Method and device for the continuous coating of cores by means of a dragee making apparatus

• US 20110287166A1
• Filed: 02/08/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Driam Anlagenbau GmbH
• Original Assignee: Driam Anlagenbau GmbH
• Inventors: Nohynek, Oliver, Dunajtschik, Rudolf
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,007 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/665
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/0095 Coating by tumbling with a liquid or powder, spraying device-associated, drum, rotating pan
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/26 Apparatus for coating by tumbling with a liquid or powder, spraying device-associated, drum, rotating pan
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/13 involving agitation of the foodstuff inside a rotating apparatus, e.g. a drum
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 3/005 Coating of tablets or the like coating of sweetmeats or confectionery A23G3/20; coating of granules in general B01J2/006

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for continuously coating cores by means of a dragée-making apparatus (15) comprising at least one rotatably driven drum (1) in which the product (5) is coated with one or several coating materials or is subjected to other treatment processes, such as spraying, drying. In order to be able to individually treat several small charges within a very limited space and with little effort regarding machines, the charge of the product that is to be processed is divided into small individual charges at the inlet end of the drum, is conveyed through the drum in a clocked manner, and is treated in individual treatment chambers (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) in the drum, which are separated from each other. The longitudinal conveyor (3) that conveys the individual charges through the drum embodies the individual treatment chambers in connection with the inner wall of the drum. The products that are to be treated constantly rotate in the revolving drum without being conveyed in the longitudinal direction, the longitudinal conveyor located in the drum conveying the product from one treatment station to the next as required. Additionally, a passage is formed from one chamber to the adjacent, other chamber if necessary.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus for continuous coating of cores with a dragé

e-making apparatus comprising at least one rotatably driven drum (1) in which the product (5) is coated with one or several coating materials, and at least one longitudinal conveyor (3, 32;

76) is arranged in the drum (1;

91), and wherein with the conveyor (3, 32;

76) the product (5) is transported in a cyclical transport mode in form of individual charges through the drum (1, 91) in the axial direction.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the conveying elements of the longitudinal conveyor form the individual processing chambers (7-13;

72-74) in cooperation with the inner wall of the drum (1, 91).

28. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the longitudinal conveyor is implemented as a rotatably driven spiral conveyor (32).

29. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the longitudinal conveyor is implemented as a chain conveyor.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein several independently driven spiral conveyors (32a, 32b) are arranged in the drum (1;

91).

31. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the outer circumference of the longitudinal conveyor forms a rotating gap (38) relative to the inner circumference of the drum (1, 91), with the gap being smaller than the diameter of the cores to be coated.

32. An apparatus for continuous coating of cores with a dragé

e-making apparatus comprising at least one rotatably driven drum in which the product is coated with one or several coating materials, wherein a longitudinal conveyor is temporarily switched from conveying operation to mixing operation.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the drum comprises an interior space, the interior space is divided into a plurality of chambers (72-74) which are closed off from each other, and a transition from one chamber (72-74) to an adjacent other chamber (72-74) is provided, in conjunction with conveying the product.

34. A dragé

e apparatus according to claim 33, wherein at least one chamber (72-74) is formed by a wall of the drum and by two spaced-apart partition disks (68-71) which are non-rotatably connected with the wall (66) of the drum.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the at least one spaced-apart partition disk (68-71) includes at least one pivoting baffle and wherein the drum includes a pivot axis (77) disposed approximately perpendicular to the plane of the drum wall (66) and having a free pivoting end adapted to contact the adjacent partition disk (68-71).

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein each chamber (72-74) of the drum comprises one of the at least one pivoting baffle (76a-76d) and wherein all chambers can be pivoted at the same time.

37. The apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the shifting drive comprises a pushrod (79) arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drum, and wherein the pushrod (79) is movably guided on the drum wall and non-rotatably connected with one end of a corresponding eccentric lever (86), with the other end of the eccentric lever (86) being connected with the shaft of the pivoting baffle (76).

38. The apparatus for continuous coating of cores with a dragé

e-making apparatus comprising at least one rotatably driven drum in which the product is coated with one or several coating materials, comprising a transition (76) extending from one chamber (7-13;

72-74) to an adjacent other chamber (72-74).