipment is this Position allows edible ink to be absorbed in edible substrate.When printing equipment is located at position F, wax-based inks can be used to promote Adhesion between the coating and edible ink of edible substrate.

There is provided edible product in embodiments.Edible product contains edible substrate and is imprinted on edible substrate Edible ink-indicia.Edible product further comprises the organoleptic component corresponding to edible product feature.In other words, sense organ into It can be any sensation composition for can be related to feature or coordinating to divide.Specifically, organoleptic component can be any sensation sense The composition known, they are typically adjoint with feature, associate, supplement, emphasizing, focusing on, protruding, matching, being related to, and meet, contact or tie Close.

Edible substrate can be any material of the suitable consumption of mistake described previously herein.In embodiments, edible base Body can be confectionary product, the confectionary product being coated, chewing gum (form of pellet, sheet or strip), the chewing gum (ball being coated The form of ball, sheet or strip), filled chewing gum, core chewing gum and combinations thereof.In another embodiment, Edible substrate can be formed by equipment 10.

" ink-indicia " used herein (or " edible ink-indicia ") is the ink of (or on tablet) on edible substrate Mark or ink are indicated.Ink-indicia 54 can be the edible ink of any solid color described herein or multiple color Or composition for ink.In addition, as required, ink-indicia 54 can describe any symbol, object, alphanumeric representation, word Mother, word, text, shape, shape, image, figure, color, advertising sign or the combinations thereof of the imagination.Suitable ink- The non-limitative example of mark includes image, photo or the picture of people, character, scene or landscape, AD tagged such as brand name Title, brand name, mark, trade mark, word poster, machining code such as bar code, word, object, or its any combinations.In reality Apply in scheme, ink-indicia 54 can be ink-jet mark.

" feature " used herein is the property of edible substrate, the characteristic of edible ink-indicia and their group Close.The non-limitative example of the property of edible substrate including edible substrate structure (individual layer, multilayer, it is sandwich, be coated, it is uncoated, Be co-deposited, altogether extrude), the composition of edible substrate, the composition in edible substrate, edible substrate surface texturisation (it is smooth, substantially put down It is whole, raised, depression, bending, it is smooth, coarse, wavy, shaping, it is irregular, jagged, jaggy, protuberance), it is edible The hardness (hard, soft, Chewy, flexible) of matrix, and combinations thereof.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be used for being formed the edible product 50 shown in Fig. 2.Edible product 50 can With comprising edible substrate 52, and the formation of composition for ink 53 printed to from printing equipment 32 on matrix 52 edible ink-mark Note 54.Ink-indicia 54 can include feature 56.Printing equipment 32 can also distribute the feature 56 corresponding to ink-indicia 54 Organoleptic component 58.As a result, edible product 50 can include the ink-indicia 54 with feature 56 and the sense organ corresponding to feature Composition 58.

In embodiments, edible substrate 52 can be any edible food, material or base discussed herein above Body.Edible substrate 52 can have the combination of plane surface, non-planar surfaces or plane and non-planar surfaces.Edible substrate 52 Can have flat, bending, wavy, raised (i.e. pellet, sheet or beans shape) or the surface topography being recessed.Edible base Body can be coated or uncoated.In embodiments, edible substrate 52 can be the base shown in confectionery material, such as Fig. 2 Flat gum strip in sheet.

Organoleptic component can be any composition for being perceived perception.Therefore, organoleptic component can be by vision (i.e. Color, quality), tactile (being touched with hand, whip graft, or mouthfeel), the sense of hearing (sound), the sense of taste and/or smell (fragrance) feels or examines Any composition felt.The non-limitative example of suitable organoleptic component includes flavouring agent, coolant agent, hot taste agent (or warm taste Agent), taste agent (any have coarse, aerogenesis or special quality), numb taste agent, sweetener, acid, bitters, dental whitening Agent, anti-caries agent, breath freshening agents, sounding agent (rupture sound, fizz or cracker composition), and combinations thereof.

Flavouring agent can be natural perfume material, the spices of natural equivalent, artificial flavors and combinations thereof.Flavouring agent Nonrestrictive example includes almond, bitter apricot wine, apple, granny smith, apple-cherry-berry, apple-honey, apricot, bacon, fried Burger, banana, barbecue, beef, roast beef, beefsteak, berry, blueberry, birch beer/dragon spruce beer, blackberry, blueberry, Bloody Mary, indigo plant The certain kind of berries, the rich Yi Shen certain kind of berries, brandy, bubble gum, butter, butter English walnut, buttermilk, butter hard candy, candy corn, muskmelon, muskmelon bitter orange, Caramel, carrot, Chinese cassia tree, caviar, celery, cereal, champagne, cherry, cherry cola, maraschino cherry, wild cherry, morello, Red cherry, cherry cola, chicken, chocolate, chocolate almond, Chinese cassia tree spice, citrus, citrus mix, citrus-strawberry, Clam, cocoa, coconut, decoct coconut, it is coffee, coffee almond, cola, vanilla cola, cream cookies, cool, cotton candy, cranberry, climing Blueberry-raspberry, cream, cream soda water, the cream of dairy type, peppermint ligueur, cucumber, blackcurrant, milk syrup, Eggnog, lard, fats, anchovy, catfish, sardine, frankfurter, burning hot, quick-fried pan-fried garlic, quick-fried garlic, gin Wine, gingerale, ginger beer, Graham cracker class, grape, grape fruit, shaddock-lemon, shaddock-bitter orange, juice of my pomegranate, barbecue, melon Draw that, guava, fibert, honey, heat, roasting honey, ice-cream cone, jalapeno, key island bitter orange, Kiwi berry, macaque Peach-banana, Kiwi berry-lemon-lime, Kiwi berry-strawberry, champagne cola, lard class, lemon, lemon custards, lemonade, Pink lemonade, lemon-lime, bitter orange, malt, the extract of malt and milk, mango, mango-pineapple, maple, Margarita wine, fruit juice are soft Sugar, meat, condensed milk, the milk boiled, peppermint, assorted vegetable plate fourth, Mocha coffee, mocha Cino Da Pistoia coffee, molasses, mushroom, quick-fried Mushroom, muskmelon, nectarine, Naples Pizza, leaf green onion, sauteeing onions, orange, orange sweet wine, orange milk former times can, orange it is tasty and refreshing Wine, orange-peach-mango, orange-strawberry-banana, cream orange, citrus, orange-passionflower-guava, orange-pineapple, kind Pawpaw, passionfruit, peach, peach-mango, peanut, roasted peanut, pears, Denmark English walnut, English walnut praline, pepper, peppermint, lamp Cage green pepper, pineapple can draw up to ice wine, pineapple can draw up to ice wine/pineapple-coconut, pineapple, pineapple-orange, American pistachios, Pizza, pomegranate, Lard class, earth burning beans, dried plum, the interesting wine of friend, the interesting wine of citrus friend, the interesting wine of tropical friend, the interesting wine of cherry fruit friend, the interesting wine of grape friend, cover basin Son, black raspberry, blue raspberry, raspberry, raspberry-blackberry, blueberry, raspberry-ginger juice light wine, raspberry-bitter orange, Broiled Dishes Type, root juice beer, Rum, Sang Gesheng wine, sarsaparilla carbonated drink, yellow camphor tree, sausage, sausage Pizza, savoury, sea food, shrimp, mountain Walnut sootiness barbecue sauce, algarroba sootiness barbecue sauce, tart flavour, sour cream, sour cream and onion, spearmint, spicy material, strawberry, Strawberry Margarita wine, strawberry jam, strawberry-Kiwi berry, caramel, sweet taste, super sweet tea, sour-sweet, tallow, tamarind, red tangerine-bitter orange, Red tangerine, tealeaves, mescal type, taffy, orange taste ligueur, tropical fruit (tree) mixture, turkey, fruit salad, vanilla, vanilla Cream, vanilla galaktoboureko (milk cake), french vanilla, vegetables, Vermouth, vinegar, aromatic vinegar, watermelon, whiskey, the wild certain kind of berries, wine, Yoghourt, and Combinations thereof.

The non-limitative example of coolant agent includes xylitol, antierythrite, dextrose, D-sorbite, terpane, peppermint Ketone, ketal, menthone ketals, menthone glycerol ketals, substitution to terpane, acyclic carboxamides, monomenthyl glutarate, take The Cyclohexamide in generation, the cyclohexane carboxamide replaced, the urea of substitution and sulfonamide, the menthol of substitution, methylol are to peppermint Alkane and hydroxymethyl derivative to terpane, 2- sulfydryls-ring-decanone, the hydroxycarboxylic acid with 2-6 carbon atom, Cyclohexamide, Menthyl acetate, menthyl salicylate, N, 2,3- trimethyl -2- butanamides (WS-23), N- Ethyl-p-menthanes - 3- formamides (WS-3), isopulegol, 3- (l- peppermints epoxide) propane-l, 2- glycol, 3- (l- peppermints epoxide) -2- methyl-props Alkane -1,2- glycol, p- terpane -2,3- glycol, p- terpane -3,8- glycol, 6- isopropyl -9- methyl-l, 4- dioxas Spiral shell [4,5] decane -2- menthols, menthyl succinate and its alkali salt, cyclonol, N- ethyl -2- isopropyls - 5- hexahydrotoluenes formamide, Japanese peppermint oil, Fructus Piperis peppermint oil, 3- (l- peppermints epoxide)-l- ethanol, 3- (l- peppermint oxygen Base)-l- propyl alcohol, 3- (l- peppermints epoxide)-l- butanol, 1- peppermint guanidine-acetic acid N- acetamides, l- menthyl -4- hydroxyl valerates, L- menthyls -3-hydroxybutyrate ester, N, 2,3- trimethyls -2- (l- Methylethyls)-butyramide, cis- 6 nonyls two of n- ethyls-trans- 2- Acrylamide, N, N- dimethyl menthyls succinamide, the p- terpane of substitution, p- terpane-formamide of substitution, 2- isopropyls Base -5- methyl cyclohexanols, menthone glycerol ketals, 3-l- menthoxypropanes-l, 2- glycol and menthyl lactate, WS-30, WS-14, eucalyptus extracts (p- terpane -3,8- glycol), menthol (its natural or synthetic derivative), menthol PG carbon Acid esters, menthol EG carbonic esters, menthol glyceryl ether, the N- tert-butyl groups-p- terpane -3- formamides, p- terpane -3- carboxylic acids Glyceride, methyl -2- isopropyls-bicyclic (2.2.1), heptane -2- formamides and menthol methyl ether and menthyl pyrrolidines Esters of keto-carboxylic acid, and combinations thereof.

The nonrestrictive example of hot taste agent includes vanillyl alcohol n-butyl ether, vanillyl alcohol positive propyl ether, vanillyl alcohol isopropyl Ether, vanillyl alcohol isobutyl ether, the positive amino ethers of vanillyl alcohol, vanillyl alcohol isoamyl ether, vanillyl alcohol n-hexyl ether, vanillyl alcohol Methyl ether, vanillyl alcohol ethylether, zingiberol, salad oil, paradol, zingerone, capsaicine, Dihydrocapsaicin, go first dihydro peppery Green pepper is plain, high capsaicine, high Dihydrocapsaicin, ethanol, isopropanol, isoamyl alcohol, phenmethylol, glycerine and combinations thereof, capsicum oleoresin, Capsaicine, pipering, zingiberol, salad oil, oleoresin ginger, n-butyl cinnamate and cassia bark oleoresin, black pepper oleoresin, papper oil Resin, vanillyl alcohol n-butyl ether, vanillyl alcohol positive propyl ether, vanillyl alcohol isopropyl ether, vanillyl alcohol isobutyl ether, the positive ammonia of vanillyl alcohol Base ether, vanillyl alcohol isoamyl ether, vanillyl alcohol n-hexyl ether, vanillyl alcohol methyl ether, vanillyl alcohol ethylether, zingiberol, ginger Alkene phenol, paradol, zingerone, Dihydrocapsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin, high capsaicine, high Dihydrocapsaicin, ethanol, isopropyl Alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, phenmethylol, chloroform, eugenol, cinnamon oil, cinnamic acid and their phosphoric acid derivatives.

The non-limitative example of suitable taste agent include effervescent agent for example alkali carbonate, alkali metal hydrogencarbonate, Alkaline earth metal carbonate and alkali metal bicarbonates, citric acid, phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, carbon dioxide And combinations thereof.

The nonrestrictive example of numb taste agent includes Portugal (Jambu) extract, vanillyl alkyl ether, vanillyl normal-butyl Ether, affinin, Echinacea Purpurea Herb P.E, northern pepper extract, capsaicine, capsicum oleoresin, paprika oleoresin, black Hu Green pepper oleoresin, pipering, oleoresin ginger, zingiberol, salad oil, n-butyl cinnamate, cassia bark oleoresin, cinnamic acid, eugenol, perfume (or spice) Cyclic acetal, menthol glyceryl ether, the unsaturated amides of oxalaldehyde, and combinations thereof.

Sweetener can include sugar and sugar-free sweetener and composition.Sugared sweetener can be included alone or in combination containing bag Include but be not limited to glucose, sucrose, dextrose, maltose, dextrin, dry inverted sugar, fructose, levulose, galactolipin, primverose Starch the carbohydrate of the composition of solid content etc..Sugar-free sweetener include with sweetening characteristics but do not contain it is generally known it is sugared into Point.The non-limitative example that sugar-free sweetener includes for example sugar alcohol, glycerine, D-sorbite, maltitol, maltitol syrup, Mannitol, isomalt, antierythrite, xylitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, polydextrose alcohol syrup, polydextrose Alcohol powder, lactitol, water soluble sweetening agents such as dihydrochalcone, monellin, stevioside glycosides, glycyrrhizin, dihydro Flavonols, water soluble artificial sweetener's agent such as soluble sugar refined salt, the Sweetening agents based on dipeptides are as derived from L-Aspartic acid Sweetener, from water-soluble sweetening agent derived from naturally occurring water-soluble sweetening agent, the Sweetening agents based on albumen are such as Thaumaoccous danielli (thaumatin I and II) and thaumati (Talin), and sweetener not that Booth (2- hydroxyls -2- (indol-3-yl methyl) -4- aminoglutaric acids) and its derivative, sucralose, the APM of N- substitutions The derivative such as salt of neotame, acesulfame, power sweet tea, saccharin and its salt, cyclamic acid and its salt, and combinations thereof.

The non-limitative example of suitable acid include acetic acid, adipic acid, ascorbic acid, butyric acid, citric acid, formic acid, Fumaric acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, phosphoric acid, malic acid, oxalic acid, butanedioic acid, tartaric acid, and combinations thereof.

It is phonetic that the non-limitative example of suitable bitters includes quinine, naringin, quassia, phenylthiourea, 6- n-propyl sulphur urines Pyridine, alum, salicin, caffeine, and combinations thereof.

Brightener for tooth can include dental bleaching agent, stain remover and anticalculus agent.The non-limit of suitable brightener for tooth Property example processed, which includes hydrolytic reagent, includes proteolytic enzyme, grinding agent such as hydrated silicon dioxide, calcium carbonate, sodium acid carbonate and oxidation Aluminium, other activity remove spot composition such as surfactant, such as anion surfactant such as odium stearate, palmitic acid Sodium, sulfated oil acid butyl ester, enuatrol, fumarate, glycerine, hydroxylated lecithin, NaLS, and chelating agent example Such as Quadrafos, it is generally used in dentifrice composition as calculus dentalis control composition.Also include tetrasodium pyrophosphate, tripolyphosphate Sodium, sodium tripolyphosphate, xylitol, hexametaphosphate and abrasive silica.

In addition to spices previously described herein and coolant agent, flavorants can also have smell control comprising various The composition of property processed.These can be with non-limiting including cyclodextrin magnolia obovata extract.Flavorants can also be encapsulated. The non-limitative example of flavorants includes spearmint, peppermint, Chinese ilex, yellow camphor tree, chlorophyll, citral, geraniol, small Cardamom, cloves, Salvia japonica, carvacrol, eucalyptus, cardamom, Magnolia cortex P.E, black angle orchid, Chinese cassia tree, lemon, bitter orange, grape fruit and The oil of orange；Aldehydes such as cinnamic acid and salicylide, menthol, carvol, iso-garrigol, anethole, zinc citrate, second Sour zinc, zinc fluoride, zinc sulfate ammonium, zinc bromide, zinc iodide, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate, zinc fluosilicate, zinc gluconate, tartaric acid Zinc, zinc succinate, zinc formate, zinc chromate, zinc phenolsulfonate, dithionic acid zinc, zinc sulfate, silver nitrate, zinc salicylate, glycerine phosphorus Sour zinc, copper nitrate, chlorophyll, copper chlorophyll, chlorophyllin, cotmar, chlorine dioxide, beta-schardinger dextrin, zeolite, based on dioxy The material of SiClx, the material based on carbon, enzyme such as laccase, and combinations thereof.

In embodiments, organoleptic component corresponds to the feature of the property as edible substrate.Edible substrate can contain One or more spices.Organoleptic component can be and identical spices present in edible substrate.For example, edible substrate can contain There is orange flavor.Organoleptic component can also be orange flavor.Organoleptic component can be and as the perfumery in edible substrate it is fragrant Material or the spices for strengthening (complimentary to).Or, organoleptic component can be non-existent spices in edible substrate.

In embodiments, edible substrate can be chewing gum product.Chewing gum product can be coated or not be coated. Chewing gum product can also include Sandwich materials.Organoleptic component can correspond to be coated in composition, the composition in chewing gum and/ Or the composition in Sandwich materials.For example, the chewing gum product with Sandwich materials can include strawberry flavor in Sandwich materials. Organoleptic component can also include strawberry flavor, so that organoleptic component be linked together with Sandwich materials.In this way, feel Official's composition corresponds to the property of edible substrate, you can the structure (sandwich) of food product.

In embodiments, it is characterized in the characteristic of edible ink-indicia, organoleptic component corresponds to this feature.Ink-indicia The non-limitative example of characteristic include outward appearance, attribute, composition and/or the key element of ink-indicia；One kind of ink-indicia or Multiple color；Ink-indicia is passed on when ink-indicia is seen by people meaning (particularly when ink-indicia be word or During text), produced sensation when ink-indicia is seen by people；That passes on or exchange when ink-indicia is seen by people is general Read；And combinations thereof.

Printing equipment 32 can be used to form the edible product 50 shown in Fig. 2.It should be understood that edible product 50 can be with Corresponding to the individual confectionery 24 in Fig. 1.Edible product 50 can be comprising edible substrate 52 and by printing equipment 32 from ink group Compound 53 prints to the edible ink-indicia 54 formed on matrix 52.Ink-indicia 54 can include feature 56.Printing equipment 32 The organoleptic component 58 of the feature 56 corresponding to ink-indicia 54 can also be distributed.

Edible substrate 52 can be any edible foodstuffs, material or the matrix discussed herein above.Edible substrate 52 can With the combination with plane surface, non-planar surfaces or plane and non-planar surfaces.Edible substrate 52 can have flat, curved Bent, wavy, raised (i.e. pellet, sheet or beans shape) or the surface topography of depression.Edible substrate can be coated or It is not coated.In embodiments, edible substrate 52 can be the substantially flat chewing gum shown in confectionery material, such as Fig. 2 Bar.

Ink-indicia 54 can be any edible ink or edible ink composition being discussed herein.In embodiments, Edible ink-indicia can be ink-jet-mark.Edible ink-indicia 54 can include feature 56.Feature can be ink-mark A part for note or the whole of ink-indicia.For example, Fig. 2 shows the ink-indicia being applied on the surface of edible substrate 52 54, ink-indicia 54 is an object, such as apple 55.Feature 56 is the shape of the shape of ink-indicia 54, i.e. apple 55. Ink-indicia 54 can comprising other features, color/multiple color of such as object (i.e. apple 55 can be monochrome or Multiple color), and/or ink-indicia shade (i.e. the complete object relative with the profile of apple of apple 55).In embodiment party In case, as required, printing equipment 32 can spray to composition for ink on the discrete region of edible substrate 52.For example, Apple 55 can be the first color, and the remaining area of edible substrate 52 can be second of color (or colourless).

Edible product 50 also contains organoleptic component 58.Organoleptic component can be one or more kinds of discussion herein above Any organoleptic component crossed.Organoleptic component 58 corresponds to feature 56.In other words, organoleptic component can any be had with feature 56 Close or consistent sensation composition.Specifically, organoleptic component 58 can be the composition of any sensory perceptible, they typically with spy 56 are levied to accompany, associate, supplementing, emphasizing, focusing on, protruding, matching, being related to, meeting, contacting or be relevant.In embodiments, print Organoleptic component 58 is printed or is sprayed on edible substrate 52 by brush device 32.In another embodiment, organoleptic component 58 can To be applied directly in ink-indicia 54 and/or feature 56.In another embodiment, organoleptic component 58 can be from The composition or key element for the edible ink 53 for forming ink-indicia 54 that printing equipment 32 is distributed.In another embodiment In, printing equipment 32 organoleptic component 58 can be distributed on the discrete region of edible substrate 52 (i.e. on apple 55) or In the whole surface of edible substrate 52.

In embodiments, organoleptic component 58 can be flavouring agent such as apple spice.Organoleptic component can also include acid Taste agent, together with spices or separately includes, when they are in contact with the mouth of people, tart flavour or tart apple taste is passed into consumption Person.Edible product 50 advantageously provides the consumption experience of product and many sense organs with visual attraction, has pleased consumer. Therefore, organoleptic component 58 (apple spice and/or acid) corresponds to (apple of feature 56 of the ink-indicia 54 as object Shape).

Fig. 3 shows the printing equipment 32 for forming edible product 60.Edible product 60 can correspond in Fig. 1 Individual confectionery 24.Edible product 60 includes edible substrate 62, such as chewy confectionery or soft sweets, with distributing ink from printing equipment 32 The edible ink-indicia 6463 of the formation of water composition, ink-indicia 64 is object.Ink-indicia 64 has feature 66, i.e., The shape of lemon.In the present embodiment, edible substrate 62 can include flavouring agent such as lemon flavouring.Organoleptic component 68 can be with Comprising acid, for example, distribute such as citric acid from printing equipment 32 with liquid or particle form.When edible product 60 is placed to When in the mouth of consumer, organoleptic component 68 can be delivered out the tart flavour mutually cooperateed with citrus scented.In another embodiment, Organoleptic component 68 can have particulate or graininess quality or coarse mouthfeel when being applied on the surface of edible substrate 62. This can occur when organoleptic component can be as solia particle distribution or as the liquid can after drying with graininess quality When body is distributed.When organoleptic component 68 is applied on the surface of edible substrate 62, organoleptic component 68 can give consumption edible production The people of product 60 passes on instant, the advance tart flavour for the particle mouthfeel for emphasizing acid to feel.This can occur with ink- When the part of edible substrate 62 of mark 64 is contacted with the tongue of consumer.Therefore, consumer can be by specific acid Graininess mouthfeel and strong, the instant tart flavour of organoleptic component connect.In this way, organoleptic component's (tart flavour Agent) it is corresponding with the feature (ink-indicia of lemon shape will have sour sensation) of ink-indicia.Carried by delivering The edible product of the ink-indicia of visual attraction, body is felt with reference in the tingle of consumption edible product plus corresponding Test so that ink-indicia 64, feature 66 and organoleptic component 68 can improve the interest of consumer.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be used for forming the edible product 70 shown such as Fig. 4.Edible product 70 can With corresponding to the individual confectionery 24 in Fig. 1.Ink composition 73 is distributed, sprayed or is injected in edible substrate 72 by printing equipment 32 On, form ink-indicia 74.In the present embodiment, ink-indicia is with the AD tagged of multiple features 76a, 76b.Extensively Accuse the text feature 76a that mark 74 includes being indicated by title DOUBLEMINT.AD tagged 74 also include feature 76b, the imagination The arrow of shape or mark, i.e. double end.Organoleptic component 78 also is assigned with from printing equipment 32, it can be with one or two feature 76a or 76b correspondences or relevant.Organoleptic component 78 can be applied on ink-indicia 74, feature 76a or feature 76b.Or, sense Official's composition 78 can be applied in the other parts of edible substrate 72.

In embodiments, edible substrate 72 can be gum strip.Chewing gum can be containing known to the art Flavorant and sweetener.In embodiments, organoleptic component can be one or more coolant agents of mistake disclosed above, can To be the composition of ink 73, or can be from printing equipment 32 from separated scattered different, the independent composition of ink composition. The non-limitative example of suitable coolant agent includes menthol, p- terpane -3,8- glycol, 1- isopulegols, menthones contracting Ketone, menthyl lactate, monomenthyl succinate, menthyl pyrrolidone carboxylate, 3-l- menthoxypropanes-l, 2- glycol (Takasago coolant agents, TCA), N- Ethyl-p-menthane -3- formamides (WS-3), 2- isopropyls-N, 2,3- trimethyl fourths Acid amides (WS-23), other ring-type or acyclic carboxamides and 3,3,5- cyclonols, other similar coolant agents or Its mixture.In embodiments, organoleptic component 78 can be applied to feature 76a, in such as title " DOUBLEMINT ", or Or, organoleptic component 78 can be applied in title " MINT ".In another embodiment, organoleptic component 78 can be applied to On feature 76b one or two arrow head part.Therefore, organoleptic component 78, coolant agent, correspondence simultaneously highlights ink-indicia text The feature of this " DOUBLEMINT ", --- this feature is that the sensation of title " DOUBLEMINT " will provide cool sense of taste (spy It is not that there is provided the instant shock wave of coolant agent or outburst when edible product 70 is put into consumer mouthful).

In another embodiment, edible product 70 can contain two kinds of organoleptic components --- such as coolant agent and one kind Or a variety of mint flavored doses, it is present in as previously discussed from anywhere in edible substrate 72.By two kinds or it is " dual " sense Official's composition is injected on the surface of edible substrate 72, prominent, enhancing and corresponding to the feature 76a and 76b of ink-indicia 74, with And the meaning (i.e. two kinds mint flavored and/or two kinds of cooling sensations) of word " DOUBLEMINT ".This advantageously increases consumption Enjoyment of the person when consuming edible product 70.Therefore, by strengthen, amplify and emphasize feature characteristic or property (i.e. word " Mint " meaning for " refrigerant "), and apply and correspondence ink-indicia 74 described by word meaning (i.e. there is provided two kinds Mint flavored/refrigerant organoleptic component, corresponding to word " DOUBLEMINT " meaning for two kinds it is mint flavored or two kinds it is refrigerant Taste is felt), organoleptic component 78 is corresponded to feature 76a and 76b.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can include the quantitative controller 71 shown in Fig. 4.Quantitative controller 71 can To be connected with the operability of printing equipment 32, so as to which the organoleptic component of correct amount is shipped on edible substrate 72.Quantitative controller 71 can be the component of printing equipment 32, or individually part.Professional and technical personnel will recognize that, there is provided organoleptic component Concentration and there is provided from printing equipment 34 disperse injection droplet size after, quantitative controller 71 can be configured to will be accurate The organoleptic component of amount is shipped on matrix.Therefore, quantitative controller 71 can be any data processor, flow conditioner, stream Fast sensor, timing means or its any combinations, its construction enable printing equipment 32 to control to be shipped on edible substrate 72 Organoleptic component injection amount of droplets.Organoleptic component can be the composition of composition for ink 73.Or, organoleptic component can divide Match somebody with somebody or be dissolved in the carrier for not including composition for ink.The carrier may be embodied in separated or special liquid reservoir, and It can simultaneously spray or be sprayed independently of composition for ink 73 with composition for ink 73.

In another embodiment, quantitative controller can be used for distributing the organoleptic component 78 of precise volume in edible substrate On 72." exact dose " or " accurate quantification " used herein refer to the amount (or the amount delivered) of composition in the scheduled volume of composition 0.01% within.For example, when orientation edible substrate adds 1.0g flavouring agents in advance, exact dose will be from about 0.9999g To about 1.0001g flavouring agents.Edible product 70 can be containing exact dose composition for ink 73, together with organoleptic component 78 Or separate, or combinations thereof.

In embodiments, quantitative controller 71 can be used to deliver the amount within about the 0.01% of predetermined value Organoleptic component.In another embodiment, quantitative controller 71 can be used for deliver no more than predetermined value amount sense organ into Point.This is probably favourable for efficiently adding organoleptic component or controlling not allowing the excessive organoleptic component added.

In another embodiment, quantitative controller 71 can include weight tester 75.Weight tester 75 is for example Balance, can be connected to detect the weight of edible substrate 72 with the operability of quantitative controller 71.Quantitative controller 71 can be distributed The amount of organoleptic component's drop, until weight tester detects predetermined or threshold gravimetric value.Once detect the predetermined weight Value, quantitative controller 71 can transmit a signal to printing equipment 32, to stop the injection of organoleptic component.

In another embodiment, weight tester 75 can be used for the initial weight for providing edible substrate 72.With edible The gravimetric value of matrix, quantitative controller 71 can determine to need to distribute how many drop to provide predetermined weight hundred to edible substrate Divide the organoleptic component of ratio.In embodiments, weight tester 75 can be used for the weighing before addition organoleptic component each edible The weight of matrix 72.According to the weight of edible substrate 72, quantitative controller 71 can selectively distribute the drop of exact magnitude, be Each independent edible product 70 provides 2.0 weight % organoleptic component, such as coolant agent.In embodiments, quantitative control Device 71 can be used for the organoleptic component for delivering the amount within the 0.01% of predetermined value.Therefore, quantitative controller 71 and weight detecting Device 75 can be used for the amount for the composition for ink or organoleptic component that distribution is customized according to the individual weight of each edible substrate.Therefore, Multiple edible products can be formed, each edible product has the sense organ of identical or approximately uniform percentage by weight on every Composition.

Be conducive to efficiently delivering organoleptic component, such as high intensity sweetner, flavouring agent, coolant agent using quantitative controller 71 Or activating agent.Quantitative controller 71 can also be used to be added to the activating agent of correct dose on the surface of edible substrate 72.Activating agent It can be medicine, medicine, medicament, medicine or any be designed as the mankind and take as drug resistance disease or illness or promote total The compound of body health.Activating agent can be composition for ink or the composition of organoleptic composition.Therefore, activating agent can be ink The composition of water-mark, and/or be placed in the feature of ink-indicia or be in contact with it.Or, printing equipment can be by activity Agent is distributed or is injected on edible substrate as discrete composition.The non-limitative example of suitable medicine can include any medicine Thing, vitamin, stimulant or other chemical substances or compound for being used for the purpose relevant with health.In embodiments, Activating agent can be beneficial bacterium such as probiotics, including non-limitative example for example Bacillus acidi lactici, Escherichia coli, enterococcus, Streptococcus, Bifidobacterium and saccharomycete.In another embodiment, activating agent can be dental plaque regression agent.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32, quantitative controller 71 and/or weight tester 75 can be used for micro- dosage Organoleptic component and/or activating agent be accurately assigned on edible substrate 72." micro- dosage " used herein is that have from big Composition, component or medicaments of the about 0.01mg to the quality of about 1g or any medians.The non-limitative example of micro- dosage is tool There is the composition of the quality of (with or without carrier) from about 0.1mg to about 100mg.In embodiments, printing equipment 32, fixed Amount controller 71 and/or weight tester 75 can distribute any the desired amount of organoleptic component in the range of 0.5mg to 3.0mg (such as coolant agent).In another embodiment, the dental plaque regression agent of the micro- dosage of 22mg can be distributed in edible substrate 72 On.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be used for being formed the edible product 80 shown in Fig. 5.Printing equipment 32 will Ink composition 83 distributes, sprays or is ejected into formation ink-indicia 84 on edible substrate 82.Edible substrate can be soft sweets or mouth Fragrant sugar.In the present embodiment, ink-trace 84 can be poster.In embodiments, ink-indicia 84 can include multiple Feature, each letter and/or word can be taken as personal feature, size, font, arrangement and the design of each letters/words It can change as required.Each letter or word can be printed with monochromatic or multiple color, these colors can with for printing The color of the other letters of brush or word is identical or different.For example, word " Gotta Have " can be the first color or first Group multiple color, word " Sweet" can be second of color or second group of multiple color.

In embodiments, edible product 80 includes feature 86.Feature 86 is when it is seen that or reading " Gotta Have Sweet" when impression, meaning and/or the expectation passed on by poster 84.In other words, feature 86 is conveyed to by poster 84 The edible product 80 of people has in consumption or will have sweet taste is such a to expect.Organoleptic component 88 can be from printing equipment 32 Spray or be assigned to any part of edible product 80 or discrete part on.

Organoleptic component 88 can be sweetener.Sweetener can be able to be sugar-free, and/or can be high-strength containing sugar Spend sweetener.Sweetener can be any sweetener discussed herein above.Suitable sugared sweetener it is other non-limiting Example include containing carbohydrate composition example, such as sucrose alone or in combination well known in the art, dextrose, maltose, dextrin, Dry inverted sugar, fructose, levulose, galactolipin, corn syrup, corn syrup solids etc..Without its of sugared sweetener Its non-limitative example can include sucralose, Aspartame, the salt of acesulfame, alitame, sugar alone or in combination Essence and its salt, neotame, cyclamic acid and its salt, glycyrrhizin, dihydrochalcone, thaumatin, monellin etc..

In embodiments, organoleptic component 88 (sweetener) can be placed on the word on the surface of edible substrate 82 " Sweet " or " Sweet" on or contact with them.When edible product 80 is placed in the mouth of consumer, organoleptic component 88 can To advantageously provide the startup or outburst in advance of sweet taste, so as to bring more pleasures and excited for the consumption of edible product 80. So as to when edible product 80 is seen by people, make organoleptic component 88 (sweetener) and edible ink-indicia, i.e. poster 84 (“Gotta Have Sweet") feature 86 (expectation for the sweet taste passed on by poster 84) passed on is associated, connects, closes Connection, and/or correlation.In this way, organoleptic component 88 (sweetener) corresponds to edible ink-indicia, the (" Gotta of poster 84 Have Sweet") feature 86 (expectation to sweet taste).

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be arranged to connect with the operability of controller 100, so as to be formed such as Fig. 6 The shown edible product 90 containing high-definition picture.Controller 100 can be any electronic data processing equipment and/or electronics Data storage media such as work station, personal computer, laptops, personal data auxiliary equipment, or it is any its Its processing unit that is independent or being connected with electronic storage device such as electronic image storage device such as computer.Controller The electronic image of storage can be transformed into series of orders by 100 containing suitable hardware, software and/or logic circuit, so as to Printing equipment 32 is instructed composition for ink selectively to be distributed or is ejected on the surface of edible product 90, to replicate or copy electricity Subgraph is on the surface of edible substrate.

In embodiments, the high-definition picture in the controller 100 connected with the operability of printing equipment 32 is stored in, It can be used for being applied to high-definition picture on edible substrate 90 as shown in Figure 6.Controller 100 instructs printing equipment 32 will The selectivity of ink composition 93 is ejected on edible substrate 92, and formation can be the ink-indicia 94 of high-definition picture.Implementing In scheme, edible substrate 92 can be gum strip.Ink composition can be one or more inks.High-definition picture can be with It is multiple color, or can not be.Ink-indicia 94 can include feature 96, and it can be high-definition picture such as wind Scape or a part or whole part on mountain range.For example, ink-indicia 94 can include feature 94a, a part for high-definition picture, i.e., Mountain top or snow-clad mountain top.Ink-indicia 94 can also include feature 96b, hillside or mountain bottom, and they can be with feature 96a Mountain top have different colors.

Printing equipment 32 can distribute one or more organoleptic components 98 with corresponding to each feature.For example printing equipment can For distributing the organoleptic component 98a related to mountain top feature 96a.In embodiments, organoleptic component 98a can correspond to snow Covering, cold mountain top feature 96a coolant agent or brightener for tooth.In another embodiment, mountain top feature 96a can be with It is white or depicts snow-clad mountain top as.In another embodiment, organoleptic component 98a can be numb taste agent, correspondence In feature 96a be mountain top peak or tip and thereby be sharp, sharp and/or shouting pain this sensation.

From anywhere in organoleptic component 98a can be distributed on edible substrate 92.In another embodiment, sense organ into 98a is divided to be distributed or be injected directly on the feature 98a of mountain top by selectivity.By this method, organoleptic component 98a is advantageously Highlight the mountain top feature 96a of ink-indicia 94.For example, it is that ice and snow covers to highlight mountain top as the organoleptic component 98a of coolant agent Lid and cold visual sense feeling.Emphasized as the organoleptic component 98a of numb taste agent and corresponding to the thawing avenged on mountain top.

In embodiments, organoleptic component 98b can be distributed selectively on feature 96b.Organoleptic component 98b can be can Correspond to or may further to mountain, open air or rural area, the simple or natural related matrix of life style.For example, sense organ into Point 98b can be breath freshening agents or brightener for tooth, or combinations thereof.Therefore, organoleptic component 98b, which is further highlighted, works as When consumer sees edible ink-indicia mountain range 94 and consumer communication concept, i.e., clean, smelling good, feel all right, outdoor atmosphere Positive active life style.Therefore, the spy that organoleptic component 98a is corresponding with 98b, emphasizes and highlights edible ink-indicia 96,96a and 96b (mountain range of image 94) are levied, when edible product 90 is consumed by people, be conveyed to the people for seeing edible product 90 Health, enhance vigour, increase power, increase confidence sensation.

In embodiments, edible substrate 92 can contain the property of the feature as edible product 90.Property can be The embossed surface shown in surface texturisation, such as Fig. 6 A.Embossed surface can be any recessed, convex on the surface of edible substrate 92 Rise, etch or similar structure.In embodiments, embossed surface can be raised 96c.Raised 96c can give birth in chewing gum Formed during production.For example, projection 96c can be stamped in determining known to the art in size and film-making process it is edible On the surface of matrix 92.Raised 96c can be the unique features of edible product 90.Or, raised 96c can contact, correspondingly, close Connection, correlation emphasize edible ink-indicia, the mountain range of image 94.Therefore, the feature of edible substrate 92 can be with further feature knot Close (and correspondingly) occur, such as the feature 96a and/or 96b of the edible ink-indicia shown in Fig. 6.

In embodiments, feature 96c can be the projection for being aligned or being associated with edible ink-mark image 94. Raised 96c can be the material of edible substrate 92.Or, raised 96c can be other eatable materials.In other words, it is edible Ink-indicia image 94 can be imprinted on feature projection 96c, and the high-resolution landscape with three-dimensional feature is provided for edible product Image.Organoleptic component 98a, 98b can correspond to feature 96a, 96b and/or 96c.Organoleptic component 98a (coolant agent) can be distributed At raised 96c top, to emphasize the mountain top of ice-cold snow and ice cover.Raised 96c Po Heding can correspond to edible ink- The feature 96b of the mountain range image 94 of mark hillside and feature 96a mountain top.Organoleptic component 98a and 98b can be as previously discussed It is added to like that on the image 94 with feature 96a, 96b.Raised 96c further highlights mountain top feature 96a and hillside feature 96b.Organoleptic component 98a corresponds to the architectural feature that projection 96c is provided.The structure that organoleptic component 98b also corresponds to raised 98c is special Levy.Therefore the feature of edible substrate 92, i.e. projection 96c, can provide three-dimensional nature for edible product 90.Edible product 90 is favourable Ground provides what one or more mountain ranges with corresponding organoleptic component and ink-indicia were risen from the surface of edible substrate 92 Outward appearance.Raised 96c strengthens interest of the consumer to edible product 90, and there is provided attached when edible product 90 is consumed Plus mouthfeel sense learning through practice.

In embodiments, controller 100 and printing equipment 32 be used to apply in Fig. 7 on edible substrate 110 and show High-definition picture.One or more composition for ink 113 can be sprayed or distributed in edible substrate 112 by printing equipment On, to print high-resolution ink-indicia 114, it can be AD tagged.In embodiments, ink-indicia 114 can be with Cover the whole region of the exposed surface of edible substrate 112.AD tagged 114 can be printed on the both sides of edible substrate 110, complete All standing edible substrate.AD tagged 114 can have high-resolution, the image resolution ratio of such as photo.In embodiments, AD tagged 114 can have about 100dpi or about 360dpi or higher resolution ratio.

AD tagged 114 can have one or more features.For example, AD tagged 114 in Fig. 7 include feature 116a, text word " the JUICY FRUIT ", and a symbol, the peculiar arrow 116b of double end of ornamental font.Edible production Product 110 can contain or can be without the organoleptic component being applied on surface.In embodiments, it is special corresponding to one or two The organoleptic component 118 for levying 116a, 116b can be assigned on the surface of edible substrate 112 from printing equipment 32.For example, sense organ into Divide 118 can be fruit flavors to emphasize word " JUICY FRUIT " or " FRUIT ".Organoleptic component 118 can be dispersed in can From anywhere in food matrix 112, or this selectivity is dispersed on such as feature 116a.

In embodiments, can be placed on that Fig. 8 shows transparent, translucent of edible product 110 or it can see In saturating packing material 120.In another embodiment, edible product 110 can be gum strip.Packing material 120 allows ink Water-mark 114 is seen or seen through packing material 120.In embodiments, the resolution ratio of ink-indicia 114 is sufficiently high, So that the advertisement being applied on conventional opaque packaging matrix such as paper, plastics, paper tinsel or packing material can be replicated or simulated Mark.Packing material 120 can be made up of any suitable transparent packaging material, such as polymeric material.Edible product 110 and bag Dress thing 120 can replace only just seeing the conventional packaging systems of product when packing material is opened.

In another embodiment, edible product 110 can be as Fig. 9 be shown together with other products 110 It is packaged in transparent wrapper 122.Packaging 122 can also be made of clear material so that see high-resolution through packaging 122 Ink-indicia 114.Each single edible product 110 being placed in packaging 122 may or may not be packaged individually in packing material In 120.Packaging 122 can include pulling-on piece 124, can take the inclusion of packaging.With packing material 120 and/or packaging 122 The need for edible product 110 can advantageously eliminate the printing package article high to cost and packaging, because can see extensively through it Accuse mark 114.Therefore, packing material 120 and/or packaging 122 can replace traditional opaque packing material.With packing material 120 And/or the edible product 110 of packaging 122 can also increase notice of the consumer to edible product 110, because in edible substrate Directly have high-resolution AD tagged 114 on 112, and without conventional packaging and parcel.Therefore, with high-resolution AD tagged 114, with or without packing material 120 or the edible product 110 of packaging 122, can available for consumer couple is evoked The interest of product is eaten, so as to increase the sale of edible product 110.

There is provided the edible product of another parcel in embodiments.The edible product of parcel is comprising in its surface The edible substrate of edible ink-indicia is equipped with, and is wrapped in the packing material of edible substrate.Exposure of the packing material in packing material Packaging substance markers are included on surface.Packaging substance markers match with edible ink-indicia.

" matching " used herein or refer to closely similar in terms of size, shape and color between two objects.With The packing material of edible ink-indicia matching is marked at size, shape and/or the color aspect and edible ink of edible ink-indicia Water-mark is very similar.Therefore, the packing material mark matched with edible ink-indicia is non-in appearance with edible ink-indicia It is often similar, and can be identical.

In embodiments, edible product 110 includes AD tagged " the Juicy Fruit " shown in Fig. 7.Packing material can To wrap up edible product 110.As required, packing material can be opaque, transparent or translucent.Packing material can be wrapped Containing the packaging substance markers matched with AD tagged 114.The packaging substance markers of matching include word " Juicy Fruit ", with advertisement Mark 114 has same feature, has substantially the same size with AD tagged 114, and comprising with AD tagged 114 Identical color.

In embodiments, as shown in figure 19, edible product 530 includes edible substrate 532, and edible substrate 532 has can Eat ink-indicia 538 " WUBMV " and adjoint chrominance section 531a-e.Packing material can wrap up edible product 530, packing material With the packaging substance markers matched with edible ink-indicia 538 and 531a-e.In other words, the packaging substance markers tool of matching Have and the substantially an equal amount of word " WUBMV " of edible ink-indicia 538.Pack substance markers also have size, shape and The part similar with 531a-e parts in color.Therefore, when removing packing material from edible product 530, edible product 530 has The outward appearance as being still packaged.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 (individually or with controller 100 being combined) can be used for preparing in Figure 10 and show Edible product 130.Edible product can be coated or not be coated.In embodiments, edible product 130 includes coating Edible substrate 132.The coating of edible substrate 132 can be hard coatings or Soft Roll clothing, be coated containing sugar or sugar-free.Coating can lead to Pan-coating process is crossed to be formed.Pan coating needs to apply continuous multilayer sugar on center material such as confectionery or chewing gum material Slurry, and material is rotated and is dried in rotating disk.As knowing in the art, coating can be independent Or the wax or other hydrophobic materials or protectiveness material that are combined with pan coating.In embodiments, the edible substrate of coating 132 can be the chewing gum pellet being coated.

Ink composition 133 can be ejected into formation ink-mark on the surface of the edible substrate 132 of coating by printing equipment 32 Note 134.Ink composition 133 can contain composition such as adhesion enhancer, wax and/or other compositions, can with what is promoted and be coated Eat the adhesion on the surface of matrix 132.In embodiments, ink composition 133 is optionally injected in coating by printing equipment 32 On the discrete region of edible substrate 132, the ink-indicia 134 of formation has random pattern and/or one or more colors Feature 136.Organoleptic component 138 can be or can not be the composition of ink composition 133, and it can be assigned to by printing equipment 32 On the surface of the edible substrate 132 of coating.Organoleptic component 138 can also contain composition such as adhesion enhancer, wax and/or other Composition, to promote and ensure organoleptic component and the adhesion on the surface of edible substrate 132 being coated.In embodiments, organoleptic component 138 can be arranged on ink-indicia 134 or contact.Organoleptic component can correspond to or emphasize, strengthen or be prominent The feature 136 of ink-indicia 134.For example, feature 136 can be the random pattern of cool colour such as blueness, organoleptic component 138 can To be coolant agent.Thus correspond to the color characteristic of ink-indicia in terms of the cool taste of organoleptic component 138.Or, ink-indicia 134 feature 136 can be that warm colour is for example red, organoleptic component 138 can be hot taste agent or heat, pungent flavouring agent for example Chinese cassia tree, to associate and correspond to warm colour.

In embodiments, the edible substrate 132 of coating can have first face and second face, first and second Individual face is reversely with each other.Printing machine 32 can on first of edible substrate 132 and second face respectively printing on first and Second edible ink-indicia.In embodiments, controller 100 can contain appropriate logic circuit, be aligned printing or First edible ink-indicia is connected on first face, and second edible ink-indicia is on the second side.First Edible ink-indicia and second edible ink-indicia are touched in the side edge of edible substrate.In other words, edible substrate can With containing extending to second face or opposite edible ink-indicia from first face.This is edible product 130 in edible substrate First and second face on provide seamless, continual edible ink-indicia 134.

For example, the edible ink-indicia 134 with feature 136 (random pattern) can be from first of edible substrate 132 Surface extends to edge, and continues to be surrounded to incessantly on second face of the edible substrate 132 of coating.In the edible of coating The EDGE CONTACT of random pattern on the edge of matrix 132, first face has simultaneously continued the random pattern on second face.Cause This, edible ink-indicia 134 on first face of edible substrate and the edible ink on second face of edible substrate- Mark aligns.Controller 100 can instruct the printing ink component 133 of printing equipment 32, to ensure first and second face On edible ink-indicia 134 between edible substrate side edge touch, so as in the outside of the edible substrate 132 of coating Surrounding forms seamless ink-indicia 134.

As shown in figure 11, in embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be used for preparing the edible product 140 in packaging 141, It contains edible substrate 142a, 142b and 142c of multiple coatings, each with corresponding ink-indicia 144a, 144b, 144c, corresponding feature 146a, 146b, 146c (color and/or random pattern) and the sense organ that is applied on coating surface into Divide 148a, 148b, 148c.Have random pattern feature 146a's blue for example, the edible substrate 142a being coated can be included Ink-indicia 144a, and corresponding to the organoleptic component 148a of blueness, such as blueberry flavouring agent.The edible substrate 142b of coating The orange ink-indicia 144b with random pattern feature 146b can be included, and corresponding to orange organoleptic component 148b, Such as orange flavor agent.The edible substrate 142c of coating can include green ink-mark with random pattern feature 146c 144c, and corresponding to the organoleptic component 148c of green, such as bitter orange flavouring agent.The ordinary skill of the art will Recognize, for each edible part, the number of combinations between ink-indicia, feature and organoleptic component is limited only in the mankind The imagination.

Packaging 141 can be made up of transparent or semitransparent material so that the single coating edible substrate in packaging 141 It can observe or otherwise see from outer package.Another of edible product 140 is characterized in provide multiple single-pieces, Every carries the ink-indicia with one or more different characteristics.For example, ink-indicia 144a can have feature 146a (the first color and/or the first random pattern), and the first organoleptic component 148a correspond to feature 146a (blueness and blueberry Flavouring agent)；Ink-indicia 144b can have feature 146b (second of color and/or second of random pattern), and second Organoleptic component corresponds to feature 146b (white corresponds to coolant agent)；There can be feature 146c the (the 3rd with ink-indicia 144c Plant color and/or the third random pattern), and corresponding to feature 146c, (red corresponds to hot taste to the third organoleptic component 148c Agent).Random pattern, color, fragrance and the combination for each coating edible substrate that can be consumed, advantageously increase consumer To the interest of edible product 140, and add its sale.

In embodiments, printing equipment 32 can be used for being formed the edible product 150 shown in Figure 12.Edible product 150 The first ink composition 153a can be distributed containing the edible substrate 152 being coated, printing equipment 32 in selectivity thereon With second of ink composition 153b, to form the ink-indicia 154 of multiple color.Ink-indicia 154 can include feature, it It is the random pattern of multiple color.Controller 100 can be used for collaboration and optionally jet ink component 153a and 153b, so as to Substantially cover the whole surface of coating.In embodiments, feature 156 can be the random of the first composition for ink 153a The random pattern of pattern and second of composition for ink 153b, composition for ink collaboration injection or it is aligned with each other, so as not to bag The same section contact on clothing surface.Or, controller 100 and printing equipment 32 can be in overlapping manner by composition for ink 153a and 153b are injected on the discrete portions on the surface of coating, to produce the third on the surface of coating edible substrate 152 The selection area of color.

The first organoleptic component 158a can be assigned in the presence of the first composition for ink by the selectivity of printing equipment 32 On 153a region.Second of organoleptic component 158b can selectively be assigned to second of composition for ink in a similar way On 153b regions.In embodiments, the first organoleptic component 158a can be composition for ink 153a composition, second of sense Official's composition 158b can be second of composition for ink 153b composition.Therefore, every kind of organoleptic component can be with its corresponding ink Water component is distributed simultaneously.

In embodiments, every kind of organoleptic component corresponds to or highlighted relative composition for ink or feature.Example Such as, the first composition for ink 133a can be yellow, and the first organoleptic component 138a can correspond to the fragrance of yellow Agent, such as citrus scented agent.Second of composition for ink 133b can be that clean color is for example white, second of organoleptic component 138b can have clean or ultraclean properties such as breath freshening agents and brightener for tooth, to emphasize clean color.Edible production Product 150 provide the coating edible product of the multiple color with different surface characteristics and outward appearance.With random pattern feature Multiple color ink-indicia and a variety of organoleptic components be all applied on coating surface, be advantageously consumer provide tool Attractive edible product.

In embodiments, the equipment 200 for preparing the edible substrate with three-dimensional body is provided as shown in figure 13.Equipment 200 include distributor 202 and pedestal 204.The support matrices 206 below distributor 202 of pedestal 204.Matrix 206 can be Any edible substrate discussed herein above.Distributor 202 connects one layer with one layer or gradually increased mode can food materials The distribution of material 208 forms or set up three-dimensional body on the surface of matrix 206 on matrix 206.

Eatable material 208 can be any eatable material or material discussed herein above.It should be understood that working as from distribution When device 202 is distributed, eatable material 208 is flowable, or in fluid or flowable state.In embodiments, feed Bucket 210 can be arranged to by conduit 214 be in fluid communication with distributor 202.Feed hopper 210 with container 212 can be used for Receiving is solid or not flowable eatable material at ambient conditions.Heating element heater 216 is retained in feed hopper available for heating Material in 210, so as to which these materials are maintained into flowable state.Conduit 214 can be the conduit of multichannel, will be a variety of Flowable eatable material is transported to distributor 202.Flow conditioner such as pump 218, can be with feed hopper 210 and/or leading The operability joint of pipe 214, distributor 202 is transported to by flowable eatable material.

Distributor 202 can be supported by support system 220, so as to (horizontal with level according to arrow G and H instruction respectively To) mode moves distributor 202.Support system 220 can also move distributor in the way of vertical (upper and lower).Support System 220 can be such that distributor 202 is moved relative to pedestal 204 and matrix 206.Or, distributor 202 can be static , pedestal 204 can be moveable, to move matrix 206 relative to distributor 202.

In embodiments, distributor 202 can be any spray that non-contact print devices are for example described herein Ink brush device.In another embodiment, distributor 202 can be substantially similar with ink-jet printing apparatus 32.Distribution Device 202 can be adapted to spray or spray edible ink composition and other eatable materials.Liquid reservoir 222 can be accommodated can Ink is eaten, or goes for accommodating any other flowable edible material being discussed herein.Distributor 202 may be used also With suitable for receiving and then spraying or spray the flowable eatable material transported by conduit 214.In embodiments, divide The single fluid containing a variety of eatable materials can be ejected with device 202.Or, distributor 202 can contain special use In the nozzle for distributing different flowable eatable materials.For example, distributor 202 can be included dedicated for jet ink group First nozzle of compound and second nozzle dedicated for spraying other fluid eatable materials.Distributor 202 can be same When or be sequentially dispensed one or more different types of eatable materials.

In embodiments, controller 224 can be connected with the operability of distributor 202.Controller 224 can be any Data processing equipment, such as computer, it can produce the three-dimensional coordinate data of object, and the data are changed into instruction, and will These instructions pass to support system 220 and distributor 202 to form three-dimensional body.Support system 220 is produced to controller 224 Raw instruction is reacted, and can be moved distributor 202 and be passed through on matrix 206, and distribute in succession it is flowable can food materials The layer of material 208, so that three-dimensional (3-D) object 226 is set up or formed on matrix 206.If desired, three-dimensional body can be any Size, shape, design or symbol.Object 226 can include any feature and corresponding organoleptic component discussed herein above Or color.There is 3-D objects 226 on edible substrate 206, advantageously evoked interest of the consumer to edible product, and promote Enter or help to increase the sale of edible product.

Figure 13 A show the initial period of 3-D objects formation.In initial period, distributor 202 passes through matrix 206 Top, distributes the flowable eatable material 208 of first layer, forms the base part or basalis 208a of object 226.In other words Say, it is initial by placed the flowable eatable material 208 directly contacted with the surface of matrix 206.Once it is flowable Eatable material 208 is contacted with matrix 206, and it can dry and/or be cooled to not flowable phase or state, becomes not flowable Eatable material.

In embodiments, it can be 3-D on the edible substrate 206 of gum strip wide that object 226, which can be built upon, Mark 228 is accused, as shown in Figure 13 A-13C.In embodiments, flowable eatable material 208 can be at ambient conditions With not flowable or solid state any confectionery material or chewing gum component, or solution can be dispersed or dissolved in In, the solution can be dried as can not flow or solid state at ambient.The non-limiting example of suitable eatable material Attached bag includes any confectionery material described herein that may be at fluid or flowable state.Other eatable materials of being suitable for Material includes elastomer, tackifier resin, wax, fat, mineral filler, polysaccharide, gelatin, sugar, softening agent such as glycerine, lecithin Fat, hydrocolloid such as gum arabic, guar gum, cyclodextrine, cellulose, carrageenan and agar, starch, and pectin. In addition, eatable material 208 can be any ink composition and/or the organoleptic component of mistake described previously herein.Distributor 202 can To distribute ink, organoleptic component from corresponding special nozzle or shower nozzle.Or, it can prepare containing a variety of required eatable materials Single distribute fluid.The single fluid then can be selectively scattered from distributor, forms object 226.

In the interstage of object formation, distributor 202 can apply the eatable material in intermediate layer on matrix 206 208b, as shown in Figure 13 B.It should be understood that layer 208b can be single or multiple lift.During the interstage, distributor will increase The eatable material 208 of benefit is sprayed on layer 208a, forms increased intermediate layer 208b on object 226.Layer 208b sets up or increased The height of object 226 is added.In embodiments, layer 208b application further determined that AD tagged 228 size and shape Shape.For example, having after the 208b of intermediate layer, it can be seen that the space in the eatable material of application.As that can see in Figure 13 B As, the word DOUBLEMINT that space corresponds in AD tagged 228.

In the final stage of object formation, distributor 202 can apply top layer 208c over the layer 208.It should be understood that Top layer 208c can include one or more independent layers of eatable material 208.Top layer 208c can complete 3-D objects 226 Formed.Therefore multiple layers of 208a, 208b and 208c form sandwich construction, have correspondingly formed 3-D objects 226.In embodiment party In case, application top layer 208c completes the formation in word space on intermediate layer 208b zone of dispersion, and further completes AD tagged 228 shapes and sizes.The ordinary skill of the art will realize in not applying as required The place of interbed and/or top layer, basalis 208a and/or intermediate layer 208b can also be top on some parts of object 226 Layer.3-D objects 226 can be formed on the single surface of edible substrate 206, or the shape on each reflecting surface of matrix 206 Into.

In another embodiment, the amount of eatable material 208 for forming layer 208a, 208b, 208c is applied in thing It can change as needed in the different zones of body 226.In embodiments, with the height of adjustment layer the 3-D to be formed can be made wide The height J for accusing the AD tagged center section 234 of height I ratio of the mark 228 at arrow end 230 and 232 is higher, such as schemes Shown in 13C.As required, the composition of eatable material 208 can change, with formed with any color, composition, quality and/or The 3-D objects of fragrance.In another embodiment, distributor 202 can be used for the layer of eatable material being added on matrix depositing Any kind of embossing (such as raised, depression) on.In embodiments, eatable material 208 may be added to edible substrate In being recessed present on 206.Eatable material can wrap up depression.Therefore, 3-D objects can be taken as the coating of depression.

In embodiments, edible product 240 comprising edible substrate 242 and can be applied to 3-D objects 244 thereon.Thing Body 244 can be that the 3-D of image is represented, such as the landscape shown in Figure 14 A and 14B or mountain range.Object 244 can use distribution The forming layer on edible substrate 242 of device 202, it is possible to include multiple color and a variety of organoleptic components.Can for example, can distribute Component 240 is eaten to form mountain bottom 246.Distributor 202 can also formed mountain bottom 246 during spray the first color and The first organoleptic component 250a.During successively mountain top 248 is formed, distributor 202 can spray or spray second Color and/or second of organoleptic component 250b.As discussing herein above, in embodiments, the first sense organ into Divide and can correspond to mountain bottom 246, second of organoleptic component can correspond to mountain top 248.

In embodiments, equipment 200 can produce multiphase edible product.Feed hopper 210 can be the matrix group melted The source of compound, is connected with distributor 202 with sourced fluid.Distributor 202 can be used for the rubber-based composition of thawing Spraying particles are on edible substrate.

Feed hopper 210 can be it is any can be heated and by rubber-based composition maintain the storage of melting state, container, Storage device etc..Feed hopper 210 can also contain one or more heating element heaters outside agitating device.Distributor 202 can To be any distributor being previously described herein.In embodiments, distributor 202 can include any nozzle and be adapted to Compression system, the particle of the glue group composition of thawing to be sprayed from nozzle under stress, is sprayed, is printed or scattered.Melt The sprinkling section of gum base granulate can be any sprinkling section well known in the art, non-limitative example includes for example boring Shape is sprayed and fan-shaped spray.The non-limitative example of suitable distributor includes valve-spraying device.

In embodiments, distributor can be non-contact dispensing apparatus.As used herein, " noncontact " is distributed Device be apply a composition on matrix and distributor not with the device that contacts of surface for the matrix for applying composition.Cause This, the part not contacted in distributor 202 with the surface of edible substrate 264.The non-limit of suitable non-contact dispensing apparatus Property example processed includes any non-contact print devices disclosed herein.In embodiments, distributor 202 is ink jet printing dress Put.

In embodiments, eatable material 208 can be rubber-based composition.Rubber-based composition is following chewing gum base The one or more of composition：Elastomer, resin, softening agent and wax.Chewing gum base composition has liquid and solid-state.Herein Middle " thawing " used refers to the chewing gum base composition of liquefied form." thawing " gum used herein Based composition and use thereof in packaging is the chewing gum base composition of the solid form in the past in melting state or the phase that liquefies.Therefore, melted Rubber-based composition is the liquid of the fusion temperature at or greater than rubber-based composition.The rubber-based composition melted is solid, is melted Once it is liquefied before the rubber-based composition changed and is heated at least its melting temperature.The ordinary skill of the art It will recognize that, the chewing gum base composition melted can be distinguished with common extrusion chewing gum.When preparing chewing gum When, about 40 DEG C to about 55 DEG C of temperature is generally heated in mixed process, is heated approximately in Extrusion 30 DEG C to about 45 DEG C of temperature.Chewing gum is not melted or is heated to the state for liquefying or melting in its production process.

Rubber-based composition can be any combinations of one or more elastomers, resin, softening agent and/or wax.Elastomer It can be any natural or synthetic elastomer well known in the art.The non-limitative example bag of suitable natural elastomer Include natural elastomer for example fire into or liquid latex and guayule, and natural gums such as gelutong (jelutong), Lai Kaiou glue (lechi caspi), perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata (massaranduba balata), chocolate Balata (massaranduba chocolate), nispero, rosindinha, tunny gum (chicle), Hong Kong Gu Ta Glue (gutta hang kang) and combinations thereof.The non-limitative example of suitable synthetic elastomer is including GPC weight average molecular weight About 10,000 to about 95,000 polyisobutene elastomer, the ratio of styrene-butadiene is about 1:3 to about 3:1 Isobutylene-isoprene copolymer, GPC weight average molecular weight is about 2,000 to about 90,000 polyvinyl acetate, gather Isoprene, polyethylene, the content of vinyl laurate for copolymer weight about 5 to about 50% vinyl acetate- Laurate copolymer, and combinations thereof.Therefore, the rubber-based composition of the thawing containing elastomer will have and be more than Or the temperature of the melting temperature equal to elastomer.

The non-limitative example of suitable resin includes natural rosin ester, commonly known as ester gum, and such as part hydrogenates pine Glyceride, the glyceride of newtrex, the glyceride of part dimerization rosin, the glyceride of rosin, the part hydrogenated rosin of perfume Pentaerythritol ester, the methyl ester of rosin and partially hydrogenated methyl ester, the pentaerythritol ester of rosin, synthetic for example from α- Firpene, nopinene and/or terpene resin derived from d- limonenes, and combinations thereof.The gum base composition of thawing containing resin Thing is by the temperature of the melting temperature with more than or equal to resin.

The non-limitative example of suitable softening agent include butter, h-tallow, hydrogenation and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, can Can fat, glycerin monostearate, glyceryl triacetate, lecithin, monoglyceride, diester and three esters, the monoglyceride of acetylation, Aliphatic acid (such as stearic acid, palmitic acid, oleic acid and linoleic acid), and combinations thereof.The matrix of thawing containing softening agent Composition is by the temperature of the melting temperature with more than or equal to softening agent.

The non-limitative example of suitable wax includes any aliphatic wax, any polyolefin-wax, Brazil wax, honeybee Wax, candle wax, microcrystal wax and combinations thereof.The rubber-based composition of thawing containing wax is by with molten more than or equal to wax Melt the temperature of temperature.

Pedestal 204 can be placed on conveying arrangement, and edible substrate 206 is moved into the lower section of distributor 202.Or, Pedestal 204 can be static, and distributor 202 can be removable relative to pedestal as discussed in the past.

Distributor 202 can be used for production edible product 260, such as in Figure 14 C-14H as display, by by thawing The particle 262 of rubber-based composition, which is sprayed on edible substrate 264, forms multiphase edible product.Edible substrate 264 can be this Any edible substrate being disclosed before literary.The rubber-based composition of thawing is readily adhered on edible substrate, once it is in contact with it, Just merge and/or be attached on the surface of edible substrate.After cooling, the rubber-based composition solidification of thawing becomes what is melted Rubber-based composition 265.The cool time of the rubber-based composition of thawing can change according to the composition of the rubber-based composition of thawing. Can be instant or substantially instant after being cooled in of the rubber-based composition of thawing contacts with edible substrate 264.Or, The rubber-based composition of thawing can be cooled down gradually Yi Dan contacted with the surface of edible substrate 264.

The gum base composition composition granule 262 of thawing can be sprayed onto on one of edible substrate 264 or all surface.In reality Apply in scheme, distributor 202 can spray particle 262, to form the layer as shown in Figure 14 D on edible substrate 264 266.Layer 266 can be dispersed particle 262, to form the continuous complete of the chewing gum compositions 265 melted Layer, its surface with edible substrate 264 has same scope or substantially same scope.Layer 266 over its length can be with With uniform thickness.Or, layer 266 can have the thickness along the length change of layer.

The spraying parameter of distributor can be adjusted, with the surface texturisation of decorative layer 266 as required.Layer 266 can be with With the regular or smooth surface texturisation shown in Figure 14 D.Or, layer 266 can have it is coarse, rough or Irregular surface texturisation.

The opposing face of edible substrate 264 can be sprayed with forming layer 268 with similar mode with particle 262.This is edible Product 260 provides sandwich construction (264/ layer 268 of 266/ edible substrate of layer).The thickness of layer 266 and 268 can be from about 0.0001 inch to about 0.1 inch, or any centre value.In embodiments, the presence of layer 266 and/or layer 268 can be with Edible product 260 is assigned with the outward appearance of common extrusion product.The composition of layer 266 and 268 can be with identical or different.

In embodiments, distributor 202 can repeat sprinkling process, to spray the particle 262 of second of application, and The gum base materials of the second melting layer are formed on layer 266.The application that one layer of the rubber-based composition of this thawing connects one layer can be with Repeat, the gum base composition nitride layer of the thawing until obtaining final required thickness.Therefore, layer 266 can be collecting for multiple sublayers, Sublayer is sprayed on another layer in the way of successively.Layer 268 can be the layer got up in the same way with sublayer " foundation ".

In embodiments, distributor 202 can spray particle 262 in the discrete location of edible substrate 264, to be formed The edible product 260a of the rubber-based composition object 270 with one or more thawings shown in Figure 14 E.Object 270 can be with With any required shape, non-limitative example includes geometry, the shape of the imagination, linear and combinations thereof. In another embodiment, the rubber-based composition of thawing can be assigned to formation 3-D things on edible substrate according to former discussion Body.

In embodiments, the rubber-based composition 265 of thawing can contain one or more organoleptic components.The matrix of thawing Composition 265 can have required color.In another embodiment, the rubber-based composition 265 of thawing can contain sweet tea Taste agent, flavouring agent and pigment.For example, layer 266 can contain about 30% to about 100% weight (or value of any centre) The rubber-based composition of thawing, and from one or more organoleptic components of about 0% to about 70% (or value of any centre).

Other organoleptic components can be distributed on edible substrate 264 and/or the rubber-based composition 265 melted.Or, melt The rubber-based composition of change can be free of organoleptic component, and by organoleptic component's distribution in edible substrate as discussing herein above On 264 (or on the rubber-based composition 265 melted).

In embodiments, edible ink-indicia 272 can be printed on edible substrate according to what is discussed herein above 264 and/or melt rubber-based composition 265 on.Edible ink-indicia 272 can contain the organoleptic component being discussed above.Can It can be the edible ink-indicia of off-contact printing or the edible ink-indicia of ink-jet to eat ink-indicia 272.Edible ink- Mark 272 can have the feature discussed herein above.In embodiments, the feature of edible ink-indicia 272 can be right Should be in the property and/or the property of edible substrate 264 of the rubber-based composition 265 of thawing.For example, edible ink-indicia 272 can be with It is word (i.e. " fuse "), feature can be the meaning of the word, and the meaning of the word corresponds to the property of the rubber-based composition 265 melted Matter (contact i.e. between feature and property is that the rubber-based composition 265 melted is combined or " fusion " with edible substrate 264).

In embodiments, controller 224 and distributor 202 can be operatively connected each other, and and gum base composition The source operand connection of each independent element of thing.Controller 224 and distributor 202 can in the same way with one kind Or the source operand connection of a variety of organoleptic components.Controller 224 can be built with suitable software and/or logic circuit, with Allow user that the composition of rubber-based composition is controlled and adjusted when the rubber-based composition of thawing is sprayed on edible substrate.

For example, in process of production, the first rubber-based composition melted that operating personnel will can be made up of elastomer It is sprayed onto on first part of edible substrate (or first batch of material), it is fragrant that the first rubber-based composition melted contains the first Material and the first color.By controller 224, then operating personnel can select the rubber-based composition of second of thawing (for example It is made up of resin and wax), and the rubber-based composition that this second melts is sprayed onto to the second part (or second of edible substrate On batch of material).The rubber-based composition of second of thawing can contain second organoleptic component distribution (second of spices, second of face Color).In this way, equipment 200 provides the ability for the composition for changing the rubber-based composition melted in real time for operating personnel. Similarly, equipment 200 can also provide the ability for changing organoleptic conditions in real time.The matrix group that operating personnel can melt in sprinkling In compound, substantially immediately, uninterruptedly or substantially change the composition of rubber-based composition incessantly.Therefore the energy of equipment 200 Enough producing customization or special edible product.

In embodiments, equipment 200 can be used for the chewing gum product 280 shown in production Figure 14 H.Figure 14 F are shown Chewing gum product 282 with predetermined thickness TT.Chewing gum product such as gum strip, piece and pellet typically there is this technology to lead The predetermined thickness generally understood in domain.For example, gum strip typically has from about 0.068 inch to about 0.072 inch Thickness, chewing gum tablet generally has the thickness from about 0.135 inch to about 0.145 inch, and chewing gum pellet generally has Thickness from about 0.156 inch to about 0.200 inch.Figure 14 G show the gum base 284 with thickness UU, thick Spend UU and be less than predetermined thickness TT (virtual description).Distributor 202 can be by the rubber-based composition spraying particles of thawing to mouth On fragrant glycosyl body 284, the layer 286 of rubber-based composition 288 melted is formed so that the final thickness of chewing gum product 280 is The predetermined thickness TT shown in Figure 14 H.Layer 286 can be discussed in the past by repeating to spray the multiple sublayers formed.Can So that the rubber-based composition of thawing is sprayed on one or two surface of gum base 284, to obtain thickness TT.Chewing gum Any surface of composition 280 can be printed on edible ink-indicia disclosed herein.Similarly, organoleptic component can also divide Fit on chewing gum product 280.

Apply the formation edible product 280 of rubber-based composition 288 melted, this can advantageously cause production chewing gum production The chewing gum parent material that product need is fewer than conventional chewing gum product.This can advantageously reduce production cost.Chewing gum product 280 contain less chewing gum, while having the thickness of standard.This causes chewing gum product 280 to be wrapped up with conventional chewing gum Device and packing device are compatible.Melt/rubber-based composition that melted may be advantageously used with reduction chewing gum production into This, the chewing gum product for producing customization, and it is used to add the chewing gum for being exposed to extrusion technique in process of production The organoleptic component's (such as chocolate) that can not be added.

There is provided the method for sale edible product in embodiments.This method includes providing edible product, and edible The ink-indicia relevant with event is printed on matrix, so as to form event product.Then event product can be distributed to consumption Person.

Edible product can be any eatable material or Edible material of mistake described previously herein.Similarly, ink-indicia It can be previously described any ink-indicia.Ink-indicia can be related to event.In other words, ink-indicia can be with Correspond to, specify, emphasize, protrude, describe, describe in detail, strengthen, focus on, contact, indicate or advise any of specific event Mark.Ink-indicia can be put on edible product to form event product by any method described herein.Implementing In scheme, ink-indicia can be ink-jet printed on the surface of edible product.In another embodiment, ink-indicia Organoleptic component can be included.There is provided event product advantageously excite consumer to not so may be unrelated with event edible product Interest.Edible product is associated with particular event, the new market segments can be set up for edible product, and accordingly Ground increases the sale of product.In fact, event product can also be considered as novel article, advantageously become the receipts of consumer Collection product.

Event can be can be by personal or consumer's any event recognized, the event occurred by chance, activity, society Activity, affairs, celebration, ceremony, accident.Event can be International Operations (the i.e. Olympic that many people know or recognized Gram athletic meeting or world cup) or the domestic event (i.e. presidential election) understood.Or, event can be only a small portion of society Divide and a small amount of crowd, club or private organization are understood, such as it is internal to preview or family party.Event can be personal event (anniversary, graduation, achievement, marriage, engaged).The non-limitative example of suitable event includes current events, and (such as hostage is released Put), motion event, holiday (Valentine's Day, National Day July 4), religious event, political event for example campaigns for, give a lecture or it is local, Area, state or federal election, (Martha's court judgement is put in prison！), seasonal event such as Ge Laimei or Oscar, Culture Events Such as music performance, art exhibition, movie or television program, and combinations thereof.

As well known in the art, consumer can be distributed or be otherwise provided to event product or latent Consumer.Suitable distribution can be by the non-limitative example bag for the method that event product is provided or is delivered to consumer Include and be dispensed into retail shop, distribute from internet website, catalogue or mailing purchase or order, and free sample product.

In embodiments, the distribution of event product can be in period before the event, during event or after event Occur.For example, event product 300 include edible product 302 and with the Culture Events ink-indicia 304 that to be concert relevant, such as Shown in Figure 15 A and 15B.In embodiments, edible product 302 can be confectionary product or chewing gum product.Ink-indicia 304 can be the ink-jet mark being imprinted on the surface of event product 300.In addition, ink-indicia 304 can be by providing explanation The word of music group, the date of event and place is associated with event.Event product 300 can include feature 306, such as sound The image of happy player.As shown in fig. 15b, feature 306 can on event product with ink-indicia 304 in same face or On opposite face.

In embodiments, event product 300 can dispense (i.e. before music performance), provide and sell before the event To consumer.For example, event product 300 can be on stand or vending machine is peddled or by the sound positioned at music performance to be held The seller that sells in the happy Room provides or shown.Therefore, in fact, event product 300 can be before the music performance of event host city, the phase Between and distribute afterwards or be otherwise provided to consumer.

In embodiments, method may include waiting for the result of event and result be printed on edible product.So It can will be distributed to consumer in the event product of the generation time shorter after event has result or occurred afterwards.Such as institute in Figure 16 Show, event product 310 includes the edible product 312 and ink-indicia 314 relevant with sport event.Ink-indicia 314 can be with It is the troop by indicating sport event and wherein participating in, by the ink-indicia word associated with sport event.Ink-mark Note can also include the result 316 of event, such as score.Event product 310 can also include feature 318a and 318b, for example, obtain The first of the winning team 5 and second of troop's color (such as green and gold).Feature 318a and 318b can further protrude or Emphasize event and/or result.

In embodiments, the production of event product 310 can immediately be carried out after the completion of result and/or event.In reality Apply in scheme, as a result can be printed on after result generation in about 1 second to about 24 hours on edible substrate.Then can be by Event product 310 is distributed and/or is supplied to consumer quickly within the short time after the completion of event.In embodiments, event is produced Product 310 can be less than within these few days after event and/or event result occur or less than arrive big within 24 hours or at 1 minute Produced in about 24 hours and be distributed to consumer.Event is not necessarily limited to sport event.The ordinary skill of the art will , it will be recognized that this method can be readily applied to political election, current events, movie premiere and other have the related time quick The event of perceptual result.

Professional, which will recognize that, quickly to be produced in the short time after the completion of event and has to consumer's distribution with event The advantage that the edible product of pass can be provided.Event (event such as sports score particularly with time sensitivity result, Election results or current events) 24 hours in event product 310 is supplied to consumer, pass through focusing in consumer Product is provided when in event, the sale of edible product is advantageously increased.The knot of time sensitivity event is provided with event product Really (such as sports score), further catch consumer to the notice of product, be transformed to the increase of production marketing.Cause This, is transformed into event product by conventional edible product, can increase the sale of current production.By conventional edible product and thing Part it is associated can also extended products the market segments, and add the target consumer of edible product about event product Quantity.

There is provided advertising method in embodiments.Advertising method needs to provide edible product, and will be relevant with event Ink-indicia, which is imprinted on edible substrate, forms event product.This method, which is additionally included on event product, provides AD tagged with shape Into event product advertising.It is AD tagged to be applied with ink-indicia.Or, it is AD tagged can apply ink-indicia it It is preceding or provide afterwards.It is AD tagged can be or can not be ink jet printing mark.As discussed above, event product Advertisement can before the event, during and/or after distribute.

As shown in Figure 17 A, in embodiments, event product advertisement 320 include edible product 322 and with international events example Such as the relevant ink-indicia 324 of the Olympic Games, it is placed on first face of edible product.In embodiments, Edible product 322 can be confectionery or chewing gum product.Ink-indicia 324 can by such as Olympic Games ring of symbol 326 and Indicate that place and the word of time 328 of event are associated with event.During event product advertisement 320 is further included in event The result 330 of generation (i.e. skater Sasha Cowen win the silver medal).

As seen in this fig. 17b, AD tagged 332 it can be placed on another face of edible product 322.In embodiments, AD tagged 332 can be with ink jet printing on edible product 322.AD tagged 332 can be any advertisements described herein Note, it is possible to comprising one or more features, and corresponding to one or more organoleptic components of individual features.In embodiment In, event product advertisement 320 can be packaged in transparent wrapper as discussed before.

There is provided the confectionary product 510 shown in Figure 18 in embodiments.Confectionary product 510, which can contain, has the The edible substrate 512 on one surface 513, and edible ink 516, it is assigned to edible substrate 512 from printing equipment 520 Edible ink-indicia 518 is formed on first surface 513.In this embodiment, edible substrate can also have and first Second opposite surface 514 of surface 513.Edible ink 516 can be applied on any one or two on surface 513,514. Furthermore, it is possible to edible ink 516 is applied on any one or two on surface 513 and 514, so as to cover surface 513 and 514 Any one or two at least about 5%, or surface 513 and 514 any one or two about 5% to about 100%, Or the value of any centre.In embodiments, edible ink 516 can cover any one or two on surface 513 and 514 extremely Few about 50%, or any one or two in surface 513 and 514 about 50% to about 100%, or any centre Value.In another embodiment, edible ink 516 can cover about the 75% of any one or two on surface 513 and 514 To about 100%, or about 75%, or any centre value.In another embodiment, edible ink 516 covers table About the 100% of any one or two in face 513 and 514, or 100%.

As shown in Figure 18, be used to edible ink 516 being applied to can for the printing equipment 520 of printing edible ink 516 Eat and edible ink-indicia 518 is formed on the surface of matrix 512.Conveying arrangement such as conveyer (not shown) can be according to arrow Edible substrate 512 is moved in the direction that AA is shown below printing equipment 520.Or, edible substrate 512 can be it is static, Printing equipment 520 can be mobile in the top of edible substrate 512.

Printing equipment 520 can be any non-contact print devices disclosed herein.For example, non-contact print devices can be with It is sprayer unit.In embodiments, printing equipment 520 can be edible ink-jet printing apparatus.Similarly, as being discussed herein As, edible ink 516 can be edible ink-jet ink.It should be understood that printing equipment 520 may be constructed such and therefrom distribute Or jet ink composition or other fluids.In fact, any sprayable fluid can be distributed from printing equipment 520." it can spray Penetrate " fluid or material can be any material (solid or liquid), its property is enough to make material known to the art Inkjet material dispensers selective deposition.Ink jet printing is favourable, for food, because it provides 1) height The printing of resolution ratio, and 2) do not contacted with food, so as to avoid the risk for damaging confectionary product.

As shown in figure 18, printing equipment 520 can include one or more print heads 522, and they are with one or more storages Liquid device 524 is in fluid communication by passage 526.Liquid reservoir 524 can accommodate edible ink, so that printing equipment 520 can be by can Food ink is imprinted on edible substrate.Printing equipment 520 can be constructed with more than one liquid reservoir 524, according to required The quantity of color, edible ink, such as cyan, deep red red, yellow and black of each liquid reservoir 524 containing usual color or white Color, to provide the image of multiple color.Similarly, in embodiments, printing equipment 520 can be constructed with 4 prints Brush 522.Each print head 522 can include one or more nozzles, as discussed herein above.Each print head 522 can be in fluid communication with one or more fluid reservoirs 524.Print head can be arranged in any desired manner, so as to Edible ink-indicia is shipped on edible substrate.For example, print head 522 can be arranged in single file.Or, print head 522 can To be arranged in a series of rows, to form the printing profile of matrix-type.Printing equipment 520 can be one way or multi-way printing dress Put, to form monochromatic or multicolor image on edible substrate.In embodiments, printing equipment 520 is one way device, in printing Period crosses edible substrate once.

Printing equipment 520 any amount of color spray head can be constituted in component.More particularly, printing equipment can be with It is made up of the nozzle component for 4 kinds of colors that a width of 8 depth is 4 arrangements,.In embodiments, printing equipment 520 is at every 2.8 inches Comprising 256 nozzles in (vertical direction), or in vertical direction comprising about 91 nozzles.The width of each spray site can be with From about 0.0166 inch to about 0.0037 inch (horizontal direction).In other words, ink in the horizontal direction can be with every About 60 points of inch disperse to the value of about 400 points of per inch or any centre.Pass through the liquid of the edible ink of print head Drop volume can be about 80pL.Professional will recognize that the concentration dependant of ink is filled in 1) edible substrate 512 in printing Put the speed or speed passed through under 520, and the 2) speed of printhead assembly jet ink drop.Therefore, printing equipment can 36,400 points (vertical 91x levels 400) are being sprayed per square inch.Point concentration on edible substrate 512 can be according to need Change.For example, with about 10% capability operation print head, producing the body of about 3600 points per square inch. In another embodiment, with 25% capability operation printhead assembly, produced per square inch on edible substrate 512 The body of 9100 points.Therefore, the point concentration on edible substrate 512 can be about 3600 points per square inch to often The value of square inch about 36,400 points, or any centre.

In embodiments, printed resolution can be from about 60 points of per inch to about 400 points of per inch, or appoint Value in the middle of what.In embodiments, printed resolution can for about 60 points of each color per inch to per inch about 120 points, or about 100 points of per inch.

Any printing equipment described herein can be printed with high-resolution printing capability.It is used herein When, " high-resolution " is greater than 100dpi to the level point concentration of the value of about 400dpi or any centres.Therefore, high-resolution The non-limitative example of rate image is that the point concentration of image is about 9100 point (91 perpendicular nozzle x per square inch 100dpi) to the value of about 36,400 points (91 perpendicular nozzle x 400dpi) or any centre per square inch.

It should be understood that edible ink 516 can be compatible with printing equipment 520, from without damage any printhead assembly or Cause the injection of injector incongruous.Edible ink 516 can also be compatible with edible substrate 512, and edible base is sticked to provide High-resolution edible ink-indicia 518 on body 512.

In embodiments, printing equipment 520 has delivered management organization such as FDA, EEC or similar government organs permit Perhaps the maximum amount of artificial coloring.Therefore it provides being applied with the edible substrate 532 of edible ink 536 thereon, generate in appearance Have on face or be substantially all coloured confectionary product.Which advantageously provide the production of the confectionery with extremely lucid and lively color Product, not only pleasant but also had height attraction to consumer in aesthetic view point.

Figure 19 shows with edible substrate 532 and is printed on thereon the confectionary product 530 of edible ink 536.Edible substrate 532 can contain main body 533, first surface 534 and second surface 535, and wherein surface 534 and 535 is located at edible substrate On 532 opposite face.Edible ink 536 can be applied on any one or two on surface 534 and 535.Furthermore, it is possible to will Edible ink 536 is applied on any one or two on surface 534 and 535, thus cover surface 534 and 535 any one or At least about the 5% of two, or surface 534 and 535 any one or two about 5% to about 100%, or any centre Value.In embodiments, edible ink 536 can cover about the 50% of any one or two on surface 534 and 535 to big About 100%, or any centre value.In another embodiment, edible ink 536 can cover appointing for surface 534 and 535 About 75% to about the 100% of any one or two, or any centre value.In another embodiment, edible ink 536 can cover about the 100% of surface 534 and 535 any one or two, or 100%.

Edible ink 536 can form edible ink-indicia 538.Edible ink-indicia 538 can be any required Edible ink-indicia.Edible ink-indicia 538 can be the edible of any single color for being discussed herein or multiple color Ink or composition for ink.In addition, edible ink-indicia 518 can also be directed to some events and/or advertisement.Event can be Disclosed any event, can also be included by personal or the identifiable any event of consumer, incident, work herein above Dynamic, social activities, affairs, celebration event, ceremony, accident.Event can be the International Operations that many people know or confirmed (i.e. the Olympic Games or world cup) or the event (i.e. presidential election) of domestic accreditation.Or, event can also be only It is known to the sub-fraction and a few peoples, club or private organization of society, such as internal to preview or family party.Suitable event Non-limitative example include current events (for example hostage is released), sport event, holiday (Valentine's Day, National Day July 4), ancestor Religion event, political event is for example campaigned for, given a lecture or local, area, state or federal election, and (Martha's court judgement is put in prison！), Seasonal event such as Ge Laimei or Oscar, Culture Events such as music performance, art exhibition, movie or television program, with And combinations thereof.

In addition, edible ink-indicia 518 can be any edible ink-indicia disclosed herein.Edible ink-indicia 518 can be ink-jet mark.Edible ink-mark can include any feature disclosed herein.For example, edible ink-mark Note 548 can include the green Luzern being shown in Figure 20 and being discussed herein below sold during St Patrick's Day 547.Feature can include part or all of edible ink-indicia 518.In embodiments, it will can beg for herein above Distributed by any organoleptic component crossed on edible substrate.

In addition, each letter and/or word in edible ink-indicia 518 can be taken as independent feature, because often Size, font, arrangement and the design of individual letters/words can change as required.Each letter or word can be monochromatic or many Kind of color printing, the color can be identical or different with color for printing other letters or words.For example, alphabetical " WUBMV " can be a kind of color, and the profile of letter can be that another color is for example white.As shown in Figure 19, matrix The non-printing 531a on 532 first surface 534 can keep being not printed, or can be that another color is for example yellow Color.Part 531b, 531c, 531d, 531e can be required other colors, to produce the confectionary product of multiple color.In reality Apply in scheme, confectionary product 530 can include 4 kinds of colors (such as yellow, red, indigo plants in addition to uncoloured part 531a Color and black).

The ordinary skill of the art will recognize that color, deep or light, quality, size, shape etc. can bases Such as specific embodiment or the market demand and change.In addition, word " ornamental font, the face of JUICY FRUIT " presentations Color, arrangement and design can be different from former package design.The ability that manufacturer changes the feature of edible ink-indicia can be with Help attracts concern of the consumer to product, so as to increase attraction of the product to consumer.

As further shown in Figure 19, in embodiments, edible ink 536 did not extend edible substrate 532 Main body 533, therefore can't see on second surface 535 of edible substrate 532.For example, edible ink 536 can be absorbed into Some in edible substrate 532 is apart from 539a.But, edible ink 536 does not absorb the whole for penetrating into whole edible substrate 532 Thickness 539.In other words, because main body 533 of the edible ink 536 without fully extended transmission edible substrate 532, this technology neck The ordinary skill in domain will recognize that, if edible ink 536 is merely exerted on first surface 534, it is impossible to Edible ink 536 is seen on second surface 535 of edible substrate 532.

In embodiments, edible ink 536 can absorb apart from 539a for edible substrate 532 thickness 539 it is big The value of about 1% to about 25% or about 10% or any centre.Similarly, edible ink 536 can absorb apart from 539a For about 5% to about the 50% of the thickness 539 of edible substrate 532.For example, typical gum strip, for sugar-free chewing gum Thickness is about 0.068 inch for bar, and thickness is about 0.072 inch for the gum strip containing sugared composition.Cause This, for sugar-free chewing gum bar, edible ink 536 can absorb apart from thickness 539 of the 539a for edible substrate 532 About 0.00068 inch to about 0.017 inch or about 0.0068 inch or the value or about 0.0034 English of any centre Very little to about 0.034 inch.Similarly, for the gum strip containing sugared composition, edible ink 536 can absorb away from From about 0.00072 inch to about 0.018 inch or about 0.0072 inch of the thickness 539 that 539a is edible substrate 532 Or the value of any centre or about 0.0036 inch to about 0.036 inch.It is used as another example, typical chewing gum tablet With about 0.141 inch of thickness, typical chewing gum pellet has about 0.156 inch of thickness.Therefore, it is fragrant for mouth For sugar-tablet, about 0.00141 inch apart from the thickness 539 that 539a is edible substrate 532 that edible ink 536 can absorb Arrived about to about 0.03525 inch or about 0.0141 inch or the value of any centre or about 0.00705 inch 0.0705 inch.Similarly, for chewing gum pellet, edible ink 536 can absorb apart from 539a be edible substrate About 0.00156 inch of 532 thickness 539 to about 0.039 inch or about 0.0156 inch or any centre value, Or about 0.0078 inch to about 0.078 inch.

In embodiments, in order to prevent edible ink 536 from extending through the main body 533 of edible substrate 532 and can be Seen on second surface 535 of edible substrate 532 and (prevent from seeing edible ink 536 on surface 535), can will be edible Ink 536 is printed on edible substrate 532 with the point resolution less than about 100 points of per inch, as that will beg for herein As.

In embodiments, the confectionary product 530 that Figure 19 is shown contains edible ink-indicia 538, and the mark includes word Female " WUBMV ", it is the acronym of phrase " you can turn into my sweet heart (Will You Be My Valentine) " Word.Because product 530 is relevant with Valentine's Day, product 530 can be sold before Valentine's Day, to increase consumer and product 530 Related interest.Edible ink-indicia 538 can also include advertisement, for example, used the word word of ornamental font " JUICY FRUIT " carry relative novel double-headed arrow symbol 37.The ordinary skill of the art will Recognize the countless possibility that the ink-indicia being printed on confectionary product can be associated with event (such as holiday) Property.

Figure 20 also show confectionery that are similar with the confectionary product 530 in Figure 19, simply having edible ink-indicia 548 Product 540.Figure 20 edible ink-indicia 548 is directed to St Patrick's Day, is confirmed as the mark 547 of Luzern Like that.Product 40 also contains the advertisement to the chewing gum of particular brand, you can the Winterfresh that food ink 546 is shown.In reality Apply in scheme, edible ink 546 can cover about 80% to about the 95% of edible substrate 542.In addition, word Winterfresh font can be a kind of color, and Luzern 547 can be another color, the letter of edible substrate 542 Remainder outside pattern 541 can be another color.The ordinary skill of the art will recognize that, face Color, font, quality etc. can change according to specific embodiment or the market demand.In addition, edible ink-indicia 548 can With including the feature discussed herein above and/or organoleptic component.For example, Luzern 547 can have green, and thereon Addition breath freshening agents or mint flavouring can have been deposited.

Figure 21 shows the gum strip 550 with extrusion or multilayer outward appearance altogether.In embodiments, chewing gum 550 is wrapped Containing edible substrate 552, first surface 554 and second surface 556.When edible ink 558 is applied to the of chewing gum 550 One surface 552 about 100% or 100% when, edible ink 550 can be allowed to be partially absorbed into edible substrate, such as Shown in absorption distance 559.Therefore, the side view or cross-sectional view of chewing gum 550, which are shown, has been partially absorbed that penetrate can The color of the edible ink 558 in matrix 552 is eaten, and gives chewing gum 550 product is extruded with two layers of outward appearance and altogether Outward appearance.For example, if the color of edible ink 558 is blueness, the color of edible substrate 552 is white, and chewing gum 550 will have been seen Extruded altogether come the chewing gum batch of material as the chewing gum batch of material from blueness and white.

Similarly, Figure 22 shows the gum strip 560 with extrusion or multilayer outward appearance altogether.In embodiments, mouth is fragrant Sugar 560 has edible substrate 562, first surface 564 and second surface 566.But, in this embodiment, edible ink Water 568 is applied on whole first surface 564 and second surface 566 of chewing gum 560.That is, the He of surface 564 About the 100% of 566 or 100% is all covered by edible ink 568.Therefore, edible ink 568 can be from two surfaces 564 Partially absorbed with 566 into edible substrate 562, as shown in numeral 567 and 569.Therefore, in this embodiment, chewing gum 560 Edible substrate 562 look like and be made up of 3 layers separated, as Figure 22 cut-out is clearly showed that.For example, such as Fruit color is printed on first surface 564 of edible substrate 562 for the edible ink 568 of blueness, and color can for red Food ink 568 is printed on second surface 566 of edible substrate 562, and edible substrate 562 is white, then mouth Fragrant sugar 560 extrudes the chewing gum batch of material for looking like the chewing gum batch of material from blueness, red chewing gum batch of material and white seemingly altogether 's.In addition, being printed with the chewing gum 560 of red, white and blueness can sell before National Day July 4, to increase chewing gum The attraction of 560 couples of consumers.Or, be printed with the chewing gum of red, white and blueness can also have it is relevant with color Organoleptic component.If be printed on for example, color is blue edible ink 568 on first surface 564 of edible substrate 562, Color is printed on second surface 566 of edible substrate 562 for red edible ink 568, then first surface 564 can So that with relative blueberry fragrance, second surface 566 can have relative strawberry aroma.

In embodiments, scrap material can be incorporated into edible substrate.In embodiments, edible substrate can contain Have a scrap material of about 1% to about 50% weight, or any centre value.In another embodiment, edible substrate About 10% to about 20% scrap material can be contained.Scrap material can be used in combination with edible ink, to provide U.S. The chewing gum of pleasant in sense." scrap material " used herein was used in former confectionary product production process Confectionery material.Scrap material can include do over again confectionery, confectionery chip or two or more in former manufacture of confectionery products During contacted with each other initial or starting confectionery material mixture.In other words, scrap material can be with Parent material during preceding manufacture of confectionery products.Scrap material is generally difficult to recycle or is incorporated into finished product confectionary product, because It is probably unpredictable and unmanageable for the organoleptic feature of scrap material.Therefore, the outward appearance of scrap material, taste, gas Taste, color, quality and mouthfeel are probably unpredictable.This unpredictability of scrap material make it that scrap material is lost Abandon.Which results in the reduction wasted with yield.In this case, weighed when scrap material is incorporated into new matrix batch of material When new rolloff, cut, packaging and sale, edible ink can be used for covering or covering scrap material differing in color and quality Cause property.For example, Figure 21 and 22 edible substrate 552 and 562 can contain the scrap material for being printed with edible ink.Cause This, any inconsistency in edible substrate 552 (Figure 21) can be covered or be covered in edible ink 558.Similarly, edible ink Water 568 can cover or hide any inconsistency in edible substrate 562 (Figure 22).This method is not only that consumer provides Have extrude altogether or multilayer outward appearance attractive chewing gum product, and by making chewing gum leftover pieces reuse production Raw final chewing gum product can also improve and increase the economy of production.

As another example, Figure 23 shows the gum strip 570 with extrusion or multilayer outward appearance altogether.In embodiment In, chewing gum 570 can have edible substrate 572, first surface 574 and second surface 576.But, in the embodiment party In case, edible ink 578 can be applied to any surface 574,575 of edible substrate 572 in random, wavy form Or first surface 574 and second surface 575 are on both.Shadeless region 577 is represented not to be had in edible substrate 572 It is printed on the region of edible ink 576.But, in the shadow region for being printed on edible ink 576, edible ink 576 can be allowed Partially absorbed from two surfaces 574 and 575 into edible substrate 572, as respectively with the display of numeral 578 and 579.Figure 23 show that edible ink 578 can continuously or intermittently be applied to edible base when printing equipment crosses edible substrate 572 On body 572.The ordinary skill of the art will recognize that, the figure for the edible ink 576 being imprinted on edible substrate 572 Case, color etc., are only limited by imagination.

As illustrated, the change of the embodiment discussed in the disclosure is substantially unlimited.This technology is led The ordinary skill in domain will recognize that, feature that can be associated with the confectionary product of printing, pattern, color, tone, matter Ground, shape, font, arrangement, design and other characteristics, can change according to influence such as personalized preference or the market demand. For example, consumer can produce his or she oneself personal design to confectionary product such as chewing gum using internet, it is fixed to produce The product of system.Consumer can log in the website safeguarded by gum manufacturer, and input consumer and wish to be imprinted on confectionary product On accurate word, phrase, color, tone, quality etc..Image, such as photo can also be provided or given mouth by consumer Xiang Tang manufacturers, gum manufacturer can be by its off-contact printing on chewing gum.Consumer is also an option that a kind of or many Organoleptic component's distribution is planted on chewing gum.For example, consumer can select to be printed with red edible ink on chewing bar Phrase " Happy Birthday, Hunter！", and stamp by font the birthday cake with candle.Then chewing gum system Phrase can be imprinted in one or more chewing gum pieces and/or packaging by making business, according to the mouth of packages printing the need for consumer Fragrant sugar, and the chewing gum product of customization is sent to consumer.

There is provided the method for production chewing gum product in embodiments.Method includes providing selection sense organ to consumer The ability of composition, and chewing gum product of the production with organoleptic component after consumer selects.Then by with selected sense The chewing gum product of official's composition is sent to consumer.

In embodiments, method includes providing the internet website with organoleptic component's list.The internet website by Website server well known in the art is supported or presided over.Consumer can access internet website, be shown from website One or more required organoleptic components are selected in organoleptic component's list.Then selected organoleptic component is added to finished product mouthful fragrant In sugar product.Then the selection of consumer is sent to production equipment, selected organoleptic component is added to continuous gum base there In body.Gum base can be any chewing gum material being discussed previously herein.

In embodiments, processor produces the list of organoleptic component in computer-readable medium.Processor can be It is any well known in the art to produce the data processing equipment of organoleptic component's list.Suitable processor it is unrestricted Property example include computer, personal computer, server (such as Internet server or the webserver), personal data auxiliary Equipment (i.e. blackberry device), and combinations thereof.Processor can include image display well known in the art, key Disk and/or mouse.Processor can be with the one or more of any of above organoleptic component disclosed herein in show list.Once Consumer have selected required organoleptic component, and processor receives the selection data, and generates instruction number from the input of consumer According to.By interface, director data is sent to distributor by processor.Distributor is applied to receive director data, and will Selected organoleptic component is distributed on the surface of gum base, produces chewing gum product.Chewing gum product can be according to this skill Wrapped up and/or packed as knowing in art field.

Interface can be computer interface, Internet connection, cable connection, wireless connection, wireless application interface, and it Combination.

In embodiments, method can include for consumer providing the packaging of selection and/or design chewing gum product The ability of thing.Method can also include the color for allowing consumer to select chewing gum product.

In embodiments, method can include the ability that selected marker is provided for consumer, and produce with markd Chewing gum.Mark can be any previously described ink-indicia.In another embodiment, consumer can produce, give birth to Mark is created in production.

For example, consumer can access internet website as discussed above.Then consumer, which can upload, to be imprinted on Mark (image or photo of such as electronic form) on chewing gum product.Processor can receive the flag data, produce mark Remember print order.Label print instruction is sent to printing equipment by interface.Printing equipment is applied to receive label print instruction, By label print on the surface of gum base.Mark is printed with edible ink, and it can be monochromatic or can be a variety of Color.The mark of consumer's selection/generation can also be imprinted in the wrappage of chewing gum product or packaging.

In embodiments, printing equipment is non-contact print devices.In another embodiment, printing equipment is spray Ink brush device.Therefore, the production of chewing gum product can include existing selected organoleptic component's distribution (using distributor) On the surface of gum base.Production can also include the label print (using printing equipment) for providing consumer in chewing gum On the surface of matrix.In embodiments, organoleptic component can be the composition of edible ink as previously discussed.Therefore, sense organ into Divide and mark can use single printing equipment to be assigned to simultaneously or essentially simultaneously on gum base surface.Mouth is fragrant The production of sugar product can also include the parcel and/or packaging of chewing gum product.

In embodiments, the production stage of method can be carried out in chewing gum production equipment or rear production mechanism.Example Such as, method can utilize the equipment 10 discussed herein above.Or, production can be in the supply including gum base, sense Carried out in the distributor of official's composition and/or the rear production mechanism of printing equipment.The place produced afterwards can also include packaging dress Put.

In embodiments, chewing gum product can be sent to consumer or go-between, such as dealer, whole seller, or It is sent to retail outlet.Method can include chewing gum product being mailed to consumer, or chewing gum product is mailed to any Above-mentioned go-between.Dispatching can also include prepare chewing gum product, for consumer from production mechanism, afterwards production mechanism or from Extracted at any of above go-between.

There is provided the method for producing income in embodiments.This method include allow consumer by select sense organ into Divide and production carries the chewing gum product of selected organoleptic component to produce the chewing gum of customization.Method can include consumption Person pays for the customized production of chewing gum product.The quantity for the organoleptic component that expense can be needed based on consumer, chewing gum production The amount and combinations thereof of product.Producing the method for income can also include allowing consumer's selected marker and produce with mark The chewing gum product of note.The chewing gum product of production customization can be completed according to previously discussed.Method is consumer There is provided the extensive customization opportunities for producing personalized chewing gum product.Therefore, the customization that expense can be selected according to consumer Any quantity of feature.

In embodiments there is provided the confectionary product of printing, confectionary product has the edible ink being imprinted on edible substrate Water, edible ink will not be walked from edible substrate overflow.In other words, edible ink " does not collect " or collected in edible substrate Top, also not permeable transmission edible substrate.As used herein, " collect " and refer to that unnecessary ink is gathered on matrix surface. When the edible ink of application is excessively dense, when concentrating on the top of edible substrate and still keeping moistening after the application, " collecting " It is likely to occur." collecting " is a problem, because when many batches of edible substrates are stacked for being processed further and/or packing When, moistening the or wet ink on the upper surface of first edible substrate may be transferred to the bottom surface of another edible substrate On.

When edible substrate is thin or has hole, or when the concentration of edible ink is high and edible ink is completely soaked with edible substrate And thereby when can see in the opposed surface of edible substrate, just there occurs the infiltration of edible ink.Although for example, most of Ink-jet printer can print the resolution ratio of about 360 points of per inch, but may be caused using so high resolution ratio edible Ink oozed edible substrate.When manufacture confectionary product when, it is not intended to infiltration be undesirable.If edible ink is in process Middle to be absorbed completely through gum strip, then edible ink may cause the damage of mechanical device or be stained, and pollute down The chewing gum structure in face, the gum strip for the later lot for damaging or being stained in the structure for being placed on contamination, if chewing gum Bank out after printing and just pollute following chewing gum layer, or packaging has even been stained at the end of production process.Therefore, Unbefitting infiltration is probably very time-consuming and the problem of have very high cost.

In order to prevent edible ink from passing through the infiltration of edible substrate during or after edible ink is printed onto edible substrate, Per inch can be used no more than the printed resolution of 100 points.It is no more than or the about printed resolution of 100 points of per inch It may insure that edible ink fully covers edible substrate, to matrix with common extrusion or the outward appearance of multilayer, and ensure that print at the same time Brushing the edible ink on edible substrate will not be absorbed to reach opposite surface completely through edible substrate.In other words, Apply edible inks with about per inch 100 points and can help to ensure that edible ink only absorbs the application in edible substrate On surface.The surface of edible substrate is also allowed to be covered to the 100% of up to surface area using similar point resolution.This technology The ordinary skill in field will recognize that the concentration of the edible ink on edible substrate surface can be according to edible substrate Constitute and change.Therefore, printed resolution can change in about 60 points of per inch between about 400 points of per inch, Or the value of any centre, or can be about 100 points of per inch, and prevent and oozed simultaneously.

There is provided the method for production confectionary product in another embodiment.For example, in embodiments, production sugar The method of food product comprises the steps：Edible substrate is provided；The printing for being used to print edible ink with least one is provided The non-contact print devices of head；And with the point resolution less than about 100 points of per inch that is discussed above by edible ink Watermark is brushed on the surface of edible substrate.In embodiments, edible ink is applied on the surface of edible substrate, to cover At least about the 5% of lid edible substrate surface.In another embodiment, edible ink covers edible substrate surface extremely Few about 50%.In another embodiment, edible ink covers at least about the 75% of edible substrate surface.Another In individual embodiment, edible ink can cover two surfaces any one about 100% or 100%.

In another embodiment, the method for production confectionary product comprises the steps：There is provided with first and the The edible substrate on two surfaces there is provided with least one be used for print edible ink print head non-contact print devices, And edible ink is printed onto the step on one or two surface.In addition, edible ink can be applied to one or two On surface, to cover at least about the 5% of any one or two surfaces, or any one or two surfaces about 5% to big About 100%, or any centre value.In another embodiment, edible ink can cover any one or two surfaces About 50% to about 100%, or any centre value.In another embodiment, edible ink can cover any one Or about the 75% or about 100% of two surfaces, or any centre value.In another embodiment, edible ink can To cover about the 100% of any one or two surfaces, or 100%.

The main body that permission edible ink absorbs partly through edible substrate can also be included by producing the method for confectionary product, To provide with the edible substrate for extruding outward appearance altogether.For common extrusion product, two or more materials are forced out by tool There is the single mold in two or more apertures, the arrangement in these apertures to be forced out thing and be merged together before cooling to turn into Lamellar structure.For example, for chewing gum, with a kind of core of the extrusion of color can with second of color Extrusion outer layer or shell stacking or be surrounded by it.The cross-sectional view of such chewing gum product would indicate that more than a kind of face Color, so as to provide the outward appearance of multilayer or common extrusion to chewing gum.Similarly, make edible ink absorb part pass through main body Afterwards, the cross-sectional view of the main body of edible substrate can show the color of the edible substrate on a surface of main body, and in master The color of edible ink is absorbed partly to pass through main body on another surface of body.For example, edible substrate (can be included Scrap material) can be light red or pink color, wine-colored edible ink can be applied to one of edible substrate Or on about the 100% or 100% of two surfaces.The cross-sectional view of the product would indicate that red ink is absorbed to edible substrate In wine-colored outer layer, and in the absence of the pale red chromatograph at the edible substrate of the red ink of absorption.This color Controlled absorptions can provide the outward appearance of extrusion or multilayer altogether to edible substrate, thus add attraction of the product to consumer Power.

With reference to Figure 24, there is provided the equipment 600 for being printed on ink-indicia non-adhesive on confectionary product.This sets It is standby to contain removal device 614, the sizing material 615 for removing at least a portion rolloff from confectionery material 610.Removal device can To be any device that some or all of rolling compounds 615 are removed from confectionery material 610.The non-limitative example of removal device Including vacuum system, sweeping device, sponge device and combinations thereof.Other examples of removal device include removing from confectionery material Cleaning device, bathing apparatus and/or the rinse-system of essentially all or all rolling compound.Therefore, removal device can be with It is that can remove the device for about 100% or 100% rolling compound 615 placed in confectionery material 610.

In embodiments, removal device can be located at the above and or below of confectionery material.In addition it is also possible to use The removal device group of continuous or plan-parallel structure.For example, Figure 24 and 25 shows the removal device of plan-parallel structure, so as at least one pair of Removal device is located in the same point of conveyer 618.When parallel, removal device can be in the same time from confectionery material Same part removes rolling compound.Therefore, confectionery material will pass through parallel removal device in same time.

On the contrary, Figure 27 shows the example of the removal device of continuous structure.Here, the mutual phase position of at least two removal devices Direction that is adjacent, being moved together parallel to confectionery material.In continuous arrangement, removal device is not at the same time from the phase of confectionery material Rolling compound is removed with part.But, confectionery material by first removal device, is removed followed by second and filled first Put.

In fig. 24, removal device 614 is vacuum system.Vacuum system is using suction by rolling compound 615 from confectionery material Inhale and open in material 610.In the illustrated embodiment, the parallel top positioned at confectionery material 610 of two vacuum systems 614 is with Side, so as to remove rolling compound from the top and bottom of confectionery material 610.Therefore, if one want to by edible ink-indicia It is printed on the top and/or bottom of confectionery material, it is possible to so do.Or, single removal device or one group of device can be all Above or below confectionery material 610, this is later with regard to Figure 26 discussion.In embodiments, removal device can be with About 50% to about 100% (or value of any centre) or about 80% to about 99% are removed from confectionery material 610 The rolling compound 615 of (or value of any centre).

The equipment also include printing equipment 601, for by the off-contact printing of edible ink-indicia 612 in confectionery material 610 On.Printing equipment 601 can be any printing equipment discussed herein above.In embodiments, printing equipment 601 can be with It is non-contact print devices.In another embodiment, printing equipment can be ink-jet printing apparatus.The reality shown in Figure 24 Apply in scheme, printing equipment 601 includes ink reservoir 602 and printing injector 606, and passage 604 is by liquid reservoir and injector It is operatively connected.Print injector 606 and include single-nozzle 608, the stream of sub-thread edible ink 609 is deposited into confectionery material 610 On, produce edible ink-mark 612.Edible ink-mark 612 can cover confectionary product for example as shown in Figure 24 About 5%.

Figure 24 equipment also includes conveyer 618, as the transport dress in 601 times mobile confectionery materials 610 of printing equipment Put.Conveyer 618 is divided into less conveyer in the present embodiment, to allow vacuum system 614 close to confectionery material 610 Top and bottom.Or, if single removal device or device group are all located above or below confectionery material 610, it can make With the single long driver 610 being not separated by, as shown in Figure 26.

In embodiments, printing equipment 601 can include more than one ink reservoir 602, passage 604 and stamp Injector 606.In addition, single liquid reservoir 602 can be connected with multiple operability of printing injector 606, multiple ink reservoirs 602 can connect with single printing injector operability.Moreover, it should be understood that single printing injector can comprising one or Multiple nozzles, by ink to confectionery material.These each nozzles, are initiated by single printing injector, can be such as Synchronously, printed in different time, with different bodies, different colors, different designs and combinations thereof.

There is provided equipment 620 in another embodiment that Figure 25 is shown, it is included in the interval of conveyer 618 A pair of sweeping devices 622 above and below confectionery material 628.The vacuum system of these sweeping devices 622 and Figure 24 614 position is similar, so as to remove rolling compound 615 from confectionery material.Embodiments further providing with many in Figure 25 Individual nozzle 624a, 624b and 624c single printing injector.Each nozzle deposit corresponding edible ink stream 626a, 626b and 626c.Multiple nozzles are used on single printing injector so that the flexibility of such as printed mark is added.For example, If the asynchronous printing of nozzle, mark has being alternately present for unprinted confectionery material between can having the mark of printing.Figure 25 edible ink-indicia 630 shows an example of this flexibility.Figure 25 edible ink-indicia 630 is additionally provided Cover the example of about 50% ink markings of confectionary product.

There is provided equipment 632 in another embodiment that Figure 26 is shown, it, which is included, is located at the upstream of printing equipment 601 First detection means 634, and second detection means 638 positioned at the downstream of printing equipment 601.First detection means 634 can be such as photographic film, and confectionery material 610 is detected when confectionery material is in precalculated position.Detection means 634 can be with The operability connection of printing equipment 601, so as to when detection means 634 detects confectionery material in precalculated position, printing equipment 601 It is printed onto edible ink-indicia 612 is untouchable in confectionery material.For example, equipment there can be controller, work as confectionery material Start printing equipment during in precalculated position.In the point, printing equipment can be for example by edible ink label print in pre-determined bit Put, and/or continuous printing edible ink is marked when confectionery material is by printing equipment.When continuous printing, printing can Food ink markings can cover about the 75% of confectionary product, such as showing in fig. 26.

Second detection means 638 can also be such as photographic film, detect defective after confectionery have been printed Confectionery material.Detection means 638 can also be connected with the operability of printing equipment 601, to be detected when second detection means 638 Printing equipment 601 will be closed to during defective confectionery material.Such operability connection and first class of detection means 634 Seemingly, controller can be used to complete, controller detects defective product in detection means 638 and passes appropriate signal Printing equipment 601 is closed when giving controller.

Detection means can be any detection means well known in the art.In addition, the professional of the art Known any detection mode can be used in the disclosure.The non-limitative example of suitable detection means includes for example red Outer sensor, camera/photograph monitor, luminescence sensor, photo array sensor, color sensor, character sensor, profile Sensor, and combinations thereof.In addition it is possible to use at least one detection means.Therefore, it is single if positioning is correct Detection means can simultaneously be used to operate printing equipment and detect defective confectionery material.If for example, printed in confectionery material Tick marks, then positioned at printing equipment somewhat downstream, the single detection means of any can both detect defective confectionery material, again Detection is located at the confectionery material in precalculated position with off-contact printing.

There is provided equipment 642 in another embodiment shown in figure 27, it contains multiple removal devices, vacuum System 648 and sweeping device 652, their serial operations are with the removing rolling compound 615 from confectionery material 644.In the embodiment party In case, vacuum system 648 performs two functions.First, vacuum system 648 removes rolling compound from confectionery material 644.Its Secondary, vacuum system 648 siphons away the rolling compound removed by sweeping device 652, so that the rolling compound 650 for the sucking-off being removed is wrapped The rolling compound from vacuum system and sweeping device removing is contained.Figure 27 also show covering confectionary product about 100% or 100% edible ink mark 646.Figure 21 also provides another example that similar covering is marked by edible ink.

Or, multiple removal devices can be used in series and while maintaining separately from each other.It is, for example, possible to use series configuration Sweeping device and vacuum system, so that sweeping device completes a part of required removal percentage, and vacuum system completes surplus The required removal percentage of remaining part point.For example, if necessary to the rolling compound of removing about 80%, sweeping device can be removed about 40%, and vacuum system can remove about 40%.This construction is probably favourable because it can allow vacuum system with Relatively low power level operation.By being run in relatively low power level, the suction of vacuum system may be for example by confectionery material The risk lift from conveyer, stretched confectionery material or make confectionery material split is lowered by.

Figure 27 also show about 100% or 100% edible ink mark 646 of covering confectionary product.Figure 21 is also carried What is supplied is marked another example of similar covering by edible ink.

It should be understood that for the professional of the art, to currently preferred embodiment as described herein It is obvious to carry out a variety of change and modifications.Such change and modifications can be in the spirit without departing substantially from this theme It with scope and is not destroyed to be expected to carry out in the case of advantage.Therefore, these, which are changed and modifications, is intended to be contained by claim Lid.

Claims (10)

1. confectionary product, it includes edible substrate and the rubber-based composition melted adhered on edible substrate.

2. confectionary product according to claim 1, wherein the edible substrate is selected from：Confectionery, the confectionery being coated, chewing gum, bag Chewing gum, filled chewing gum, the filled chewing gum being coated of clothing, and combinations thereof.

3. confectionary product according to claim 1, wherein the edible substrate includes chewing gum.

4. confectionary product according to claim 1, wherein the rubber-based composition melted include selected from following sense organ into Point：Flavouring agent, coolant agent, hot taste agent, taste agent, numb taste agent, gas generating agent, sweetener, acid, bitters, brightener for tooth, Flavorants, anti-caries agent, sounding agent, and combinations thereof.

5. confectionary product according to claim 1, it contains positioned at selected from rubber-based composition, edible substrate and its group melted Edible ink-indicia on the material of conjunction, and wherein through the blister package comprising the confectionary product can see it is described can Eat ink-indicia.

6. confectionary product according to claim 1, its contain on first part of edible substrate the first melted The rubber-based composition that rubber-based composition and second on the second part of edible substrate melted, the first described thawing The rubber-based composition crossed is different from the rubber-based composition that described second melted.

7. confectionary product according to claim 1, wherein the rubber-based composition melted adheres to the surface of edible substrate On it is recessed.

8. edible product, it includes the organoleptic component of edible substrate and distribution on edible substrate, wherein organoleptic component's quilt It is added to the embossing being present on the edible substrate.

9. edible product according to claim 8, wherein the embossing include it is recessed in the edible substrate, and it is described can Eating matrix includes chewing gum.

10. edible product according to claim 8, wherein the organoleptic component includes coolant agent.