US3861844A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing irregularly shaped expanded food products
Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC
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Filing: 1973-05-07
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1993-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A moist cooked dough of an eatable flour or meal or of a mixture of different flours or meals is prepared and extruded under high pressure. The flow path of the dough is continually changed just prior to extrusion so that different portions of the extruded stream expand semi-independently to form an irregularly shaped expanded product closely resembling popcorn. The flow path of the dough is continually changed by a rotating plate positioned in the extruder adjacent to the extrusion orifices. The plate is provided with an annular portion aligned with the orifices which is provided with aperatures of varying size and spacing through which the dough flows to the orifices.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:32
CPC Classifications
B; B30; B30B; B30B11/00; B30B11/22; B30B11/24; A; A21; A21C; A21C11/00; A21C11/16; A21C11/20; A23; A23L; A23L7/00; A23L7/10; A23L7/161; A23L7/165; A23L7/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
In a food product extruder having an enclosed zone, a rotating screw for moving dough under high pressure in a stream through the zone, and a die plate forming one wall of the zone and having extrusion die orifices through which the dough is extruded to release the pressure thereon; the improvements comprising a flow interrupting plate secured to said screw to rotate therewith and extending across the stream of dough closely adjacent to said die plate, said interrupting plate being circular with randomly spaced cutouts in its outer periphery of different sizes and having a plurality of randomly spaced different sized aperatures therein, whereby the flow pattern of the dough stream moving toward the die plate is disrupted to produce dough streams flowing through the die orifices which are each composed of a plurality of flow segments which do not fully coalese into a unified stream so that these segments expand semi independently upon extrusion to form a highly irregularly shaped product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
In a food product extruder having an enclosed zone, a rotating screw for moving dough under high pressure in a stream through the zone, and a die plate forming one wall of the zone and having extrusion die orifices through which the dough is extruded to release the pressure thereon; the improvements comprising a flow interrupting plate secured to said screw to rotate therewith and extending across the stream of dough closely adjacent to said die plate, said interrupting plate being circular with randomly spaced cutouts in its outer periphery of different sizes and having a plurality of randomly spaced different sized aperatures therein, whereby the flow pattern of the dough stream moving toward the die plate is disrupted to produce dough streams flowing through the die orifices which are each composed of a plurality of flow segments which do not fully coalese into a unified stream so that these segments expand semi independently upon extrusion to form a highly irregularly shaped product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A food product extruder according to claim 1 wherein said cutouts in the periphery of said interrupting plate extend along said periphery different distances and said aperatures include circular holes of different sizes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A food product extruder according to claim 2 wherein said aperatures include elongated holes of different length oriented with their longest dimension perpendicular to radii of said interrupting plate.
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) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |