OA20933A - Improvements to patent P201231330 "method for the treatment of corn kernels intended for the production of popcorn using microwave appliances, and resulting product. - Google Patents

Abstract

In the method of the main patent, corn kernels coated with sunflower lecithin and additives are obtained. According to the improvements, the additives and sunflower lecithin can be added in liquid state, solid state or both, and can be mixed and subsequently filtered before reaching a final mixer (2) to which are added not only the additives and sunflower lecithin, in any state, but also the corn kernels (1), in order to coat the corn kernels inside the mixer. The improvements also provide for the substitution of sunflower lecithin by other compounds with which similar results can be obtained, such as fructose syrup, liquid glucose, corn syrup, molasses, inverted sugar syrup or cornstarch, the kernels obtained being able to be coated with more than one coating of a different nature.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO PATENT P201231330 “METHOD FOR THE

TREATMENT OF CORN KERNELS INTENDED FOR THE PRODUCTION OF

POPCORN USING MICROWAVE APPLIANCES, AND RESULTING PRODUCT”

DESCRIPTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION isThe présent invention relates to improvements to the invention' patent P201231330, in which a method is described for the treatment of corn kernels intended for the production of popcorn using microwave appiiances, wherein the corn kernel or kernels are coated with a solution of a main product, specifically sunflower lecithin, and a flavoring product as an additive.

The object of the invention is to obtain an improved final product (corn kernels coated with an additive and lecithin by carrying oui spécifie steps of the process and incorporating lecithin and the additives or flavors in different waysi

Another object of the invention is also to provide other ingrédients that obtain the same effects as sunflower lecithin, such as fructose syrup, liquid glucose, corn syrup, molasses, inverted sugar syrup, cornstarch and/or any other food product with similar characteristics.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the method described in the main invention patent P201231330, the treatment of the corn kernels intended for the production of popcorn u'sihg microwave appiiances, the corn is impregnated for a pre-defined time in a solution of a main product, specifically sunflower lecithin, and a flavoring product or additive, which may be sugar, butter, sait, etc, P : 1 ξ

In other words, in said method, the product produced is healthierthan conventionai products since it is low-fat and does not contain allergons,’thus producing a final crunchy product without dumping, and thoreforé ensuring that the popcorn ultimately produced are as homogeneous as possible, substifùtihg classic oils used in conventionai methods to coat the corn kernel with sunflower lecithin, a product that is much healthier and makes it possible to obtain improved results as commented above.

However, in said method, there is no reference to the form of incorpoFatiÔlî and State of the lecithin and additives or flavors, such that it also does not aliüdé to the way of treating said components before impregnating the cornjor coating thereof.

Likewise, it was experimentally verified that sunflower lecîthin can substituted by other ingrédients that achieve the same results.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The improvements that are mentioned are firstly based on the fact that the sunflower lecîthin and the addîtives or flavors are added together with t/io: corn kernels into a common mixer, in which the outer imprégnation of the corn kernels with this lecîthin and the addîtives mixed with them takes place. î

Said final mixer used in the coating process can hâve different types of éléments for the operation thereof, such as blades, helices, bands, etc.j and it can be heated depending on the products that require it. ! G Φ

Furthermore, and according to other improvements of the invention, the lecîthin and addîtives are included in the coating solution in liquid State. ' i

According to another improvement, the lecîthin and addîtives are included m the coating solution in solid State.

In another improvement, the lecîthin and addîtives are included in the solution where one is in liquid State and the other is in solid State, îndistinctlÿ. p

In any case, the liquid addîtives with the liquid lecîthin pass onto aliqüîd mixer for stirring both components in order to subsequently filter them; iri other words, the mixture is passed through sieves that filter the resuit, preventing lumps or unwanted material from passing through, so that these liquid addîtives and liquid lecîthin as a mixture pass onto the final mixture referred to aboyé. A

Furthermore, the liquid lecîthin with the liquid addîtives, as well as the solid lecîthin and solid addîtives can pass onto a mixer together, and from this mixer, the mixture passes onto a kneader, in which a final product is produced that is mixed and sifted, with or without pressure, based on the characteristics bf 'thë components, once again passing this kneaded mixture onto the final mixer referred to initially.

In addition, the solid lecîthin with the solid addîtives passes onto à mixer pf solids, prior to the pre-mixing process, such that said mixture passes through’a sieve to separate the lumps and regulate the size of the particles before reachlng the final mixer.

In either case, the corn kernels with lecîthin and addîtives, whether thëÿ K ,1 .S

ΛΑ are liquids, solids, combined or not, are treated in the final mixer to obtain ίήβ coating of the corn kernels, thus finally carrying out a weighing and paçkaging process of the product. : : :

It is worth noting that the additives may be, as mentioned above, any type _r of flavor, whether they are salts, sweeteners, acidulants, spicy flavors^bittêr flavors, fixatives such as food lacquers, food glues, as well as other prodùcts such as dyes, binders, thickeners, etc.

Lastly, it should be noted that the coating of the corn kernels pan be carried out in a number of successive phases, in other words, producing ia coating based on several layers, without it affecting the essence of the invention.

A loose kernel is thus produced without lumps, which opens well when popped in the microwave, and ail this without added fats and being able to be stored at room températures higher than traditional températures without alteririg the organoleptic qualifies thereof.

As mentioned above, the sunflower lecithin can be substituted by fructose syrup, liquid glucose, corn syrup, molasses, inverted sugar syrup, cornstarbh and/or any other food product with similar characteristics. · ^?

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the method of the invention càh Bé repeated as many times as necessary, in order to produce a product with several layers. ¹

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS i:

As a complément to the description provided below, and for thé purposê bf helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understaridâblë; in accordance with a preferred practical embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a figure, which by way of illustration and not limitation represents the following:

Figure 1 shows a représentation corresponding to a block diagramWttiè différent possibilities that can be carried out in the method object of¹ thé improvements of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the figure discussed above, the corn kernels (1 ) àfé added to a common and final mixer (2) in order to produce a product (3) coated in sunflower lecithin and additives, which are also added to said mixer (2). o?-?

20933 H ·γThese additives can be liquid additives (4) and/or solid additives (5), whilethe lecithin can be liquid lecithin (6) and/or solid lecithin (7). H

In any case, the liquid additives (4) and the liquid lecithin (6) pass through a pre-stirrer (8) and from this pre-stirrer, they pass onto a mixer of liquide ($); while in the case of solid lecithin (7) and solid additives (5), they_; pass onto a pre-mixer (10) and from this pre-mixer, onto a mixer of solids (11).

Furthermore, the liquid lecithin (6) and the solid lecithin (7), together with the liquid additives (4) and solid additives (5) are passed through a mixer (12) and from this mixer to a kneader (13). ? ; ₍

The resulting mixture in the mixer of liquids (9) is passed through ^a filter (14) to prevent lumps or unwanted material from passing through, the product produced in the kneader (13) also being passed through a filter (15); while the mixture of solids (11) also passes through a sieve (16) to prevent lumps and regulate the size of the particle, such the product passing through the filter (14) as well as the product passing through the filter (15) and the product passir^ through the sieve (16) are added to the common mixture (2) together with thé corn kernels (1) to be treated, in order to produce the corresponding coatihg, whether it is from one or more than one layers of coating, based on the spécifie needs of each case, after which said kernels are weighed and packaged. ?Τ·

The method is also applicable by substituting the sunflower lecitriin with m

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£ fructose syrup, liquid glucose, corn syrup, molasses, inverted sugar cornstarch and/or any other food product with similar characteristics.

Claims (10)

1, Improvements to patent P201231330: “Method for the treatment of corn kernels intended for the production of popcorn using microwave appliances, and resulting product , wherein the corn kernels (1) are coated with a compound and one or more additives, characterized in that saîd compound is made from sunflower lecithin, fructose syrup, liquid glucose, corn syrup, molasses, inverted sugar syrup or cornstarch, such that said compound and additives are added, together with the corn kernels, into a common mixer (2) in which the outer imprégnation of the corn kernels takes place. A

2. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to claim 1, oharacterized in that the compound and the additives are included in the coating solution in fiquid State.

3. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to daim 1, oharacterized in that the compound and the additives are included in the coating solution in fi..!

solid state.

4. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to claim 1, characterized Tl in that in the coating solution, the compound is included in liquid stato, while thé .

additives are included in solid state. ή ^{J :} Îy

5. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to claim 1, charactèfizêd l in that in the coating solution, the compound is included in solid state, whiiëHhé > ' ‘ additives are included in liquid State.

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6. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to the preceding daims; ^! r characterized in that the compound and the additives, both in liquid statë/àré ' T incorporated into a mixer of liquids (9) after passing through a pre-stirrer (8) in ^{1 1 1} [ order to produce a mixture that is subsequently filtered in a filter (14) before passing onto the final mixer (2). ·> :

7. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to daims 1 to 5, ^: chai acterized in that the compound and additives, both in solid state, areiA

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t® subjected to pre-mixing and afterwards, are passed onto a mixer of sclids (11) in order to obtain a mixture that is sifted (1Θ) before being added to the final (2).

8. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to daims 1 mixer to 5, characterized in that the compound in (iquid State, the compound in solid¹ state^:, the additives in liquid State and the additives in solid State are passed together onto a mixer (12) and from this mixer onto a kneader (13) in order to obtain a product that is subject to filtering (15) before passing onto the final mixer (2).

9. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to the preceding .daims, characterized in that the additives may be formed by flavorings such as salts, sweeteners, acidulants, spicy flavors_; bitter flavors, as well as fixatives such as food lacquers, food glues, or even dyes, binders, thickeners, and similar.

10. Improvements to patent P201231330 according to the preceding daims, | characterized in that the process can be repeated as many times as différent^i! coating or layers necessary envisaged for each corn kernel.