Abstract
The present invention relates to a process for producing a soft candy, the process comprising as process steps a) providing a soft-candy precursor composition characterized by a water content in a range from 15 to 24% by weight, based on the soft-candy precursor composition; and b) shaping the soft-candy precursor composition by means of a nozzle having an outlet opening by overlaying a substrate with the soft-candy precursor composition to obtain a shaped article, the outlet opening of the nozzle traveling a three-dimensional trajectory;
the process further comprising a hardening of the shaped article to obtain a soft candy. The invention further relates to a soft candy obtainable by the process; a device comprising a soft-candy precursor composition; a process for producing a soft candy using the device; the use of the device; and the use of a soft-candy precursor composition.
Claims
1. A process (100) for producing a soft candy (300), the process (100) comprising as process steps (101, 102) a) providing a soft-candy precursor composition characterized by a water content in a range from 15 to 24% by weight, based on the soft-candy precursor composition; and b) shaping the soft-candy precursor composition by means of a nozzle (901) having an outlet opening (902) by overlaying a substrate (903) with the soft-candy precursor composition to obtain a shaped article, the outlet opening (902) of the nozzle traveling a three-dimensional trajectory (908).
2. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the provision of the soft-candy precursor composition in process step a) comprises the substeps: i) providing a base composition; and ii) contacting the base composition with an acid to obtain the soft-candy precursor composition.
3. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the provision of the soft-candy precursor composition in process step a) comprises the substeps: A) providing a foundation composition; B) providing an acid composition; and C) contacting the foundation composition with an acid composition to obtain the soft-candy precursor composition; the foundation composition and the acid composition being contacted in a weight ratio from 1:2 to 2:1.
4. The process (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the foundation composition comprises a polysaccharide, the polysaccharide content of the foundation composition being at least 10% by weight above the polysaccharide content in the acid composition.
5. The process (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the acid composition comprises an acid, the acid content of the acid composition being at least 10% by weight above the acid content of the foundation composition.
6. The process (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the foundation composition has a foundation composition viscosity and the acid composition has an acid composition viscosity, foundation composition viscosity being in a range from 50 to 150% of the acid composition viscosity.
7. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in process step a), the soft-candy precursor composition comprises a polysaccharide in a range from 1.2 to 2.5% by weight, based on the weight of the soft-candy precursor composition.
8. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in process step a), the soft-candy precursor composition comprises a polypeptide in a range from 1 to 10% by weight, based on the weight of the soft-candy precursor composition.
9. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soft-candy precursor composition is characterized by a pH in a range from 3.0 to 4.5.
10. A soft candy (300) obtainable by the process (100) as claimed in claim 1.
11. A soft candy (300) comprising a wall, the wall (301) being characterized by a wall thickness (302) in a range from 0.5 to 4 mm.
12. A soft candy (300) comprising a base area (601), the soft candy (300) being characterized by a diameter (602) in a plane parallel to the base area (601), a dependence of a length of the diameter (602) on a position on a line (603) perpendicular to the base area (601) being describable by a diameter function, the diameter function being a nonmonotonic function.
13. A soft candy (300) comprising a hole (701), the hole (701) having a depth (702) of at least 3 mm.
14. A soft candy (300), a total surface of the soft candy (300) not being overlaid with flour to an extent of more than 0.05% by weight, based on the weight of the soft candy (300).
15. A soft candy (300) not comprising a base area (601).
16. A device (900) for producing a soft candy (300), the device (900) comprising a nozzle (901) which comprises an outlet opening (902) and a soft-candy precursor composition; the soft-candy precursor composition being characterized by a water content in a range from 15 to 24% by weight, based on the soft-candy precursor composition; the nozzle (901) a. being arranged above a substrate (903), and b. being designed and arranged such that the outlet opening (902) can be moved to any point of a three-dimensional working volume (909) above the substrate (903).
17. A process for producing a soft candy (300) using the device (900) as claimed in claim 16.
18. The use of a soft-candy precursor composition characterized by a water content in a range from 15 to 24% by weight, based on the soft-candy precursor composition, for a production of a soft candy (300) by means of shaping of the soft-candy precursor composition by means of a nozzle (901).
19. The use of the device (900) as claimed in claim 16 for a production of a soft candy (300).
Description
[0159] What are shown are:
[0160] FIG. 1 a flowchart of a process according to the invention;
[0161] FIG. 2 a flowchart of a further process according to the invention;
[0162] FIG. 3a) a schematic cross section of a soft candy according to the invention;
[0163] FIG. 3b) a schematic depiction of a further soft candy according to the invention;
[0164] FIG. 4 a schematic cross section of a further soft candy according to the invention;
[0165] FIG. 5 a schematic depiction of a further soft candy according to the invention;
[0166] FIG. 6a) a schematic depiction of a further soft candy according to the invention;
[0167] FIG. 6b) a schematic depiction of a further soft candy according to the invention;
[0168] FIG. 7a) a schematic cross section of a further soft candy according to the invention;
[0169] FIG. 7b) a schematic depiction of a further soft candy according to the invention;
[0170] FIG. 8 a schematic depiction of a further soft candy according to the invention; and
[0171] FIG. 9 a schematic depiction of a device according to the invention for producing a soft candy.
[0172] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a process 100 according to the invention for producing a soft candy 300. In a process step a) 101, a soft-candy precursor composition according to precursor composition 2B3 as specified in the above examples is provided. This involves the admixing of base composition 2B with the citric acid solution immediately before starting a process step b) 102. In the process step b), the soft-candy precursor composition (precursor composition 2B3) is added to a syringe nozzle 901, and the soft-candy precursor composition is shaped to give a shaped article by dispensing of the soft-candy precursor composition from an outlet opening 902 of the nozzle 901. This is achieved by layer-by-layer spraying of the soft-candy precursor composition onto a substrate 903. In order to shape the shaped article using the soft-candy precursor composition, the nozzle 901 is guided here such that the outlet opening 902 follows a spiral three-dimensional trajectory 908. Here, the trajectory 908 starts above the substrate 903 and leads upward, and so a distance 910 between the outlet opening 902 and the substrate 903 increases along the three-dimensional trajectory 908. Thus, it is possible with the process 100 according to FIG. 1 to produce the soft candy 300 according to FIG. 7b). After process step b) 102, the shaped article composed of the soft-candy precursor composition is hardened in a further step 103. This is done at a temperature of 30 C. for 30 minutes.
[0173] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of a further process 100 according to the invention for producing a soft candy 300. The process 100 according to FIG. 2 is performed like the process 100 according to FIG. 1, but, according to FIG. 2, the hardening 300 of the shaped article takes place only after completion of the process step b). Instead, in process step b), the soft-candy precursor composition is dispensed from the outlet opening 920 in portions. After each dispensing of a portion of the soft-candy precursor composition, said portion is first hardened. Then, the outlet opening 902 is guided to a next position on the three-dimensional trajectory 908 and then a next portion of the soft-candy precursor composition is dispensed. This sequence of steps is repeated until the shaped article is formed. This is indicated by the loop in the flowchart (dashed arrow). Thus, the fully-shaped shaped article is directly hardened and the soft candy 300 is thus obtained. The soft candy 300 can be further subjected to an aftertreatment, for example wetting with a powder against adhesion of the soft candy 300 to further soft candies 300.
[0174] FIG. 3a) shows a schematic cross section of a soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy 300 is a fruit gum consisting of a wall 301. The wall 301 has a wall thickness 302 of 2 mm. The wall completely surrounds an interior 305. The soft candy 300 is designed as a hollow sphere.
[0175] FIG. 3b) shows a schematic depiction of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. Said soft candy 300 is a wine gum consisting of a wall 301. The wall 301 has a wall thickness 302 of 3 mm. The soft candy 300 is designed as a corrugated layer.
[0176] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross section of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy 300 is a fruit gum consisting of a wall 301. The wall 301 has a wall thickness 302 of 1 mm. The wall completely surrounds an interior 305. The soft candy 300 is designed as a hollow cylinder closed at its end faces and having a support structure 303 in the interior 305.
[0177] FIG. 5 shows a schematic depiction of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy 300 is a fruit gum consisting of a wall 301. The wall 301 has a wall thickness 302 of 2 mm. The wall completely surrounds an interior 305. The soft candy 300 is designed as a hollow cylinder having 8 openings 304 in the wall 301.
[0178] FIG. 6a) shows a schematic depiction of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy 300 is a foam gum characterized by a diameter 602 in a plane parallel to a base area 601. A dependence of a length of the diameter 602 on a position on a line 603 perpendicular to the base area 601 is describable by a diameter function, the diameter function having two global maxima.
[0179] FIG. 6b) shows a schematic depiction of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy is a vegan fruit gum reproducing in three dimensions a shape of a Christmas tree. The arrow in FIG. 6b) indicates a rotational symmetry of the soft candy 300. The soft candy 300 is characterized by a diameter 602 in a plane parallel to a base area 601. A dependence of a length of the diameter 602 on a position on a line 603 perpendicular to the base area 601 is describable by a diameter function, the diameter function having at least 5 local maxima. The base area 601 is designed for depositing or placing the soft candy 300 on a flat support 604 by contacting the base area 601 with the flat support 604. The base area 601 deviates from a flat configuration owing to drying of the soft candy 300. The soft candy 300 can be placed in a stable position by placing the base area 601 of the soft candy 300 on the flat support 604.
[0180] FIG. 7a) shows a schematic cross section of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy 300 is a fruit gum comprising a hole 701, the hole 701 having a depth 702 of 10 mm. The hole 701 is an indentation. The soft candy 300 is trough-shaped.
[0181] FIG. 7b) shows a schematic depiction of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy 300 is a fruit gum comprising a hole 701, the hole 701 having a depth 702 of 20 mm. The hole 701 is a tunnel which completely passes through the soft candy. The soft candy 300 is designed as an open hollow cylinder.
[0182] FIG. 8 shows a schematic depiction of a further soft candy 300 according to the invention. The soft candy 300 is a wine gum which does not comprise a base area 601. In particular, the soft candy 300 does not comprise a flat area. Furthermore, the soft candy 300 cannot be brought to a stable position by depositing or placing the soft candy 300 on a flat support 604. The arrow in FIG. 8 indicates a rotational symmetry of the soft candy 300.
[0183] FIG. 9 shows a schematic depiction of a device 900 according to the invention for producing a soft candy 300. The device 900 comprises a nozzle 901 which comprises an outlet opening 902 and a soft-candy precursor composition. The soft-candy precursor composition is precursor composition 2B3 according to the above-described examples. The soft-candy precursor composition is characterized by a temperature of 60 C. The outlet opening 902 of the nozzle 901 is characterized by an outlet area of 1 mm.sup.2. Furthermore, the nozzle 901 comprises a mixing chamber 911 for the mixing of a base composition with the citric acid. By mixing the base composition with the citric acid in the mixing chamber 911, it is possible to obtain the soft-candy precursor composition. The mixing chamber 911 of the nozzle 901 has a fluid-conducting connection to a first container 904 and a further container 905 via a hose in each case. The first container 904 comprises base composition 2B. The further container comprises the citric acid solution according to the above examples for mixing with the base composition. The nozzle 901 is arranged above a substrate 903. By means of a track system 912 and also a vertical translation of the substrate 903 via a lifting device 913 (indicated in each case by arrows) and motors 907, the nozzle 901 can be guided such that the outlet opening 902 can be moved to any point of a three-dimensional working volume 909 above the substrate 903. Thus, the device 900 can generate soft candies 300 in a multiplicity of shapes which fit into the working volume in each case. The guidance of the nozzle 901 by means of the track system 912 and a dispensing of the soft-candy precursor composition from the outlet opening are effected here under computer control via a computer 906. The computer 906 thus acts as a control unit. Furthermore, the computer 906 comprises a hard disk on which CAD models of the multiplicity of shapes of the soft candies 300 are stored. The movement of the outlet opening 902 under computer control is done along a three-dimensional trajectory 908 which lies in the working volume 909. During the movement along the three-dimensional trajectory 908, a distance 910 between the substrate 903 and the outlet opening increases monotonically. Thus, the device 900 is suited to carrying out the process 100 according to FIG. 1. After the soft candy 300 has been made, it is taken away by a conveyor which is preferably designed as an assembly belt and which contains the substrate 903, in order to provide space for the production of a further soft candy.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0184] 100 Process according to the invention
[0185] 101 Process step a)
[0186] 102 Process step b)
[0187] 103 Hardening
[0188] 300 Soft candy according to the invention
[0189] 301 Wall
[0190] 302 Wall thickness
[0191] 303 Support structure
[0192] 304 Opening
[0193] 305 Interior
[0194] 601 Base area
[0195] 602 Diameter
[0196] 603 Line perpendicular to the base area
[0197] 604 Flat support
[0198] 701 Hole
[0199] 702 Depth
[0200] 900 Device according to the invention
[0201] 901 Nozzle
[0202] 902 Outlet opening
[0203] 903 Substrate
[0204] 904 First container
[0205] 905 Further container
[0206] 906 Computer
[0207] 907 Motor
[0208] 908 Three-dimensional trajectory
[0209] 909 Three-dimensional working volume
[0210] 910 Distance between the outlet opening and the substrate
[0211] 911 Mixing chamber
[0212] 912 Track system
[0213] 913 Lifting device
