Additive Manufacturing for Producing Edible Compositions

摘要

A 3D food printing system, which can deposit macro- and micro-nutrients in an additive process to prepare a wide variety of different types of food. According to embodiments described herein, a 3D printed food system can be used to rapidly and efficiently prepare meals on demand, rather than in advance, while also allowing nutritional content, flavor, and taste to be customized for individual crew members. In some embodiments, the food can also be prepared in a largely or even completely automated fashion.

主权项

1. An apparatus for producing a three-dimensional edible composition, said apparatus comprising:
a plurality of storage containers for holding food components in powder or liquid form; a print head for depositing a fluid food component mixture onto a substrate in successive layers; a mixing chamber for blending food components until a desired composition and viscosity is reached; a feeder for delivering a metered amount of a food component from a storage container to the mixing chamber; a mixture delivery system for delivering blended food components to the print head; a controller adapted for receiving a set of instructions specifying compositions to be added to a food mixture and issuing movement commands in response thereto; a print head positioning system in communication with said controller; wherein the blended food component is deposited onto a substrate by the print head at desired locations in successive layers to create a desired three-dimensional structure formed from the blended food components.