Methods, systems, and apparatus for winnowing. In one aspect, a method includes loading an initial material into a winnowing system via a feed member; feeding the material into a fluidically accelerated winnowing cavity, where the initial material impacts at least one plate member to yield chaff material and processed material, and where the processed material and the chaff material circulate in the winnowing cavity; and separating the chaff material and the processed from the winnowing cavity based on density. Other aspects include yielding intermediate material, where the intermediate material reimpacts the at least one plate member until yielding chaff material and processed material, preprocessing the initial material, controlling the flow of initial material into the winnowing cavity with a feed gate, where the chaff material egresses the winnowing cavity via a chaff chute, where the chaff material collects in a collection cavity, and/or more.

Apparatus and systems for melting and liquefying chocolate. In one aspect, a system includes a generally fluid-tight exterior housing defining a first volume; a bulkhead positioned within the housing and dividing the first volume into separate second and third volumes; at least one vertical support member operationally connected to the exterior housing; a base support member operationally connected to the vertical support member; a dispenser guiding member disposed within the first volume and operationally connected to the exterior housing; and a heating element in thermal communication with the first volume, wherein energization heats the first volume to 37 to 46 degrees Celsius. Other aspects include where the liquid chocolate contains less than 3% water; where the liquid chocolate is solid at room temperature; a multiple pivot hinge; and a noninterfering interdigitating hinge.

The process can include mixing ingredients into a cocoa mass, conching the cocoa mass, and, subsequently to conching, measuring viscosity of the conched cocoa mass, contingent upon said viscosity being higher than a target viscosity value, calculating, based on the measured viscosity and reference data representing a reference model of viscosity vs. viscosity-reducing substance content for the chocolate to be produced, a quantity of cocoa butter to be added to the cocoa mass, and adding the quantity of cocoa butter to be added to the cocoa mass.

The present invention relates to a cocoa product containing elevated amounts of antioxidant molecules. Further aspects of the invention relate to the use of this product for making a beverage and into a capsule and to the process of making this product.

Methods of confection mold conveying comprise translating, in a first direction, a first pusher bar having spaced apart first pusher fingers oriented to engage confection mold trays while the first pusher bar is translated in the first direction; translating, in a second direction opposite the first direction, the first pusher bar, wherein the first pusher fingers are oriented to avoid engagement with the confection mold trays while the first pusher bar is translated in the second direction, and wherein the first pusher bar is translated within a first conveyor segment of a confection mold conveyor; and rotating a first rotatable shaft with a first helical channel formed therein that is sized and configured to move the confection mold trays, wherein the first rotatable shaft is included within a second conveyor segment of the confection mold conveyor and is positioned to receive the confection mold trays from the first conveyor segment.

A food product includes at least one shell that contains one or more ingredients within the at least one shell. The at least one shell can be dissolved or melted into a heated liquid to release the one or more ingredients and form a heated beverage. As a particular example, multiple shells could be formed from chocolate and can contain ingredients for hot cocoa (such as cocoa mix and marshmallows). The multiple shells could be arranged in a particular pattern and decorated to form a character, such as a snowman.

Methods for treating and preparing chocolate. In one aspect, a method includes heating a quantity of chocolate to a temperature of about 46 degrees Celsius; decreasing the pressure of in a pressure-controllable environment to about 25 Torr; holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 25 Torr for a first predetermined period of time; decreasing the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment to about 5 Torr; and holding the pressure of the pressure-controllable environment at about 5 Torr for a second predetermined period of time. Other aspects include ceasing heating the quantity of chocolate; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 150 Torr per minute; decreasing pressure occurs at an average rate of about 4 Torr per minute; and others.

Systems and methods for processing food products. One aspect is a system for processing food products including a base member, a vessel member defining a vessel volume, an opening formed through the vessel member, a vessel lip surrounding the opening; a vessel lid connected to the vessel member to substantially seal the opening; a motor shaft, at least one mixing member connected to the motor shaft and within the vessel volume; a motor connected to the motor shaft; and grinding media within the vessel volume for grinding and mixing food products, where energizing the motor urges the motor shaft and the at least one mixing member to rotate within the vessel volume to agitate the grinding media; and where the grinding media includes first grinding media and second grinding media.

An edible and 3D printable ink composition is disclosed herein, which includes a chocolate-based material including a chocolate syrup, a chocolate paste, or a combination thereof, and cocoa powder present in an amount ranging from 5 to 25 w/w %, wherein the edible and 3D printable ink composition is both printable and remains in a single phase at a temperature ranging from 20 C. to 30 C. A method of 3D printing the edible and 3D printable ink composition, and a system operable for printing the edible and 3D printable ink composition, are also disclosed herein.

The present invention relates to a chocolate-like food containing a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing fat or oil, and the objective of the present invention is to provide such a chocolate-like food that is suppressed in change in the flavor over time. The present invention is able to suppress change in the flavor over time of a chocolate-like food containing a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing fat or oil by adjusting the pH thereof to a value within a predetermined range. It is preferable to use a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing fat or oil which has been subjected to antioxidation treatment. It is preferable that the antioxidation treatment is carried out by dispersing water phases, in each of which a predetermined amount of a water-soluble antioxidant is dissolved, in the highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing fat or oil such that the water phases have particle diameters of 300 nm or less.