APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPRINTING LINES ON DIRECT-EXPANDED FOOD PRODUCTS HAVING COMPLEX SHAPES WITH IMPROVED DIMENSIONAL QUALITY.

摘要

The present invention comprises an improved extruder die assembly and method for using same to impart a distinct colored and/or flavored pattern into an extrudable food mass during the extrusion process. The extruder die assembly includes a forming section (1200) and an injection section (1300) for imparting the distinct colored and/or flavored pattern into an extrudable food mass. The resulting food mass is compressed through a converging nozzle bore in the nozzle section (1400) to produce an extruded food product. The converging nozzle section may also include axially aligned ridgelines (1420a, 1420b) which gradually project into the bore of the nozzle as the nozzle converges to gradually disrupt the axial flow of an extrudate at specific peripheral points thereby altering the extrudate's velocity profile, which improves the quality of dimensional design aspects of the resulting extruded, complexly shaped, direct expanded food products.