Patent ID: 7320583

Claim:
An apparatus for producing a multi-colored extruded food product, comprising in combination: (a) an extruder device having a fluid feed port; (b) a fluid supply line connected to said feed port, said fluid supply line providing fluid communication between said feed port and a fluid source, said fluid supply line comprising a pump mechanism for regulating the flow of fluid from said source; (c) an additive injection system in fluid communication with the fluid supply line downstream from said pump mechanism, said injection system comprising: i) a plurality of supply tanks, each of which contain a distinctly colored edible additive substance, ii) an injection manifold having a plurality of injection ports, wherein each of said injection ports includes a conduit which connects one of said plurality of supply tanks in fluid communication with said fluid supply line, iii) a metering mechanism positioned on each conduit which selectively actuates to open or close the conduit; iv) a flow sensor attached to said fluid supply line and positioned downstream of said manifold, which senses the flow of the resulting combined fluid and additive prior to entering the extruder device; and v) a control mechanism operable for receiving a flow signal from said flow sensor, and sending a control signal to said pump mechanism and said metering mechanisms, wherein said control signal regulates the stroke of said pump mechanism and the actuation of each metering mechanism to open or close each conduit in accordance with a timed sequence; and wherein said control mechanism adjusts said control signal in response to said flow signal to maintain a constant flowrate of the resulting combined fluid and additive.