Patent ID: 6663374
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: A23G

Abstract:
An apparatus (2) for forming an extruded dessert of a primary ingredient such as ice cream and an inclusion ingredient such as fudge, said apparatus including:a main die (12) having a section with sidewalls (44) extending along and about a first axis (46) between first and second end portions (32,34), said sidewalls between said first and second end portions defining a cavity (30), at least one supply source (4) to feed said primary ingredient into the cavity of said main die substantially adjacent the first end portion thereof, said primary ingredient flowing through the cavity of the main die from adjacent the first end portion to the second end portion to be extruded outwardly of the main die from the second end portion thereof, said second end portion having an exit (12â€²) defining a peripheral shape about the first axis and said extruded primary ingredient assuming the peripheral shape of said exit, said apparatus further including at least one intermediate die (24) positioned within the cavity of the main die and spaced from the sidewalls thereof to receive said inclusion ingredient such as fudge and insert said inclusion ingredient into the primary ingredient as said primary ingredient flows along the cavity of the main die along and about said intermediate die, said inclusion ingredient being inserted into said primary ingredient at an insertion location (7â€²) adjacent the exit (12â€²) of the second end portion (34) of the main die (12), at least a second supply source (14) to feed said inclusion ingredient into the intermediate die, said intermediate die having at least two, spaced-apart, top sections (52) and two, spaced-apart, middle sections (54), said intermediate die further including a common bottom section (62), said top sections receiving said inclusion ingredient from said second supply source and respectively extending from adjacent the first end portion of the main die to respective first locations (56) upstream of the insertion location (7â€²), said respective middle sections (54) extending from said respective first locations (56) to respective second locations (64) upstream of said insertion location (7â€²), said common bottom section (62) extending from said respective second locations (64) to said insertion location (7â€²), each of said top sections (52) of the intermediate die (24) having a first, inner, cross-sectional shape and said common bottom section (62) having an inner, cross-sectional shape different from said first shape, each of said middle sections (54) having an inner, cross-sectional shape gradually and progressively changing from substantially matching said first shape of said top section (52) to substantially matching at least a portion of the shape of the common bottom section (62).