Patent ID: 6823795
Filing Date: 2004-11-30
Classification: A23G,B41F

Abstract:
An apparatus for printing a multicolor registered image on a surface of an edible piece, comprising:a conveyer for transporting at least one edible piece; a continuously or intermittently rotatable cylinder image transfer surface for contacting said piece for transferring the multicolored registered image onto said edible piece; a first edible color medium supply of a first color; a first application surface in operative communication with said first edible color medium supply and in contact with said image transfer surface for applying a first pattern of edible color medium of said first color to said image transfer surface; a second edible color medium supply of a second color; a second application surface in operative communication with said second color medium supply and in contact with said image transfer surface for applying a second pattern of edible color medium of said second color to said image transfer surface; wherein said first and second patterns of edible color medium are registered on said image transfer surface and the registered image is transferred in one contact step to a surface of the edible piece, wherein at least one of said first and second application surfaces is a surface of a continuously or intermittently rotatable cylinder having an engraved pattern or an embossed pattern, and wherein said first application surface has an engraved pattern or an embossed pattern and said second application surface has an embossed pattern, and wherein said first and second application surfaces each enclose an interior space for receiving the first and second color medium supplies, respectively, and the first and second application surfaces have a plurality of holes for providing color medium from said interior spaces to the first and second application surfaces, respectively.