Abstract:
A device that provides better movement of semi solid materials such as but not limited to food products for metered dispensing. The device is able to take bulk semi solid material, entrain or draw the material into the device and add pressure to the semi solid material so that the semi solid material may be passed thru a nozzle or controlled discharge metering device or orifice. The rollers have circumferential grooved profiles and scrapers that are able to actively remove the semi-solid materials from the grooved profiles. The emitted semi solid material can then be more accurately applied or portioned in a metered fashion. Typical applications include but are certainly not limited to the production of cookies from bulk dough, the application of icing to a cake base/body/top or perimeter, metering of dough for bread or rolls so as to allow for a cutting device to cut off into uniform pieces.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of U.S. provisional patent applications 60/848,374, filed Oct. 2, 2006, and 60/852,423, filed Oct. 18, 2006, which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     In the production of food products such as cookies, candies, icing of cakes, layering of butter into pastry dough and other food and non food products that may be a semi solid materials there is always a need to pump or move the bulk material and metered it out. Existing units use two counter rotating horizontally profiled rollers to entrain product and extrude it out thru a specific profile. The roller design is widely accepted in that it does not impart any grinding or mashing of the material being processed, as an example when making chocolate chip cookies the chocolate chips pass between the gap between the two rollers without crushing or grinding, by comparison an auger, lobe or gear style pump would crush or grind up the chocolate chips. 
     These machines have several applications, some non-limiting examples include for instance the production of cookies and candy materials, where these machines force the materials through die nozzles to emerge as a continuous stream of product that are cut at uniform increments. Another non-limiting example includes icing a cake, the icing is forced thru a long narrow slot to produce the sheet of icing that will then cover or be applied to a cake. Another non-limiting example is pastry manufacture. With pastry, buttery or fatty material is extruded into a sheet to go onto the dough which is then layered, typically by folding repeatedly and rolling thin multiple times to produce the thin layers of dough that have a flaky nature after baking. 
     Basic devices of this type have been produced in the past but the roller profiles on these previous machines resulted in numerous issues. The rollers of these devices typically have grooves or saw tooth profiles running across the face of the rollers, in a horizontal or longitudinal direction parallel with the axis of rotation of the roller. These profiles tend to add a degree of grip or traction so as to grip the material introduced. As the two rollers counter rotate towards and past the pinch point or convergence point of the rollers the entrained material will pass thru this pinch point or point of convergence so as to impart a degree of pressure on the material in the area just beyond the roller pinch point. Thus, as the material exits the rollers it can be forced through a nozzle or orifice at pressure. 
     The traction or grip of these horizontal grooves being effectively limited to the shear strength of the material were therefore not able to produce as high an extruding pressure as may be needed in some applications. Further shortcomings from the horizontal profiled rollers also includes impediment of the pressures that can be attained as well as allowing for leakage of the entrained medium around the surface of the profiled roller. As the horizontal profiles require clearance between the profile and the exit passage, typically a die block, this gap prevents a positive seal between these components. The inability to create a positive seal between these surfaces leads to leakages of semi solid materials between the rollers and die blocks. The resulting leakage producing an undesirable sanitation or hygenic condition as well as producing scaling deviations or inconsistencies in the output. The previous profiles were also of a shape and nature such that there could never be made a positive seal against the profile or roller surface. 
     The short comings of these previous art machines are numerous. As noted above, they include a reduced tractive capability and lower feed pressures being achieved by the action of the counter rotating horizontal grooved rollers. The pressures can be so low that it is often times barely adequate to force the material through the nozzle. With some of the materials, such as buttery materials or materials with high fat contents, if for any reason the material chokes or does not flow through the nozzle at the full rate then slippage of the material relative to the roller surface occurs. Any slippage at this interface causes the semi solid or viscous material to become less viscous. Slippage in these materials generates frictional heat which causes the materials to further soften at the interface of the semi solid material to the horizontal grooved roller. Therefore the slippage increases and material flow is further reduced with a compounding effect. 
     In addition, when material flow decreases, either through slippage or leakage, then the discharge thru the nozzle decreases in those machines. This in turn causes a decrease in the size of the pieces that are cut from the exiting stream of materials since the cutting operation is normally on a timed cycle or is gauged to the rotation of the two counter rotating grooved rollers. In the case of icing being dispensed for a cake this slippage and reduced flow results in a sheet or film of icing that either comes out at a rate slower than that of the cake, for example, that the icing is to be deposited onto or the sheet or film of icing thins, tears or pulls, with the results being incorrectly iced cakes. 
     A need therefore exists for a device that would exhibit a high degree of traction on the semi viscous or semi solid material to be moved so that slippage would not occur or would be minimized. It would also need to provide this high traction and/or resulting higher post roller pressure without producing any negative side effects such as the grinding, crushing, or smearing of the material or any inclusions that may be within or suspended within the semi solid material. Additionally, it should provide for both a positive seal to maintain consistent through put of material, remove entrapped materials from the groves of the rollers, eliminate or minimize leakage and thereby prevent recirculation of these materials and or scaling deviations 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With the instant invention described hereafter, it may be seen that by utilizing a different profile than that of previous machines it is possible to provide a greater degree of traction or increased medium pressure and to provide for more consistent product flow and thereby portion scaling, while still allowing for passage of inclusions or suspended materials with little or no resulting damage to the included or suspended materials. A further feature of the exemplary embodiments would be in the increased hygienic operation of the metering or dispensing device by utilizing a positive seal scraper which removes any retained materials from the tractive grooves of the feed rollers. 
     The instant invention utilizing two parallel counter rotating rollers to grip, entrain and extrude semi solid materials out of a profiled orifice. The rollers utilize a plurality of circumferential tractive grooves running around the diameter of the roller and then repeated across the face of the roller. The circumferential tractive grooves also providing an ability to utilize a scraper which contains a profile to match the grooves. The combination of grooved roller and profiled scraper allows for obtaining higher extrusion pressures with better operating characteristics as well as more sanitary operation. 
     An object of the invention is to provide increased traction by added surface area and depth of a grooved, circumferential profile where semi solid materials can be pressed into and operating pressures or forces can hold to groove surfaces and provide better scaling due to reduced slippage. 
     A further object is to provide a circumferential profile that can allow for a positive seal with a scraper and better scaling through reduced leakage and prevention of recirculation of the semi-solid food materials in grooves or on roller faces. 
     Yet another object is to provide for the venting out air pockets and allow for passage of air that can flow in front of dough as it moves down into the grooves, allowing for better scaling due to removal of air pockets in product stream. 
     The invention includes an article of manufacture, an apparatus, a method for making the article, and a method for using the article. 
     The method of the invention includes A method for metering and dispensing semi-solid food material in controlled amounts, comprising the steps of preparing the semi-solid food material and depositing same in a hopper and entraining said semi-solid food material in between two counter rotating feed rollers with grooved, circumferential profiles, the rollers being in communication with the hopper, wherein the semi-solid food material is spread between the grooves within the circumferential profile and held therebetween, and moving said semi-solid food material through a convergence point between the counter rotating feed rollers, the movement pushing at least a portion of the semi-solid material into communication with an at least one scraper in communication with the roller to remove the portion of the semi-solid food material from the roller, and ejecting said semi-solid food material, both the portion that was in communication with the scrapers and the remaining portion, through an at least one die block having an at least one nozzle. 
     The entrainment and movement steps with the at least one scraper may provide that the at least one scraper is in intimate communication with the grooved circumferential profile such that it makes a positive seal with said two counter rotating feed rollers having said circumferential profiles. 
     The apparatus of the invention includes a metering device dispensing semi-solid food material in controlled amounts, having a hopper containing wherein the semi solid food material is placed with two counter rotating feed rollers with matched, grooved circumferential profiles, the two counter rotating feed rollers each having a horizontal centerline for each grooved profile the rollers being in a roller section communicating with the hopper and mechanically driven in a counter rotating fashion and two scrapers matching the grooved circumferential profile of and in communication with each of the counter rotating feed rollers and an at least one die block and an at least one die nozzle coupled to and communicating with the two scrapers, wherein when the semi-solid food material is in contact with the counter rotating feed rollers the mechanically induced rotation of the counter rotating feed rollers causes the semi solid food material to become entrained by the counter rotating feed rollers with circumferential profiles and moves the entrained semi-solid food material downward due to the rotation of the feed rollers and as the semi solid material moves with the rotation of the respective feed rollers the semi solid material comes towards the center of the roller section between the feed roller center lines and is fed out past the scrapers through the at least one die block and the corresponding at least one die nozzle. 
     The metering device can also have the two matching grooved circumferential profiled scrapers in intimate contact with the grooved circumferential profiles of the counter rotating rollers such that a positive seal is provided preventing recirculation of entrained semi-solid food material. The grooved circumferential profiles of the counter rotating rollers can extend the length of the counter rotating rollers. The two scrapers can extend and match the length of the profiles on the two counter rotating rollers. 
     The grooved circumferential profiles of the two counter rotating rollers can form a radius and the at least one die block includes the two matching grooved circumferential profiled scrapers mounted thereon and can have an identical radius machined into the two scrapers from front to back thereon. The semi-solid material can flow through the die block and the at least one nozzle with a positive pressure. 
     The device can further comprise a non-stick surface on the at least one die block or the at least one die nozzle or a non-stick insert for the inner surface of at least one of the at least one die nozzles. The non-stick coating can be Teflon. 
     The semi viscous material can be, but certainly is not limited to, one of a chocolate coated candy centers, cookies, cookies with inclusions, hot cross buns, brownie batter, icing, dough, and dough with inclusions. The profiles can be substantially perpendicular to the horizontal centerlines of the counter rotating rollers or substantially vertical relative to the orientation of the counter rotating rollers. 
     The circumferential profiles can further comprise grooves with profiles having high points or crests and low points or valleys, the profiles of the circumferential rollers entraining the semi solid material in the high points or crests and low points or valleys across the surface of counter rotating feed rollers. The semi-solid food material can be spread between the grooves within the circumferential profile and held therebetween with increased pressure. 
     The entrainment of the semi solid material within the vertically oriented profiles together with the counter rotational movement of the counter rotating feed rollers pushes the entrained semi solid material down to a convergence point between the two counter rotating feed rollers. The distance between the roller surfaces can be proportional to the viscosity and the depth of the semi solid material in contact with the roller faces. 
     The mechanically driven rotation of the rollers can move the semi-solid food materials down and inwards towards a pinch point of the two counter rotating rollers, the movement from the hopper to the convergence point causing the medium to first enter and fill or wedge into the grooves of the circumferential profiles of the two counter rotating feed rollers. 
     The metering device for dispensing semi-solid food material in controlled amounts of claim  11 , wherein the size and shape of the contoured profiles are varied based on the type of semi solid material. The profiles of the two counter rotating feed rollers can also be matched such that the high points in each profile are matched opposite one another. The profiles of the two counter rotating feed rollers can also be matched such that the high point of one meets the low point in the other. 
     The grooves in the profiles can have, but are certainly not limited to having, a groove radius with a widths of between about 1/32 to ⅛ of an inch with a pitch width of between about ⅛ to ½ of an inch with and 1/16 to ¼ of an inch separations between the two counter rotating feed rollers. 
     The metering device can further include an adjustment mechanism or substitution mechanism allowing for the adjustment or substitution of at least one of the two counter rotating feed rollers to adjust the width of the pinch point. 
     The metering device where the grooves are formed from one of a parabolic root with parabolic top section, a parabolic root with flat top section, or a v profile with a v-shape cut into the roller with the bottom of the v-shape having a radiused bottom or a sharp bottom and the tops having flat sections or sharpened sections as tops. 
     The metering device for dispensing semi-solid food material wherein the two scrapers produce a positive seal with the respective two counter rotating rollers, thereby increasing operating pressure and providing positive containment of the semi-solid material. 
     Moreover, the above objects and advantages of the invention are illustrative, and not exhaustive, of those which can be achieved by the invention. Thus, these and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description herein, both as embodied herein and as modified in view of any variations which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail by way of the drawings, where the same reference numerals refer to the same features and reference is made to non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the instant invention. 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of a prior art device. 
         FIG. 2  shows an open front view of the prior art device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a cutaway side view of an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention. 
         FIG. 4  shows an open front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3   
         FIG. 5  shows a top down view in detail of the profile of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  show close up, top down views of additional feed roller profiles. 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  show close up, top down views of additional feed roller profiles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The embodiments and examples discussed herein are non-limiting examples. Reference is made to the exemplary embodiments of the figures, however, these embodiments are non-limiting illustrations of the invention as described. 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of a prior art device. A typical prior art machine provides two parallel counter rotating rollers which thru mechanically induced drive would counter rotate and thereby entrain semi solid materials into the pinch area between the rollers and then extrude it out of a die assembly or multiple die nozzles located downstream of the rollers. With prior art machines as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  (open front view) the semi solid material  1  is placed in the hopper  2  located above the two counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b . The counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  typically have horizontally or longitudinally oriented matched profiles to provide traction on the semi solid material. 
     Rotation of the feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  in the shown angular movement would result in the bulk material being entrained by the feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  profiles and brought down and towards the die block  5 . To assist in this movement of semi solid material  1  and increase pressure, longitudinal grooves  4 , for example, are cut into the surface of the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  as profiles. These grooves  4  do provide an increase in the traction or gripping ability of the feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  by pressing some of the semi solid material  1  into the longitudinal grove  4  where it tends to adhere to the surface and contour of the longitudinal groove  4 . This adhering semi solid material  1  then in turn tends to grip subsequent bulk semi solid material  1  in the hopper  2  and thru the mechanically induced rotation of the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  drive the semi solid material  1  thru between the pinch point  3   c  of the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  into area of the die block  5 . 
     The surface of the die block  5  is machined to match the rotational path of the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  with an increment of clearance  5   a  between the die block  5  and to the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  to accommodate mechanical clearance between the longitudinal groove  4  of the rollers  3   a ,  3   b  and the die block  5 . The position of the die block  5  to the rollers causes the majority of the semi solid material  1  to be removed from the entraining surface of the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  thru a shearing action and directs the semi solid material  1  to pass down the die block  5  to discharge dies  6 . However, there is no way to provide a positive seal at the die block  5  or clear the semi solid material  1  in the longitudinal profile  4 . Once the semi solid material  1  passes out the end of the die  6  it may be cut or stripped from this die to produce the desired portioned product such as but no limited to cookie portions, granola bars, icing sheets for a cake covering or the like. 
     As can be deduced from the description and viewed from  FIG. 1 , there is a degree of friction or drag that occurs when the semi solid material  1  is forced to move against the contact surfaces of the die block  5  and the die nozzles  6 . To operate properly the tractive force of the counter rotating rollers  3   a ,  3   b  and the semi solid material  1  passing there through must be greater than the drag or friction force of the discharging of the semi solid material  1 . In the operation these heretofore known devices this tractive force may be only slightly higher than the drag force that it must overcome and therefore the semi solid materials may bind in the die block  5  or discharge dies  6 . If the drag force of the die block  5  and the nozzles  6  is greater than the tractive force then slippage can occur at the feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  which will cause decreased tractive force and flow of semi solid materials. This slippage of semi solid material at the feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  tends to cause inaccuracies in the scaling or dispensing of the product. 
     At the interface of roller  3   a ,  3   b  to die block  5  there is the small die gap  5   a  which causes most to the material to divert down thru the die passage Sb or port of die block  5 . Assisting in sealing this gap  5   a  is the die block  5  with its stationary surface with only the feed roller  3   a ,  3   b  moving so that there is a partial boundary layer condition in the material as it moves or smears through the roller to die gap  5   a  at a sufficiently low velocity. But this smearing around of semi solid material  1  and the corresponding heat of this frictional movement actually acts to add heat or temperature to the adhering material  1  on the surface of the feed roller  3   a ,  3   b . This added heat raises the temperature of this semi solid material further and reduces the adhesion and tractive force imparted on the semi solid material  1 . 
     With some semi solid materials an additional problem occurs in that the semi solid material can have an elevated fat content. When slippage between the roller  3   a ,  3   b  and the semi solid material  1  occurs the friction from the slippage adds heat to the semi solid material  1  along the shear path. This friction would reduce the viscosity or soften up the semi solid fat. Once this fat softens the semi solid material it is suspended in also softens and thereby reducing the ability to be driven by the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b . And as it becomes softer it slips more and the softening continues to increase. After a short period of time the semi solid material in the area beyond the point at which the rollers meet or the pinch point  3   c  of the rollers is stiffer than the semi solid material  1  at or coming in contact with the counter rotating feed rollers  3   a ,  3   b  and passage of semi solid material is greatly reduced. At this point the heretofore known machine shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has to be stopped to allow the semi solid material temperature to stabilize and then an attempt to restart can be made. 
       FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  show an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention. In  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , a hopper  12  is provided above two counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. The counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B have a grooved profile or contour of vertical or circumferential direction  14 A,  14 B and matching contoured scrapers  15 A,  15 B. Following the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B and matching contoured scrapers  15 A,  15 B, a contoured scraper holder  15 C is provided having tubes or passages  15 D bored thru from top to bottom of scraper holder  15 C leading to a dispensing point, die nozzle  16 A The matching scrapers  15 A,  15 B are in cooperative engagement with the counter rotating rollers  13 A,  13 B to help prevent recirculation of the semi-solid material. 
     In the operation of the exemplary embodiment shown, the bulk semi solid material  1  is placed in the hopper  12  above the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. The semi solid material  1  thru the effect of gravity drops to come in contact with the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. When in contact with the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B the mechanically induced rotation of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B cause the semi solid material  1  to become entrained by the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B circumferential profiles  14 A,  14 B. As the semi solid material  1  moves with the rotation of the respective counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B the semi solid material  1  will come towards the center area between the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B horizontal center lines. The entrained semi solid materials  1  are thus moved down towards the convergence point or “pinch point”  13 C between the two feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. As the entrained semi solid materials  1  approach the pinch point  13 C the materials are pressed or forced to the roller surface by the action of the opposing roller counter rotation. This entrained semi solid material  1  will also move downward due to the radius and rotation of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B have a profile or groves  14 A,  14 B which run around the outside of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B or in the circumference of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B here after referred to as circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B. The counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B with circumferential groves  14 A,  14 B running in the circumferential direction, produce greater tractive forces through the increased surface area of the circumferential profiles  14 A,  14 B. The increased surface area provided by the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B in conjunction with the rotation creates a forcing or wedging action from the adhesion of the semi solid materials  1  being forced against the outside of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B and into the circumferential groves  14 A,  14 B of the counter rotating feed roller  13 A,  13 B 
     By comparison, the motion of the previous horizontal profiles relied on mechanically entrapping the semi solid materials, creating a pressure force dependent on the mechanical shear strength of the material as the horizontal profile passes through the semi-solid material, as discussed above. In the instant invention, the wedging or pressing force from the coming together of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B and the respective circumferential profiles or grooves  14 A,  14 B adds traction or grip to the semi solid materials  1  to the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B independent of the shear strength of the semi solid material  1 . The instant invention thereby provides better passage of the materials thru the pinch point  13 C, thru the die blocks  16  and out the die nozzles  16 A. 
     The counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B with circumferential grooves or profiles  14 A,  14 B possess a greater ability to contact entrain semi solid materials  1 . The high points or crowns  14   c ,  14   d  of the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B grasp and pull on semi solid materials  1  rather than having this material just touch and slide on the surface of rollers, as in the case of prior art machines. This enhanced starting or contact entrainment of the semi solid material  1  to the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B also produces a better priming effect where once the semi solid material  1  comes in contact with the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B of counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B, the semi solid material  1  grips and goes thru the device without any starting or priming difficulties or lag time. Prior machines have often had issues where it took time for the semi solid material  1  to start to be entrained by the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B and the time that it takes before the semi solid materials would flow thru the prior devices. 
       FIG. 5  shows a top view with enlarged detail of the circumferential profiles of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . The counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B of an exemplary embodiment of the grooves or profiles  14 A,  14 B are shown. The circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B shown repeat and intermesh, this repeating dimension being typically referred to as the pitch. The radiuses, in this non-limiting example, are the same but do not need to be the same and could easily be different in radius size or dimension without deviating from the design or novelty of this invention. It should also be noted that the profiles can be of different shapes to form vertical or circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B into and to the top of the grooves or crowns  14 C,  14 D. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  and  FIGS. 7A and 7B  show close up, top down views of additional feed roller profiles. These variations in profile shapes may be, for example, but are certainly not limited to, a parabolic root with parabolic top section, a parabolic root with flat top section, a “v” profile where a v-shape is cut into the roller—the bottom of this v-shape may have a radiused bottom or a sharp bottom and the tops could be the same being of flat sides with radiused or sharp tops, or similar shapes that provide for a profile examples of which can be seen in  FIGS. 6A ,  6 B,  7 A, and  7 B. 
       FIGS. 6A and 7A  show additional profile shapes in a non-offset configuration. As a non-limiting example, the rollers  13 A,  13 B or circumferential profiles  14 A,  14 B on the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B could be set so that the crown  14   c ,  14   d  of the profile of one roller could be aligned and fit into the groove  14 A,  14 B of the profile contained on the other roller as shown if Crown to Grove of  FIG. 5 . This configuration further reduces the overall area of the pinch point and thereby reduces the chance of materials flowing back up through the pinch point  13 C. This could also be described as a half-pitch offset. 
       FIGS. 6B and 7B  show additional profile shapes in an offset configuration. The circumferential profiles or grooves  14 A,  14 B of these exemplary embodiments are set so that they do not line up to one another or have no offset, such that in the crown of  14 C to crown of  14 D type configuration as shown in Crown to Crown of  FIGS. 6B and 7B  . 
     It should also be noted that in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B are both of equal diameter, it would, however, be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that additionally sizes and shapes could be used with either roller without departing from the spirit of the invention. Similarly, in the  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  the contoured scrapers  15 A,  15 B, the contoured scraper holder  15 C, die block  16  and die nozzles  16 A are shown as separate pieces but could just as easily be made from one piece or could be made such that the scrapers  15 A,  15  B, the die block  16 , the die nozzles  16 A and similar components that function past the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A and  13 B could be made in one piece rather than in two or more pieces. 
     In addition to the circumferential profile groove  14 A,  14 B, an at least one scraper, here a pair of scrapers  15 A,  15 B, is provided with a profile matching the circumferential profile groove  14 A,  14 B of counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. The matching of the profile of the scraper  15 A,  15 B to the circumferential profile groove  14 A,  14 B and counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B allows for a higher pressure in this exit passageway as compared to the previously known machines, like those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , where a mechanically required clearance between the feed roller  3  of  FIG. 1  and the die block  6  of  FIG. 1  would never permit a positive seal and would therefore allow for passage of the semi solid materials  1  between the rotating feed rollers  3  and die block  5 . 
     With respect to the exemplary embodiment of the instant invention shown, the increased pressure in the previously described exit passage or cavity of the preferred embodiment where the semi solid material  1  will flow thru and exit the die nozzles  16   a  with little potential for slowing due to the effects of friction or drag of semi solid material  1  relative to the cavity surfaces. This virtual elimination of the slowing of semi solid material  1  and slippage of the semi solid material  1  with respect to the circumferentially grooved  14   a ,  14   b  counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B produces a very consistent, positive passage of semi solid material  1  without the defects often found in the heretofore known machines. The positive passage of semi solid materials  1  reduces disturbance and/or decreases the possibility or probability of scaling decreases and/or deviations due to disruption in flow of semi solid material  1  thru the device. 
     It is seen from these figures and understood in this description that the circumferential profiles  14 A,  14 B in the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B as well as the width or spacing of the pinch point  13 C between the counter rotating feed rollers  13   a ,  13  is typically modified or suited to the product type that is being processed. For example, materials of low viscosity, such as cake icing, the circumferential profiles  14 A,  14 B are shallow, the pitch is generally kept narrower and the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B spacing from top to top is generally kept closer. For more viscous materials, such as bread dough for example, the grooves  14 A,  14 B are made deeper, the pitch width increased and the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B top to top spacing is wider. The circumferential profiles  14 Aa,  14 B of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B of the preferred embodiment may vary in size and shape depending on type of product that must be processed. 
     As a non-limiting example for cake icing for example, the groves can have groove radius widths of, for example, 1/32 to ⅛ of an inch with a pitch width of, for example, ⅛ to ½ of an inch with, for example, 1/16 to ¼ separations between the feed roller  13 A,  13 B. Typical setting being 0.060 inch radius with 0.240 inch pitch and 0.100 inch roller to roller top gap. In another non-limiting example for use with stiffer mediums, such as stiff dough used in the making of hard rolls or bread dough, the rollers  13 A,  13 B can have grove radius widths of, for example, 1/16 to ¼ of an inch with a pitch width of, for example, ¼ to 1 inch with, for example, ⅛ to ⅜ inch separation between the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. 
     In yet another non-limiting example, cookies with inclusions, such as chocolate chunks, can require a feed roller  13   a  to roller  13   b  separation of ¼ to ⅜ of an inch which is large enough to allow for passage of the chunks or inclusions typically used in the production of cookies. To accommodate these materials with inclusions, the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B are set with a spacing that is larger than the diameter of the inclusion, as shown in the exemplary embodiment. When the medium containing these types of inclusions is passing thru the device the dough component will fill and flow in the groves of the rotating rollers and the inclusion will fit or pass through the open area between the high points of the rollers. It should also be clear that the utilization of the gap is typically in conjunction with brittle inclusions such as chocolate chunks and nuts, rather than soft or compressible inclusions such as raisins which can deform to a certain extent to pass thru a space that in it&#39;s relaxed shape it would not be able to fit thru. Though shown as a fixed spacing, the invention anticipates providing an adjustment mechanism or easy substitution of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B or mounting of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B to adjust the spacing. 
     It should be understood that due to pressure in the area beyond the pinch point  13 C of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B there would be a tendency for the semi-solid material  1  to flow back if this were a static application but due to the movement of the material and rotation of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B the reaction to the movement of the material is limited to a reduction in maximum speed or thru put of the materials thru the pinch point  13 C. 
       FIG. 5  shows a top down view in detail of the profile of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in the exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 , the wedging action of the semi solid material  1  occurs due to the entrainment of the semi solid material  1  within the vertically oriented grooves of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B and counter rotation of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B towards each other. The larger amount of surface area provided by the vertically oriented grooves of the exemplary embodiment shown as compared to that of a flat roller or that of a prior art roller with longitudinal saw toothed or similarly horizontally profiled grooves, like those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , provides for an increased amount of overall pressure over these previous machines. Additionally, as the separation between the crowns  14 C,  14 D of the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B decreases, the ability of the material to flow back decreases due to a boundary layer condition and the depth of the semi solid material in contact with the roller faces. This effect also causes a portion of the semi solid material  1  to be pressed into the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B of the roller where it is held by a pressing force and moved by the counter rotation. 
     This wedging action increases as the semi solid materials start to approach the pinch point of feed rollers  13 C. The increasing wedging effect of the semi solid materials allows the semi solid materials  1  to be pressed into the circumferential feed roller grooves  14 A,  14 B. The greater the wedging action or the more the semi solid materials  1  approach the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B pinch point  13 C, the greater the force that presses the semi solid materials towards the roller surface and into the feed roller grooves  14 A,  14 B. The increasing pressure of the semi solid material  1  against the feed roller  13 A,  13 B and into the grooves  14 A,  14 B of the feed rollers  13 A,  13 B causes or improves the grip or traction that the feed roller  13 A,  13 B or grooves  14 A, 14 B have to the semi solid material  1  and conversely increases the pressure of the material being pushed out below the pinch point  13 C. 
     As noted above, the vertical orientation of the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B allow the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B to be in communication with the scrapers  15 A,  15 B. With the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B running in the circumferential direction, the scrapers  15 A,  15 B abut with and create a seal with rollers  13 A,  13 B and the circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B. The scrapers can be produced with a profile that matches those of the feed roller  13 A,  13 B with its circumferential grooves  14 A,  14 B. When placing the profiled scraper  15 A,  15 B member to the feed rollers  13 A , 13 B and matching the profiles, a very tight seal is produced as opposed to the need for clearance of the roller relative to the die block as with existing machines. The tight seal of the instant invention removes the semi solid material instead of allowing the recirculation, as occurs in the previously known machines like those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     This seal also prevents the traditional leakage due to feed roller  3  to die block  5  clearance  5 A found in these previously known devices, such as those shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . Additionally, the leakage is also a point of variability, as if materials leak the flow thru this area would result in an inconsistent rate of distribution and scaling of semi solid material from the machine. If the leak is inconsistent or there is variation in the flow of the semi solid material it will produce a deviation in scaling of product in that the product is scaled in relation to the rotation of the rollers and the amount of materials that exit the die nozzles  6   a , making scaling and metering more difficult in the prior art devices. As scrapers  15 A,  15 B of the instant invention create a positive seal with the rollers  13 A,  13 B and the profiles  14 A,  14 B, leakage is minimized and a further source of waste and variability is eliminated as the semi solid material  1  is passed through the die nozzle  16   a.    
     The die block  16  in the instant invention can be a slab of material, for example but certainly not limited to an aluminum slab, or several separate pieces. The die block  16  running the length of the rollers  13 A,  13 B with tubes, orifices, or passages  16 A bored thru from top to bottom. In the exemplary embodiment, the tubes, orifices, or passages  16 A going from the rollers to the discharge nozzle  16 A out the bottom of the die block  16  are the material removal paths or passages, the material is dispensed at the end of the tubes, orifices, or passages  16 A. These can be a standard size. Additionally, the exit nozzle  16 A can be made to be fixed or detachable. In the case of a detachable nozzle array  16 A, the user unbolts the nozzle  16 A and installs other nozzles that would be of a determined diameter. Additionally, metering devices, such as cutters or other apportionment devices, can be used to portion the outflow from the device and can be added to the die block  16  or the nozzle array  16 A. 
     Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the instant invention a non-stick coating, for example but certainly not limited to TEFLON, is utilized within the die block  15  and die block passages  15 A and a non-stick coating, a solid machined die nozzle, or a machined solid non-stick insets can be used for the inner surface of the die block  15  or die nozzles  15 A. The surface area drag in the die block  16  and/or nozzles  16  becoming most pronounced when producing confectionary products which pass through die nozzles  16 A. This is due to the size of the final confectionary products, which are usually quite small and require small diameter die nozzles  16 A. A non-limiting example for instance includes the centers for chocolate coated candies that are much narrower rather than, by comparison, for cookies which normally are larger in size and therefore use a larger discharge die nozzle or orifice  16 A. Thus, reduction of drag in conjunction with the higher pressure at the convergence point  13 C and lower overall surface area of the convergence point  13 C provide for enhanced outflow performance in the instant invention. 
     Another significant benefit of the circumferential roller grooves  14 A,  14 B and the scrapers  15 A,  15 B with matching profiles of the instant invention is the positive seal that the scrapers  15 A,  15 B forms to the feed roller  13 A,  13 B allows the effectively complete removal of all semi solid materials  1  from the feed rollers  13 A,  13 B. In the previous machines shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  the plurality of roller grooves  4  run parallel to the feed roller  3  rotational center line and have a saw tooth shape. This longitudinal groove  4  does provide increased traction by maintaining material in the longitudinal grooves which in turn hold additional approaching semi solid material  1 , thereby decreasing slippage of the product relative to the roller, as compared to the operation of semi solid material  1  in contact with a smooth or groove less roller. But the groves  4  being in a longitudinal direction or parallel to the rotational axis of the shaft which the rollers rotate about does not permit any mechanical removal of the semi solid materials  1  from the groove  4  by a means such as a scraper. 
     By comparison, in the previous designs, like those of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there can be no positive seal between the die block  5  and the counter rotating rollers  3  due to the orientation of the profile  4  of the rollers  3 . There always remains in these prior machines an amount of semi solid material in the grooves  4  of the counter rotating rollers  3  that passes through the clearance  5   a  between the rotating rollers  3 A,  3 B and the die block  5 . The machine is not able to remove this material so it continues to rotate in the grove  4  of the counter rotating rollers  3 . With the case of cookies which use eggs or egg products there are hygienic concerns about this semi solid material  1  remaining in the grooves  4  of the rotating rollers  3 A,  3 B. 
     Therefore, the semi solid material  1  may remain in this plurality of groves  4  for a significant period of time. This is typically referred to as the “re-circulating” of semi solid materials in the groves of the rollers which typically extends to the depth of the grove in the feed rollers  3 A,  3 B plus the clearance of the rollers to the die block  5 . This indeterminate retention of the semi solid material  1  can present health or hygienic issues in these previously known devices. One example is a semi solid material with nuts or other allergens in which the mixture would need to be cleaned from the rollers. Another example is possible bacterial growth when the semi solid material  1  contains egg products such as when the semi solid material is a cookie dough mixture which may contain eggs or egg products. 
     In the instant invention the positive seal with the die block  16  with the scrapers  15 A,  15 B, prevents recirculation. The roller scraper  15 A,  15 B profile maintains an intimate contact with the circumferential groove  14 A,  14 B surface of the feed roller  13 A, 13 B and due to the mechanically induced rotation of the feed rollers  13 A,  13 B the roller scrapers  15 A,  15 B removes the semi solid material from the rollers  13 A , 13 B surface and from within the feed roller grooves  14 A,  14 B as the surface of the roller  13 A,  13 B moves towards the scrapers  15 A,  15 B. When the semi solid material has been removed from the feed rollers  13 A,  13 B surface and from inside the grooves  14 A,  14 B the semi solid material I can not return thru the point of entry or the pinch point  13 C because of the continued movement of the feed rollers  13 A,  13 B and the entrained semi solid material  1 . The semi solid material  1  must therefore pass thru the cavity formed by the roller scrapers  15 A,  15 B, the roller scraper holder  15   a , die block  16  and the die nozzles  16   a  and exit from the end of the die nozzle  16   a.    
     The position of the scrapers  15 A,  15 B and force of contact of the scrapers  15 A,  15 B to the counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B are a function of the mounting of the scrapers  15 A,  15 B on the scraper holder  15 C as well as a to a larger extent the pressure built up or produced within the confines of the feed rollers the die block  16 , the passages  15 D, the die block nozzles  16 A, and the scrapers  15 A,  15 B. So that as this pressure increases it also increases the pressure or force that the scrapper places upon the rollers  13 A,  13 B, providing a self energizing pressure effect. Additionally, though the scrapers  15 A,  15 B are shown as being identical, variations in the size, shape and placement are well within the spirit of the invention. 
     Additionally, in the exemplary embodiment the feed roller scrapers  15 A,  15 B are of a simple flat section that contains a profile to match the profile of the feed rollers  13 A, 13 B. Many semi solid materials  1  will or may contain abrasive materials such as but not limited to sugar granules or crystals, flour, candy segments or pieces containing candy fragments. These materials or ingredients are typically abrasive and may tend to wear the materials that they come in contact with or the surfaces that they move against. So in the instant invention, to accommodate the abrasive wear, rollers  13 A,  13 B are comprised of harder material than the softer scrapers  15 A,  15 B, such that the scraper  1   5 A,  15 B would wear preferentially. The simpler scraper of the preferred embodiment would also be a lower cost replaceable piece rather than the higher cost profiled counter rotating feed rollers  13 A,  13 B, 
     Once the semi solid material  1  flows out from the die nozzle  16   a  the semi solid material  1  will have the shape of the die nozzle  16   a  opening and the semi solid material  1  will be further processed. For example, in the production of fruit and or granola bars, the extruded material may be kept in a steady stream from the nozzle, then rolled between a pair of parallel rollers to get a flatter profile and finally cut into bar length sections. In the production of cookies a portion of cookie material will exit the die nozzle  16   a  and be cut off by mechanical action. Candies and chocolate centers are also typically produced by extruding them from a die nozzle and cutting the extruded material off to create a proper portion. 
     The feed roller grooves  14 A,  14 B also provide a way of removing air that may be trapped or entrained in the semi sold material  1 . As the feed rollers  13 A,  13 B counter rotate as indicated in  FIG. 4  they bring the semi solid material towards the pinch point  13 C. As the semi solid material approaches the pinch point  13 C the pressure of the semi solid materials  1  to the feed roller grooves  14 A,  14 B increases, air that may be suspended in the semi solid materials will come in contact with the profiles of feed rollers  13 A,  13 B and can vent to the bottom of the grooves  14 A, 14 B. Air that passes into the bottom of the grooves  14 A,  14 B is pressed back or opposite to the direction of the movement of the feed roller  13 A,  13 B to where it can vent to atmosphere 
     The counter rotation of the feed rollers  13  will start to wedge the semi solid material  1  and cause the semi solid material  1  to flow back in towards the center of the hopper  2  above the feed rollers  13  and away from the pinch point  13 C. This flowing of the semi solid material  1  will allow some of the air that may be suspended in the semi solid material  1  to move and be released and some of the semi solid material I air will go towards the feed roller grooves  14 , where the feed roller grooves  14  can open or intersect the air pocket and allow the air a passage way to remove it from out of the semi solid material  1  as previously described. 
     By removing this air a more consistent and uniform flow of semi solid material  1  occurs, which will also be able to provide for more accurate portioning or scaling of the extruded semi solid material. In application of icing to a cake the removal of air is also beneficial in that the icing on the cake will not have voids or a porous finish due to air inclusion. By comparison, when air pockets approached in the heretofore known machines which have grooves running across the face of the feed rollers  3 A,  3 B, as seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the air could be entrained in the semi solid material and be pressed through the pinch point of the rollers. The entrained or entrapped air could also enter and remain in the groove  4  of the known machines as it passes thru the pinch point then continues in the extruded semi solid material to give a scaling error. Thus, the instant invention provides for more accurate scaling in addition to other benefits. 
     The invention is described in detail with respect to preferred embodiments, and it will now be apparent from the foregoing to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and the invention, therefore, as defined in the claims is intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit of the invention.