A method and apparatus for producing confectionery products, preferably shells for chocolate products. The invention comprises depositing one or more inclusions into a mould cavity and depositing a food product into the mould cavity through a depositor plate comprising a plurality of nozzles.

A process for dispensing fluid foodstuff material into a shaping cavity of a mould is provided. The process includes advancing a plurality of moulds on a conveying line, along an advancement direction, each comprising at least one shaping cavity. The process includes dispensing a given quantity of the material through one or more of the nozzles, into the at least one shaping cavity of a mould. The dispensing step is executed while the mould continues to advance below the nozzle formation, along the advancement direction. The at least one shaping cavity of the mould has a depth that varies along the advancement direction. The dispensing step comprises varying the quantity of material dispensed into the shaping cavity as a function of the position of the mould along the advancement direction in such a way that the dispensed quantity is a function of the depth variation within the shaping cavity.

A machine for making and dispensing chocolate, comprising: at least one chocolate processing container; a chocolate dispenser tap connected to the processing container for allowing chocolate dispensing; at least a first mixer associated with the container for mixing the chocolate being processed; thermal treatment means associated with said at least one processing container and designed to heat and/or cool the walls of said processing container; an operating and control unit, designed to control said thermal treatment means so as to bring, in sequence in terms of time, the chocolate being processed in said at least one container; to a first, chocolate melting temperature; to a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature; to a third temperature, which is between the second temperature and the first temperature.

A dropper machine for pouring a measured amount of a substance in a plurality of receptacles, including: a reservoir containing the substance to be dropped, cylinder and piston metering devices, a drive unit arranged to simultaneously drive the piston of the metering devices wherein each of the metering devices is associated with a respective actuating device cooperating with the piston of the metering device, the actuator device being operable individually to inhibit the delivery of the substance to be dropped through the nozzle when the drive unit is actuated to cause displacement of the pistons of the metering devices associated therewith between the start position and the end position.

A system for dispensing fluid foodstuff material into a shaping cavity of a mould is described, of the type comprising the steps of: advancing a plurality of moulds (M1, M2) on a conveying line (2), along an advancement direction (X), each comprising at least one shaping cavity; providing a dispensing machine (4) along said conveying line (2) provided with a formation of nozzles (6; 61, 62, 63) comprising at least one line of nozzles arranged along a direction (K) transversal to said advancement direction (X).

The process is characterized in that it delivers the material during advancement of the moulds, and in that it adjusts the quantity of material dispensed as a function of the variation in depth in the individual shaping cavity along the advancement direction (X).

The invention relates to a printer cartridge, comprising a) an outer wall, and b) a chocolate mass,
wherein the outer wall at least partially encloses an inner space, wherein the inner space comprises the chocolate mass, wherein the chocolate mass comprises a total fat content, wherein the total fat content comprises one or more fatty acid residues, each of which a. has no double bond, and b. comprises a number of C atoms per fatty acid residue in the range of 12 to 24, to a total content in the range of 40 to 75 wt %, based on the total fat content. The invention further relates to a method comprising moulding of a chocolate mass; a 3D printer; a chocolate product by means of the above method or with the above 3D printer; a chocolate product; a use of a 3D printer for printing a chocolate mass; a use of a container for 3D printing of chocolate; a use of an oil in a chocolate mass for 3D printing of chocolate; and a use of a chocolate mass for 3D printing of chocolate.

The invention relates to a print head comprising a nozzle for printing a food product layer-by-layer and a conveyor for conveying food. The invention further relates to a system comprising such a print head and a container containing food in solid state and having a supply line for providing food in solid state to the reservoir of the print head.

System for conveying and dispensing material may include a heated supply of the material, one or more heated hoses, a heated dispenser, and a pump having a heating device internal the pump. A pump for conveying liquid or liquefied material, for example chocolate, may include one or more heating devices disposed within the pump. A filter may also be provided with an optional internal heating device.

A dropper machine for pouring a measured amount of a substance in a plurality of receptacles, including: a reservoir containing the substance to be dropped, cylinder and piston metering devices, a drive unit arranged to simultaneously drive the piston of the metering devices wherein each of the metering devices is associated with a respective actuating device cooperating with the piston of the metering device, the actuator device being operable individually to inhibit the delivery of the substance to be dropped through the nozzle when the drive unit is actuated to cause displacement of the pistons of the metering devices associated therewith between the start position and the end position.

A pouring batching device (1), in particular for chocolate, in dies is described, comprising a case (2) inside which at least one cylindrical recess is obtained, in which a longitudinal shaft (7) is housed, to which at least one rotary piston (3) is fastened, means adapted to control the flow of said chocolate, wherein the case (2) is placed below a tank containing chocolate to be poured and is open towards its top, locating a hopper (8) adapted to put in contact an internal volume of the tank with the recess of the case (2), so that a mass of chocolate can easily descend by gravity inside the case (2) even without a sucking effect by the rotary piston (3).