Apparatus for applying coating to products and methods of use thereof
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for applying coating to products comprising:
- a vibratory frame assembly configured to provide a vibratory motion, the vibratory frame assembly including a motor vibration assembly,a belt assembly configured to convey a product along a product travel path,a product coating portion configured to apply a coating to the product on the belt assembly, the product coating portion including a pan assembly,spring assemblies situated between the vibratory frame assembly and the pan assembly, wherein the spring assemblies transmit the vibratory motion to the pan assembly;
a recycle conveyor configured to collect coating from the belt assembly and return the coating to the product coating portion, wherein the recycle conveyor includes a belt traveling along a closed path orbiting the belt assembly.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for coating products is disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes receiving coating at an inlet end of a pan assembly for application to a product, vibrating the pan assembly using a vibratory frame assembly connected thereto, positioning the product at the inlet end of the pan assembly, removing excess coating from at least a portion of the pan assembly, receiving the product at the discharge end of the pan assembly, and receiving the excess coating at the discharge end of the pan assembly and transporting it to the inlet end of the pan assembly.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying coating to products comprising:
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a vibratory frame assembly configured to provide a vibratory motion, the vibratory frame assembly including a motor vibration assembly, a belt assembly configured to convey a product along a product travel path, a product coating portion configured to apply a coating to the product on the belt assembly, the product coating portion including a pan assembly, spring assemblies situated between the vibratory frame assembly and the pan assembly, wherein the spring assemblies transmit the vibratory motion to the pan assembly; a recycle conveyor configured to collect coating from the belt assembly and return the coating to the product coating portion, wherein the recycle conveyor includes a belt traveling along a closed path orbiting the belt assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for applying coating to products comprising:
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a belt assembly capable of receiving coating and food products and applying the coating to the products, a pan assembly capable of receiving coating and products and applying the coating to the products, and a vibration generating portion for providing a vibratory motion to the pan assembly, wherein the apparatus further includes a recycle conveyor for collecting coating that does not adhere to the product and supplying the coating for application to at least one of a bottom and top portion of a product; and wherein the recycle conveyor includes a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and a belt having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, with the lower length of the channel receiving coating from a discharge end of the pan assembly, and the upper length of the channel releasing coating adjacent an inlet end of the pan assembly. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A coating recycle assembly comprising a recycle conveyor that includes:
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a. a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and b. a belt; (1) traveling about a closed path; i. wherein the entirety of the closed path extends along a plane tilted with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes, ii. with the closed path of the belt bounding an open area therein, whereby a product conveyor may rest within the open area, and (2) having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, whereby coating may be received at the lower length from the product conveyor and released at the upper length to the product conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A coating recycle assembly comprising:
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a. a recycle conveyor that includes; (1) a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and (2) a belt having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, whereby coating may be received at the lower length and released at the upper length, wherein the conveyor channel and belt extend along a closed path, the entirety of the closed path being situated along a plane tilted with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes; b. a product conveyor situated; (1) above the lower length and below the upper length, and (2) laterally between the ascending and descending portions, the product conveyor being configured to convey product between an inlet end and a discharge end, wherein; i. the recycle conveyor receives coating directly from the product conveyor at the lower length of the conveyor channel, the received coating being released from the product conveyor at a location closer to the discharge end than to the inlet end; and ii. the recycle conveyor releases coating directly to the product conveyor at the upper length of the conveyor channel, the released coating being received by the product conveyor at a location closer to the inlet end than to the discharge end.
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26. A coating recycle assembly comprising:
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a. a recycle conveyor including; (1) a conveyor channel having a lower length, an upper length, an ascending portion and a descending portion, and (2) a belt having one or more flights situated at least partially in the channel for transporting coating from the lower length to the upper length via the ascending portion, whereby coating may be received at the lower length and released at the upper length, b. a product conveyor configured to transport products along a travel path from an inlet end to a discharge end, with the product conveyor receiving coating from the upper length of the recycle conveyor at or near the inlet end, and releasing coating to the lower length of the recycle conveyor at or near the discharge end, wherein the conveyor channel extends along a closed path orbiting the product conveyor, the closed path being oriented along a plane tilted with respect to both horizontal and vertical planes. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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Specification