GB2517773A - Apparatus for applying edible decoration - Google Patents
Apparatus for applying edible decoration Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2517773A GB2517773A GB1315566.8A GB201315566A GB2517773A GB 2517773 A GB2517773 A GB 2517773A GB 201315566 A GB201315566 A GB 201315566A GB 2517773 A GB2517773 A GB 2517773A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- icing
- head
- nozzles
- conveyor
- repository
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A21—BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS
- A21C—MACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; HANDLING BAKED ARTICLES MADE FROM DOUGH
- A21C15/00—Apparatus for handling baked articles
- A21C15/002—Apparatus for spreading granular material on, or sweeping or coating the surface of baked articles
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Confectionery (AREA)
Abstract
An apparatus for applying a flowable edible materiel onto an article comprises a carriage 10 adapted to be rnounted above a conveyor 11 and a plurality of arms 13. Each arm carries a plurality of heads 12 and each head is provided with a plurality of nozzles 14 and a supply of the flowable material. A repository located to the side of the conveyor may be used to hold a supply of solid products and each head supplied with suction means to pick up at least one solid product.
Description
Apparatus for Applying Edible Decoration
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for icing products, such as biscuits, in particular gingerbread.
Background and Prior Art
Existing devices for icing confectionery allow a single colour of icing to be dispensed onto a product, such as a biscuit or cake. Such devices, for example making use of a robotic arm, are not suitable for icing a plurality of biscuits and do not allow for the desired complexity of decoration. The aesthetic appeal of mass-produced confectionery products is currently of a much lower standard than handmade goods.
Summary of the Invention
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for applying a flowable material onto an article, the apparatus comprising a carriage adapted to be mounted above a conveyor and a plurality of arms wherein each arm carries a plurality of heads and each head is provided with a plurality of nozzles and a supply of the flowable material. The material may be icing or melted chocolate to be applied to biscuits or such like.
Preferably, the apparatus comprises two side members wherein the plurality of arms extends between the side members.
In a preferred embodiment the apparatus includes a repository which is located at the side of the conveyor. The carriage extends across the conveyor and the repository and the repository holds a supply of solid products. These products may be fondant, sweets or similar.
In this preferred embodiment the heads are movable along the arms between a location above the conveyor and a location above the repository. The heads are provided with suction means adapted to pick up the solid product Preferably, each head has one suction pick up means, such as sucker pad.
In further preferred embodiments the nozzles in each head are individually and independently lowerable.
Preferably, the nozzles are individually replaceable. This allows nozzles of differing diameters and/or shapes to be used with the same apparatus.
The use of a plurality of heads and nozzles allows multiple products to be iced and decorated at one time. The icing and decorating is also more accurate and consistent than can be done manually. The colour and shape of the icing is easily changed. The sweet or decorative product placed on top of the icing is easily changed.
The replication by the nozzle of the movements which are made when manually icing provides a handmade rather than mass-produced effect.
Brief Description of Figures
Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for icing biscuits; Figure 2 shows a plan view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a second perspective view of the embodiment of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 illustrates schematically the movement of the nozzle in the apparatus shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a perspective side view of a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for applying a flowable material to a product The apparatus is described in relation to icing edible products such as biscuits, in particular gingerbread. However it will be understood that the invention is suitable for the application of any flowable material, such as icing and melted chocolate.
Figure 1 shows a carriage 10 located above a conveyor 11. The carriage 10 comprises a frame having two side members 15 parallel to the conveyor and a plurality of arms or guide rails 13 extending from one side member 15 to the other 15-One side member 15 runs adjacent to the side of the conveyor 11. The other side member 15 is located on the far side of a repository 17. The repository 17 is located adjacent the opposite side of the conveyor 11 to the first side member. The repository 17 is adapted to contain fondant icing or similar edible decorative products. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the arms 13 connect the two side members of the frame and thus extend across both the conveyor 11 and the repository 17.
The carriage 10 and repository 17 are in a fixed location, with the conveyor 11 movable relative thereto.
Each arm 13 of the carriage 10 carries a plurality of heads 12. Figures 1, 2 and 3 shows four arms 13 with four heads 12 on each arm 13. However, it will be understood that there may be more or less than those illustrated. The arms 13 act as guide rails for the heads 12 which are movable along the arms 13 Each head 12 carries an array of nozzles 14 and suction means (not shown) on the underside thereof. In the embodiment shown, each head has a sucker pad. The nozzles 14 on each head 12 need not be identical. Each nozzle 14 carried by the head 12 is replaceable. Nozzles with different sizes and shapes can thus be fitted to the head to achieve a range of icing effects. This also allows the size and shape of the nozzle to be changed between batches of icing. Means are provided within the head to allow each nozzle to be individually lowered. The movement of the nozzles can be programmed so that a particular design or shape can be iced onto the product.
The head 12 contains a supply of icing which is fed to the nozzles 14. The icing is fed under constant pressure to the nozzles 14. This allows a consistent flow of icing out of each nozzle 14 to provide even and well-controlled icing effects on the product. Within each head 12, each nozzle 14 is fed with a different colour of icing.
For each colour of icing, a reservoir is provided external to the machine and icing is fed from the reservoir through a pump and then to the nozzle 14 in each head 12, by a series of pipes. In a preferred embodiment, a peristaltic pump is used, which allows the icing to be fed to the nozzle 14 without the creation of air pockets. It is envisaged that any conventional pumping means can be used to deliver icing from the reservoir to the nozzle 14. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the icing pipes (not shown) are positioned along the arms 13. The external reservoirs of icing provide a constant feed of icing through the pipes to the heads 12. Each nozzle 14 is fed with a different colour of icing. The external reservoirs of icing feed all heads 14 within the apparatus to ensure that the desired colour of icing is dispensed from each head 14. The icing reservoirs are co-ordinated with the programmed design to ensure that the correct colour of icing is delivered to the appropriate head 14.
A suction pick up means, such as a suction pad (not shown), is provided on the underside of each head 12. When the suction means is activated the air suction is sufficient to pick up small products such as sweets or a fondant. In a preferred embodiment, the suction means is provided by a vacuum device connected to each suction pad by a pipe.
The repository 17 is provided with a supply of sweets or fondant to be picked up by the heads 12. The sweets in the repository may be changed between batches allowing different products to be used in different batches.
Biscuits or other such like products that are to be decorated are placed on a tray on the conveyor 11. The tray comprises a plurality of recesses for accommodating the products in the correct orientation and position for decoration. For example, the tray comprises a recess in the shape of a gingerbread man. The recess ensures that each gingerbread man is upright and correctly positioned with respect to each head 12. The conveyor 11 moves smoothly beneath the carriage. At this stage the heads 12 are located on the end of the arm 13 extending over the conveyor 11. When the tray of biscuits is vertically beneath the carriage the conveyor 11 is stopped so that each biscuit is directly beneath a nozzle 14.
Figure 4 illustrates the motion of the nozzle 14. The nozzle 14 is lowered to be slightly above the biscuit 21. The icing 19 is then accurately released. As the icing 19 leaves the nozzle 14 the nozzle 14 is slightly raised. As the nozzle 14 is raised it follows the shape of the design with which it has been programmed. The icing 19 thus traces the pre-programmed shape onto the biscuit 21. As creation of the shape finishes the nozzle 14 lowers back to the height just above the biscuit. Once the flow of the icing 19 has been stopped the nozzle 14 is raised sharply away from the biscuit 21 back towards the head. This motion replicates the way that a biscuit 21 would be iced manually to ensure a neat and accurate application of icing. When the tray reaches the icing location, prior to lowering of the nozzle 14, the movement of the tray slows down and then stops. When the icing has been applied, the tray moves away slowly at first, to ensure that there is no movement of the tray when the icing is released. The speed of travel of the tray is carefully controlled to ensure accurate application of icing to the product.
In one embodiment of the invention the head also carries a toothpick-type member (not shown). This member is lowered after the icing has been placed onto the biscuit in order to spread the icing or create a desired icing effect.
After the icing has been applied the movable heads 12 slide along the arms 13 until they are above the repository 17. Any suitable means can be used to slide the heads along the arms. The movement of the heads 12 is computer-controlled; for example, in a similar manner to the movement of a printer or a three-dimensional printer. As referred to previously, this allows for the icing design to be created on a computer and for the design to be translated into the necessary movement of the head to create the decorative design on the biscuit/s. The conveyor 11 remains stationary during icing. When the heads 12 have stopped above the repository the suction means is activated to pick up the fondant, or similar decoration, such as a chocolate shape or sweet. This fondant is held against the underside of the head by the suction means as the heads are transported back along the arms 13 until they reach the original position above the conveyor. When the heads are again in position above the tray the suction means is deactivated. The fondant or sweets are released to be accurately placed in a pre-programmed position upon the iced biscuits. For example, in the icing of gingerbread men a chocolate shape of the required size and colour is released to create eyes and buttons.
When the biscuits have been decorated the conveyor 11 moves allowing the next tray of biscuits to be stopped beneath the carriage 10. The process is then repeated.
As described above the apparatus has a plurality of heads each of which has a plurality of nozzles. This allows many biscuits to be iced and decorated at one time.
The ability to easily change the colour of the icing and shape of the nozzle, together with the possibility of changing the fondant within the repository allows the same apparatus to be used for a wide range of differing products.
The invention has been described by way of example only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
Claims (8)
- Claims: 1. Apparatus for applying a flowable edible material onto an article, the apparatus comprising a carriage adapted to be mounted above a conveyor and a plurality of arms wherein each arm carries a plurality of heads and each head is provided with a plurality of nozzles and a supply of the flowable material.
- 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising two side members wherein the plurality of arms extends between the side members.
- 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a repository adapted for location at the side of the conveyor, the carriage extending across the conveyor and the repository and the repository adapted to hold a supply of solid products.
- 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the heads are movable along the arms between a location above the conveyor and a location above the repository.
- An apparatus as claimed in claimed in claims 3 or 4 wherein each head is provided with a suction means adapted to pick up at least one solid product.
- 6. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the nozzles are individually lowerable.
- 7. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the nozzles of each head are individually replaceable with nozzles of differing diameters and/or shapes.
- 8. An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the nozzles of each head are individually supplied with the flowable material.9 An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the nozzles of each head are individually supplied with a different colour of flowable material.1O.An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including means to spread the flowable material once applied to the article.1 tAn apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the flowable material is icing.12An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the flowable material is melted chocolate.13.An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the article is a biscuit 14.An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 13 wherein the product is fondant, sweets or similar.1 5.An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described or referred to in Figures 1 to4.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1315566.8A GB2517773A (en) | 2013-09-02 | 2013-09-02 | Apparatus for applying edible decoration |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1315566.8A GB2517773A (en) | 2013-09-02 | 2013-09-02 | Apparatus for applying edible decoration |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB201315566D0 GB201315566D0 (en) | 2013-10-16 |
GB2517773A true GB2517773A (en) | 2015-03-04 |
Family
ID=49397144
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB1315566.8A Withdrawn GB2517773A (en) | 2013-09-02 | 2013-09-02 | Apparatus for applying edible decoration |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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GB (1) | GB2517773A (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3439479A4 (en) * | 2016-04-04 | 2019-11-27 | Creator, Inc. | System and method for dispensing spices and sauces on foodstuffs |
US12059081B2 (en) | 2018-06-20 | 2024-08-13 | Cucina, Inc. | Systems and methods for precisely dispensing food items |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1427618A (en) * | 1973-06-01 | 1976-03-10 | Dca Ind Ltd | Multipoint product filling machine |
US4718535A (en) * | 1986-01-23 | 1988-01-12 | Werner & Pfleiderer Gmbh | Method and apparatus for the rearranging of bakery articles |
JP2000166481A (en) * | 1998-12-04 | 2000-06-20 | Garden Bakery Kk | Apparatus for linearly applying decoration material |
EP1985188A1 (en) * | 2007-04-24 | 2008-10-29 | Generale Biscuit | Process for spraying a layer containing fat and sugar on a surface of an edible product |
-
2013
- 2013-09-02 GB GB1315566.8A patent/GB2517773A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1427618A (en) * | 1973-06-01 | 1976-03-10 | Dca Ind Ltd | Multipoint product filling machine |
US4718535A (en) * | 1986-01-23 | 1988-01-12 | Werner & Pfleiderer Gmbh | Method and apparatus for the rearranging of bakery articles |
JP2000166481A (en) * | 1998-12-04 | 2000-06-20 | Garden Bakery Kk | Apparatus for linearly applying decoration material |
EP1985188A1 (en) * | 2007-04-24 | 2008-10-29 | Generale Biscuit | Process for spraying a layer containing fat and sugar on a surface of an edible product |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3439479A4 (en) * | 2016-04-04 | 2019-11-27 | Creator, Inc. | System and method for dispensing spices and sauces on foodstuffs |
US10925308B2 (en) | 2016-04-04 | 2021-02-23 | Creator, Inc. | System and method for dispensing spices on foodstuffs |
US11533943B2 (en) | 2016-04-04 | 2022-12-27 | Creator, Inc. | System and method for dispensing sauces on foodstuffs |
US12059081B2 (en) | 2018-06-20 | 2024-08-13 | Cucina, Inc. | Systems and methods for precisely dispensing food items |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB201315566D0 (en) | 2013-10-16 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |