Patent ID: 6935769

Claim:
An apparatus for adding a color syrup additive to a first tempered, lipid-based formulation, comprising: a storage tank for containing said first tempered lipid-based formulation; a mixing body for mixing said color syrup additive into said first tempered, lipid-based formulation to form a mixture, said mixing body having an outlet tube for said mixture; a feed tube coupled to said storage tank for feeding said first tempered lipid-based formulation into said mixing body in a continuous stream; a reservoir for said color syrup additive; an injection port located at a position within the interior of said feed tube so as to be surrounded by said tempered lipid-based formulation as it flows into said mixing body; and a pump configured to operate cyclically connected to said reservoir to intermittently supply said color syrup additive from said reservoir to said injection port as said first tempered, lipid-based formulation flows through said feed tube so as to deposit discrete quantities of said color syrup additive into said continuous stream of said tempered, lipid-based formulation whereby a plurality of spaced apart discrete quantities of said color syrup additive are axially located in said continuous stream of lipid-based formulation as it enters said mixing body through said feed tube; said mixing body including means for ensuring said mixture is evenly colored as it exits said mixing body at said outlet tube; and wherein said mixing body is cylindrical, and comprises a plurality of fingers directed radially inwardly from the circumference thereof, and a plurality of interposed circular discs each having a diameter less than the diameter of the mixing body mounted axially along the length of the mixing body.