US 5,436,026 A · Discharge and transfer system for apparatus for gelatin coating tablets

Abstract

Apparatus and method for coating products with two colors including a first coating section, a second coating section and a side to side transfer device for transferring products from the first to the second sections. The transfer device includes a pair of plate grippers each having a movable upper jaw and a movable lower jaw. The upper and lower jaws are each adapted to receive and retain a product carrier plate. The transfer device includes a cam follower that precisely closes the upper and lower jaws so that carrier plates located in the jaws are positioned in registration with each other in order to clamp product between the plates and to maintain the product clamped in the plates while the grippers are transferred between the first and second conveyor guides. An unloading station includes breaker pins for breaking a seal that may be formed between the coating material applied in the first coating section and the carrier plates. At a discharge station the carrier plates are rotated to cause the product to fall to a collection bin. Clean out bars adapted to be extended through the carrier plates while the plates are in the rotated discharge position cause any product that may have adhered to the plate and any excess coating material on the plate to be removed.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An apparatus for coating a product comprising:

a first plurality of carrier plate means for receiving and retaining a plurality of product;
means for loading a plurality of uncoated products onto said first plurality of carrier plate means such that a first portion of said product is exposed;
a first coating means for applying a coating to at least a portion of said first portion of said product;
a first drying means for drying said coating on said first portion of said product;
means for advancing said first plurality of carrier plate means to said first coating means and to said first drying means;
a second plurality of carrier plate means for receiving and retaining a plurality of product;
transfer means for transferring said product from said first plurality of carrier plate means to said second plurality of carrier plate means such that a second portion of said product is exposed, said transfer means comprises a pair of plate gripper means each having an upper and a lower jaw and each of said jaws being adapted to receive and retain a carrier plate means;
a second coating means for applying a coating to at least a portion of said second portion of said product;
a second drying means for drying said coating on said second portion of said product;
means for advancing said second plurality of carrier plate means to said second coating means and to said second drying means;
and
means for unloading said product from said second plurality of carrier plate means.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Discharge and transfer system for apparatus for gelatin coating tablets

Life of this patent

Discharge and transfer system for apparatus for gelatin coating tablets

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22