US3761213A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Confection extrusion nozzle
Assignee: Glacier Industries Inc
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Filing: 1971-06-01
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-06-01
Abstract
Abstract An extrusion nozzle for manufacturing in a continuous flow process a variety of external shapes of frozen confections or the like. A portion of the periphery of the extrusion nozzle orifice is formed of a flexible deformable wall material, the shape of this wall being controlled by the state of actuation of a series of air cylinders which indent it when actuated. Individual internal features or an array of internal features may be moved to different lateral positions during manufacture.
Inventors
- 👤 E Wight
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 21:32
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G3/00; A23G3/02; A23G3/20; A23G3/2007; A23G3/2023; A23G3/203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An extrusion nozzle for forming food products comprising, a nozzle body having an inlet end and an outlet end, and being formed in a generally cylindrical shape, the peripheral edge of said outlet end defining the shape of food products extruded through said nozzle, at least a portion of the periphery of said outlet end being formed of a flexible deformable material, movable mechanical means positioned to interact with said flexible portion of the outlet end of said extrusion nozzle and to vary the shape of the periphery of said nozzle, wherein said mechanical means are formed of a plurality of mechanical actuators positioned around said flexible portion of the outlet of said extrusion nozzle such that in an actuated position said mechanical actuators interact with the periphery of said nozzle; and programmable means for actuating said plurality of mechanical actuators in individual combinations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An extrusion nozzle for forming food products comprising, a nozzle body having an inlet end and an outlet end, and being formed in a generally cylindrical shape, the peripheral edge of said outlet end defining the shape of food products extruded through said nozzle, at least a portion of the periphery of said outlet end being formed of a flexible deformable material, movable mechanical means positioned to interact with said flexible portion of the outlet end of said extrusion nozzle and to vary the shape of the periphery of said nozzle, wherein said mechanical means are formed of a plurality of mechanical actuators positioned around said flexible portion of the outlet of said extrusion nozzle such that in an actuated position said mechanical actuators interact with the periphery of said nozzle; and programmable means for actuating said plurality of mechanical actuators in individual combinations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
A device in accordance with claim 1 further including a generally tubular compartment mounted within said extrusion nozzle and terminating in an orifice in a plane between said inlet and said outlet end of said nozzle, said tubular compartment having a cross sectional area in a plane transverse the direction of flow of said confection smaller than the cross sectional area of said extrusion nozzle in the plane of the orifice of said tubular compartment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An extrusion nozzle in accordance with claim 2 wherein a portion of the periphery of said outlet end is formed of a rigid inflexible material having a predetermined shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A nozzle in accordance with claim 3 wherein said flexible deformable material is rubber and said rigid inflexible material is stainless steel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 and further including a plurality of fixed pins positioned around said flexible portion of the outlet of said extrusion in contact therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said mechanical actuators are air cylinders and wherein said programmable means include means for regulating the rate of extension anD retraction of said air cylinders and wherein said programmable means calls for substantially continuous varying of the positions of at least some of said air cylinders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are five mechanical actuators positioned around said flexible portion of the outlet of the extrusion nozzle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
113 words
An extrusion nozzle for forming frozen confections having a variable outer shape comprising, a generally cylindrical extrusion chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, an extrusion shaping element attached to said outlet end, said extrusion shaping element having at least a portion of its periphery formed of a flexible deformable material, the external shape of said frozen confection being formed by the shape of the periphery of said element, a plurality of mechanical actuators positioned to interact with the flexible portion of said element according to a predetermined program to thereby vary the peripheral shape of said element; and programmable means for actuating said plurality of mechanical actuators in individual combinations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
113 words
An extrusion nozzle for forming frozen confections having a variable outer shape comprising, a generally cylindrical extrusion chamber having an inlet end and an outlet end, an extrusion shaping element attached to said outlet end, said extrusion shaping element having at least a portion of its periphery formed of a flexible deformable material, the external shape of said frozen confection being formed by the shape of the periphery of said element, a plurality of mechanical actuators positioned to interact with the flexible portion of said element according to a predetermined program to thereby vary the peripheral shape of said element; and programmable means for actuating said plurality of mechanical actuators in individual combinations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A nozzle in accordance with claim 8 wherein said extrusion shaping element is of a generally smaller diameter than the diameter of said generally cylindrical extrusion chamber and wherein said generally cylindrical extrusion chamber tapers at its outlet end to merge into the extrusion shaping element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A nozzle in accordance with claim 9 wherein a portion of the periphery of said extrusion shaping element is formed of a rigid non-flexible material having a predetermined shape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |