US4313265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for preparing microporous structured soluble coffee product
Assignee: General Foods Corp
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Filing: 1980-04-10
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Granted: 1982-02-02
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Expires: 2000-04-10
Abstract
Abstract A freeze-dried soluble coffee product in the form of particles or granules and having a microporous structure is prepared by prechilling a metal plate in a liquid refrigerant, immersing the plate in aqueous extract of coffee solids, reimmersing the plate in a liquid refrigerant, removing the frozen particles in the form of flakes from the plate, grinding and freeze-drying the flakes to produce frozen extract particles with reduced entrainment losses. The product so prepared has a unique porosity and is capable of sorbing, retaining and releasing volatile aromatic compounds.
Inventors
- 👤 Daniel E. Dwyer, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:00
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23F; A23F5/00; A23F5/46; A23F5/48; A23F5/486; A23F5/24; A23F5/28; A23F5/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A process for preparing a microporous structured freeze-dried coffee product comprising: (a) prechilling a metal plate in a liquid refrigerant maintained at a temperature of -195° to -73° C.; (b) quickly immersing the plate in an aqueous extract or solution of coffee solids where a thin layer of the extract adheres to and becomes frozen on the plate; (c) reimmersing the plate, on which the frozen coffee extract is adhering in said liquid refrigerant; (d) removing the frozen extract from the plate and collecting the frozen extract in the form of flakes; (e) grinding the flakes to produce particles; and (f) freeze-drying the frozen extract particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A process for preparing a microporous structured freeze-dried coffee product comprising: (a) prechilling a metal plate in a liquid refrigerant maintained at a temperature of -195° to -73° C.; (b) quickly immersing the plate in an aqueous extract or solution of coffee solids where a thin layer of the extract adheres to and becomes frozen on the plate; (c) reimmersing the plate, on which the frozen coffee extract is adhering in said liquid refrigerant; (d) removing the frozen extract from the plate and collecting the frozen extract in the form of flakes; (e) grinding the flakes to produce particles; and (f) freeze-drying the frozen extract particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as in claim 1 in which the microporous structured freeze-dried coffee product micropores have an average radius of 10 to 100 A and the product has a surface area of 1 to 25 m 2 /g.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A process as in claim 2 in which the time for: prechilling in (a) is 10 seconds to 2 minutes; immersing in (b) is 1 to 10 seconds; and reimmersing in (c) is 10 seconds to 5 minutes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as in claim 3 in which the thin layer in (b) has a thickness of 0.25 to 5 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 4 in which the aqueous extract in (b) is maintained at a temperature of 2° to 30° C. prior to freezing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as in claim 5 in which the solids content of the aqueous extract in (b) is from 10 to 60% by weight.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4073158A
Cited
US4077227A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-02-01 | 1985-08-03 | 1986-02-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-02-01 | 1989-08-03 | 1990-02-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-02-01 | 1993-08-03 | 1994-02-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |