US 5,100,683 A · Method and apparatus for combined product coating and drying

Abstract

An apparatus for drying and coating a food product is provided which enables a uniform coating to be sprayed on the product without adversely affecting the product moisture content. The apparatus includes a reel which includes at least one and preferably a series of perforate zones in the sidewall for circulating air around the product during passage of the product therealong. Spray nozzles are arranged at intervals along the reel to deposit sugar, salt or other food coatings in slurry form on the food product. The reel rotates during coating and drying of the product to prevent aggregation of the individual food products and uneven coating, as well as providing for uniform drying of the coated product. The invention includes a method of drying and coating a food product including the steps of introducing the food product into a reel inlet, rotating the reel and circulating air therethrough, applying a coating to the product during rotation of the reel and drying the coating on the product before discharging the coated product from the dryer.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An apparatus for coating and drying a food product comprising:

a dryer housing;
an elongated reel presenting a longitudinal axis and having an inlet, an outlet, and a sidewall defining an interior and presenting a plurality of perforations, said side wall being located substantially within said housing whereby said perforations are surrounded by said housing;
means for introducing the product into the interior of said reel through said inlet;
means for rotating said reel within said housing;
means for selectively inclining said reel with said inlet elevated relative to said outlet;
air circulating means associated with said dryer housing for circulating air through said reel, the air circulating means including means for drawing air from the interior of the reel into said housing in order to provide positive air flow through the apparatus;
and
means defining a plurality of separate product coating zones longitudinally spaced along said reel, each of said zones including at least one spray nozzle directed toward said sidewall for pressurized spraying of a coating on the food product during passage of said food product from said inlet to said outlet.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for combined product coating and drying

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for combined product coating and drying

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8