Method and apparatus of coating articles
AssigneeCadbury Schweppes, PLC
InventorsNigel Hugh Sanders, Anthony Gregory Smith, David Michael Thomas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coating such as liquid milk chocolate is applied to articles such as confectionery bars. The bars are conveyed by conveyor under a curtain of liquid chocolate issuing through an outlet slot in a trough. A layer of air is caused to flow through the outlet slot in the trough so as to modify the flow characteristics of the curtain. The layer of air permits a curtain of even thickness to be achieved.
Claims17
A method of applying a coating to articles, comprising the steps of:
- (i) providing a curtain (30) of solidifiable liquid coating material (16);
- (ii) effecting relevant movement between articles (12) to be coated and the curtain (30) so as to coat the articles with the solidifiable liquid coating material (14);
- and
- (iii) subjecting the solidifiable liquid coating material to the action of at least one stream of gas under pressure whereby to modify the flow characteristics of the curtain.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one stream of gas under pressure is applied to the coating material after the curtain has been established in order to change the direction of the curtain and/or a physical property of the coating material forming the curtain
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein more than one curtain of coating material is established to coat the articles, and the curtains are controlled simultaneously and/or independently.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pressure of the stream of gas is controlled to control the speed of descent of the curtain and the rate of relative movement between the articles and the curtain is controlled.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gas is air.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gas is at a temperature which is substantially the same as that of the solidifiable liquid coating material.
A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the liquid coating material is liquid chocolate.
An apparatus for applying a coating to articles, comprising:
- (i) supply means (14) arranged to provide a curtain (30) of solidifiable liquid coating material (16);
- (ii) means (10), for effecting relative movement between articles (12) to be coated and the supply means (14) whereby in use the articles (12) are coated with the solidifiable liquid coating material (16) in the curtain (30);
- and
- (iii) means (20, 22;
- 40, 46, 48) arranged to subject the solidifiable liquid coating material (16) to the action of at least one stream of gas under pressure whereby to modify the flow characteristics of the curtain (30).
A method of controlling a curtain of a solidifiable liquid composition comprising the steps of.
- (i) providing a curtain (30) of solidifiable liquid material (16);
- and
- (ii) before, during and/or after step (i), subjecting the solidifiable liquid material (16) to the action of at least one stream of gas under pressure whereby to modify the characteristics of the curtain (30).
An apparatus for controlling curtain of a solidifiable liquid composition comprising:
- (i) supply means (14) arranged to provide a curtain (30) of solidifiable liquid coating material (16);
- and
- (ii) means (20, 22;
- 40, 46, 48) arranged to subject the solidifiable liquid coating material (16) to the action of at least one stream of gas under pressure whereby to modify the characteristics of the curtain (30).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.