GB2453202A

GB2453202A - Extruding a food product with an eccentrically located filling

Info

Publication number: GB2453202A
Application number: GB0814438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Arie Visser
Original assignee: Konink Verkade N V
Current assignee: Konink Verkade N V
Priority date: 2007-09-25
Filing date: 2008-08-06
Publication date: 2009-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-06
Also published as: NL2000881C1; GB2453202B; GB0814438D0

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for extruding a food product comprising a covering portion (102, Fig 2) and a filling portion (103, Fig 2). The apparatus comprises a first input aperture 22 for receiving a first flowable material for forming the covering portion, a second input aperture 203 for receiving flowable filling material for forming the filling portion, an output aperture 209, in communication with the first input aperture, through which the covering portion is dispensed, and a filling-dispensing element 204 arranged to receive flowable filling material through the second input aperture and located in the vicinity of the output aperture, through which the filling portion is dispensed. The filling-dispensing element is arranged to dispense the filling portion in an eccentrically located, preferably peripheral, region of the output aperture. Also disclosed is a method of extruding a food product using the apparatus.

Description

An apparatus and method for extruding a food product The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for extruding a food product comprising a covering portion and a filling portion. The invention is particularly applicable to the production of food products, for example, a biscuit, snack product, cake product or confectionery product, comprising a covering portion and a filling of contrasting colour and/or texture to the adjacent covering portion.

The term "biscuit" as used herein is to be understood as extending to biscuits made from hard biscuit doughs or short biscuit doughs, and also to include cookies and crackers. In the case of biscuits, the present invention will be limited in application, however, to those biscuit doughs which can be extruded in the sense that they are able to be forced through an outlet aperture that shapes the emerging dough. Such extrudable biscuit doughs will often be, but are not necessarily, short biscuit doughs. The term "filled" is used herein to refer to a biscuit that has been formed with a filling material before baking and in particular does not include biscuits to which the filling has been added after baking.

A known type of biscuit comprises a filling, for example a fruit filling, covered by an outer layer of biscuit material, so that the filling is visible at the ends of the biscuit. The biscuit has the cross-sectional shape of a rectangle with rounded corners. Also known are biscuits containing smaller amounts of filling, but the filling is nonetheless located substantially equidistantly from opposing sides of the biscuit.

In a known extruder apparatus for making filled biscuits, the biscuit dough and filling are coextruded from a device in which a delivery conduit for filling is axially parallel with, and located within, a dough delivery conduit for a flowable biscuit dough. The delivery conduit has an end opening which is substantially concentrically arranged within the dough outlet. A nozzle is provided over the dough outlet for receiving the dough and included filling and feeding it on to a receiving surface, preferably a conveyor.

In use, biscuit dough is fed through the dough delivery conduit, emerging through an outlet aperture.

Simultaneously, filling is fed through the filling conduit, emerging from an outlet contained within the dough outlet aperture.

As both the biscuit dough and fruit filling emerge simultaneously through the dough outlet aperture, the product that emerges from the nozzle consists of the biscuit dough with the filling in the centre. The nozzle delivers the filled dough pieces onto a moving conveyor belt. In one known form of biscuit, the nozzle is moved laterally to and fro relative to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt.

A cutter or other dividing means is provided for separating the emerging product into biscuit-sized portions as desired.

The filled pieces are cooked to provide the biscuit shown in Figure 1. In another known form of biscuit, the emerging product is cooked prior to being divided into biscuit-sized portions.

The invention provides an apparatus for extruding a food product comprising a covering portion and a filling portion, the apparatus comprising: a first input aperture for receiving a first flowable material for forming the covering portion; a second input aperture for receiving flowable filling material for forming the filling portion; an output aperture, in communication with the first input aperture, through which the covering portion is dispensed; and *1 3 a filling-dispensing element arranged to receive flowable filling material through the second input aperture and located in the vicinity of the output aperture, through which the filling portion is dispensed; wherein the filling-dispensing element is arranged to dispense the filling portion in an eccentrically located, for example peripheral, region of the outlet aperture.

This apparatus can be used to produce a different type of biscuit from that described above. Using the apparatus, a biscuit can be produced in which the filling portion is disposed towards one edge of the covering portion. With certain examples of the apparatus, a biscuit can be produced in which the filling portion is exposed through the covering portion, creating an aesthetically interesting product.

Preferably, the filling-dispensing element is an elongate tubular member. This facilitates the filling portion being dispensed in a consistent manner within the covering portion, as the covering portion is able to form around the elongate tubular member prior to the filling portion being introduced.

Advantageously, the end of the filling-dispensing element at the outlet aperture is closed, and the filling-dispensing element has a laterally located outlet for dispensing the filling. This allows the filling-dispensing element to be constructed in a simple manner. Preferably, there is an elongate tubular member communicating between the first input aperture and the output aperture, and the filling-dispensing element is centred within the elongate tubular member. Again, this allows the filling-dispensing element, and also the apparatus as a whole, to be constructed in a simple manner.

Alternatively, a longitudinal axis of the filling-dispensing element is disposed eccentrically, preferably towards the periphery of the output aperture. This provides an alternative arrangement for the apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a nozzle positioned over the output aperture. The use of the nozzle allows the combination of covering portion and filling portion to have a large cross-sectional diameter when leaving the outlet aperture, with the cross-sectional diameter being reduced as the combination passes through the nozzle. In this way, the parts of the apparatus such as the outlet aperture can be provided at a larger scale than would otherwise be required to give the desired size of finished product. The arrangement is also advantageous in that it may allow the juxtaposition of the filling portion and the covering portion to be changed in an advantageous way.

Advantageously, at least a part of the output edge of the nozzle is serrated. When the covering portion passes the serrated edge, it is pushed into the gaps between the serrations, exposing the filling portion. The serrations also allow a desirable swirling pattern to be formed on the upper surface of the biscuit.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a funnel for directing the filling portion into the filling-dispensing element. The funnel facilitates the feeding of the filling portion into the filling-dispensing element.

The invention also provides a method of extruding a food product comprising a covering portion and a filling portion, using an apparatus as described above, comprising the steps of: feeding a first flowable material for forming the covering portion into the first input aperture of the apparatus; feeding a flowable filling material for forming the filling portion into the second input aperture of the apparatus; receiving the food product extruded from the output aperture onto a surface; moving the part of the apparatus from which the food product is extruded laterally relative to the surface.

Using this method an extended portion of the food product produced by the combination of the filling portion and covering portion by the apparatus can be extruded onto a surface.

Advantageously, the apparatus is moved from side to side across the surface in a direction perpendicular to the lateral movement of the apparatus. The side to side movement of the apparatus allows a biscuit with a repeated "S" shape to be produced.

Preferably, the extruded food product is separated into portions of a pre-determined size. Preferably, the extruded food product is cooked. The cooking preferably occurs before the separation into portions of a pre-determined size, but may alternatively occur after. These steps allow a final edible food product to be produced.

Preferably, the first flowable material is a food dough.

Preferably, the dough is a biscuit dough or a snack dough.

Alternatively, the first flowable material is batter.

Advantageously, the flowable filling material is of a contrasting colour and/or of a contrasting texture to the first flowable material. This allows an aesthetically interesting food product to be produced, especially in the case the filling portion is exposed through the covering portion.

The flowable filling material may be a fruit-flavoured filling. Alternatively, the flowable filling material may be a chocolate- containing or chocolate-flavoured filling.

Alternatively, the flowable filling material may be a savoury filling.

There will now be described embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a known type of biscuit; Figure 2 shows a biscuit produced using a nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section of an apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view through line B-B of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view through line A-A of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a cross-section of the tube of Figure 3 shown to a larger scale; Figure 7 is a cross-section of an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

A first embodiment of the present invention will now be described, with reference to Figures 2 to 6.

A biscuit 101 produced using an apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 2.

The biscuit 101 comprises a filling 103 surrounded by an outer 102 of biscuit material. However, the outer 102 of biscuit material does not completely cover the upper surface of the filling 103; instead the biscuit dough on the upper surface 106 of the biscuit is formed into ridges 107, with the filling 103 being visible in the gaps 108 between the ridges 107. The ridges 107 of the outer 102 of biscuit dough go back and forth across the upper surface of the biscuit to form a repeated S" shape.

Figure 3 shows an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such an apparatus can be used to produce a biscuit as shown in Figure 2. The apparatus 200 comprises a first body portion and a second body portion 201.

The first body portion is not shown in Figure 3, except for the funnel 203, but includes delivery arrangements for delivery of filling into the funnel 203 and delivery of a flowable biscuit dough into a passageway 202 surrounding the lower part of funnel 203.

The second body portion 201 comprises a central passageway 202, delivered by tubular member 202' surrounding and enclosing an internal passageway 205. (In Figures 2 to 6 the central passageway 202 and internal passageway 205 are shown filled with the biscuit dough and filling respectively.) The central passageway 202 leads from an aperture in the top of the second body portion 201, which meets a central void region 22 which is positioned at the top of the second body portion 201 to an outlet aperture 209 in the base of the second body portion 201, over which is positioned a nozzle 206 for delivery of the extruded material on to a moving conveyor belt 210. The nozzle 206 is mounted at an angle to the central passageway 202, so that it points in the direction marked "X" in Figure 3, which corresponds to the direction of movement of the conveyor 210. The nozzle 206 has an outlet opening which is defined by an edge that, at the front only, is serrated. The tube 204 is attached to the output of the funnel 203.

The end of the tube 204 at the output aperture 209 is closed, in the embodiment shown, by a stop 207. (The stop 207 cannot be removed from the tube 204; if inspection or cleaning of the tube 204 is required this is done via the funnel 203.) In the wall of the tube in the region of the stop 207 there is a lateral aperture 208. The aperture 208 is positioned on the same side of the tube 204 as nozzle 206 is angled towards; in other words, the aperture 208 faces in the direction "X".

The nozzle 206 is movably mounted to the end of tubular member 202' by means of flanges 206' retained by cap 211 which is rotatably mounted on bearing ring 212. In use, the ring 212, and the retained nozzle 206, are moved to and fro in a transverse direction relative to the direction "X", with a range of about 4cm. (Larger ranges are possible, however.) Such oscillating nozzles are known in the art and do not

therefore require further description herein.

Referring now to Figures 5 & 6, the aperture 208 is defined by a ring fitting 213. The ring fitting 213 is attached to the outside of tube 204 by welding or by a non-toxic adhesive and is configured to present a circular aperture in a vertical plane. The stop 207 opposite aperture 208 is shaped to prevent build-up of material.

In use, the biscuit dough travels through the first body portion and around the outside of the funnel 203, down the central passageway 202 (outside the tube 204), through the outlet aperture 209 and out of the nozzle 206.

Simultaneously, the filling travels through the first body portion and into the funnel 203, which directs it through the internal passageway 205 of the tube 204. It then emerges from the aperture 208 in the side of tube 204, and, with the dough, through the output aperture 209 and out of the nozzle 206.

As both the biscuit dough and fruit filling emerge simultaneously through the output aperture 209, the product that comes out of the nozzle 206 consists of the biscuit dough surrounding the filling. As the filing emerges from an aperture 208 in the wall of the tube 204, however, the filling is not in the centre of the output product but rather towards one side of the biscuit dough.

As the aperture 208 in the wall of the tube 204 points generally in the "X" direction, this results in the filling being towards the top of the output product. The teeth in the serrated edge of the nozzle 206 act to form ridges in the output food product, and in particular form ridges in the biscuit dough so that the filling is revealed in the valleys between the ridges of biscuit dough.

In order to obtain the pattern of ridges going back and forth across the upper surface, the nozzle 206 is oscillated from side to side across the surface in a direction perpendicular to the direction "X".

The output product can be cooked, and then separated into biscuit-sized portions as desired to provide the biscuit shown in Figure 2.

A second embodiment of the present invention, which is a variant of the first embodiment, is shown in Figure 7. As in the first embodiment, a second body portion 301 defines a central passageway 302 leading to an output aperture 303, and a tube 304 is positioned within the central passageway 302, the tube 3D4 defining an internal passageway 305. (The other elements of the second embodiment are not shown, but are the same as those of the first embodiment.) However, in the second embodiment the tube 304 is positioned at an angle within the central passageway 302, so that the end of the tube 304 at the output aperture 303 is located near the periphery of the output aperture 303. Because of this, when biscuit dough is fed through the central passageway 302, and filling through the internal passageway 305, the filling in the extruded product will be towards one side of the biscuit dough.

Although the invention has been described herein with reference to the manufacture of biscuits, it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to the manufacture of other extrudable food products, such as confectionery products, cake products and snack products. Similarly, although the invention has been described herein with the filling being a fruit filling, it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable where the filling is any other extrudable filling, for example a chocolate-containing or chocolate-flavoured filling.

Claims

Claims: 1. An apparatus for extruding a food product comprising a covering portion and a filling portion, the apparatus comprising: a first input aperture for receiving a first flowable material for forming the covering portion; a second input aperture for receiving flowable filling material for forming the filling portion; an output aperture, in communication with the first input aperture, through which the covering portion is dispensed; and a filling-dispensing element arranged to receive flowable filling material through the second input aperture and located in the vicinity of the output aperture, through which the filling portion is dispensed; wherein the filling-dispensing element is arranged to dispense the filling portion in an eccentrically located, for example peripheral, region of the outlet aperture.
2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filling-dispensing element is an elongate tubular member.
3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the end of the filling-dispensing element at the outlet aperture is closed, and the filling-dispensing element has a laterally located outlet for dispensing the filling.
4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which there is an elongate tubular member communicating between the first input aperture and the output aperture, and the filling-dispensing element is centred within the elongate tubular member.
5. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a longitudinal axis of the filling-dispensing element is disposed eccentrically, preferably towards the periphery of the output aperture.
6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims, further comprising a nozzle positioned over the output aperture.
7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein at least a part of the output edge of the nozzle is serrated.
8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprises a funnel for directing the filling portion into the filling-dispensing element.
9. A method of extruding a food product comprising a covering portion and a filling portion, using an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, comprising the steps of: feeding a first flowable material for forming the covering portion into the first input aperture of the apparatus; feeding a flowable filling material for forming the filling portion into the second input aperture of the apparatus; receiving the food product extruded from the output aperture onto a surface; moving the part of the apparatus from which the food product is extruded laterally relative to the surface.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the step of moving the apparatus from side to side across the surface in a direction perpendicular to the lateral movement of the apparatus.
11. A method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, further comprising the step of separating the extruded food product into portions of a pre-determined size.
12. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 11, further comprising the step of cooking the extruded food product.
13. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the first flowable material is a food dough.
14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the dough is biscuit dough or a snack dough.
15. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the first flowable material is batter.
16. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 15, wherein the flowable filling material is of a contrasting colour and/or of a contrasting texture to the first flowable material.
17. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 16, in which the flowable filling material is a fruit-flavoured filling.
18. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 16, in which the flowable filling material is a chocolate-containing or chocolate- flavoured filling.
19. A method as claimed in any of claims 9 to 16, in which the flowable filling material is a savoury filling.