Six manufacturers and suppliers were issued patents for equipment and ingredient creations.
Photo source: Burford Corp.
The patent describes how the invention centers dough pieces in pan molds and a method for inducing a selected orbital movement in a bakery pan with an automated pan shaker.
US Patent No. 10,881,113 (Jan. 5, 2021), S. Clemons, et al., assigned to Burford Corp., Maysville, Okla.
Photo source: General Mills
In this patented process, tortillas are formed from creating an initial tapioca base, then topping this base with tapioca in the form of granules. This method creates a generally smooth bottom surface for a tapioca tortilla, while the granular top surface is undulated or textured.
US Patent No. 10,881,114 (Jan. 5, 2021), A. Anand, et al., assigned to General Mills, Minneapolis.
Photo source: Gruma S.A.B. de C.V.
The ornamental design for an end portion of a snack chip is shown in this patent.
US Patent No. D907,890 (Jan. 19, 2021), F. Rubio, et al., assigned to Gruma S.A.B. de C.V., San Pedro Garza Garcia, Mexico.
Photo source: Premier Innovations
This patent outlines how to detect and control moisture in tortilla and baked or fried tortilla chip production. In addition to the production process, the patent includes methods for controlling moisture content, measuring masa moisture, controlling the oven, measuring baked surfaces, measuring fried surfaces and other quality control monitoring.
US Patent No. 10,893,679 (Jan. 19, 2021), B. Bartlett, et al., assigned to Premier Innovations, Austin, Texas.
This patent shows and describes an ornamental design for a molded tortilla pocket.
US Patent No. D908,306 (Jan. 26, 2021), C. Cammarota, et al., assigned to General Mills, Minneapolis.
Photo source: Food Machinery Engineering Ltd.
The patent features a variable contoured rounding bar and a process for rounding dough pieces and other semi-solid materials with greater uniformity and consistency.
US Patent No. 10,897,912 (Jan. 26, 2021), N. Schmidt, et al., assigned to Food Machinery Engineering Ltd., British Columbia, Canada.