APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MAKING MULTIPLE COMPLEXLY PATTERNED EXTRUDATES

摘要

Apparatus (10) and methods are disclosed where plastic extrudable food produ ct is provided such as by a food cooker extruder (12) and is mixed with a food color to form a complexly patterned food product, such as by a pattern formi ng die (20). The cross-sectional area of the patterned food product is reduced from an inlet end (34) to an outlet end (36) by a factor of at least 50:1 at an average convergence angle of <= 45~ while maintaining the cross-sectio nal pattern to form a reduced cross-sectional patterned dough, and then is extruded through a die port having an opening equal to the reduced cross- sectional area to form a complexly patterned extrudate. In the preferred for m, multiple extrudates are simultaneously formed with the flow rates for each extrudate being adjustable by an adjuster plug (16) including a smooth cylindrical portion (86) extendable into a passageway (14) having a circular cross section of a larger diameter than the cylindrical portion (86). In a preferred form, the extrudates are extruded in a non-circular pattern and specifically in a horizontal, single plane by a manifold (100) including por ts (134, 136) and ducts (132, 138) receiving flow from passageways (128, 130) receiving flow from conduits (116, 118, 120) receiving flow from the food cooker extruder (12).