Tacked coiled food products and methods of fabricating

Abstract

A food item and method of fabrication is disclosed wherein the food item is packaged in a manner promoting marketability. The food item includes a fruit-based strip having a predetermined length defined by a leading end and a trailing end. The strip is rolled around its leading end into a roll having multiple rotations with an outer layer in contact with an inner layer. Further, a region of the outer layer proximate to the trailing end is attached to the inner layer of the roll.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An item comprising: 
 a food strip having an outer surface and a length defined by a leading end and a trailing end, the strip being rolled around the leading end into a roll having multiple rotations to define two or more layers lying in contact with each other; and    a tacked region on the strip about the trailing end that attaches two of the layers together.    
     
     
         2 . The item of    claim 1    wherein the food strip is fruit-based.  
     
     
         3 . The item of    claim 1    further comprising a granular edible coating adhered to the outer surface of the food strip.  
     
     
         4 . The item of    claim 1    wherein the tacked region includes at least one region attached by prior application of heat.  
     
     
         5 . The item of    claim 1    wherein the tacked region includes at least one region attached by prior application of pressure.  
     
     
         6 . The item of    claim 1    further including a bag containing the food strip.  
     
     
         7 . An article of manufacture comprising a substantially spirally wound strip of pliable food material having an end portion attached to another portion of the strip proximate to the end portion.  
     
     
         8 . The article of    claim 7    wherein the end portion includes a trailing end of the strip.  
     
     
         9 . The article of    claim 7    wherein sugar is attached to the strip.  
     
     
         10 . The article of    claim 7    wherein the end portion is attached to the other portion of the strip by tacking the portions together.  
     
     
         11 . The article of    claim 10    wherein the portions are tacked together by application of heat to the strip.  
     
     
         12 . The article of    claim 10    wherein the portions are tacked together by application of pressure to the strip.  
     
     
         13 . The article of    claim 7    further including a bag containing the food strip.  
     
     
         14 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 winding a strip of food material into a coil having an outer trailing end adjoining another portion of the strip;    injecting a prong into the coil about the outer trailing end to tack portions of the coil together; and    retracting the prong from the tacked roll.    
     
     
         15 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of extruding the food material to form the strip.  
     
     
         16 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of directing the strip through a bath of edible oil to maintain acid within the strip.  
     
     
         17 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of directing the strip through a cooling tunnel to cool the strip.  
     
     
         18 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of adhering a granular edible coating to the strip.  
     
     
         19 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of cutting the strip to define the outer trailing end.  
     
     
         20 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of heating the prong.  
     
     
         21 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of tacking at least two layers of the coil together by applying pressure.  
     
     
         22 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of tacking at least two layers of the coil together by applying heat.  
     
     
         23 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of applying pressure to an outer surface of the coil during the step of winding the strip.  
     
     
         24 . The method of    claim 14    further comprising the step of feeding a leading end of the strip between legs of a fork before the step of winding the strip.  
     
     
         25 . The method of    claim 24    further comprising the step of detecting when the leading end of the strip is fed between the legs of the fork.  
     
     
         26 . The method of    claim 25    further comprising the step of providing a laser sensor for detecting the leading end of the strip.  
     
     
         27 . The method of    claim 25    further comprising the step of rotating the fork to wind the strip about the fork.  
     
     
         28 . The method of    claim 27    further comprising the step of retracting the fork to release the coil from the fork.