Process and apparatus for producing chocolate

Claim 2

The process of claim 2 in which, as an integral part of the process, in addition to being treated in all of said stages, the mixture is cycled through the diminuting stage without being subjected to the mixing and reacting stages.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 in which the constituents are passed through the various stages of the cycle consecutively, separately collected and the separately collected constituents are then passed through the stages of the cycle again.

Claim 4

A process of mixing and diminuting and reacting a heterogeneous flowable mixture of liquid and solid constituents used to manufacture chocolate, which process comprises passing said mixture consecutively through the stages of (1) mixing the mixture in a vessel by agitation and thereby rendering it more uniform and (2) passing the resulting mixture through a different vessel which contains a mass of discrete, substantially spherical grinding elements while kinetically activating these elements by rotating an agitator within said vessel and thereby diminuting the solid constituents therein and producing fresh surfaces thereof, (3) producing a heterogeneous reaction at the interfaces between the solid and fluid constituents of said heterogeneous mixture by spreading the mixture into a film and incorporating air therein and removing volatile matter, (4) collecting and mixing the mixture in a different vessel by agitation and thereby rendering it more uniform and (5) passing the resulting mixture again through the vessel with discrete, substantially spherical grinding elements and further diminuting it and producing additional fresh surfaces of the grinding elements and spreading the resulting heterogeneous mixture into a film and incorporating air therein; and repeating said stages until a product of desired properties is obtained.

Claim 5

Apparatus for processing a heterogeneous flowable mixture of constituents used to manufacture chocolate comprising an integrated system of interconnected components including (1) at least one mixing vessel incorporating agitating means, (2) at least one diminuting vessel containing a mass of discrete, substantially spherical grinding elements and rotatable agitator means within said vessel for kinetically activating said elements and (3) means for spreading said mixture into a film and for contacting air with the film, and means for repeatedly circulating said mixture through said vessels and spreading means in series for repeated consecutive mixing, diminution and fluid treatment.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 6 which includes in the system, directing means between (1) the diminuting means and (2) the mixing and aerating means, which directing means is for circulating constituents through either (1) or (2) without recirculating through the other.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 6 which includes two mixing and aerating means, means for conveying the mixture from the dimiNuting means to one of the mixing and spreading means, and from there back to the diminuting means and from there to the other mixing and spreading means and from there back to the diminuting means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 which includes means for recirculating the mixture through the mixing and spreading means without passing it through the diminuting means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 which includes means for recirculating the mixture through the diminuting means without passing it though the mixing and spreading means.

Claim 10

The apparatus elements of claim 6 which are all enclosed as a unit.

Claim 11

Apparatus for processing a heterogeneous flowable mixture of constituents used to manufacture chocolate comprising an integrated system of interconnected components including two mixing vessels each containing agitating means, one diminuting vessel containing a mass of discrete, substantially spherical grinding elements and rotatable agitator means within said vessel for kinetically activating said elements, and means for spreading said mixture coming from said diminuting vessel into a film with means for aerating it; and means for conveying the mixture from the first of said mixing vessels into the diminuting vessel and spreading means and from there to the other mixing vessel, and from there again through the diminuting vessel and spreading means, and from there back to the first of said mixing vessels.