RU2735364C1 - Method and system for sugar confectionary decoration products manufacturing - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: food industry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to food industry and may be used for decorating, for example, flour confectionary and bakery products or ice-cream. Disclosed is a method for manufacturing solid sugar confectionary products for decorating food products, comprising steps of: placing a translucent sheet on a jigging sheet; sugar confectionary mass is placed on top of the translucent sheet to form a plurality of semi-finished confectionary decorating articles; removing the translucent sheet with the work pieces of the confectionary decorating articles on it from the jigging sheet; placing a translucent sheet with work pieces of confectionary decorating articles on the marking sheet so that the work pieces of the confectionary decorating articles are oriented relative to the marking applied on the marking sheet, wherein sugar confectionary mass precipitation is carried out so that the confectionary decorating products blanks are arranged on the translucent sheet according to the predetermined pattern, wherein the pattern corresponds to the markings placed on the marking sheet; then using food printer image is applied with edible ink for each batch of confectionary decoration products with formation of confectionary decoration products; and confectionary decorating articles with images printed on them from the translucent sheet are removed. Also disclosed is a system for producing solid sugar confectionary products for decorating food products, which comprises a machine for depositing sugar confectionary mass on top of the translucent sheet to form a plurality of semi-finished confectionary decorative articles, wherein the translucent sheet is located on the jigging sheet during the sugar confectionary mass precipitation, wherein the sugar confectionary mass precipitation is carried out so that the confectionary decorating products workpieces are placed on the translucent sheet according to the predefined pattern, wherein template corresponds to markings arranged on marking sheet; and a food printer for applying an image with edible ink to each workpiece of the confectionary decorating articles to form confectionary decorating articles, wherein the food printer is configured to perform printing when placed with a predetermined orientation of the translucent sheet on the marking sheet.

EFFECT: invention is aimed at increase in the production efficiency of the confectionary decorating products manufacturing process, increase in the image forming quality on the products, improved consumer properties of products, wider variety of shapes and sizes of articles, on which images can be printed, as well as expansion of types of food products, for which can be used manufactured confectionary decoration products.

8 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to the field of food industry, in particular to a method and system for the manufacture of decorating confectionery products that can be used for decorating, for example, flour confectionery and bakery products or ice cream.

Various methods of making confectionery decorating articles are known from the prior art. Typically, confectionery decorating products are made in the form of an edible carrier (for example, sugar mastic), on which an image is applied with edible ink, or which can be painted in a certain color or several colors. The confectionery decorations can also be of various shapes and sizes. For example, the decoration products can be sugar figures of a spherical shape or other complex shape (for example, figurines imitating flowers, etc.). Such decorations can be used to decorate cakes, pastries, muffins, ice cream, and the like.

As a rule, confectionery decorating products are made by depositing a confectionery mass (for example, sugar mastic) on a paper sheet or other substrate, followed by applying an image or coloring to them.

After drawing or coloring, confectionery decoration products, as a rule, are not removed from the paper sheet (substrate). Typically, the backing is cut, separating the confectionery decorations from each other along with the backing. Further, confectionery decorating products on individual substrates are packed for further use in decorating confectionery products.

The image is usually applied to decoration products using screen printing. However, screen printing is a manual and laborious process that requires nesting the decorating products on a paper sheet or other substrate so that the decorating confectionery products are accurately aligned with the stencil. This is necessary in order for the image to be applied to the decoration products correctly or symmetrically. Screen printing on edible substrates is widely used and described, for example, in US Pat. Nos. 5,017,394 (published 05/21/1991) and US 6,432,461 B1 (published 08/13/2002).

Methods for applying images to confectionery decorating products using an inkjet food printer are also known in the art. For example, such a method is described in US Published Patent Application No. US 2006/0210681 A1 (publication date: 09.21.2006). However, in this case, too, the difficulty lies in the difficulty of centering the paper sheet (substrate) with the confectionery decorating products placed on it on the printer's pallet so that the image is applied to the products precisely and symmetrically.

Methods for applying images to food products using powders are also known in the art. So in the patent of the Russian Federation No. RU 2435184 C2 (publication date: 11/27/2011) describes a method of electrostatic application of powder on the surface of the product with the possibility of forming a decorative image. As with screen printing, the formation of a decorative image requires precise manual tuning of the drums to electrostatically apply powders to the surface of the confectionery. Another disadvantage of this method is the impossibility of applying an image to sugar fatty mastic.

The prior art also known methods of creating colored confectionery decorative products, for example, in the form of figurines of complex shapes without using screen printing or printing with an inkjet food printer. See, for example, patent of the Russian Federation No. RU 2688380 C1 (publication date: 05/21/2019). For this, confectionery plastic masses of different colors are used, which are manually rolled into thin layers, and from which figured products are then formed by cutting down so that the figured products have different geometric shapes and colors. To obtain volumetric incomplete figured parts with a relief pattern, an impression is made from the rolled layer into a silicone mold with a convex pattern. This method of making confectionery decorating products is rather laborious and furthermore, it is not suitable for making relatively hard sugar decorating products.

A method of creating colored confectionery decorative products is also known from the prior art, the essence of which boils down to the fact that the operator manually puts the blanks of confectionery decorating products (for example, in the form of sugar mastic) on a stencil having a predetermined marking pattern. After that, the operator sends the stencil with the blanks to the printer to apply images to the blanks. The disadvantage of this method is low productivity and labor intensity. Laying a large number of blanks on the stencil manually leads to a complication of the manufacturing process and a decrease in its speed. For example, the operator needs to make sure that each workpiece takes the exact position on the stencil, otherwise the image on the workpieces will be printed offset and not symmetrical.

The closest analogue of the present invention is described in US patent No. US 5,035,907 (publication date: 07/30/1991). The known analogue allows you to create confectionery products for decorating, for example, cakes. For this, in the known analogue, sugar fatty mastic is deposited in the form of a flat disk on an individual substrate consisting of a carrier, on which a film is glued with an adhesive. After deposition, the mastic is heated and fed to the printing device, where the image is applied with edible paints by pressing, i.e. by applying an impression. To center the mastic with the printer, the substrate is centered on the conveyor belt using guides made in the form of corners. The disadvantage of the known analogue is the impossibility of manufacturing more confectionery decorating products at the same time, since the conveyor belt allows you to form and move only one product per unit of time. In addition, in the known analogue it is impossible to apply images on sugar fatty mastic deposited in the form of a figurine of a complex shape, since the known method only allows the formation of products only in the form of a flat disk, which in turn limits the number of flour confectionery and bakery products on which the described decoration products are applicable. Moreover, the known analogue makes it possible to manufacture confectionery products for decoration exclusively from elastic (flexible) fat masses, which significantly limits the range of production of various confectionery products, creates difficulties in separating them from the substrate, and also does not allow applying a high-quality and clear image to them. Also, in the known analogue, it is difficult to center the sugar mastic disc with the printing device, since the centering is carried out relative to the substrate, and not the disc. For centering in the known analogue, a special machine is used, which complicates the overall design of the system and the production process. The present invention is aimed at solving the problem (technical problem) to eliminate the disadvantages of all analogues known to the author.

The technical result, provided by the essential features of the invention, is to increase the efficiency of the production process for the manufacture of confectionery decorating products, improve the quality of image formation (printing) on confectionery decorating products, increase the consumer properties of confectionery decorating products, expand the variety of shapes and sizes of confectionery decorating products, which can be printed images, as well as an expansion of the types of food products (i.e., flour confectionery and bakery products, ice cream), for which the confectionery decorating products made according to the present invention can be applied.

The technical result is achieved by providing a method for manufacturing confectionery decorating products, which is characterized by the fact that it contains the stages, which: place the translucent sheet on the jigging sheet; the sugar confectionery mass is deposited over the translucent sheet to form a plurality of confectionery blanks for decorating products, and the sugar confectionery mass is deposited so that the confectionery decorating products are spaced at a certain distance from each other; remove the translucent sheet with blanks of confectionery decorating products on it from the jig; placing the translucent sheet with the decorating confectionery blanks on the marking sheet so that the decorating confectionery blanks are oriented in a predetermined manner relative to the marking sheet; applying an edible ink image to each decorating confectionery blank to form decorating confectionery products using a food printer; and removing the image-printed confectionery decoration from the translucent sheet.

In various embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of drying the decorating confectionery preforms after the sugar confection mass has been deposited and prior to the edible ink printing step. In addition, according to various embodiments, the translucent sheet may be a translucent food grade plastic film. The deposition of the sugar confectionery mass can be carried out so that the preforms of the confectionery decorating articles are arranged on the translucent sheet in a predetermined pattern, the pattern corresponding to the markings placed on the marking sheet. In various embodiments, the sugar confectionery mass may be deposited over the translucent sheet such that the decorating confectionery preforms are shaped and sized. Moreover, according to various embodiments, the method may further comprise the step of adding at least one gelling aid to the sugar confection mass prior to deposition over the translucent sheet. It is preferable that the deposition of the sugar confectionery mass on top of the translucent sheet and the application of the image with edible ink is carried out in a non-stained manner.

The technical result is also achieved by providing a system for the manufacture of confectionery decorating products. The system is characterized by the fact that it contains: a machine for depositing the sugar confectionery mass on top of a translucent sheet with the formation of a plurality of blanks for confectionery decorating products, and the translucent sheet is located on the jigging sheet when the sugar confectionery mass is deposited, and the deposition of the sugar confectionery mass is carried out so that the blanks for decorating confectionery products are located at a certain distance from each other; and a food printer for applying an image with edible ink to each confectionery decorating blank to form a confectionery decorating product, the food printer being configured to print when placed in a predetermined orientation of the translucent sheet on the marking sheet. The essence of the invention is further illustrated in the figures, which show:

FIG. 1 is an embodiment of the invention illustrating the step of depositing a sugar confectionery mass;

FIG. 2 is an embodiment of the invention illustrating the step of drying confectionery preforms for decorating sugar confectionery mass disposed on a translucent sheet;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of the invention illustrating the step of printing or coloring confectionery decorating blanks using an edible paint food printer; and

FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the invention illustrating the step of transferring the finished confectionery decorating articles into a package for further use.

Numerical positions in the drawings mean the following:

1 - jigging sheet;

2 - translucent sheet;

3 - jigging machine;

4 - preparation of a confectionery decoration product;

5 - marking sheet;

6 - label;

7 - food printer;

8 - confectionery decoration product; and

9 - packaging.

The implementation of the invention is presented in a preferred, but not the only possible way of using it. For the manufacture of decorating confectionery products, a system can be used, consisting of at least a machine for depositing sugar confectionery mass and a food printer for applying images to deposited confectionery decorating products or their other full or partial coloring. The method of making confectionery decorating products is as follows.

As shown in FIG. 1, a translucent sheet 2 is applied to the deposit sheet 2. Any suitable substrate can be used as the deposit sheet 1, for example, a sheet of thick paper, a sheet of baking paper, baking paper, cardboard, wood board, metal tray and the like. As the translucent sheet 2, an edible polymer (polyethylene) film, a translucent polymer sheet, or a similar translucent material of any acceptable thickness and size can be used. If necessary and depending on the choice of materials, the translucent sheet 2 can be adhered to the jig 1 using adhesives acceptable in the food industry. It is important that the translucent sheet 2 is fixed and the displacement of the translucent sheet 2 relative to the jigging sheet 1 is absent or minimal during the deposition process. This is necessary in order to ensure the constant high quality of the manufactured confectionery decorating products.

Further, the depositor 3 is used to deposit the sugar confectionery mass over the translucent sheet 2 to form a plurality of confectionery decorating blanks 4. The depositor 3 can be configured to automatically deposit a predetermined number of decorating confectionery blanks 4 according to a specific spatial pattern in a non-cut manner. For example, the machine 3 can deposit ten or more blanks 4 in a predetermined spatial pattern, for example in a checkerboard pattern or other ordered and predetermined order. The spatial template for depositing can be any suitable, however, it is important that the confectionery preforms 4 are deposited so that the preforms 4 are located on the translucent sheet 2 at a certain distance from each other, for example, at a distance of 3 centimeters. The depositing machine 3 can also be configured to deposit each piece 4 of a predetermined size and shape, for example, in the form of a disk, ellipse, figure, or other flat or three-dimensional shape. In some embodiments, the deposit sheet 1 can have a relief or depressions of a predetermined shape so that the blanks 4 take the required volumetric shape and dimensions, for example, the shape of figures imitating the appearance of people, plants, animals, objects or fictional characters.

Sugar mass (mastic) with or without fat can be used as a sugar confectionery mass. The mass without the use of fat is preferable because it is harder, denser, and better allows the formation of curly confectionery products of complex shape. For example, the confectionery mass can be made of powdered sugar, water and auxiliary agents (for example, flavoring agents and / or colorants), which are pre-mixed and fed to the deposition machine 3. In some embodiments, at least one gelling aid is added to the sugar mass (prior to the sugar mass depositing step). Gelatin, starch, methyl cellulose, amylopectin, etc. can be used as a gelling additive. The use of a gelling additive allows confectionery decorating products to form a denser surface, which in turn improves print quality due to reduced absorption of moisture or ink. In some embodiments, however, vegetable oil is also added to the sugar mass to create a sugar mastic.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, after depositing the sugar confectionery mass over the translucent sheet 2 by the depositor 3, the decorating confectionery blanks 4 can be dried, for example, by holding on racks or heating using any suitable heater. Drying allows the blanks 4 to harden, which subsequently improves the quality of coloring or drawing with edible ink using a food printer.

After the confectionery blanks 4 for decorating products have at least partially dried, the translucent sheet 2 with the blanks 4 located on it is removed from the jigging sheet 1 and the translucent sheet 2 with the blanks 4 is placed on the marking sheet 5 so that the translucent sheet 2 with the confectionery blanks 4 the decorating articles assumed a predetermined orientation on the marking sheet 5, and the decorating confectionery blanks 4 were oriented in a predetermined manner with respect to the marking sheet 5. The present invention avoids the need for the use of adhesive means for fastening the translucent sheet 2 to the marking sheet 5. In various embodiments of the invention, the weight blanks 4 allows you to keep the translucent sheet 2 with blanks 4 on the marking sheet 5 substantially motionless.

Marking sheet 5 is a sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic or other acceptable material, marked to aid in the orientation of the blanks 4 placed on the translucent sheet 2 relative to the marking sheet 5. For example, the marking sheet 5 can be marked 6 , illustrating how the image will be applied by a food printer. The operator has the ability to center (align) the blanks 4 with the marks 6, which can be clearly seen by the operator through the translucent sheet 2. In other words, the operator orients the marks 6 with the blanks 4, and not the translucent sheet 2 with the marking sheet 5. This allows you to accurately align the places applying edible paint with a food printer with blanks 4, which increases the quality and efficiency of image formation and production of decoration products.

It is important to note that the locations of the marks 6 on the marking sheet 5 may coincide with the locations of the jigging of the sugar confectionery mass, programmed in the machine 3 for jigging. In other words, the deposition of the sugar confectionery mass can be carried out so that the blanks 4 of the confectionery decorating products are located on the translucent sheet 2 according to a predetermined pattern, which corresponds to the marks 6 placed on the marking sheet 5. This feature makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the production process by accelerating the centering of the elements and improve the quality of imaging.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the food printer 7 is used to color or print with edible ink on each confectionery decorating blank 4. After applying images or coloring, blanks 4 form the final product - confectionery decorating products 8. The image on products 8 can be monochromatic or multi-tone. An inkjet food printer can be used as a food printer. However, it is preferable that the image was applied with an edible ink in a non-screen printing manner for ease of production.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 4, after the end of printing, the operator has the opportunity to remove the translucent sheet 2 and move the confectionery decoration products 8 with images printed on them from the translucent sheet 2 into the package 9.

It is also important to note that when the sugar confectionery mass is deposited onto the translucent sheet 2, the blanks 4 of the confectionery decorating products should adhere to the translucent sheet 2 during the deposition process and hold on to it while it is being moved from the depositor to dry, and then onto the food printer 7. But at the same time, after all these manipulations, the confectionery blanks 4 for decorating products should easily lag behind the translucent sheet 2. To achieve this, the recipe for the sugar confectionery mass may vary depending on which translucent sheet 2 was chosen.

Thus, the above-described method and system for making confectionery decorating products has a number of advantages over similar methods and systems. Firstly, the present invention makes it possible to optimize and increase the efficiency of the production process for the manufacture of confectionery decorating products, for example, by creating the possibility of producing a large number of confectionery decorating products blanks and their simultaneous centering with a print pattern, and printing can be carried out on blanks having complex and volumetric shape. Moreover, the invention avoids the need to use adhesive means to hold the translucent sheet on the jig or marking sheet. Together, this avoids unnecessary manufacturing operations and improves the efficiency of the production process. Secondly, the present invention improves the quality of image formation (printing) on confectionery decorating products. This is achieved, for example, due to more accurate and reliable centering of workpieces with printer elements or a printer print template. Third, by improving the quality of printing, the consumer properties of confectionery decorating products also increase, their attractiveness for buyers when used for decorating confectionery food products. Fourth, the present invention expands the variety of shapes and sizes of confectionery decorating articles on which images can be printed. For example, confectionery decorating products can be not only in the form of a disk, as in the closest analogue, but also in the form of complex volumetric figures. Fifth, in view of the variety of shapes and sizes of decorating confectionery products, the present invention also allows expanding the types and forms of food products (i.e., flour confectionery and bakery products, ice cream) for which these decorating confectionery products can be applied.

Claims (17)

1. A method of manufacturing solid sugar confectionery for decorating food, characterized in that it contains the stages at which: place the translucent sheet on the jigging sheet; depositing the sugar confectionery mass over the translucent sheet to form a plurality of decorating confectionery blanks; remove the translucent sheet with blanks of confectionery decorating products on it from the jig; placing the translucent sheet with the decorating confectionery blanks on the marking sheet so that the decorating confectionery blanks are oriented relative to the marking applied to the marking sheet, moreover, the deposition of the sugar confectionery mass is carried out so that the preforms of the confectionery decorating products are located on the translucent sheet according to a predetermined pattern, the pattern corresponding to the markings placed on the marking sheet; after which, using a food printer, an image is applied with edible ink to each confectionery decorating product blank to form decorating confectionery products; and seize the confectionery decoration products with images printed on them from the translucent sheet. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a stage at which the decorating confectionery blanks are dried after they have deposited the sugar confectionery mass and before the stage of drawing the image with edible ink. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the translucent sheet is a translucent food grade polymer film. 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the marking sheet further comprises a marking for orienting the confectionery decorating blanks. 5. The method according to claim. 1, characterized in that the sugar confectionery mass is deposited over the translucent sheet so that the confectionery decorating products have a predetermined shape and size. 6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of adding at least one gelling additive to the sugar confectionery mass before depositing it over the translucent sheet. 7. The method according to claim. 1, characterized in that the sugar confectionery mass is deposited on top of the translucent sheet and the image is applied with edible ink in a non-stained manner. 8. The system for the manufacture of solid sugar confectionery for decorating food, characterized in that it contains: a machine for depositing sugar confectionery mass over a translucent sheet with the formation of a plurality of blanks for confectionery decorating products, moreover, the translucent sheet is located on the jigging sheet when the sugar confectionery mass is deposited, and the deposition of the sugar confectionery mass is carried out so that the blanks for confectionery decorating products are located on the translucent sheet according to a predetermined a template, the template corresponding to the markings placed on the marking sheet; and a food printer for applying an image with edible ink to each confectionery decorating blank to form a decorating confectionery product, the food printer being configured to print when placed with a predetermined orientation of the translucent sheet on the marking sheet.

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