Systems and apparatus for performing laser kerfing operations in boreholes. Systems and apparatus for providing a plurality of laser beams in a concentric ring laser beam pattern to create holes in the bottom of a borehole surface in a pattern correspond to the laser beam pattern. The system having mechanical devices to remove laser weakened rock that is associate with the laser created holes, the mechanical devices forming a removal pattern that is the negative of the concentric ring pattern.

Method for enhancing the bioavailability of orally administered benzoic acid in an animal includes orally administering to the animal an animal feed which comprises benzoic acid prills having neither edges nor spikes, wherein the benzoic acid prills exhibit a rate and/or extent of in vitro dissolution of benzoic acid in a physiologically relevant dissolution fluid which is higher when compared to nonspherical benzoic acid flakes.

A cooked rice forming apparatus for forming cooked rice into a desired shape includes a light guide part that is provided with a first surface and a second surface, and is made of a material having transparency, wherein the first surface is in slidably contact with one side of the cooked rice, and has a slope, and the second surface is arranged on a lower side of the slope and on the other side of the cooked rice; a light source part that emits ultraviolet rays and is provided near the light guide part; a forming part that is arranged below a lower side of the slope, and forms the cooked rice into the desired shape; and a housing body that accommodates an input part, a discharging part, the light guide part, the light source part and the forming part, wherein the light guide part is configured such that at least the first surface and the second surface glow due to the ultraviolet rays emitted from the light source part.

The present invention provides water-soluble films for preparing beverages comprising one or more tea, herbal or fruit extracts and a water-soluble polymer. Methods of preparing water-soluble films for preparing a beverage comprising: (i) combining (a) one or more tea, herbal or fruit extracts, (b) a water-soluble polymer, and optionally, (c) a plasticizer, in water to form a tea, herbal or fruit extract composition; (b) optionally, heating the tea, herbal or fruit extract composition to a temperature in the range of about 25° C. to about 100° C.; (iii) forming a layer of the tea, herbal or fruit extract composition on a surface; and (iv) drying the layer of the tea, herbal or fruit extract composition to form a water-soluble film.

A discharge apparatus for texturing a food composition, in particular a meat substitute composition, includes a first boundary member having a first texturing surface and a second boundary member having a second texturing surface, a gap formed between the texturing surfaces, at least one feed opening for continuously feeding the food composition into the gap and at least one discharge opening for continuously discharging the food composition from the gap. The first boundary member and the second boundary member are rotatably drivable relative to each other about an axis of rotation. The first texturing surface and the second texturing surface each extend between the respective first feed opening and the at least one discharge opening radially to the axis of rotation.

A solid paste composition for cooking that contains beans is provided. The solid paste composition contains 3% by mass or higher, on a dry mass basis, of an insoluble dietary fiber, 10% by mass or higher, on a dry mass basis, of a starch, 4% by mass or higher, on a dry mass basis, of a protein, and after isothermally treating the solid paste composition in 40 times as much water at 90° C. for 5 minutes, the Haze value of the water being 25% or lower.

The invention relates to an aqueous binder liquid that can advantageously be used in the layer-by-layer production of 3-D sugar-based food products. More particularly, the invention relates to an aqueous binder liquid containing: (a) 50-70 wt. % water; (b) 12-30 wt. % sugar alcohol; (c) 5-20 wt. % short chain polyol selected from glycerol, propane-1, 2-diol and combinations thereof; and (d) 3-10 wt. % ethanol; wherein components (a), (b), (c) and (d) together constitute at least 90 wt. % of the aqueous binder liquid. The aqueous binder liquid of the present invention is particularly suitable for use in methods of layer-by-layer production of 3-D sugar-based food products in which the binder liquid is applied by means of piezo inkjet print heads. These methods enable the production of highly creative and complex patterns, such as cocktail toppers, edible logos and decorative wedding cake toppers. The invention further relates to a three-dimensional sugar-based food product that has been obtained by a layer-by-layer production method that employs the aforementioned aqueous binder liquid.

A single nozzle 3D printing method for non-homogeneous recombinant food containing crushed rose flowers, the method comprising: first washing white kidney beans, soaking in cold water for 12 h, and then peeling; boiling for 40 min to soften the white kidney beans; then mixing a beaten paste thereof with white sugar and simmering slowly over a low heat until the bean paste is viscous; allowing the bean paste to cool to room temperature and then adding butter, fine granulated sugar, and whipped cream, and beating; and finally adding different amounts and different sizes of crushed rose flowers having undergone surface oil treatment.

An apparatus for texturizing emulsified protein and/or carbohydrate containing food materials into a textured fibrous meat simulating product, said apparatus comprising a treatment assembly comprising: a first stationary disc having an inlet opening for receiving a food material slurry, a second stationary disc arranged underneath the first stationary disc with a predetermined distance between said first and second stationary discs defining a treatment space between the discs, wherein one or both of the first and second stationary discs are configured for being heated; and a rotary paddle wheel with spokes configured for rotating around a rotation axis, wherein the rotary paddle wheel is arranged between the first and second stationary discs for during rotation of the rotary paddle wheel transporting the slurry from the inlet opening to the periphery thereby heating and texturizing the slurry.

A viscous food dispensing system includes a chute inlet configured to funnel particulate food product into a sleeve and a transport device having an over-center cutout. The transport device is configured to rotate within the sleeve to convey the particulate food product. A processing surface extends downward from the chute inlet towards a curved base of the sleeve along a portion of the transport device. The processing surface is spaced laterally apart from the transport device to define a processing zone between the processing surface and the transport device. The particulate food product is processed as the particulate food product is captured between a leading edge of the over-center cutout and the processing surface while the transport device is rotating.