US4308288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of producing granular cocoa
Assignee: Morinaga and Co Ltd
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Filing: 1980-03-10
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Granted: 1981-12-29
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Expires: 2000-03-10
Abstract
Abstract Improved granular cocoa which is sufficiently dense and stiff but nevertheless is readily soluble in water, even in cold water, can be produced without using any binder by subjecting a cocoa powder of which fat content is 12-29% to compression, feeding the compressed powder to a roller press thereby forming small plate-like agglomerates which are 0.5-3 mm thick, and crushing and sifting the agglomerates to obtain 10-30 mesh granules of cocoa. The physical properties of the cocoa granules are further improved by ageing the granules at temperatures below about 27° C., most preferably at 15-25° C., for a few hours to several days. the starting cocoa powder may have been added with powdered sugar and/or milk.
Inventors
- 👤 Jun Hara
- 👤 Masao Takeuchi
- 👤 Takeshi Morishima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:08
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G1/00; A23G1/04; A23G1/042; A23G1/047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of producing a granular cocoa, comprising the steps of: subjecting a cocoa powder of which fat content is in the range from 12 to 29% by weight to such an extent of compression that said cocoa powder exhibits an appreciable increase in bulk density but still remains in powder form; feeding said cocoa powder in the compressed state to a roller press such that a pair of rolls of said roller press force the individual particles of said cocoa powder to strongly cohere to one another thereby forming small plate-like agglomerates of said cocoa powder, each of said plate-like agglomerates being about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm in thickness; and crushing and sifting said plate-like agglomerates so as to obtain cocoa granules which are between 10 and 30 mesh in size.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of producing a granular cocoa, comprising the steps of: subjecting a cocoa powder of which fat content is in the range from 12 to 29% by weight to such an extent of compression that said cocoa powder exhibits an appreciable increase in bulk density but still remains in powder form; feeding said cocoa powder in the compressed state to a roller press such that a pair of rolls of said roller press force the individual particles of said cocoa powder to strongly cohere to one another thereby forming small plate-like agglomerates of said cocoa powder, each of said plate-like agglomerates being about 0.5 mm to about 3 mm in thickness; and crushing and sifting said plate-like agglomerates so as to obtain cocoa granules which are between 10 and 30 mesh in size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of ageing said cocoa granules by keeping said cocoa granules at temperatures below about 27° C. at least for a period of 3 hours.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said cocoa granules in the ageing step are kept at temperatures in the range from about 15° C. to about 25° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the ageing step is continued at least for a period of 24 hours.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said cocoa powder is a pure cocoa powder.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
17 words
A method according to claims 1 or 2, wherein said cocoa powder is added with a sweetner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said sweetner is powdered sugar.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein said cocoa powder is further added with powdered milk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the first stated step is performed by means of a compressing apparatus of the type having a screw the turning of which screw exerts compressional force on a powdery material fed to the apparatus.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2889225A
Cited
US3053663A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-12-28 | 1985-06-29 | 1985-12-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-12-28 | 1989-06-29 | 1989-12-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-12-28 | 1993-06-29 | 1993-12-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |