Deposited hard shell and soft chewy center candy and method of making

Abstract

A hard candy, namely lollipops, suckers or similar confectionary comestibles and a method of making and packaging the same by a depositing manufacturing process which produces a multi-colored and multi-flavored lollipop which colors and flavors extend entirely through the lollipop body and hard shell and are visible in the final packaging and particularly to a double depositing method and apparatus incorporating a soft chewy center into a deposited lollipop body which soft center is entirely surrounded by and of a different consistency and viscosity from the hard outer candy shell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for the production of a candy comprising:
 adding one or more ingredients to a premix tank to form a slurry;   transporting the slurry to a mixer;   reducing water content of the slurry using a microfilm dissolver having a flash chamber;   cooking the slurry through a steam jacketed tube;   pumping the slurry to a mixing cone, the mixing cone having a feed tipper chute;   splitting the slurry into at least two streams using the feed tipper chute;   feeding color and/or flavor to the slurry;   feeding the slurry to a plurality of depositor hoppers;   starting and stopping the depositing of slurry into one of a plurality of molds from at least a first depositor hopper pump;   starting and stopping the depositing of slurry into the same mold from at least a second depositor hopper pump; and   starting and stopping the depositing of slurry into the same mold from at least the first depositor hopper pump.   
     
     
         2 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising controlling the amounts of the one or more ingredients by weight using a plurality of weight tanks 
     
     
         3 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising discharging slurry from at least the second depositor hopper pump that is of a substantially different consistency and viscosity from the slurry from at least the first depositor hopper pump. 
     
     
         4 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 3  comprising forming a hard shell from a slurry from the first depositor hopper pump around the slurry from the second depositor hopper pump. 
     
     
         5 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising inserting a stick through the first deposited slurry, through the second deposited slurry and into the first deposited slurry. 
     
     
         6 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1 , comprising subsequently starting and stopping a discharge of slurry into the same mold of the plurality of molds from at least a third depositor hopper pump. 
     
     
         7 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising injecting color and/or flavor using a plurality of injection points. 
     
     
         8 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising adding solid particulates to the slurry. 
     
     
         9 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising directing at least one stream of the slurry to a rotary mixing cone to mix in color and/or flavor. 
     
     
         10 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising continuously feeding the slurry. 
     
     
         11 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising forming the outer shell of a candy without a seam. 
     
     
         12 . The method for the production of a candy as set forth in  claim 1  comprising producing a candy having non-linear and non-uniform stripe segments of color and/or flavor that extend entirely through a spherical body of the candy. 
     
     
         13 . The candy product produced by the process of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for the production of a candy comprising:
 adding one or more ingredients to form a slurry;   splitting the slurry into at least two streams using a feed tipper chute of a mixing cone;   feeding color and/or flavor to the slurry;   starting and stopping the depositing of slurry into one of a plurality of molds from at least a first depositor hopper pump; and   starting and stopping the depositing of slurry into the same mold from at least a second depositor hopper pump.   
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for the continuous production of a candy comprising:
 a controller directed to add ingredients to form a slurry;   a mixing cone having a feed tipper chute configured to split the slurry into at least two streams;   a feed system configured to add color and/or flavor to the slurry;   a plurality of depositor hoppers configured for receiving the slurry;   a depositor having a plurality of molds; and   wherein a candy is formed by starting and stopping the discharge of slurry into one of the plurality of molds from at least a first depositor hopper pump.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15  wherein a candy is formed by starting and stopping the discharge of slurry into the same mold from at least a second depositor hopper pump; and
 starting and stopping the discharge of slurry into the same mold from at least the first depositor hopper pump. 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising a wrapping apparatus to wrap the formed candy. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a microfilm dissolver to reduce water content of the slurry. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a steam jacketed tube to cook the slurry. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the feed tipper chute directs at least one stream of the slurry to a rotary mixing cone to mix in color and/or flavor. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the candy product is formed without a seam. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the formed candy having non-linear and non-uniform stripe segments of color and/or flavor that extend entirely through a spherical body of the candy. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising a stick feeder. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus for the continuous production of a candy as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the wrapping apparatus wraps the formed candy in transparent wrappers.