WO2003039266A2 - Candy product on a stick - Google Patents

Abstract

A candy product of the type commonly called a lollipop, comprising a stick (2) with one end embedded in a ball (3) of candy which has a completely convex shape, in particular a spherical shape, with a smooth outer surface.

Description

CANDY PRODUCT ON A STICK

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a candy product on a stick, commonly known as a lollipop. The term "lollipop" will hereinafter be used to indicate the candy product to which the invention relates. A lollipop comprises a stick, usually tubular, at one end of which a confectionery product consisting of candy or another edible product is placed.

The other end of the stick is held in the hand while the product is slowly eaten, usually by being sucked or licked.

The classic flattened shape of the lollipop has been replaced over the years with more "convex" shapes which are more popular with users, constituted, for example, by two truncated cones with the larger bases joined, or roughly spherical shapes. The latter are currently the most common, because their rounded shape is better suited to the shape of the palate.

However, spherical lollipops are not problem- free. They have, in fact, a projecting median area, usually perpendicular to the stick, which divides the sphere into two segments or two half-spheres. This projecting area may take the form of a band of varying widths or a simple ring-shaped edge, forming projections which are disliked by users.

If the candy product that constitutes the lollipop is very hard and the projecting edge is very sharp, the user may even suffer cuts to the tongue or lips, especially in the case of children, who are the main users of this product and tend to bite it hard.

The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate said drawbacks, and in particular to supply a lollipop which totally eliminates the risk of injury to the consumer and is very comfortable to eat.

This purpose is achieved by the lollipop of the invention, which has the characteristics described in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

Basically, the lollipop of the invention is characterised by the fact that it has a perfectly rounded shape constituted by a totally smooth, convex surface with no sharp edges or breaks.

Advantageously, said convex surface will be substantially spherical.

Further characteristics of the invention will appear more clearly from the detailed description that follows, by reference to an embodiment described by way of example but not of limitation, illustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein:

- fig. 1 is a side elevation view of a lollipop according to the invention;

- fig. 2 is a view in median section along the line II-II shown in fig. 1 ;

- fig. 3 is a view from below of the lollipop shown in fig. 1. In said figures, the candy product, in particular the lollipop according to the invention, is globally indicated by the number 1.

It comprises a stick 2, which has a tubular shape in the example and is conveniently made of plastic or the like, the top end of which is embedded in a body of confectionery 3, which may be candy or the like. As shown in the figures, body 3 of the product has a substantially spherical shape, with a perfectly smooth outer surface.

According to the embodiment illustrated by way of example but not of limitation, there is a substantially conical cavity 4 in the lower part of sphere 3 at the point where stick 2 is inserted into it. This configuration of body 3, which has no projecting parts, achieves the aims of the present invention.

Although a spherical shape is preferred, other shapes are possible, provided that the outer surface is substantially smooth. A convex surface without breaks is suitable for this purpose.

Conical cavity 4 in body 3 does not affect the ability of the product to meet the established requirements. Said cavity 4 is due to the manufacturing method used, and may or may not be present or filled with the product. Another essential characteristic of spherical body 3 is that it optionally has 1, 2 or 3 colours.

These colours (2 or 3) may be arranged in stripes in a meridian, spiral, or random pattern.

4 To 24 stripes can be coloured with 2 or 3 colours. The absence of roughness on the entirely smooth, spherical surface and the totally original pattern created by the multicoloured stripes make this product unique, and particularly appealing.

The manufacturing process of the lollipop according to the invention will be briefly described below, including the formation of the multicoloured stripes.

A basic mixture is first made with a sugar dissolver, which also meters the addition of glucose syrup. The other ingredients, previously prepared in a liquid mixture, are mixed with the sugar and glucose preparation with a volumetric pump. The moist final mixture is cooked in a microfilm cooker equipped with a pre-heating coil.

The cooker continuously feeds a hopper fitted with a plurality of metering pistons, for example 18. Each piston dispenses a precise amount of the fluid cooked mass into a mould with spherical cavities which is inclined at the base so that it can be opened. The moulds are fixed to a drive chain.

The moulding system can be equipped with two or three hoppers. Each hopper can contain a cooked mass of a different colour. The contents of the 2 or 3 hoppers can be metered simultaneously through a connector plate to produce a lollipop with 2 or 3 visibly well- differentiated colours.

The metering nozzles contain a number of holes which determine the number of stripes of each colour (for example, 6 white stripes and 6 red stripes). The mould containing the fluid cooked mass undergoes a first cooling stage.

The stick is inserted into the spherical cavity containing the cooked mass, still semi-fluid, using a mechanical system located above the mould drive chain. The stick penetrates into the cooked mass for a certain length, for example 12 mm, and is retained there for a certain period, at least until the cooked mass is sufficiently hard.

The mould then enters an air-cooling tunnel where the cooked mass cools and gradually hardens.

The mould is opened by a mechanical system, and the product drops onto a conveyer belt which conveys it to the outlet of the cooling tunnel.

A mechanical system closes the mould, which is ready to start a new cycle.

An important detail of the process described above is that the cooked mass is moulded in a single stage in a perfectly spherical mould, so as to produce a spherical product with no sharp edges.

Microfilm cooking ensures that the product is perfectly smooth.

The innovation is obviously not limited to the particular embodiment described above and illustrated in the annexed drawings, as numerous details thereof could be modified by one skilled in the art.

Claims

1. Candy product of the type commonly called a lollipop, comprising a stick (2) with one end embedded in a ball (3) of candy, characterised in that said body (3) has a totally convex shape with a smooth outer surface.

2. Candy product as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said body (3) has a spherical shape.

3. Candy product as claimed in claims 1 and 2, characterised in that it has two to three colours arranged in stripes in a meridian, spiral or random pattern.

4. Candy product as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that there is a substantially conical cavity in body (3) at the point where stick (2) is inserted into it.

5. Candy product as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said stick (2) is a tubular stick made of plastic or the like.

6. Candy product as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said body (3) of the product is made of candy or the like.

7. Candy product as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, obtained by moulding a microfilm-cooked basic mixture in a single stage in a perfectly spherical opening mould.