Method for Making Reconstituted Plant Material Using Extrusion or Molding Processes and Products so Obtained
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing plant-based products, such as food supplements and nutraceuticals, are often difficult to handle and lack attractive sensory characteristics, making them less appealing to consumers.
Innovation Solution
A method involving extrusion and molding processes to create reconstituted plant materials by combining fibrous plant products with plant extracts, allowing for controlled release of substances and improved taste, flavor, and aroma, using 3D printing or molding techniques to form products like cups and containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plant-based products are provided in traditional forms (pills, capsules, powders), then they can deliver essential nutrients, but they are difficult to handle and lack attractive sensory characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms plant material through extrusion processing, changing its physical parameters from traditional powder or capsule forms into molded structures with varied shapes, textures, and densities. This creates products that are both easy to handle and sensorially appealing
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines fibrous plant residues with plant extracts to create composite reconstituted plant materials. This composite approach allows integration of structural components (fibers) with functional components (extracts), achieving both ease of handling and attractive sensory properties
2Ease of operation
If plant extracts are added to fibrous residues, then taste, flavor and aroma are improved, but the complexity of the manufacturing process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the fibrous residue and plant extract into a single integrated reconstituted plant material through extrusion. This combining eliminates the need for separate application steps and integrates structural and sensory functions into one manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The reconstituted plant material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural integrity for easy handling, delivers essential nutrients from the fibrous component, and provides taste, flavor and aroma from the integrated plant extract
3Quantity of substance
If extraction processes are used to obtain plant extracts, then essential substances are recovered, but the time and resources required for separation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts essential substances from plant material to create concentrated plant extracts, then integrates these extracts with fibrous residues. This targeted extraction recovers essential substances efficiently while the subsequent integration eliminates time-consuming separate application steps
Solution Approach 2:
The plant extracts are prepared in advance through extraction processes, concentrating essential substances before being integrated with the fibrous residues. This preliminary preparation allows for efficient resource utilization and streamlined final product formation
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 method enhances the ease of use and sensory appeal of plant-based products, enabling faster and more efficient extraction of nutrients, while allowing for controlled release and combination of flavors, and provides products with consistent ingredient levels.
Implementation Method 1
a method of manufacturing a product comprising one or more fibrous plant products and one or more plant extracts, the method comprising the steps of: extruding and/or molding the one or more at least partially fibrous residues
Implementation Method 2
extruding and/or molding the one or more at least partially fibrous residues, wherein the one or more plant extracts are added to the one or more at least partially fibrous residues before and/or during and/or after step c
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for making products of reconstituted plant material using extrusion and/or molding processes, wherein the reconstituted plant material comprises a fibrous plant product and a plant extract applied thereto. Further, the invention relates to the products obtained by these methods. The plants used may be all plants comprising one or more substances of interest for an edible product.