EP0422883A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Starchless moulding process and apparatus
Assignee: Warner Lambert Co LLC
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Filing: 1990-10-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A porous polymeric plastics material is disclosed as useful for making moulds, particularly moulds for casting confectionery, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products; as is also a process for preparing moulded products, employing such moulds.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank John Bunick
- 👤 Ahmed Abd-El-Hamid Soliman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 08:12
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23G; A23G4/00; A23G4/02; A23G4/04; A23G1/00; A23G1/04; A23G1/20; A23G1/22; A23G1/223; A23G1/226; A23G3/00; A23G3/02; A23G3/0236; A23G3/0252; A23G3/0268; A23G3/0273; A23P; A23P30/00; A23P30/10; A61; A61K; A61K9/00; A61K9/20; A61K9/2095; B; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A process for making a moulded product, which comprises: depositing a molten or fluid mass of product ingredients into a porous hydrophilic polymeric mould; gelling or hardening the fluid mass while absorbing moisture or other solvent into the porous polymer; and recovering the formed product.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process for making a moulded product, which comprises: depositing a molten or fluid mass of product ingredients into a porous hydrophilic polymeric mould; gelling or hardening the fluid mass while absorbing moisture or other solvent into the porous polymer; and recovering the formed product.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process for preparing a moulded product, which comprises: a) preparing a fluid mass of product ingredients; b) depositing the fluid mass into a solid mould comprising a porous hydrophilic polymeric plastics material; c) removing moisture or other solvent from the deposited mass by absorption into the porous polymer; d) gelling or solidifying the fluid mass within the mould to provide a moulded product; and e) expelling the product from the mould.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
A process for preparing a moulded product, which comprises: a) preparing a fluid mass of product ingredients; b) depositing the fluid mass into a solid mould comprising a porous hydrophilic polymeric plastics material; c) removing moisture or other solvent from the deposited mass by absorption into the porous polymer; d) gelling or solidifying the fluid mass within the mould to provide a moulded product; and e) expelling the product from the mould.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluid mass of product contains from 5% to 85% of water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fluid mass of product contains from 5% to 85% of a solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the product is a food or non-food item.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein the product is a confectionery material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein the confectionery material is selected from fondant cremes, jellies, nut pastes, marzipans, turkish delights, soft caramels, fudges, marshmallows, gums and pastilles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 5, wherein the product is a pharmaceutical product or a cosmetic product.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the porous polymer is selected from high-density polyethylene, high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polytetrafluoroethylene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymers, polyvinylidene fluoride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the porous polymer has an average pore size of from 0.8 to 200 micrometres.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to any preceding claim, wherein air is passed over and/or under the porous polymer mould to facilitate removal of moisture or solvent from the porous polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the gelled or hardened product has a consistency ranging from a pliable plastic mass to a pliable solidified mass.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mould for forming a product, which comprises a mould shaped from a porous hydrophilic polymer is plastics material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mould for forming a product, which comprises a mould shaped from a porous hydrophilic polymer is plastics material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A mould according to claim 13, wherein the mould is composed entirely of the porous hydrophilic polymeric plastics material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mould according to claim 13, wherein the mould comprises an outer support structure and an inner layer containing the porous hydrophilic polymeric plastics material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mould according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the porous polymer is selected from high-density polyethylene, high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, polytetrafluoroethylene, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A mould according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the porous polymer has an average pore size of from 0.8 to 2000 micrometres.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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