US 5,846,324 A · Seasoning spreader

Abstract

An apparatus and process for coating food products with seasoning, powder or other dry or granulated material while the food products are rotated in a drum uses a trough which extends into the drum from outside of the drum. The trough provides a plurality of V-shaped channels having intermittently arranged lengthwise slots along low points of the channels for creating curtains of material falling through the slots onto the food products. The trough is vibrated for inducing flow along its length as well as for preventing clogging of material flowing through the slots. Alternately the material can spill over a tapered wall of the trough rather than through slots. A vibrating inlet feeder which provides a screening surface is located upstream of the trough for screening the material before discharge into the trough and eventual discharge into the drum. A controlled screw feeder can be used to limit and regulate flow of material into the inlet feeder.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An apparatus for delivering granular material into a mixing chamber, comprising:

a vibrator having a base for resting on a floor;
an elongate trough supported at one end on said vibrator and extending in cantilever fashion therefrom and sized and adapted for extending inside a mixing chamber said trough having a vertically an supported length extending horizontally from said vibrator and having at least one edge defining a discharge location of granular material falling as a substantial curtain from said unsupported length of said trough, said at least one edge arranged along a length of said unsupported length of said trough and said trough having no interfering structure between said edge and floor which would interfere with said curtain;
and
said vibrator connected to said trough to vibrate said trough for progressing said granular material along said unsupported length of said trough and inducing discharge of said granular material past said at least one edge.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Seasoning spreader

Life of this patent

Seasoning spreader

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23