The invention relates to a system and method for improvingly controlling the production of food products from granular raw materials such as for instance cereal rice formed into crackers. More in particular, the invention relates to an adjustable mechanical stop mechanism for better controlling the distance between the dies where pressure-baking of food occurs, and to provide the possibility of adjustable distance between the dies in case of multiple compressions of the food material, for which different die spacings can then be installed, leading to very repeatable and unchanging food processing conditions and thus an improved and much more constant quality of end product such as a cracker.

A dough-based food product, an apparatus and method for production of the dough-based food product. A food product matrix to be foamed includes a proportion by weight of a starch-containing raw material and a proportion by weight of water. Gas that has been dissolved or is to be dissolved is introduced into the food product matrix to be foamed. The gas is dissolved under pressure in the food product matrix to be foamed. Gas bubbles are formed by expansion and increasing the volume with a resulting reduction in density of the dough as a result of bubble growth for formation of a foamed food product matrix of the food product to be produced. The foam is then stabilized. Gas is introduced into and dissolved in the aqueous component of the food product matrix to be foamed in a subcritical state below the critical point and at a pressure of 10 barp<critical pressure of the gas.

There is provided a double-compression, pneumatic-driven popping apparatus for making chip-like snack foods. The apparatus includes a first and second popping machine sections, each having a pneumatic-driven compression cylinder; and a mold plate coupled to the pneumatic cylinder and responsive to urging of the first pneumatic cylinder. A ring mold is located between the first and second machine sections and is subjected to compression by the first mold plate and the second mold plate. The apparatus has a pneumatic drive system including a compressed gas vessel, and a controller configured to control the pneumatic-driven compression cylinders independently through fast-acting control valves. During use, the apparatus applies pneumatic double-compression in a controlled manner such that a time interval between the first and the second compression steps is in the range of milliseconds, to produce a chip-like snack food product.

There is provided a double-compression, pneumatic-driven popping apparatus for making chip-like snack foods. The apparatus includes a first and second popping machine sections, each having a pneumatic-driven compression cylinder; and a mold plate coupled to the pneumatic cylinder and responsive to urging of the first pneumatic cylinder. A ring mold is located between the first and second machine sections and is subjected to compression by the first mold plate and the second mold plate. The apparatus has a pneumatic drive system including a compressed gas vessel, and a controller configured to control the pneumatic-driven compression cylinders independently through fast-acting control valves. During use, the apparatus applies pneumatic double-compression in a controlled manner such that a time interval between the first and the second compression steps is in the range of milliseconds, to produce a chip-like snack food product.

A food baking apparatus includes a compressible die and a mechanical stop for controlling a die spacing of the compressible die. The mechanical stop includes a supporting system and a mounting element mounted onto the supporting system. The mounting element includes at least one protrusion having a particular amount of protrusion from the mounting element, which amount of protrusion may be adjustable for any single protrusion. By translation or rotation of the supporting system and/or the mounting element during operation of the apparatus, a protrusion is selected. The protrusions mechanically stop further compression of the dies during an operation of the food baking apparatus. Thus, the selection determines the die spacing applicable for the baking process, based on the amount of protrusion of the selected protrusion.

A food baking apparatus includes a compressible die and a mechanical stop for controlling a die spacing of the compressible die. The mechanical stop includes a supporting system and a mounting element mounted onto the supporting system. The mounting element includes at least one protrusion having a particular amount of protrusion from the mounting element, which amount of protrusion may be adjustable for any single protrusion. By translation or rotation of the supporting system and/or the mounting element during operation of the apparatus, a protrusion is selected. The protrusions mechanically stop further compression of the dies during an operation of the food baking apparatus. Thus, the selection determines the die spacing applicable for the baking process, based on the amount of protrusion of the selected protrusion.

Popcorn machines having automatic sifting systems, and associated methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a popcorn machine includes a cabinet for receiving popcorn and unpopped corn kernels. The popcorn machine also includes an automatic sifting system having a sifting component positioned at least partially within the cabinet to receive the popcorn and the unpopped corn kernels. The sifting component can include a plurality of perforations, and an agitator can be positioned to move the sifting component to agitate the popcorn and unpopped corn kernels. The agitation of the popcorn and the unpopped corn kernels moves the unpopped corn kernels toward and through the perforations.

Popcorn machines having automatic sifting systems, and associated methods of operation are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a popcorn machine includes a cabinet for receiving popcorn and unpopped corn kernels. The popcorn machine also includes an automatic sifting system having a sifting component positioned at least partially within the cabinet to receive the popcorn and the unpopped corn kernels. The sifting component can include a plurality of perforations, and an agitator can be positioned to move the sifting component to agitate the popcorn and unpopped corn kernels. The agitation of the popcorn and the unpopped corn kernels moves the unpopped corn kernels toward and through the perforations.

A device for making popcorn. A heating element and a fan are contained within a base housing. The base housing includes an agitator and convection unit unit having a bottom and a side portion located above the heating element and fan. The side portion includes louvers configured to allow heated air provided by operation of the heating element and fan to circulate around the agitator and convection unit and cause corn kernels added to the agitator and convection unit to be heated so as to form popcorn. A bowl surrounds the base housing such that the base housing, agitator and convection unit and bowl have a common axis. A canopy is removably mated to the base housing and is configured so that when popcorn is expelled from the agitator and convection unit, it strikes a bottom surface of the canopy and is guided into the bowl.

The invention relates to hydraulic control for carrying out a method of producing a cracker from cereals, which are pressure-baked in a heated mold and expanded afterwards. In particular the hydraulic control system, comprising of a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, will lead to an increased expansion speed or an increased speed for opening the dies, resulting in constant high-quality food products.