An edible decoration is laser kiss cut from an edible decorating sheet by optically sensing at least one printed edible design on the edible decorating sheet relative to a laser cutting tool coordinate system and driving a laser along a circuit of cutting locations defined in the laser cutting tool coordinate system. The laser beam forms a separation channel by laser ablation of at least a portion of the edible decorating sheet at the cutting locations while leaving intact the non-adhesive releasable backing upon which the edible decorating sheet rests.

An apparatus and method for post-extrusion filling and closing of an extrudate includes a feeder arranged in relation to an extruded rope of material flowing from an extrusion die of an extruder, wherein the rope of material has an opening that can receive a filler material. The feeder deposits the filler material into the opening of the rope of material as the rope of material flows by the feeder. A former receives the rope of material after the feeder has deposited the filler material into the opening of the rope. The former shapes the rope of material and close a portion or all of the rope around at least a portion of the deposited filler material to retain the filler material within the rope. A cutter may axially cut the rope to form the opening. A finisher may cut the shaped rope into portions containing the deposited filler material.

An apparatus for coating pharmaceutical particles such as drug dosage forms or pellets is provided which includes a drum assembly mounted for rotation about a cylindrical axis of the drum and which includes an outer drum section and an inner perforated drum section mounted concentrically on an interior of the outer drum section such that an annular chamber is formed between the perforated inner drum section and the outer drum section. Two or more baffle plates are attached between an outer surface of the inner perforated drum and an inner surface of the outer drum which are configured to act as baffles to restrain or regulate the flow of air which define two or more compartments depending on the number of baffle plates. One end of the drum assembly includes an end plate with a central aperture for use in loading pellets into the drum and provide access to coating constituents that are pumped into the drum interior during the coating process. An air distribution plate is attached at the other end of the drum and has air flow passageways and is interfaced with an air introduction plate having air inlet and outlet passageways. As the drum rotates the air flow passageways in the distribution plate alternately come into flow communication with the air inlet and outlet passageways in the air introduction plate thereby providing a flow path of air into the perforate inner drum and out of the drum assembly.

Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying stripes of liquid coating on a confectionery product comprising a rotatable applicator for liquid coating, at least one shield positioned above the rotatable applicator to collect coating material not applied onto the product, a manifold for providing the rotatable applicator with the coating material in a liquid form, and wherein the rotatable applicator is arranged to spin about an axis which is orientated from horizontal and up to 30 deg of deviation from horizontal, and wherein the applicator has openings along it's circumference through which coating material may be projected upon spinning of the applicator. The invention also relates to a method for decorating confectionery products and to the products.

A combination confectionery product for selective dispensing of a flowable fluid food product from a capped compressible container onto a solid food product mounted on a handle that is releasably securable within a chamber enclosure, a cantilevered supporting platform projecting from the chamber enclosure to support the compressible container and a cantilevered projection for removably engaging the compressible container cap and secure the container on the supporting platform.

A method and an apparatus for making a multilayer confectionery product provided. The method and apparatus include at least two sets of forming drums that form and laminate confectionery sheets.

An edible decoration is laser kiss cut from an edible decorating sheet by optically sensing at least one printed edible design on the edible decorating sheet relative to a laser cutting tool coordinate system and driving a laser along a circuit of cutting locations defined in the laser cutting tool coordinate system. The laser beam forms a separation channel by laser ablation of at least a portion of the edible decorating sheet at the cutting locations while leaving intact the non-adhesive releasable backing upon which the edible decorating sheet rests.

An edible decoration is laser kiss cut from an edible decorating sheet by optically sensing at least one printed edible design on the edible decorating sheet relative to a laser cutting tool coordinate system and driving a laser along a circuit of cutting locations defined in the laser cutting tool coordinate system. The laser beam forms a separation channel by laser ablation of at least a portion of the edible decorating sheet at the cutting locations while leaving intact the non-adhesive releasable backing upon which the edible decorating sheet rests.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a multilayer confectionary product including a paste confectionery center, surrounded by an intermediate layer of chewy candy material, surrounded in turn by a layer of amorphous candy material, to the multilayer confectionery product obtained by the process and to an apparatus for producing the multilayer confectionary product. The multilayer confectionary product can be further coated with a hard coating.