Food coating and topping applicator apparatus and methods of use thereof

• US 7,757,836 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vibratory Solutions, Llc
• Original Assignee: Vibratory Solutions, Llc
• Inventors: Rose, Scott, Renkly, Travis, Karpinsky, James, Bakos, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Bidwell; James R
• Application Number:
  US12/126,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20080283366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 198/752.1, 198/758, 198/759, 198/763, 198/766, 198/848, 118/22, 118/24, 994/94, 994/501
• US Class Current: 198/758
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 15/002 Apparatus for spreading granular material on, or sweeping or coating the surface of baked articles of pieces of dough A21C9/04; for confectionary A23G3/28
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 9/04 Apparatus for spreading granular material on, or sweeping or coating the surfaces of, pieces or sheets of dough coating baked articles A21C15/002
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/12 Apparatus or processes for applying powders or particles to foodstuffs, e.g. for breading; Such apparatus combined with means for pre-moistening or battering

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for coating, topping, and conveying foods. The apparatus includes a first frame, spring assemblies, a vibrating assembly including an upper pan, a middle pan, a lower pan, and a second frame mounted to the lower pan with the spring assemblies. The second frame is an excited frame and the upper pan, the middle pan, the lower pan are vibrationally connected. The apparatus also includes a vibratory drive unit mounted and adapted to impart energy to the second frame. In addition, the apparatus has a wire conveyor belt assembly including a wire conveyor belt, and a housing that receives the wire conveyor belt. The wire conveyor belt assembly is suspended inside of the vibratory assembly by the first frame such that the wire conveyor belt assembly is isolated from the vibratory assembly.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first frame;

spring assemblies;

a vibrating assembly including an upper pan, a middle pan, a lower pan, and a second frame mounted to the lower pan with the spring assemblies, the second frame being an excited frame and the upper pan, the middle pan, the lower pan being vibrationally connected;

a vibratory drive unit mounted and adapted to impart energy to the second frame; and

a wire conveyor belt assembly including a wire conveyor belt, and a housing that receives the wire conveyor belt, the wire conveyor belt assembly being suspended inside of the vibratory assembly by the first frame such that the wire conveyor belt assembly is isolated from the vibratory assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a recycle assembly including a recycle hopper mounted to the first frame.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper pan includes a transverse distribution means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vibrating assembly comprises:

a distributor subassembly comprising;

a distributor,

channels that connect the distributor to the middle pan, and

a trough that connects the distributor to the upper pan.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower pan comprises a scalping screen located in a distal portion of the lower pan, the scalping screen comprising:

sidewalls;

front wall;

bottom wall, wherein the front wall includes an opening therein, wherein the bottom wall includes a series of angled slots formed partially in the bottom wall and partially in the inner walls, wherein the front wall is contiguous with a pair of inner walls, the intersection of the front wall and the inner walls defining side edges of the opening; and

a distribution structure comprising an angled, wall-like structure arising from the bottom wall.