A heating and cooking apparatus inside the cooking chamber of a 3D food printer includes a laser cooking apparatus controlled by a processor implementing particular computer program instructions specific to the operation of the heating and cooking apparatus. The laser cooking apparatus includes at least one laser system with at least one laser beam able to heat the food product to its cooking temperature. Each laser system provides two or more laser beams, each of which can be deflected and focused into the food product with a beam spot of adjustable diameter. The heating and cooking apparatus also can include an electromagnetic radiation heating apparatus that is controlled by the processor and emits electromagnetic radiation to warm the food product inside the cooking chamber to a temperature below its cooking temperature.

The present invention relates to edible webs comprising microorganisms, such as probiotics. In particular, the present invention relates to an edible web having microorganisms, such as bacteria, probiotic bacteria, bacteriophages or viruses printed thereon, e.g. by the use of inkjet printing. In addition the invention relates to methods of producing such edible webs, to various products comprising the edible webs as well as to use of the edible webs comprising microorganisms.

The invention relates to a kitchen appliance, especially a food printer, and a method for printing food in 2- or 3-dimensional shapes. The food printer for making 2- or 3-dimensional shapes comprising a housing, an opening for printable food and binder, a control unit, and a printer head, wherein the printer head prints small drops of the printable food and the binder while moving to build the 2- or 3-dimensional shape.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to decorating and printing of edible media sheets based on a user-uploaded image. Using a browser-based user interface, the user selected image can be edited and embellished as an edible media design. The edible media design is converted to print data to enable printing of the edible media design using a printer installed with edible ink.

This invention describes several mechanisms that increase the value and usability of 3D printing and assembly machines.

The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating edible foodstuffs.

The present application provides a system or kit for printing tempered chocolate. The system includes a first heated vessel for maintaining chocolate therein untempered, and a second heated vessel in fluid communication with the first heated vessel for maintaining chocolate therein within the range of about 84 degrees Fahrenheit and about 92 degrees Fahrenheit and tempered with about 0.5% to about 3% type V crystals. The system further includes a syringe pump configured to pump tempered chocolate and a nozzle. The system further includes a three-way valve for selectively coupling the syringe pump and the second vessel, or the nozzle and the syringe pump, in fluid communication to direct the tempered chocolate from the second vessel through the nozzle. The system further includes a control system for controlling the system such that the chocolate flowing from the nozzle includes greater than about 3% type V crystals.

An ink maintenance system for a printer comprising a first tray having a base and a plurality of side walls, the first tray having a first length and an open top along the length and a second tray having a base and a plurality of side walls, the second tray having a second length and an open top along its length. The system also includes a fan and a filter. To use the system, a print head is positioned in a standby or cleaning position within the printer and ink is ejected from one or more print nozzles into an ink maintenance system within the printer such that the ejected ink is collected in at least one of a catch tray or a filter of the ink maintenance system. The system is then removable from the printer for cleaning.

A method for printing a three-dimensional crystalline structure such as a chocolate layer wherein, after printing, the material has a desired crystal structure. An embodiment can include printing a liquid first layer of material with a printer onto a second layer of material having a crystal structure. Subsequently, the printed liquid first layer is processed to solidify the first layer. During the processing of the printed liquid first layer, the second layer functions as a crystal seed layer through physical contact with the printed liquid first layer and the second layer crystallizes with the crystal structure.

In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to decorating and printing of an edible design on a printable base media based on a user selected image. A central control device may provide, to a remote computing device, a graphical user interface for reviewing images, receive, from the remote computing device via the graphical user interface, selection of an image, generate print data based on the selected image, and transmit the print data to the remote computing device for printing with an edible media printer equipped with edible ink.