WO2001029748A1

WO2001029748A1 - Foodstuffs imaging process and apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2001029748A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/028291
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonid M. Kofman; Christopher J. Hill; Sigfried Stiber; Ilya L. Miller; Yuriy D. Chernov
Original assignee: Chocolate Printing Company
Priority date: 1999-10-15
Filing date: 2000-10-13
Publication date: 2001-04-26
Also published as: WO2001029748A8

Abstract

An apparatus (10) printing an image on a generally non-absorbent surface of a food item selected from the group consisting of chocolate, cheese, and the like or a combination thereof includes a computer (100) allowing an operator to create a unique template for the food item. The apparatus further includes software adjusting a scanned image to the created template and a production line (10) controllably operating a process of making the food product that corresponds to the template. Also, the apparatus (10) has a means for treating (30) the surface of the food item so as to directly print (80) the image on its non-absorbent surface.

Description

FOODSTUFFS IMAGING PROCESS AND APPARATUS

Prior Application

This application is based on the U S patent application No 09/419,669 filed October 15, 1999 and U S Application filed October 11 , 2000 and fully incorporated herein

Field Of The Invention

The invention relates to an apparatus for reproducing an image onto foodstuffs, such as chocolates, cheese, or the like Particularly, the invention relates to an apparatus, and the method of its usage, for printing any pictorial representation desired for reproduction upon the surface of any related type of aforementioned items with edible ink

Background Of The Invention

The application of decorative means to various foodstuffs, such as the surface of a cake, essentially derived over the years as an individual craft of the artisans skilled efforts in providing personalized decorations to such components For example, early ornamentations provided to cakes, cookies and related types of foodstuffs, fairly well depend upon the skill, dexterity, and imagination of the baker, in order to get any facsimile of decoration upon the finished food product

Various substitutes to skilled artisans have by necessity been devised for use for decorating food products, and, recently, automated systems for cake decoration have been appeared on the market which allow decorating on an automatic basis For example, U S Patent No 5,834,047 to Ahn relates to a process of imprinting diverse shapes of multiple colors inside the confectionery products with edible ink An edible mixture of confectionery material is filled and solidified in a mold which is presses upon by a plurality of etching plates of a predetermined shape and according to predetermined colors The mold is rotated with a predetermined angle and number of times to disperse edible ink more than once with different colors on the surface of the solidified confectionery material Since shapes and color combinations can be too complicated, this process may be time consuming and may be difficult to implement on the hard surface of opaque food items, such as chocolate

U S 5,505,775 to Kitos discloses another cake decorating system, wherein a digitally stored image is transferred to the top of a cake using a print head that includes a drop-on-demand ink expulsion system which has a nozzle plate directing edible ink toward the cake's surface This system relies on the accurate alignment and rigidity of thee three-axis system to preserve image fidelity Any departure from perpendicularity, particularly in the x and z- directions, and any play in the mutual alignment of the head supporting arm and the slide assembly supporting the cake, is reflected in a noticeable deterioration in the quality of the picture on the surface of the cake

U S 5,795,395 to Ben-Matitayhu et al , discloses an apparatus for decorating a cake by providing a movable printing head that dispenses edible ink at positions corresponding to the pixels of a digital image The head and the cake are displaceable relative to one another by means of a leveling mechanism, which includes adjustable legs supporting the cake supporting table Since the head is displaceable only laterally, it is easier to keep an arm supporting the head than is the case with the above-discussed patent to Kitos While both these methods achieve satisfactory results with products having porous surfaces, it may not be applicable to hard-surface items because the hard surface should be specifically treated so as to be able to contain edible 1

U S Patent 4,578,273 discloses a method of forming a food product by providing a hard, non-porous icing surface on a baked product upon which an image is imprinted However, it may be difficult to use a jet printing method on the icing surface because edible ink may spread around this icing surface, if the latter is not properly thermally and mechanically treated

U S Patent 4,668,521 to Newsteder discloses a typical process of forming an image on chocolate The method includes a step of forming a photoengraving metal plate coated with an insoluble photo-etch material The transparency bearing a halftone image of the original is placed over the plate and is exposed to ultraviolet light so as to record the halftone image on the plate's surface After treating the plate with an acid and allowing it to dry, highlighted and shadow areas representing the halftone image is clearly discernable The method further provides casting a screen against the plate so as to transfer the true image on a chocolate This method requires manufacturing molds and screens and may not achieve satisfactory results of transferring the image on chocolate

It is therefore desirable to provide an apparatus for jet printing an image directly onto a generally non-absorbent hard surface of chocolate without manufacturing additional molds and screens Also, it is desirable to provide an apparatus of the type described above that is capable of providing high definition imaging transfer onto a non-absorbent surface of a food item An apparatus that provides simple and reliable alignment between an item and a printing head is also desirable, as is a method for transferring an image on a hardened generally non-absorbent surface that can be automated Also, an apparatus of the type described above that can function in a fully automated mode and a semi-automated mode is desirable, as is a control system for identifying authentic components of the apparatus Summary Of The Invention

This is achieved by an automated system enabling the transfer of any pictorial representation onto a generally non-absorbent surface of a food item, particularly a chocolate item, by scanning the representation and jet-printing edible ink directly onto this surface The automated system may include software executing on a computer which is programmed to control a printer provided with edible ink

The automated system has software executing on the computer for automatically selecting a size and shape of a prototype of chocolate items It further has a means for scanning an image and adjusting the image on the prototype, according to which a mold is selected or made

The automated system may further automatically control a temperature in a heater and displacement of the filled mold along a conveyor delivering the mold through a cooling station towards a preparation station According to the invention, the preparation station may have an automatically controlled gripping mechanism adapted to separate the hardened food item from the mold This gripping mechanism may controllably turn the food item at a 180° angle so as to position the separated product on a movable product stabilizer

Preferably, the product stabilizer is comprised of a movable surface formed with a plurality of formations, each corresponding to a particular shape and size of the preselected food item The movable surface is controllably displaceable to place the top surface of food items in the same predetermined horizontal plane, although these items may have the different overall thickness This aspect of the invention is significant because a very few adjustments have to be made between a printing head and the top surface of an item to be printed upon during image printing S^'

In another aspect of the invention, the automatic system further includes a surface preparation system that is controllably positioned to treat the hard surface of the food item so as to prepare it for subsequent image printing The surface preparation system is controllably displaceable relative to the food item to mechanically treat this top surface during a predetermined time, which is a function of the preselected size and shape of the food item

Preferably, the surface preparation system, in accordance with invention, is comprised of rotatable brushes arranged to have their orbits overlap one another so as to cover the entire surface of the food item Yet a linearly displaceable roller formed with a textured surface that controllably treats the top layer of the food item is also contemplated by the invention

According to a further aspect of the invention, the automatic system also has a jet printer having a protective member that prevents a printing head from contacting the top surface of the item The protective member can be a mechanical screen juxtaposed with the printing head or it can be a system of sensors generating warning signals, in response to which a desirable distance between the head and the top surface is controllably maintained

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the automatic system includes a CPU with software executing thereon for switching a printing preparation station, which includes the printer and a support table, between a fully automated mode and a semi-automated mode The semi- automated mode allows an operator to control color quality of edible ink before an image is printed, whereas the fully automated mode is characterized by automatic color-management software

Still a further aspect of the invention is primarily concerned with a safety of a product thus prepared and particularly includes a control system capable of identifying authenticity of several components of the printing (o preparation system Particularly, the control system is capable of identifying an authentic cartridge carrying edible ink, as well as the ink itself

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an automated production system capable of jet-printing a pictorial representation directly onto a generally non-absorbent surface of a food item

Still another object of the invention is to provide an automated system for controllably treating a surface of a food item, upon which an image is to be printed in accordance with a shape and size of the preselected food item

A further object of the invention is to provide an automated system for automatically placing a food item so as to have its top surface fixed in a predetermined position with respect to a printing head the jet printer

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an automated system for automatically creating a variety of shapes and sizes of a food item

Another object of the invention is to provide an automated system for controllably operating a jet printer, which is programmed to automatically transfer a preselected image on the top surface of a food item by means of edible ink

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of automatically operating a production line for preparing a food item

Still another object is to provide a method for designing a food item having specific shape and size and for adjusting an image on the designed food item so as to jet print the image on its hardened surface

A further object of the invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of operating in a fully automatic mode and a semi-automatic mode, wherein an operator is able to control and adjust colors of edible ink Yet another object of the invention is to provide a control system capable of identifying authenticity of components of the printing apparatus in accordance with the invention

Brief Description Of The Drawings

FIG 1 is a flow chart of a process in accordance with the invention

FIG 2 is a more detailed flow chart of a step of creating a prototype of the food item according to a process of FIG 1

FIG 3 is a diagrammatic view of a technological production line of a process of FIG 1

FIG 4 is a cross-sectional view of a bottom of a mold

FIG 5 is a cross-sectional view of a bottom of a mold provided with a textured layer

FIG 6 is a diagrammatic view of a gπpper

FIG 7 is a diagrammatic view of one embodiment of a surface treating apparatus

FIG 8 is a diagrammatic view of another embodiment of a surface treating apparatus

FIG 9 is a side view of a delivery table carrying a food item to a printing station

FIG 10 is a front view of a delivery table shown in FIG 8 FIG 9 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a food item carrier FIG 11 is an exploded view of a cassette receiving a food item for centering it on a table of FIGS 9 and 10

FIG 12 is an isometric view of a cassette shown in FIG 1 1

FIG 13 is an exploded view of a transporting box receiving a ready to be delivered food item

FIG 14 is an isometric view of the transporting box of FIG 13

FIG 15 is an isometric view of another embodiment of a delivery table carrying a food item to a printing station

FIG 16 is a flow chart illustrating a multi-mode operation of the apparatus in accordance with the invention

FIG 17 a diagrammatic view of a safety system utilized in conjunction with the apparatus in accordance with the invention

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

Referring to Figure 1 , one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, shown by way of a flow chart, achieves the above-stated objects by printing a pictorial image, a verbal statement or a combination thereof directly on a hard, generally non-absorbent surface of a food item Particularly, an operator using software creates a prototype of a chocolate product at 2 The chocolate product can have different shapes, forms and sizes An algorithm, shown in Figure 2 and allowing an operator to correlate horizontal and vertical size of the prototype at 3 as well as an angle of rotation at 5, can do this Upon completion of the prototype, all necessary data is both validated and stored in database 7 Having created a template of the chocolate item, the operator scans an image 4 to be printed on a chocolate's hardened surface, and further adjusts a size thereof at 6 so it can fit the previously created prototype Alternatively, the prototype of the chocolate item still may be modified to fully fit the desirable image In addition to adjusting the image, the operator may further add a text 5, a position of which can also be adjusted

Once the operator is satisfied with the created design, a signal is sent to a printer to enable it to print the image with edible ink on a real chocolate item that has been manufactured according to the created prototype, as will be now explained with reference to Figure 3

Particularly, Figure 3 illustrates a process of manufacturing a chocolate item If a manufacturing facility is relatively small and primarily serves individual customers, some of the process steps may be manually performed However, if a manufacturing facility is geared to mass production, the process may be automated In accordance with the invention, a production line has a certain sequence of operations characteristic to both partly automated and automated processes, as illustrated in Figure 3

Referring to Figure 3, an automated system 10 in accordance with the invention is generally shown and includes a few stations collectively defining a production line of a product, preferably a chocolate product Particularly, a heater heats chocolate mass that has undergone blending, refining, conching, tempering and cooling stages, as known in the art, approximately to a temperature which is at least 92°F The heater basically includes a reservoir 12 filled with chocolate mass that is treated by an agitator 14 The properly conditioned mass is then delivered by a pump 14 to a distribution station 16 that pours it into a mold 15 that has been formed according to the computer- created prototype It is understood that a chocolate item may have a variety /0 of shapes including customized shapes and standard ones This variety of shapes and sizes of customized molds 15 is limited only by technological capabilities and requirements of a facility and may include irregular, polygonal, star-like and etc Rectangular, circle or/and oval shape can be considered to be standard

A small operation facility may rather use a semi-automatic step of filling the mold by utilizing a digital volume control that allows a pump 14 to be selectively turned on and off However, it is contemplated within the scope of this invention to automatically control the work of a measuring device 18 and the pump as a function of the mold's volume, quantity of similar molds and frequency at which each mold is delivered to the filling station The measuring device 18 may be equipped with a controllably operating filling means which can be selectively open for predetermined time in response to a signal received from a central processor unit (hereinafter CPU) 100 Specifically, an electronic counter turning the pump 14 off in response to reaching a predetermined count measured by a control circuit of the CPU 100 in response to the known volume of the mold, can be an example of a controlling system monitoring automated filling of the mold

Upon filling the mold 15, it is placed on a continuous conveyor 20 In accordance with one aspect of the invention as shown in Figure 4, each mold has its bottom 22 textured so as to apply a slight degree of unevenness to the chocolate's surface facing this bottom Alternatively, the mold's bottom may be substantially flat and be covered by a removable layer 24 which, as shown in Figure 5, has its surface textured analogously to the mold's bottom shown in Figure 4 Amplitude of peaks formed on this textured surface may not exceed a fraction of a millimeter

Returning to Figure 3, to improve conformity of the chocolate mass with the selected mold, the system, as known in the prior art, has a vibrator 26 operatively connected with the endless conveyor 20 Advantageously, the // conveyor 20 extends through a cooling tunnel 28 where the chocolate mass is cooled approximately to a temperature of 50-60°F After gradually bringing the cooled chocolate mass to an ambient temperature, preferably to 85-91°F, the chocolate product is delivered to a preparation station 24, generally shown in Figure 3

The above-discussed steps can be manually controlled by periodically turning on the vibrator and the conveyor, which can be suitable for a small manufacturing facility Alternatively, it also may be fully automated and controlled by the CPU 100 so as a speed of conveyor can be calculated and controlled as a function of a particular shape, material and volume of the mold 15 as well as specifics of chocolate mass Further, the conveyor's speed can be a function of a rate at which both, the mold and the chocolate mass, cool down Since the cooling step is followed by removing the chocolate from the mold, as will be explained herembelow, it is of utmost importance to know a precise moment of time when the cooled chocolate item can be easily removed from the mold

Once the chocolate product has been cooled down to a desirable temperature, it has to be removed from the mold since a surface mostly suitable for further treatment is the one that faces the bottom 22 of the mold 15 Similarly to previously described operations, the mold may be manually rotated at a 180° to allow the chocolate product to slip down from the plastic mold 15 Preferably, however, as shown in FIG 6, this operation is automated by utilizing a gripper 32 including a horizontal rod 34 and generally U-shaped arms 36 which are articulated on the rods by means of joint 38 to rotate about an axis A-A The arm may have a pair of jaws 42 displaceable about the joints 38 in a direction of an arrow 40 so as to adjust a grip to a different shapes and diameters of the mold 15 The jaws may be manufactured to have a shape corresponding to any shape of the mold, or may have multiple parts displaceable relative to one another to conform to variously shaped molds In case of the multi-part jaws, it is conceivable to have a control circuit of the CPU 100, receiving information including a shape and size of the mold 15, that automatically displaces the jaws 42 relative to each other Once the mold is received between the jaws, the arms 36 rotate at a 180° angle to separate the product from the mold

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the preparation station further includes a surface treatment apparatus that may have different designs Characteristic to all possible implementations of such treatment apparatus is the concept of treating a top layer of the product so as to allow specifically designed edible ink to accurately and properly adhere to the product

Specifically, according to one embodiment of such apparatus as shown in Figure 7, brushes 44 have overlapping orbits so as to cover the entire surface of the product 46 upon their rotation about parallel axes Once again, a motor (not shown here) actuating these brushes or a single brush can be turned on and off manually Advantageously, the motor automatically controlled by the CPU 100 is turned on for a period of time which is sufficient to satisfy requirements applied to a surface and which is typically selected and maintained based on an empirical data Clearly a working time period is a function of shape and temperature of the surface

Still another implementation of the treatment apparatus may be a roll 48 formed with a peripheral surface 50 which is capable of treating the top layer of the product 46 upon displacement of the roller and the product 46 relative to each other, as diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 8 Also, displacement of this roller in a vertical direction may be automatically controlled to penetrate the top surface at a desirable distance Optionally, either after or before removing the product 46 on the table 52, it is possible to thermally treat a surface of the food item that has been spaced from the mold's bottom so as to attach it to a differently colored chocolate layer In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, the product 46 upon its removal from the mold 15 may be placed on a displaceable table 52, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 Typically, the product removed from the mold 15 is placed on a continuous conveyor that delivers the item towards a printing station 80 (Figure 3) Since a distance between a printing head 56 of the printer and the top surface of the chocolate product cannot exceed a few millimeters sufficient to provide a high quality image printing, a problem of controlling this distance becomes critical to a high quality end product

Obviously, the simplest solution to this problem would be to have the printing head displaceable only in a horizontal plane spaced from the top surface of the product at a uniform fixed distance In practical terms this is almost impossible to achieve because regardless of how uniform a depth of the mold 15 is, a thickness of products still varies from one mold to another Thus, this variation in thickness necessitates adjustment of the head

In order to avoid it, according to another aspect of the invention illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, a product is placed on the displaceable table 52 that has a parallelogramatic support 54 providing easy vertical adjustment of the product relative to the printing head 56 Particularly, an actuator 58 displaces a horizontal cross bar 63 simultaneously actuating horizontal displacement of lower ends of legs 65 and 67 that are guided along horizontal guides 68 in a direction A (Figure 9) Upper ends of the legs are provided with pins 74 which while being guided along a closed path guides 82 simultaneously press against elongated surfaces of the guides so as to raise the support 66 in response to actuation of the lower ends of the legs

Specifically, each of the legs includes upper and lower U-shaped end portions 69 and two supporting bars 62, 64 forming an X configuration, as shown in Figure 10 The upper end of the supporting bar 62 is horizontally movable along the guide 72 and displaces the support 66 in a vertical direction synchronously with an upper end of the support 64 Such / displacement allows the table to adjust a distance D between the top surface of the product and the printing head which, upon reaching a predetermined value, is detected by a sensor 76

As is the case with the previously described operations, vertical adjustment of the support may be performed manually by an operator who actuates the actuator 58, which can be, for example, a simple screw Advantageously, the CPU 100, controllably actuating the screw 58 until the top surface of item 46 reaches a predetermined distance detected by the sensor 76, automatically controls this operation

As an additional safety measure, the printing head 56 may be provided with a protective screen 57 preventing the head from contacting the top surface of the food item or the position sensor 76 generating a signal that automatically arrests displacement of the table, as explained above

Since the printer is stationary fixed, it is easy to move the table 52 to a predetermined initial position which is the same for all-possible shapes and forms of the product Position sensors 78 controlling displacement of a transporting means (now shown here), on which the displaceable table 52 is fixedly mounted, monitor control of this initial position Once the position is reached, the transporting means is stopped To even further facilitate centering of the product in a predetermined position, the support 66 has guides or stoppers 82 controllably displaceable to peripherally abut the product 46 in this position By arresting displacement of the product on the support, positioning of the product relative to the printing head becomes a simple routine

The product 46, as described above, can be placed on top of the support 52 However, during printing, the upper surface of the support can be painted by edible ink jetted upon the top surface of the product To prevent it, the product upon removing from the mold may be placed in a cassette shown if Figures 1 1 and 12 Particularly, the cassette has a base 84 formed with an opening that receives a frame 86 having dimensions corresponding to the product 46 The frame is so shaped that the top surface of the product lies flush or a notch lower than a πm 88 of the frame, which extends laterally outwardly to allow the top surface of the product to be completely open for receiving an image

Upon printing the image, the product can be automatically packaged in a box 90 by (Figures 13, 14) initially receiving the product in its opening 96 sized so that a frame 92 is placed between an inner periphery 98 of the opening 96 and the product The frame is formed with inwardly extending rim

94 protecting the product during transportation

According to a further aspect of the invention shown in Figure 15, the cassette's base 84 can be positioned on a separate support 102 having a controllably movable support 104 that delivers the cassette toward the printing head 56 of a printer 106 provided with an ink delivery system This delivery system may be provided with a multi-compartment reservoir containing different colors of ink and made of FDA approved materials In this embodiment, instead of the vertically adjustable table 52, the printing head can be controllably movable in a vertical direction V However, it is understood, that the above-mentioned table 52 can be easily mounted on the movable support 104 to follow the mode of its operation, as explained in reference to Figures 9 and 10

An apparatus in accordance with the invention can operate in different modes, as shown in FIG 16 An automatic mode is characterized by a fully automatic system for adjusting colors The present apparatus utilizes a-four- color combination of edible inks including magenta, cyan, yellow and black Obviously, the black color can be obtained by mixing up the first three colors in equal proportions lie Softwarte executing on a CPU and responsible for the automatic operation of the apparatus allows an image to be printed first to be first scanned at 138 The image can be delivered by any means including electronic media After the image has been scanned, the operator by means of a scroll-down menu, which appears on a touch screen, selects one of the variety of templates stored in a template database 142 By utilizing an image control, an operator can zoom in, zoom out and displace the image within the selected template to obtain a desirable position of the image at 144

After the image has been positioned on the template, an operator can write a text 146 The text can be a standard one and thus be selected from a text database 148, or optionally, the operator can create an individual message Software allows those areas of the image which are suitable for receiving the selected or written text to be highlighted so as the operator is able to complete an item by placing the text on the image in accordance with his/her preferences at 150

Having completed the composition of the image, the operator may introduce the number of images to be printed at 152 As disclosed above, the apparatus is provided with cassettes or transport trays receiving a limited number of templates A transport surface 180 of the apparatus is sized to have only a limited number of transport trays and thus, if the number of images exceeds the number of trays that can be simultaneously placed on the transport surface, then the operator has to reload new trays after the first portion of images has been printed The operator receives a written message as how many trays are needed to be filled in accordance with the introduced number of images and, in addition to a purely numerical information, an image with the filled trays is displayed on the screen Thus, for example if a transport tray is sized to receive 10 heart-shaped images and the operator needs 37 images, four trays, one of which is not fully filled with the images, appear on the screen Further if the transport surface is sized to receive for instance 5 trays whereas the introduced number of images require more than n that, the screen will inform the operator how many trays should be loaded after the first five have been processed

After all the preparations have been completed, software automatically provides a modified print calibration color profile to match the colors of edible ink with the scanned image This color calibration changes the print driver to correctly print the colors by properly mixing the jetted inks on the chocolate

A semiautomatic mode that has an initial image preparation stage identical to the automatic mode, allows an operator to calibrate the colors in accordance with either a stored data or the operator's taste and experience

Thus, it is possible to introduce and store a series of desirable spectral characteristics of each of the known colors of edible inks as reference values, so as every time when either new inks are introduced in old cartridges or new cartridges filled with ink are used, an operator may have an option of verifying the quality of the inks In practical terms, the operator before printing the created images, introduces a sample 174 under a cartridge 176 to have regions of the item's surface painted in magenta 171 , cyan 173, yellow 175, and optionally in black Further, a source of light 177 illuminates each of the differently painted regions and the thus generated light is sensed at 160, 164, and 168 by a photo-sensor 172 that generates a frequency signal representing spectral characteristics of the respective color Software for controllably displacing the sensor over and above the painted sample can be easily installed in the CPU, so upon introduction of the painted sample the sensor provides a dynamic type of measurement Alternatively, a photo- resistor serving as a switch can be used In any case, upon comparison of the detected signal at 162, 166 and 170 with the reference value in a comparator or based on the operator's visual preferences in a manual mode of operation, each color may be modified during the printing process Thus, for example, if magenta is too dark, then every segment of an image designed \ϊ to be printed in this color may additionally receive an extra volume of yellow and become somewhat brighter

The automatic mode of operation is preferable during the mass production, whereas the semi-automatic mode designed to increase the quality of the printed image is preferred for individually created images

Turning to FIG 17, the apparatus is provided with a system 188 capable of identifying the authenticity the apparatus's components It is imperative that only the authentic edible ink be used with the apparatus in order to avoid severe health problems that may be caused by non- authenticated inks A special formula of the edible ink used for printing images on the chocolate obviously can be coded and consists of chemical and physical elements Density, conductivity and other characteristics of the ink can be measured by generating ultrasound signal, a source of which may be installed on a cartridge, and upon comparison of a response signal with a reference value, the authenticity of the ink is determined Further, it is possible to detect and verify whether a cartridge is correctly filled with the edible ink Thus, if the volume of ink in a new cartridge deviates from the designed volume, then it is a good indication that the components have been tempered with Different technologies can be used to properly authenticate the components of the apparatus including memory chips, smart carts, the ink, such as an RF technology, an ultra-sound technology, and the like Each of the coded components including cartridges, "smart boxes" processors and components of a computer can have receptacles for receiving electrical connectors to communicate with storage devices, each of which stores a respective code uniquely identifying each of the elements

Thus, for example, each cartridge can be supplied with a chip programmed to provide a certain verifying operation in response to a signal generated from the CPU As shown in FIG 17, if either of a computer or smart box 182, which is equipped with software responsible for a step-by-step ι operation of the inventive printing method, a cartridge 184 or the inks 186 is detected not to be authentic, the apparatus is blocked from printing. Software also allows the operator to see which one of the main components is not standard by graphically pointing it out on a screen.

The embodiments of the invention which have been described are merely illustrative of a few of the applications of the principles of the invention. Although food products described above mainly relate to chocolate products, it is possible to utilize this invention for printing signs or images on any food product having a hardened surface, such as, cheese. An artisan may make various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention, as recited by the following claims.

Claims

A CWhat is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for printing a visual image on a generally non-absorbent surface of a food item selected form the group consisting of chocolate, cheese and the like or a combination thereof, the apparatus comprising: a computer; software executing on the computer for selectively creating a unique prototype of the food item; software executing on the computer for scanning an image to be printed; software executing on the computer for adjusting the image on the uniquely created prototype, so as to enable an operator to view the food item with the image printed thereon; a production technological line operatively connected to the computer for manufacturing the food item that has a hardened, generally non-absorbent surface, the food item being shaped and sized in accordance with the prototype; and a printer connected to the computer and provided with software for directly printing the image on the hardened, non-absorbent surface of the food item.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the production lines includes a filling station for filling a mold with liquiescent product mass.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the mold has an interior shaped and sized to correspond to the unique prototype, said mold being made of plastic.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the filling station includes a pump controllably operating delivery of the product mass in response to a signal generated by a measuring device.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 wherein the measuring device is operatively connected with the computer to generate the signal controllably turning on the pump at a predetermined time in response to data including a shape and volume of the mold.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 5 wherein the measuring device has an electronic counter selectively operating the pump in response to reaching a predetermined count measured by a control circuit of the computer.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the mold has a textured bottom.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the mold is provided with a layer removably placed on a bottom of the mold and having a textured surface.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the production line further includes a continuous conveyor belt receiving the mold and provided with a vibrator, which oscillates the mold as it is transported along a delivery path.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein the production line further includes a cooling tunnel extending along the path for gradual solidifying of product mass.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein the conveyor is operatively connected with the computer to controllably run along the delivery path so as to provide gradual cooling of the mass with subsequent elevating of the mass temperature up an ambient one.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the conveyor advances at a speed controlled by the computer in response to a calculated parameter selected from the group consisting of a shape and size of the mold or a combination thereof.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein the conveyor controllably advances at a speed to provide a predetermined rate at which the mass and the mold cool down.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the production line further comprises a treatment station providing surface treatment of the solidified product mass.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the treatment station includes a gripper displaceable to abut the mold and to rotate at a 180° angle so as to remove the product from the mold.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the gripper includes a pair of arms controllably displaceable in response to a signal received from the computer to conform to a shape and size of the mold.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the treatment station further includes at least one rotatable brush, the one brush and the food item being displaceable relative to each other, so that the one brush mechanically treats a surface of the item to prepare it for receiving edible ink.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein the treatment station further includes a roller having a textured surface and displaceable parallel to and in contact with a surface of the product to be printed upon. «* 3

19. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the production line further includes a displaceable table having a support surface receiving the treated food item and having a parallelogramatic support to displace the support surface at a predetermined distance in a vertical plane.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein the support has two legs, each having two diagonally extending arms forming an X configuration, a central joint providing pivotal displacement of the arms relative to each other, and a pair of horizontal guides having closed path recesses which receive lower and upper ends of the arms, respectively.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 20 wherein the recesses receive lower and upper ends of the arms, respectively, and an actuator having a cross bar which simultaneously displaces the lower ends to cause the upper ends to synchronously displace the support surface of the table in the vertical plane.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein the production line further includes a plurality of position censors generating a signal corresponding to a predetermined position of the table with respect to the printer and arresting its further displacement in a vertical plane.

23. The apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein the printer includes a printing head provided with a screen preventing direct contact between the printer and the surface to of the food item to be printed upon.

24. A method of printing a visual image on a generally non-absorbent surface of a food item selected from the group consisting of chocolate, cheese and the like or a combination thereof, the process comprising the steps of: electronically creating a unique template of a food item having a specific shape and size, scanning a visual image to be printed upon the food item and adjusting the image to the template, manufacturing a mold corresponding to the created template, filling the mold with quiescent product mass, thermally treating the mass so as the product undergoes gradual cooling and subsequent warming to an ambient temperature, mechanically treating a surface of the food item to be printed upon, and directly printing the image on the hardened surface of the food item

25 A jet-printing apparatus for printing colored images upon a generally non- absorbent surface of a food item comprising a print driver, and a controller for operating the printing apparatus in an automatic mode, wherein the print driver is controlled with an automatic calibration color profile to correctly print the colors by mixing the jetted ink on the non-absorbent surface of the food item, and in a semi-automatic mode, wherein the print driver is controlled with a modified calibration color profile to adjust the colors in accordance with individual preferences of an operator before printing images on the non-absorbent surface

26 The jet-printing apparatus defined in claim 25, further comprising a displaceable cartridge carrier and a plurality of cartridges filled with differently colored edible inks on said cartridge, a source of light, and a photo-sensor for generating a signal representing measured frequency spectral characteristics of each color printed on a testing sheet upon turning the light source on, and a comparator for comparing the generated signal for each of the colors and a respective reference value to modify the jetted ink in response to a correcting signal generated upon the comparison.

27. The jet-printing apparatus defined in claim 25, further comprising: software executed on the controller for identifying the authenticity of each of the cartridges and components within the computer to prevent the jet-printing apparatus from printing the images if at least one of the cartridges and the components has been tempered with.

28. The jet-printing apparatus defined in claim 27, further comprising: software executed on the controller for selecting a shape of the food item selected from the group consisting of a polygonal, heart, oval, and round shape and a combination of these shapes; software executing on the controller for selecting a text to be printed upon the non-absorbent surface of the food item; software executed on the controller for scanning an image to be printed; software executed on the controller for automatically adjusting the image on the selected food-item; software executing on the controller for automatically calibrating color profile to correctly print the colors by mixing the jetted edible ink on the non- absorbent surface of the food item; software executing on the controller for identifying the authenticity of the edible ink; and software executing on the controller for controllably displacing the photosensor over the testing sheet.

29. A jet-printing apparatus for printing colored images upon a generally non- absorbent surface of a food item comprising: a cartridge carrier displaceable over the food item; a plurality of cartridges displaceable with the cartridge carrier, each of the cartridges being filled with a respective differently-colored edible ink, each of the cartridges being provided with a respective first storage device storing a code uniquely identifying the manufacturing authenticity of the, and a computer, and software executed on the computer for identifying the authenticity of each of the cartridges and components within the computer to prevent the jet-printing apparatus from printing the images if at least one of the cartridges and the components has been tempered with

30 The jet-printing apparatus defined in claim 29, further comprising software executed on the computer for selecting a shape of the food item selected from the group consisting of a polygonal, heart, oval, and round shape and a combination of these shapes, software executing on the computer for selecting a text to be printed upon the non-absorbent surface of the food item, software executed on the computer for scanning an image to be printed, software executed on the computer for automatically adjusting the image on the selected food-item, software executing on the computer for automatically calibrating color profile to correctly print the colors by mixing the jetted edible ink on the non- absorbent surface of the food item, and software executing on the computer for identifying the authenticity of the edible ink

31 The jet-printing apparatus defied in claim 30, further comprising a database for storing a plurality of the shapes of the food item, and a database for storing a variety of texts