Mixing apparatus for mixing an additive with food while the food is falling

A mixing apparatus that mixes an additive with a food, the mixing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of hoppers;
• each hopper of the plurality of hoppers having an open top, the open top of each hopper of the plurality of hoppers being separate from each open top of another hopper, and each of the plurality of hoppers in an initial state being capable of housing the food received from above through the open top;
• a first hopper of the plurality of hoppers being positioned vertically above a second hopper of the plurality of hoppers and receiving the food that is falling in a falling direction, the first hopper being rotatable about a first axis of rotation to allow the food in the first hopper to fall directly outside an open top of the first hopper in the falling direction toward the second hopper after rotation of the first hopper about the first axis of rotation;
• the second hopper being positioned vertically below the first hopper to receive the food that has fallen out of the first hopper and being positioned vertically above a receiving tray, the second hopper being rotatable about a second axis of rotation different from the first axis of rotation to allow the food in the second hopper to fall directly outside an open top of the second hopper in the falling direction toward the receiving tray after rotation of the second hopper about the second axis of rotation;
• a supply device that supplies the additive to the food that has fallen out of the first hopper so that the additive is added to the food as the food is falling toward the second hopper and/or when the food is in the second hopper;
• and
• wherein the first hopper is one of a plurality of first hoppers, the plurality of first hoppers being spaced apart in a width direction orthogonal to the falling direction, and each of the plurality of first hoppers provided in the width direction is rotatable, the second hopper being positioned directly below one of the first hoppers in the falling direction.

A mixing apparatus that mixes an additive with a food, the mixing apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of hoppers, each hopper of the plurality of hoppers has a top, the top of each hopper of the plurality of hoppers being separate from another hopper, and each of the plurality of hoppers in an initial state being open at the top and capable of housing the food received from above;
• a first hopper of the plurality of hoppers being pivotably supported to rotate about a first axis;
• the first hopper receiving the food in the initial state;
• when the first hopper rotates, the food previously received inside the first hopper falls from the top of the first hopper to directly outside the first hopper in a falling direction by a rotation of the first hopper about the axis of the first shaft;
• a second hopper of the plurality of hoppers being pivotably supported to rotate about a second axis;
• the second hopper including a top that receives the food that has fallen out of the first hopper so that the food is located inside the second hopper, when the second hopper rotates after receiving the food that has fallen out of the first hopper, the food inside the second hopper falls from the top of the second hopper directly outside the second hopper in the falling direction by rotation of the second hopper about the second axis;
• a supply device that supplies the additive to the food;
• and
• wherein the first hopper is one of a plurality of first hoppers, the plurality of first hoppers being spaced apart in a width direction orthogonal to the falling direction, and each of the plurality of first hoppers provided in the width direction being rotatable, the second hopper being positioned directly below one of the plurality of first hoppers in the falling direction.