Cellulose Casing with Annatto for Uniform Color Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellulose casings are unable to transfer annatto dye uniformly to stuffed products, leading to heterogeneous color distribution and high application costs, especially for diameters below 50 mm, and do not effectively utilize either form of annatto due to chemical affinity issues or high molecular size limitations.
Innovation Solution
A cellulose casing with an inner layer composed of regenerated cellulose and annatto, where bixin is added in an oily solution and hydrolyzed to norbixin during the extrusion process, allowing for uniform color transfer to the stuffed product without contaminating the coagulation-regeneration bath or washing water, and using a concentric extruder head to distribute the dye evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If annatto is added to the meat emulsion to color the stuffed product, then the interior of the sausage is colored, but this results in unwanted coloration of the inside and higher costs due to greater quantity required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coloring function from the meat emulsion and relocates it to the casing. By incorporating annatto into the casing material, the color is applied only to the surface through contact during stuffing, eliminating the need to color the entire meat emulsion and thus reducing annatto consumption while preventing interior coloration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies coloration locally to the casing surface rather than uniformly throughout the meat emulsion. The annatto is concentrated in the casing where it contacts the meat during stuffing, creating a localized color effect on the surface without affecting the interior, thereby achieving precise color distribution control.
2Illumination intensity
If synthetic dyes are applied to the surface of the sausage, then intense color is achieved, but the dye penetrates and migrates from the surface towards the center
Solution Approach 1:
The casing acts as an intermediary carrier of the annatto dye. Instead of applying synthetic dyes directly to the meat surface where they migrate, the annatto is incorporated into the casing material itself. The casing serves as a controlled release mechanism, transferring color to the meat surface through contact during stuffing without allowing penetration or migration to the interior.
3Ease of manufacture
If water-soluble annatto is used for coloring, then natural coloration is achieved, but it requires complex facilities and processes including tanks, conveyor belts, filters, and acid treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the coloring function with the casing manufacturing process. By incorporating annatto into the casing material during production, the separate coloring step using tanks, conveyors, and filters is eliminated. The casing itself becomes the coloring agent, transferring color to the meat during the normal stuffing operation, thereby dramatically simplifying the overall process and reducing facility requirements.
4Ease of manufacture
If annatto is added to obtain red-orange color, then natural appearance is achieved, but the cost is higher due to greater quantity of annatto required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coloring requirement from the meat emulsion system and relocates it to the casing. This allows the use of natural annatto for coloring while concentrating it only where needed on the surface, dramatically reducing the total quantity of annatto required compared to coloring the entire meat emulsion, thus lowering costs while maintaining natural appearance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The casing achieves a substantially uniform color transfer to the stuffed product, with adjustable shades from light brown to red-orange depending on annatto concentration, reducing costs and maintaining a natural appearance without contaminating the process fluids.
Implementation Method 1
bixin is added in an oily solution and hydrolyzed to norbixin during the extrusion process
Implementation Method 2
capable of transferring color to the product stuffed therein. These casings contain a food coloring that is transferable to the stuffed product during processing
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to cellulose casings, whether reinforced or not, capable of transferring color to the product stuffed therein. These casings contain a food dye transferable to the stuffed product during processing. The present invention also relates to the method of obtaining the casing and the product stuffed in said casing.