US 4,044,714 A · Food product coating apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus and method for coating an article of food with a granular food product at a selected density which apparatus is formed of a distributor having a wedged-shaped elongated hopper for enclosing granular material to be metered and coated on the surface an article of food transported thereunder by a conveyor, which housing defines a pair of aligned elongated slots of sufficient dimension to pass the granular material, a pair of orifice plates one moveably mounted adjacent each elongated slot at the bottom of the hopper for setting the opening size, a pair of contra-rotatable distributing augers positioned one above each elongated slot and rotationally mounted in the housing in adjustable eccentric bearings with the height of the distributing augers being adjustable relative to the slot therebelow, an agitating auger rotationally mounted in the housing above the distributing augers in adjustable eccentric bearings for adjusting the height of the agitating auger in spaced parallel alignment to and above the distributing augers, controlled variable speed driving means for the augers and conveyors and a reclamation hopper and conveyor for reclaiming and returning excess granular material distributed from the hopper and uncoated on the article of food.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Apparatus for coating an article of food with a granular food product at a selected density, said apparatus comprising

means for transporting an article of food to be coated along a preselected path at a predetermined speed;
a granular food product distributor comprising
a housing positioned above said transporting means for storing granular food product to be coated on an article of food, said housing including means defining a pair of parallel elongated apertures, each having a variable cross-sectional area and capable of being set at a predetermined cross-sectional area, said housing being located in a spaced position above said transporting means with said pair of apertures positioned substantially perpendicular to the preselected path to permit the transporting means to pass a said article of food thereunder;
a pair of axially aligned, contiguous contrarotatable food product distributing augers rotatably mounted in said housing one above each of said apertures;
means operatively coupled to said distributing augers and mounted on said housing for selectively adjusting the height of each of said distributing augers at a selected distance above its respective aperture;
and
rotating means operatively coupled to each of said distributing augers for rotation thereof at a variable selected speed, said distributing augers during rotation thereof being capable of delivering a metered quantity of granular food product through each of said apertures at a predetermined rate to coat the surface of an article of food with a metered density of granular food product as said transporting means transport said article of food along said preselected path and under said pair of parallel elongated apertures.

4 more elements

A distributor for dispensing a controlled variable density of granular material comprising

a wedged-shaped elongated hopper having an opened wide top end for receiving granular material to be metered and a narrow bottom end defining a set of aligned elongated slots of sufficient dimension adapted to permit granular material to pass therethrough, said wedged-shaped hopper having generally planar parallel side walls;
a set of orifice plates moveably mounted at the bottom end of said hopper, each adjacent to an elongated slot, each of said orifice plates being adjustable to establish an opening between an elongated slot and orifice plate having a controlled variable cross-sectional area;
a first and second pair of eccentric bearings rotatably mounted in said housing with one pair positioned in spaced parallel alignment on each side wall and in axial alignment on the opposite side wall, said eccentric bearings when rotated being adapted to selectively change the height of the center thereof relative to the elongated slots;
a pair of distributing augers, said distributing augers being rotatably mounted in said eccentric bearings and held in spaced parallel axial alignment thereby, each of said distributing augers having one of its shaft ends extending through one of said eccentric bearings exterior the side wall and adapted to be rotated in opposite directions of rotation relative to each other adapted for moving a granular material in a circular motion across each of said elongated slots and metering a controlled variable density of granular material which is dispensed through the openings formed by the orifice plates and elongated slots.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Food product coating apparatus

Life of this patent

Food product coating apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16