PRODUCTION OF CONFECTIONERY USING SUCCESSIVELY OPTIMIZED MOLDING POWDER AND CONFECTIONERY OBTAINABLE THEREBY

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process comprising as process steps: a) Providing a confectionery precursor mass, wherein the confectionery precursor mass is liquid; b) Providing a support, supporting a powder, wherein the powder includes a powder surface, wherein the powder surface comprises a plurality of negative molds; c) Filling the negative molds with the confectionery precursor mass; and d) Hardening the confectionery precursor mass;
wherein the powder has a particle size distribution characterized by a i) D.sub.10 in a range from 6 to 10 m, ii) D.sub.50 in a range from 12 to 16 m, and iii) D.sub.90 in a range from 21 to 25 m.

The invention also relates to a confectionery product produced according to the production process according to the invention, a product comprising a flour, a hard candy with a diameter which is a strictly monotonically decreasing function, use for the production of confectionery, a device for the production of hard candies, a process in this device, and a hard candy, obtainable by this process.

Claims

1. A process (100) comprising as process steps: a) Providing a confectionery precursor mass (105), wherein the confectionery precursor mass (105) is liquid; b) Providing a support (101), carrying a powder (102), wherein the powder (102) has a powder surface (103), wherein the powder surface (103) comprises a plurality of negative molds (104); c) Filling the negative molds (104) with the confectionery precursor mass (105); d) Hardening the confectionery precursor mass (105); wherein the powder (102) has a particle size distribution characterized by a i) D.sub.10 in a range from 6 to 10 m, ii) D.sub.50 in a range from 12 to 16 m, and iii) D.sub.90 in a range from 21 to 25 m.

2. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particle size distribution of the powder (102) is further characterized by a i) D.sub.16 in a range from 8 to 11 m, ii) D.sub.84 in a range from 19 to 22 m, and iii) D.sub.95 in a range from 25 to 30 m.

3. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the particle size distribution of the powder (102) is further characterized by a i) Q.sub.10 in a range from 15 to 20 vol. %, ii) Q.sub.20 in a range from 78 to 85 vol. %, iii) Q.sub.40 in a range from 97 to 100 vol. %, and iv) Q.sub.50 in a range from 99 to 100 vol. %, each based on the total volume of the powder (102).

4. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powder (102) is a flour.

5. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powder (102) has a water content in a range from 2 to 10 g/100 g based on the powder (102).

6. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the confectionery precursor mass (105) is a hard candy mass.

7. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hardening of the confectionery precursor mass (105) in process step d) a conditioning for a period in a range from 0.5 to 10 hours to a temperature in a range from 25 to 65 C.

8. A confectionery product obtainable by a process (100) as claimed in claim 1.

9. A product (200) comprising a confectionery product (201), a confectionery surface (202) and a flour (203); wherein the flour (203) at least partly superimposes the confectionery surface (202).

10. The product (200) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the confectionery product (201) is a hard candy.

11. The product (200) as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the flour (203) has a particle size distribution characterized by a i) D.sub.10 in a range from 6 to 10 m, ii) D.sub.50 in a range from 12 to 16 m, and iii) D.sub.90 in a range from 21 to 25 m.

12. The product (200) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flour (203) has a particle size distribution characterized by a i) D.sub.16 in a range from 8 to 11 m, ii) D.sub.84 in a range from 19 to 22 m, and iii) D.sub.95 in a range from 25 to 30 m.

13. The product (200) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flour (203) has a particle size distribution characterized by a Q.sub.10 in a range from 15 to 20%, i) Q.sub.20 in a range from 78 to 85%, ii) Q.sub.40 in a range from 97 to 100%, and iii) Q.sub.50 in a range from 99 to 100%, each based on the total volume of the flour (203).

14. The product (200) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the flour (203) has a water content in a range from 2 to 10 g/100 g based on the flour (203).

15. A hard candy (300) having a surface; wherein the surface consists of a bottom surface (301), a top surface (302), and a lateral surface (303); wherein the top surface (302) a) lies opposite the bottom surface (301), b) is connected with the bottom surface (301) by the lateral surface (303); wherein a length of a diameter (304) of the hard candy (300) is a strictly monotonically decreasing function of a position on a connecting straight line (305) from the bottom surface (301) to the top surface (302).

16. The hard candy (300) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the top surface (302) includes a relief (307).

17. The hard candy (300) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the hard candy (300) comprises none selected from the group consisting of a burr (502), a seam (503), a rim (501) running at least partly around the hard candy (300), and a knock-out mark (504).

18. The hard candy (300) as claimed in claim 15, wherein the bottom surface (301) is concave.

19. A use of a support and a flour for the production of confectionery; wherein the support supports a flour; wherein the flour a) has a flour surface, b) has a particle size distribution characterized by a i) D.sub.10 in a range from 6 to 10 m, ii) D.sub.50 in a range from 12 to 16 m, and iii) D.sub.90 in a range from 21 to 25 m, c) has a water content in a range from 2 to 8 g/100 g based on the flour; wherein the flour surface comprises a plurality of negative molds.

20. A device (900), comprising a) a first container (901), designed to receive a powder (102), wherein the first container (901) is connected to a powder outlet (901), designed for filling a support (101) with the powder (102); b) a squeegee (902), wherein the squeegee (902) i) is positioned downstream of the powder outlet (901), and ii) is designed to wipe off the powder (102) in the support (101) thereby obtaining a powder surface (103); c) a stamping device (903), wherein the stamping device (903) i) is positioned downstream of the squeegee (902), and ii) is designed to stamp a plurality of negative molds (104) into the powder surface (103); d) a further container (904), designed to receive a liquid hard candy mass, wherein the further container (904) is connected to a hard candy mass outlet (904), designed for filling the negative mold (104) with the liquid hard candy mass, wherein the hard candy mass outlet (904) is positioned downstream of the stamping device (903); e) a cooling device (905), wherein the cooling device (905) i) is positioned downstream of the hard candy mass outlet (904), and ii) is designed to cool the hard candy mass in the negative molds (104) thereby obtaining a plurality of hard candies; f) a demolding device (906), wherein the demolding device (906) i) is positioned downstream of the cooling device (905), and ii) is designed to demold the hard candies from the negative molds (104); and g) a conveying device (907), positioned and designed for conveying the support (101) downstream from the powder outlet (901) to the hard candy mass outlet (904).

21. The device (900) as claimed in claim 20, wherein the cooling device (905) is designed to cool the hard candy mass in the negative molds (104) at a cooling device temperature in a range from 25 to 55 C. for a cooling time in a range from 0.5 to 10 hours.

22. A process for the production of hard candies in the device (900) as claimed in claim 20.

23. The process as claimed in claim 22, wherein the hard candy mass in the negative molds (104) is conditioned at a cooling device temperature in a range from 25 to 55 C. for a period in a range from 0.5 to 10 hours.

24. A hard candy, obtainable by the process as claimed in claim 22.

Description

[0143] The diagrams show:

[0144] FIG. 1a) an illustration of a process according to the invention;

[0145] FIG. 1b) a further illustration of a process according to the invention;

[0146] FIG. 2 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a product according to the invention in plan view;

[0147] FIG. 3 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a hard candy according to the invention in side view;

[0148] FIG. 4 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy according to the invention in side view;

[0149] FIG. 5a) a schematic cross-sectional representation of a hard candy not according to the invention in side view;

[0150] FIG. 5b) a schematic representation of the hard candy not according to the invention in FIG. 5a) in plan view;

[0151] FIG. 6a) a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention in side view;

[0152] FIG. 6b) a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention in side view;

[0153] FIG. 7 a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention in side view;

[0154] FIG. 8a) a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention in side view;

[0155] FIG. 8b) a schematic representation of the further hard candy not according to the invention in FIG. 8a) in plan view; and

[0156] FIG. 9 a schematic representation of a device according to the invention for the production of hard candies.

[0157] FIG. 1a) shows an illustration of a process according to the invention 100. A schematic cross-sectional representation is shown of a support 101, wherein the support 101 is a tray 101. In the tray 101 is located a powder 102, wherein the powder 102 is a cornstarch flour 102. The cornstarch flour 102 contains a powder surface 103. The tray 101 is filled with the cornstarch flour 102 to the powder surface 103. The powder surface 103 contains negative molds 104. The negative molds 104 were stamped into the powder surface 103 with a punch. The cornstarch flour 102 has a particle size distribution characterized by a D.sub.10 of 8.41 m, a D.sub.16 of 9.69 m, a D.sub.50 of 14.38 m. a D.sub.84 of 20.48 m, a D.sub.90 of 23.02 m, a D.sub.95 of 26.64 m, and by a Q.sub.10 of 17.76 vol. %, a Q.sub.20 of 82.08 vol. %, a Q.sub.40 of 99.07 vol. %, and a Q.sub.50 of 99.45 vol. %.

[0158] FIG. 1b) shows a further illustration of a process according to the invention. The arrangement in FIG. 1a) is shown, wherein the negative molds 104 are filled with a confectionery precursor mass 105. The confectionery precursor mass 105 is a hard candy mass 105.

[0159] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a product according to the invention 200 in plan view. The product 200 comprises a confectionary 201, a confectionery surface 202 and a flour 203. The confectionary 201 is a hard candy 201. The flour 203 is a cornstarch flour 203. The cornstarch flour 203 has a particle size distribution characterized by a D.sub.10 of 8.41 m, a D.sub.16 of 9.69 m, a D.sub.50 of 14.38 m. a D.sub.84 of 20.48 m, a D.sub.90 of 23.02 m, a D.sub.95 of 26.64 m, and by a Q.sub.10 of 17.76 vol. %, a Q.sub.20 of 82.08 vol. %, a Q.sub.40 of 99.07 vol. %, and a Q.sub.50 of 99.45 vol. %. The cornstarch flour 203 has a water content of 5 g/100 g based on the cornstarch flour 203. The cornstarch flour 203 is located on the confectionery surface 202.

[0160] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a hard candy according to the invention 300 in side view. The hard candy 300 includes a surface. The surface consists of a bottom surface 301, a top surface 302, and a lateral surface 303. The top surface 302 lies opposite the bottom surface 301. The lateral surface 303 connects the top surface 302 with the bottom surface 301. The hard candy 300 is laid on a flat surface 306. A length of a diameter 304 of the hard candy 300 is a strictly monotonically decreasing function of a position on a connecting straight line 305 from the bottom surface 301 to the top surface 302. Here the diameter lies in a cross-sectional plane through the hard candy 300, which is oriented parallel to the flat surface 306. The bottom surface 301 is concave.

[0161] FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy according to the invention 300 in side view. The hard candy 300 includes a surface. The surface consists of a bottom surface 301, a top surface 302, and a lateral surface 303. The top surface 302 lies opposite the bottom surface 301. The lateral surface 303 connects the top surface 302 with the bottom surface 301. A length of a diameter 304 (not shown) of the hard candy 300 is a strictly monotonically decreasing function of a position on a connecting straight line 305 (not shown) from the bottom surface 301 to the top surface 302. The top surface 302 comprises a relief 307. The relief 307 is a three-dimensional representation 307 of a part of a surface of a raspberry. The bottom surface 301 is concave.

[0162] FIG. 5a) shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a hard candy not according to the invention 500 in side view. The hard candy 500 has a rim 501 running at least partly around the hard candy.

[0163] FIG. 5b) shows a schematic representation of the hard candy not according to the invention 300 in FIG. 5a) in plan view.

[0164] FIG. 6a) shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention 500 in side view. The hard candy 500 has a burr 502.

[0165] FIG. 6b) shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention 500 in side view. The hard candy 500 has a burr 502.

[0166] FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention 500 in side view. The hard candy 500 has a seam 503. The seam 503 is a linear misalignment on a surface of the hard candy 500.

[0167] FIG. 8a) shows a schematic cross-sectional representation of a further hard candy not according to the invention 500 in side view. The hard candy 500 has a knock-out mark 504.

[0168] FIG. 8b) shows a schematic representation of the further hard candy not according to the invention 500 in FIG. 8a) in plan view.

[0169] FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of a device according to the invention 900 for the production of hard candies in a process sequence 908. The process sequence 908 is a circuit which enables continuous operation of the production process. The device 900 comprises a first container 901, which is designed to receive a powder 102, here a cornstarch flour. The first container is connected with a powder outlet 901 such that the powder 102 can be passed from the first container 901 to the powder outlet 901 and via the powder outlet 901 a support 101, here a powder tray, can be filled with the powder 102. In the process sequence 908, a squeegee 902 is located downstream from the powder outlet 901. The squeegee 902 is designed to wipe off the powder 102 in the support 101 thereby obtaining a flat powder surface 103. Positioned downstream of the squeegee 902 is located a stamping device 903, which includes a plurality of molding punches which can be lowered into the powder surface 103, in order to create a plurality of negative molds in the powder surface 103. The negative molds are hard candy molds. Further, the device 900 includes a further container 904, designed to receive a liquid hard candy mass. The further container 904 is equipped with a heating system. Further, the further container 904 is connected to a hard candy mass outlet 904 such that the negative molds can be filled with the liquid hard candy mass via the hard candy mass outlet 904. Therein, the hard candy mass outlet 904 is a mogul nozzle. The hard candy mass outlet 904 is positioned downstream of the stamping device 903. A cooling device 905 is positioned downstream of the hard candy mass outlet 904. The cooling device 905 is a cooling room, suitable for cooling the hard candy mass in the negative molds for 1 to 5 hours at a cooling room temperature of 30 C. thereby obtaining a plurality of hard candies. A demolding device 906, which can invert the support 101, that is orientate it with the powder surface 103 pointing downwards, is located downstream of the cooling device 905. As a result, the powder 102 and the hard candies fall out of the support 101 onto a grating, which is part of the demolding device 906. The powder 102 falls through openings in the grating and the hard candies remain lying on the grating. In order to free the hard candies from powder residues, the grating can be shaken. The demolding device 906 is an inverting table. After the hard candies have been freed from the powder 102, they can leave the device as the end product according to the dotted arrow. The support 101 can remain in the device 900 and pass through a further process cycle. The device 900 further includes a conveying device 907, here a production line. The production line transports the support 101 under the powder outlet 901, from there to the squeegee 902, from there to the stamping device 903 under the molding punch, and from there under the hard candy mass outlet 904. The device 900 is a mogul plant.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0170] 100 process according to the invention [0171] 101 support [0172] 102 powder [0173] 103 powder surface [0174] 104 negative mold [0175] 105 confectionery precursor mass [0176] 200 product according to the invention [0177] 201 confectionery product [0178] 202 confectionery product surface [0179] 203 flour [0180] 300 hard candy according to the invention [0181] 301 bottom surface [0182] 302 top surface [0183] 303 lateral surface [0184] 304 length of a diameter [0185] 305 connecting straight line from the bottom surface to the top surface [0186] 306 flat surface [0187] 307 relief [0188] 500 hard candy not according to the invention [0189] 501 rim running at least partly around the hard candy [0190] 502 burr [0191] 503 seam [0192] 504 knock-out mark [0193] 900 device for the production of hard candies [0194] 901 first container with powder outlet [0195] 902 squeegee [0196] 903 stamping device [0197] 904 further container with hard candy mass outlet [0198] 905 cooling device [0199] 906 demolding device [0200] 907 conveying device [0201] 908 process flow