US5597416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making crystalline sugar and products resulting therefrom
Assignee: NTI HOLDINGS CORP
•
Filing: 1993-10-07
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Granted: 1997-01-28
•
Expires: 2013-10-07
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a new crystalline sugar product and method of making same which includes forming a bi-dimensionally stabilized sugar crystalline frame from an outer portion of an amorphous shearform sugar mass, and, subsequently, converting the remaining portion of the mass to a substantially completely crystalline structure which retains the cross-sectional dimension of the sugar crystalline frame. The present invention also includes co-crystallizing an additive, especially a bio-affecting additive, during the process to provide a co-crystallized product. The structure of the crystallized product can also be loaded with a non-solvent liquid by force of capillary action in the space created within the structure during the conversion from amorphous mass to crystalline structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard C. Fuisz
- 👤 Gerald E. Battist
- 👤 Garry L. Myers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:08
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G3/00; A23G3/34; A23G3/36; A23G3/364; A23G3/368; A23G3/02; A23G3/10; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/20; A61K9/2004; A61K9/2013; A61K9/2018; A61K9/2095; A61K9/70; C; C13; C13B; C13B30/00; C13B30/02; C13B30/021; A61K9/0012; A61K9/0053; A61K9/0056
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of forming a crystalline sugar product comprising: forming a bi-dimensionally stabilized sugar crystalline frame from an outer portion of a shearform amorphous sugar mass, said bi-dimensionally stabilized frame having a linear dimension and a cross-sectional dimension, and converting the remaining portion of said mass to a substantially completely crystalline structure which substantially retains said cross-sectional dimension of said bi-dimensionally stabilized sugar crystalline frame.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of forming a crystalline sugar product comprising: forming a bi-dimensionally stabilized sugar crystalline frame from an outer portion of a shearform amorphous sugar mass, said bi-dimensionally stabilized frame having a linear dimension and a cross-sectional dimension, and converting the remaining portion of said mass to a substantially completely crystalline structure which substantially retains said cross-sectional dimension of said bi-dimensionally stabilized sugar crystalline frame.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said forming comprises: controlledly contacting said shearform amorphous sugar mass with water in a substantially non-aqueous gaseous environment at a rate and in an amount sufficient to crystallize amorphous sugar on the outer surface of said mass to form a shell having said cross-sectional dimension.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said converting comprises: continued controlled contacting of said shearform amorphous sugar mass having said shell formed thereon with water in said environment at a rate and in an amount sufficient to maintain said shell and permit said remaining portion of said mass to crystallize to form said crystalline structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 2 wherein gas in said substantially non-aqueous gaseous environment is air maintained at a temperature of at least about 50° C. while said amorphous sugar mass in the presence of a controlled amount of water which initiates crystallization of amorphous sugar is contacted with said water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said substantially non-aqueous gaseous environment is maintained at a relative humidity (r.h.) of not greater than about 50% in an amount sufficient to effect said crystallization.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said relative humidity is between about 5% and 50%.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said forming comprises: controlledly adding heat to said shearform sugar mass in a substantially non-aqueous gaseous environment which contains a quantity of water sufficient to transform amorphous sugar on the outer surface of said mass to a shell having said cross-sectional dimension.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said converting comprises: continued controlled addition of heat to said shearform sugar mass having said shell formed thereon in said environment at a rate and in an amount sufficient to maintain said shell and permit said remaining portion of said mass to crystallize to form said crystalline structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 wherein gas in said substantially non-aqueous gaseous environment is air maintained at an initial relative humidity (r.h.) of not less than about 50%.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said heat is added by increasing the temperature between about 50° C. and 65° C. at a constant moisture level in said environment.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said forming comprises controlled exposure to heat and solvent in a non-aqueous gaseous environment to adjust the glass transition point of said shearform sugar mass to ambient temperature.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein all bi-dimensionally stabilized crystalline frames have cross-sectional dimensions which are monodispersed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said monodispersed dimensions are microcrystalline.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the size of said microcrystalline structure is not more than 50 μm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said size is not more than 10 μm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein shearform amorphous sugar masses are provided by subjecting sugar feedstock material to high speed spinning on a spinning head in which said material is subjected to heat and shear sufficient to create flash flow and which discharges said amorphous sugar masses during spinning.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein masses of shearform amorphous sugar are provided by heating a non-solubilized sugar carrier sufficiently to provide internal flow conditions, and subjecting said carrier to disruptive fluid shear force to form said multiple shearform masses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said shearform amorphous sugar mass further comprises an additive whereby said additive is co-crystallized in said crystalline structure.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said additive is a material which can be integrated into said amorphous sugar mass without reducing the amorphism of said sugar mass and without deteriorating said crystalline structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said additive is selected from the group consisting of flavorants, bio-affecting agents, dyes, fragrances, food products, food ingredients, and other compatible agents.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises incorporating a crystallization modifier in said shearform amorphous sugar mass whereby said forming and said converting are enhanced.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said crystallization modifier is selected from the group consisting of solvents, non-saccharide hydrophilic organic materials (NSHM's), and combinations thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said modifier is sugar solvent incorporated in said shearform amorphous mass in an amount of from about 0.25% to about 3.0% by weight.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said modifier is a surface active agent or combination of surface active agents which have an HLB of at least 6.0.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 which further comprises loading a non-solvent liquid in space created within said new crystalline sugar product by said converting.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said non-solvent liquid is an oleaginous liquid.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said oleaginous liquid is selected from the group consisting of vegetable oils, animal oils, flavor oils, medicament-containing oils, oleaginous, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said loading comprises transfer of liquid into said space by capillary action of said liquid in said space.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-28 | 2000-07-29 | 2001-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-28 | 2004-07-29 | 2005-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-28 | 2008-07-29 | 2009-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |