Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
298 words
A co-extrusion apparatus for forming a icontinuous food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions wherein said inner portion is enveloped by said outer portion and said outer portion is a dough containing .particulate material composed of particles, said apparatus comprising: an inner extrusion port having an exit orifice with a first cross-sectional area through which said inner portion is extruded; an outer extrusion port having an exit orifice with a second cross-sectional area greater in area than said first cross-sectional area wherein said inner extrusion port is recessed a distance d from said outer extrusion port with said recessed distance defining an exit passage between said inner extrusion port and said outer extrusion port and wherein said distance d is sufficient to permit said particles of said particulate material contained in said dough of said outer portion to pass through said exit passage; first conduit means communicating with said inner extrusion port for providing said inner portion thereto; second conduit means communicating with said exit passage for providing said outer dough portion containing particulate material thereto, whereby said outer dough portion containing particulate material passes through said exit passage and envelops said inner portion extruded through said inner extrusion port and wherein said inner portion enveloped by said outer portion passes through said outer extrusion port thereby forming a composite food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions; means for inducing turbulence in said outer dough portion enveloping said inner portion whereby said particulate material in said outer dough portion tumble and at least a portion of the particles of said particulate material have a part thereof penetrate the exterior surface of said outer dough portion; and means for substantially removing dough from the parts said particles which penetrate said exterior surface of said outer dough portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
298 words
A co-extrusion apparatus for forming a icontinuous food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions wherein said inner portion is enveloped by said outer portion and said outer portion is a dough containing .particulate material composed of particles, said apparatus comprising: an inner extrusion port having an exit orifice with a first cross-sectional area through which said inner portion is extruded; an outer extrusion port having an exit orifice with a second cross-sectional area greater in area than said first cross-sectional area wherein said inner extrusion port is recessed a distance d from said outer extrusion port with said recessed distance defining an exit passage between said inner extrusion port and said outer extrusion port and wherein said distance d is sufficient to permit said particles of said particulate material contained in said dough of said outer portion to pass through said exit passage; first conduit means communicating with said inner extrusion port for providing said inner portion thereto; second conduit means communicating with said exit passage for providing said outer dough portion containing particulate material thereto, whereby said outer dough portion containing particulate material passes through said exit passage and envelops said inner portion extruded through said inner extrusion port and wherein said inner portion enveloped by said outer portion passes through said outer extrusion port thereby forming a composite food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions; means for inducing turbulence in said outer dough portion enveloping said inner portion whereby said particulate material in said outer dough portion tumble and at least a portion of the particles of said particulate material have a part thereof penetrate the exterior surface of said outer dough portion; and means for substantially removing dough from the parts said particles which penetrate said exterior surface of said outer dough portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said distance d is at least about 1.25 times the largest dimension of the largest particles of said particulate material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said distance d is about 1.25 to 2 times the largest dimension of the largest particles of said particulate material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said exit orifice of said inner extrusion port and said exit orifice of said outer extrusion port are generally annular and wherein said exit passage between said inner extrusion port and said outer extrusion port is generally annular.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said turbulence inducing means is located on said outer extrusion port.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said turbulence inducing means is located on said outer extrusion port.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for removing dough is located on said outer extrusion port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for removing dough is located on said outer extrusion port.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer extrusion port includes a generally annular land surface oriented generally parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port with said land surface terminating at the inner side of said outer extrusion port in a generally sharp line of intersection with the interior surface of said puter extrusion port whereby said land surface provides said dough removing means and said generally sharp line of intersection provides said turbulence inducing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said line of intersection is sharp.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said land surface is smooth and parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said land surface includes scallops oriented generally parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said land surface has a length parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port of about 1/16 inch to about 5/16 inch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein said distance d is at least about 5/16 inch to about 7/16 inch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said outer extrusion port includes a generally annular land surface oriented generally parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port, the inner surface of said outer extrusion port is a generally annular beveled surface intersecting said land surface at the interior side of said land surface thereby forming a generally annular line of intersection wherein said line of intersection is generally sharp whereby said land surface provides said dough removing means and said generally sharp line of intersection provides said turbulence inducing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said line of intersection is sharp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said land surface is smooth and parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said land surface includes scallops oriented generally parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said land surface has a length parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port of about 1/16 inch to about 5/16 inch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein said beveled surface forms an angle with a plane perpendicular to the axis of the outer extrusion port.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a co-extrusion method for forming a continuous food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions wherein said inner portion is enveloped in intimate contact by said outer portion and said outer portion is a dough material, said method including the steps of: extruding the inner portion through an inner extrusion port; and enveloping said inner portion with the outer portion and passing the inner portion and the enveloping outer portion through an outer extrusion port thereby continuously forming a composite rope-like food product having said outer portion in intimate contact with said inner portion; the improvement comprising; providing particulate material composed of particles in said outer portion dough material prior to said outer portion dough material enveloping said inner portion; causing turbulence in said outer portion dough material when said outer portion is enveloping said inner portion whereby said particles in said outer portion dough material tumble and therefore at least a portion of said particles partially penetrate the exterior surface of said outer portion dough material; and ! removing dough covering the part of said particles which penetrate said exterior surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a co-extrusion method for forming a continuous food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions wherein said inner portion is enveloped in intimate contact by said outer portion and said outer portion is a dough material, said method including the steps of: extruding the inner portion through an inner extrusion port; and enveloping said inner portion with the outer portion and passing the inner portion and the enveloping outer portion through an outer extrusion port thereby continuously forming a composite rope-like food product having said outer portion in intimate contact with said inner portion; the improvement comprising; providing particulate material composed of particles in said outer portion dough material prior to said outer portion dough material enveloping said inner portion; causing turbulence in said outer portion dough material when said outer portion is enveloping said inner portion whereby said particles in said outer portion dough material tumble and therefore at least a portion of said particles partially penetrate the exterior surface of said outer portion dough material; and ! removing dough covering the part of said particles which penetrate said exterior surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 21 wherein said 'outer portion dough material is a chocolate chip cookie dough, said particulate material is chocolate chips, and said inner portion is a chocolate chip cookie dough.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 21 or 22 wherein said dough covering is removed prior to said composite rope-like food product exiting the outer extrusion port.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
239 words
A co-extrusion method for forming a continuous food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions wherein said inner portion is enveloped in intimate contact by said outer portion and said outer portion is a dough material, said method comprising: providing particulate material composed of particles in said outer portion dough material; extruding said inner portion through an inner extrusion port; passing said outer portion dough material containing particulate material through an exit passage formed by recessing said inner extrusion port a distance d from an outer extrusion port wherein said distance d is sufficient to permit said particles of said particulate material contained in said outer portion dough material to pass through said exit passage whereby said outer portion dough material envelops said inner portion; passing said inner portion enveloped by said outer portion dough material through said outer extrusion port thereby forming a composite rope-like food product having said outer portion dough material in intimate contact with said inner portion; creating turbulence is said outer portion dough material enveloping said inner portion thereby causing at least a portion of said particles to tumble and to partially penetrate the exterior surface of said outer portion dough material prior to said composite rope-like food product exiting said outer extrusion port; removing dough from the part of said particles penetrating the exterior surface of said outer portion dough material prior to said composite rope-like food product exiting said outer extrusion port.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
239 words
A co-extrusion method for forming a continuous food product having dissimilar inner and outer portions wherein said inner portion is enveloped in intimate contact by said outer portion and said outer portion is a dough material, said method comprising: providing particulate material composed of particles in said outer portion dough material; extruding said inner portion through an inner extrusion port; passing said outer portion dough material containing particulate material through an exit passage formed by recessing said inner extrusion port a distance d from an outer extrusion port wherein said distance d is sufficient to permit said particles of said particulate material contained in said outer portion dough material to pass through said exit passage whereby said outer portion dough material envelops said inner portion; passing said inner portion enveloped by said outer portion dough material through said outer extrusion port thereby forming a composite rope-like food product having said outer portion dough material in intimate contact with said inner portion; creating turbulence is said outer portion dough material enveloping said inner portion thereby causing at least a portion of said particles to tumble and to partially penetrate the exterior surface of said outer portion dough material prior to said composite rope-like food product exiting said outer extrusion port; removing dough from the part of said particles penetrating the exterior surface of said outer portion dough material prior to said composite rope-like food product exiting said outer extrusion port.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 24 wherein said turbulence is created by providing turbulence-inducing means on said outer extrusion port.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 24 or 25 wherein ,said dough is removed by providing said outer extrusion port with a land surface generally parallel to the axis of said outer extrusion port.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as recited in claim 24 wherein said rope-like food product passed through said outer extrusion port is deposited on a continuously moving horizontally disposed conveyer means travelling at a speed substantially I ! equal to or just slightly faster than the rate of extrusion whereby said composite rope-like food product is oriented in substantially straight line in the direction of movement of said conveyer means in the absence of discontinuities formed in said outer portion.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim,24 wherein said inner portion is a dough material.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 24 or 25 wherein said distance d is at least about 1.25 times the maximum dimension of the largest particles of said particulate material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 24 wherein said outer portion is a chocolate chip cookie dough, said particulate material is chocolate chips, and said inner portion is a chocolate chip cookie dough.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 30 wherein the size of said chocolate chips ranges from about 1,500 chips/pound to 10,000 chips/pound.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the concentration of said chocolate chips is about 3 to 40 per cent by weight of the outer portion dough.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 31 wherein said distance d is at least about 1.25 times the maximum dimension of the largest chocolate chips in said outer portion dough.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 33 wherein said turbulence is provided by said land surface terminating in a generally sharp line of intersection at the interior side of said outer extrusion port.