Abstract: Apparatus and methods of seasoning food product in a mechanized food product line advantageously seasons the food product in cartons or containers therefor so that the number of days or so of shipment from the process plant to destinations like grocery stores does double duty as time for the seasoning to be absorbed. Food product can be loaded into containers, which are placed on a conveyor line and passed under a seasoning dispenser which thereby applies a top coat. The containers are conveyed to shrink wrap stations or like packaging closure processes, then to refrigerated or freezer storage and onward by refrigerated or freezer motor vehicles. The dispensing apparatus has metering provisions for application of a measured amount and a controller for switching the dispenser ON as a container passes underneath and then OFF as the container goes past.

Abstract: An improvement for automatic/mechanized food-process lines pertains to racking provisions for assembling, dis-assembling and re-assembling numerous separate machines that form to make up the line. That is, one machine can be swapped out for a different machine in order to cause a change in the output food product pieces. For example, a swapped in machine may give a different coating to the food product pieces (eg., breading vs. Panko) or run food product pieces of substantially different character (eg., whole muscle pieces like chicken tenders vs. formed product like hamburger patties). The improvement has a track attached or affixed to either a low elevation mounting structure of a given food process line machine or the factory floor, but not the other, and a router member attached or affixed to the other of the low elevation mounting structure or the factory floor, for following the track.

Abstract: A reduced-scale drum motor roller drive is combined with a rotating enlarged-scale hard drum on the rotation axis of the hard drum. A source of electric power rotates the drum motor roller which thereby rotates the hard drum for tumbling and/or coating service in an automated and/or mechanized food process lines.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of seasoning food product in a mechanized food product line advantageously seasons the food product in cartons or containers therefor so that the number of days or so of shipment from the process plant to destinations like grocery stores does double duty as time for the seasoning to be absorbed. Food product can be loaded into containers, which are placed on a conveyor line and passed under a seasoning dispenser which thereby applies a top coat. The containers are conveyed to shrink wrap stations or like packaging closure processes, then to refrigerated or freezer storage and onward by refrigerated or freezer motor vehicles. The dispensing apparatus has metering provisions for application of a measured amount and a controller for switching the dispenser ON as a container passes underneath and then OFF as the container goes past.

Abstract: A food-product loader has a conveyor passing through its cabinet, and the cabinet is formed with a bulk hopper. The loader is loaded with elongate pieces of food-product by way of dumping a heaping mass of the food-product pieces into the bulk hopper all at one time. The loader ultimately handles the heap of food-product pieces such that, the loader loads the pieces onto the conveyor in neat lanes, with individual pieces slightly spaced apart from one another. To do this, the loader is constructed with a series or array of soft-sided dispensing sleeves or funnels which are mechanically massaged to tease out one piece at a time, and only one piece at a time.

Abstract: A reduced-scale drum motor roller drive is combined with a rotating enlarged-scale hard drum on the rotation axis of the hard drum. A source of electric power rotates the drum motor roller which thereby rotates the hard drum for tumbling and/or coating service in an automated and/or mechanized food process lines.

Abstract: A food-product loader has a conveyor passing through its cabinet, and the cabinet is formed with a bulk hopper. The loader is loaded with elongate pieces of food-product by way of dumping a heaping mass of the food-product pieces into the bulk hopper all at one time. The loader ultimately handles the heap of food-product pieces such that, the loader loads the pieces onto the conveyor in neat lanes, with individual pieces slightly spaced apart from one another. To do this, the loader is constructed with a series or array of soft-sided dispensing sleeves or funnels which are mechanically massaged to tease out one piece at a time, and only one piece at a time.