Patent ID: 7820215

Claim:
A method for adding a plurality of additive substances to an extruded food product, comprising: (a) affixing an additive injection system to a fluid supply line, which supplies a stream of fluid from a fluid source to a feed port in an extrusion device, which is admixed with a plastic food mass as the food mass is conveyed through said extrusion device, wherein said fluid source is upstream of said additive injection system, and wherein said fluid supply line comprises a pump for regulating the flow of fluid from said fluid source which is located downstream of said fluid source, wherein said additive injection system comprises i) an injection manifold having a plurality of injection ports, each comprised of a conduit which connects one of a plurality of supply tanks in fluid communication with said fluid supply line, wherein each supply tank contains a distinct additive substance, and ii) a metering mechanism positioned on each conduit which selectively actuates to open or close the conduit; and iii) 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; (b) selectively actuating a first metering mechanism to open a first conduit thereby dispensing a first additive substance into said fluid stream for a first period of time; (c) after passage of said first period of time, selectively actuating said first metering mechanism to close said first conduit; (d) selectively actuating a second metering mechanism to open a second conduit thereby dispensing a second additive substance into said fluid stream for a second period of time; and (e) after passage of said second period of time, selectively actuating said second metering mechanism to close said second conduit.