Process and apparatus for stamping a pattern onto a coated frozen confection
A process for stamping a pattern onto a coated frozen confection comprising the steps of: a) at least partially covering the frozen confection with a layer of coating; and b) bringing a stamping surface into contact with the coated frozen confection; characterized in that in step (b) the coating is liquid.
1. A process for stamping a pattern onto a coated frozen confection comprising the steps of:
a) at least partially covering the frozen confection with a layer of coating; and
b) bringing a stamping surface comprising a base and one or more features which are raised out of and/or recessed into the base into contact with the coated frozen confection;
wherein the stamping surface is resiliently mounted on a support and is allowed to tilt when it comes into contact with the surface of the coated frozen confection.
2. A process according to claim 1 further comprising before steps (a) and (b) the steps of:
(i) extruding a frozen confection from a nozzle;
(ii) inserting a stick into the frozen confection;
(iii) cutting the frozen confection into pieces;
wherein steps (ii) and (iii) take place simultaneously or in either order during step (i);
and then subsequently
(iv) handling the frozen confection by the stick.
3. A process according to claim 1 wherein in step (b) the coating is liquid.
4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the stamping surface is resiliently mounted on the support by a single resilient means.
5. A process according to claim 4 wherein the single resilient means comprises a spring.
6. A process according to claim 5 wherein the spring has a spring constant of from 0.1 to 0.5N/mm.
7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the coating is chocolate or a chocolate analogue.
8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the frozen confection is ice cream.
9. A process according to claim 1 wherein step (b) takes place from 1 to 10 seconds after step (a).
10. A process according to claim 1 wherein the stamping surface is at a temperature of below −5° C. in step (b).
11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the coating layer is from 0.5 to 5 mm.
12. A process according to claim 1 wherein the stamping surface comprises features with a height of from 0.5 to 1.5 mm.
13. The process according to claim 1 wherein the height of any raised features are not so great that the raised features penetrate through the coating.
14. The process according to claim 1 wherein when the stamping surface is resiliently mounted on a support it positions and aligns itself with respect to the surface to be stamped as they come into contact.