Means For Moving Work Into, Through Or Out Of Coating Patents (Class 118/30)
  • Patent number: 11197829
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a technical field of pharmaceutical preparation, in particular to a preparation method of naltrexone implants, including the following steps: (1) dissolving naltrexone and polylactic acid in an organic solvent to form naltrexone microspheres, and drying; (2) placing the naltrexone microspheres in a heated tableting mold for tableting, and obtaining naltrexone implant tablets; (3) dissolving the polylactic acid in the organic solvent to obtain a coating solution, and placing the coating solution in a coating pool, and then immersing the naltrexone implant tablets in the coating solution, and drying in a suspended state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Shenzhen ScienCare Medical Industries Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Shugui Yin, Shiqiang Wang, Shaowei Jia, Tao Zhang, Qingzhe Liu
  • Patent number: 10864536
    Abstract: A metering and application system for a moisture-curing polymer material includes a reservoir for the polymer material and a first pump and a second pump, wherein the polymer material is conveyable by the first pump from the reservoir to the second pump. In addition, a gas metering device with a defined pressure ratio is provided to bring a gas to a defined pressure, wherein the gas metering device is connected to the input of the second pump on its outlet side. In addition, a mixer for mixing the polymer material and the gas and a valve arranged downstream of the mixer for metering and a nozzle for applying the polymer material/gas mixture are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Wagner International AG
    Inventor: Thomas Gerke
  • Patent number: 9254000
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating a food item with a coating material. A food item receiving platform stages the food item for transport into the apparatus. A food item off-loading platform stages the food item for transport out of the apparatus. A coating hopper holds the coating material. A skewer supply holds food item skewers. A multi-axis robotic arm grasps one of the skewers from the skewer supply, skewers the food item on the receiving platform, transports the food item to the coating hopper, dips the food item in the coating material in the coating hopper, transports the food item to the off-loading platform, and releases the coated food item and the skewer onto the off-loading platform. A processor controls the desired operation of the multi-axis robotic arm. A user interface is used to selectively program the processor for the desired operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Frank C. Raimondi
  • Patent number: 8991328
    Abstract: A system for coating fruit with a substance utilizing a vat that stores a coating substance which can be applied via a dipping process. A dipping cover having a rim is provided for engaging an upper rim of the vat. A dipping tray carries a plurality of fruit items and includes a plurality of receptacles for carrying the fruit items. The dipping tray has a profile smaller than the interior of the vat allowing the dipping tray to be lowered so that the coating substance contained within the interior of the vat may engage the fruit. The dipping cover is configured for supporting the dipping tray in an elevated position once the fruit has been coated allowing excess coating to be vibrated off the dipped fruit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Kamran Farid, Cynthia Mockler, Ricardo Perez, Carrie Cline
  • Patent number: 8911816
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new coating composition and especially a new coating composition to be used with a specific coating device for providing an even, thin and enclosing coating on tablets, capsules or pills of different sizes and shapes in order to improve the taste and the swallowing characteristics of the tablets, capsules or pills.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Inventors: Johan Claes Wilhelm Axelsson, Fredrik Robin Lechard Lilieblad
  • Patent number: 8887659
    Abstract: A continuous dosage form coating apparatus uses vibrational impulses to maintain a dosage forms in a fluid state to expose them to a coating material atomized by spraying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: GlaxoSmithKline LLC
    Inventor: Frederick H. Fiesser
  • Patent number: 8714105
    Abstract: A process for application of alcoholic derivative on heat treated pellets for inhibition of particulate emission is provided, and the process includes weighing the amount of heat treated pellets discharged from furnaces, measuring the temperature of the heat treated pellets discharged from furnaces, applying cooling fluid on the heat treated pellets until they reach temperatures below 140° C., and spraying the alcoholic derivative on the heat treated pellets. Also provided is a first device for applying cooling fluid that is capable of calculating a dosage of cooling fluid to be applied to the heat treated pellets, a second device for applying alcoholic derivative that is capable of calculating a dosage of alcoholic derivative to be applied to the heat treated pellets already cooled, and a carrier device that continuously communicates with the first device for applying cooling fluid and with the second device for applying alcoholic derivative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Vale S.A.
    Inventors: Jose Antonio Alves E. Silva Reis, Leonidio Stegmiller, Aldo Gamberini
  • Patent number: 8662007
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Driam Anlagenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Rudolf Dunajtschik, Oliver Nohynek
  • Publication number: 20130291789
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for battering and breading food items are disclosed. A cart is provided with a shelf including a hole for receiving a batter dip bucket and a hole for receiving a breading pan. A batter basket is disposed within the batter dip bucket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Clifton Robert Toothaker, David Robert Haire
  • Patent number: 8528470
    Abstract: A method for treating a product suitable for human consumption, for example, a meat product, such as slaughtered poultry or parts thereof, in which a large number of products are successively supplied, optionally in groups, to an inspection station in which each product is subjected to a visual inspection to detect a defect on the respective product. If a decision is made to provide a specific additive-addition treatment to a product, the product is supplied to an additive-addition station, where the product is subjected to an additive-addition treatment and an additive is added to at least one part of the outside of each product or the inside of each product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Stork PMT B.V.
    Inventors: Andries Johan Martijn Kuijpers, Maurice Eduardus Theodorus van Esbroeck, Adrianus Josephes van den Nieuwelaar
  • Patent number: 8443752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for arranging sprinkling material, such as seed, on a dough piece, including at least one member for arranging the sprinkling material on a surface for dough pieces and at least one member for placing the dough piece on the surface provided with the sprinkling material, and also further including in an advantageous embodiment at least one member for applying an adhesive such as water to at least a part of the dough piece to be provided with the sprinkling material, wherein the at least one member for placing the dough piece are adapted to place the dough piece with the part provided with the adhesive facing toward the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Rademaker B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Josephus Antonius Van Blokland
  • Patent number: 8366946
    Abstract: A rigid holder is provided for supporting a flexible article. The rigid holder may include a first frame member and a second frame member which are held together through magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Jason Douglas Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7919129
    Abstract: System and method for applying an antimicrobial agent, such as acidified calcium sulfate (ACS), to unpackaged meat products, in order to eliminate or reduce existing food borne bacterial pathogens and to prevent their growth when the meat products are stored. A conveyor transports unpackaged meat products to a spray chamber having nozzles positioned above and below the conveyor and meat products. The conveyor can be a wire conveyor having wires having a thickness so that they can support the food items, which can be eight to ten pounds, while being small enough so that the they do not block ACS solution sprays from the bottom nozzles, or do so to a negligible degree. The lower nozzles spray ACS solution through apertures of the conveyor and onto at least the bottom surfaces of the unpackaged meat products. The solution is sprayed with a sufficiently high pressure and sufficiently small drop size so that the ACS solution penetrates into tissues of the unpackaged meat products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne P. Pruett, Jr., Kevin G. Mellor, Donald N. Sinnot, Gilbert L. Boldt
  • Patent number: 7836842
    Abstract: Provided is a coating apparatus, which has satisfactory operability at a time of installing or exchanging a spray nozzle, is not complicated in structure, and is advantageous in terms of layout. A rotary drum (2) is rotated around an axis (A) inclined with respect to a horizontal line, and has an opening (5) at one end on an inclination upper side. A spray nozzle unit (10) is removably attached to a swing arm (34), and the swing arm (34) can swing with respect to a swing axis (34c). Owing to the swing operation of the swing arm (34), the swing nozzle unit (10) can be moved between the inside and the outside of the rotary drum (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Powrex
    Inventors: Koji Hasegawa, Hiroshi Matuura, Yasukazu Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7730831
    Abstract: A pin-less socket apparatus and manufacturing system for assembling a frozen confection using such socket apparatus including a socket for accepting a conical food product therein, the socket having a hook with one or more teeth located at an outer periphery of the socket, a hinge located on an outside of the socket, the hook movably attached to the socket via the hinge, a force mechanism for holding the hook in place against the socket. The force mechanism takes the form of either an annular spring or O-ring located around the socket and hook or a linear spring attached to the hook in a lever-type manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Christian Mange, Matthias Ruppert
  • Patent number: 7703705
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating and dispensing a mixture containing a pressurized gas and a fluid material. The apparatus includes a mixing device having a mixing chamber and a mixer inside the mixing chamber. A gas injection device, which is coupled with the mixing device, injects the pressurized gas into the fluid material in the mixing chamber. The mixer operates to combine the pressurized gas with the fluid material to form a mixture, which is subsequently dispensed from a dispenser coupled with the mixing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Charles P. Ganzer
  • Patent number: 7614360
    Abstract: A breading machine has a battering unit for applying a fluent batter to a food product. The battering unit includes a batter reservoir and a battering unit conveyor system for delivering food products from said batter reservoir to a battering unit conveyor discharge section that propels the food product from the battering unit. The combination units also include a breading unit for receiving food product from an associated battering unit. The breading unit includes a breading reservoir and breading unit conveyor system for applying particulate breading to the food product at a breading station by moving breading material from the breading material reservoir and food product coated with the batter to the breading station. A conveyor drive system includes a machine housing and a drive unit rotatably supported by the machine housing that provides motive power to the breading unit conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Bettcher Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott M. Muniga, Jeffrey A. Whited, Lane Bettcher
  • Patent number: 7540256
    Abstract: In a method for coating at least the top of moving food products 100 with at least one layer of a free-flowing particulate coating material, coating material is poured from a storage container 60 over the moving food products. During the pouring, the coating material is partially segregated into coarse coating material 90 and relatively fine coating material, and substantially coarse coating material 90 is applied to the moving food products 100 first, followed by relatively fine coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Stork Titan B.V.
    Inventors: Jacobus Wilhelmus Willems, Johannes Gerardus Martinus Antonius Zeegers, Hendricus Franciscus Jacobus Maria van der Eerden
  • Publication number: 20090136676
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating at least one food item is disclosed. The apparatus includes a reservoir for housing a liquid medium, a dipping assembly operatively coupled to the reservoir wherein the dipping assembly includes a holding mechanism for holding the at least one food item, and mechanical means operatively coupled to the holding mechanism for moving the holding mechanism into the reservoir whereby the at least one food item is immersed in the liquid medium such that the at least one food item is partially coated with the liquid medium in a predetermined fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventor: Michael Ching
  • Patent number: 7418920
    Abstract: A device for coating a food product with a particulate coating material comprises at least one essentially horizontal, rotary drum, at least one feed line for feeding food products to be coated to one end of the drum, at least one removal line for removing coated food products at the opposite end of the drum, as well as feed means for feeding the coating material to the food products, such that when the drum rotates the food products are tumbled and move from the end of the drum that is oriented towards the feed line to the opposite end. At least one further rotary drum is provided, the width of the feed line and the removal line being greater than the diameter of a drum and said lines extending over at least two drums in the transverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: CFS Bakel B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrikus Antonius Jacobus Kuenen
  • Patent number: 7174846
    Abstract: In a method for forming a layer of coating material, a conveyor having a conveying part which is pervious to the coating material is used. This coating material is displaced on the conveying part over a guide plate into a coating zone. At the end of a coating zone, excess coating material is returned using a return part of a conveyor. To form a layer of coating material on the conveying part, the coating material is moved from the return part through the conveying part onto the conveying part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Stork Titan B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Gerardus Martinus Antonius Zeegers, Jacobus Wilhelmus Willems, Hendricus Franciscus Jacobus Maria van der Eerden
  • Patent number: 7055456
    Abstract: A coating such as liquid milk chocolate is applied to articles such as confectionery bars. The bars are conveyed by conveyor under a curtain of liquid chocolate issuing through an outlet slot in a trough. A layer of air is caused to flow through the outlet slot in the trough so as to modify the flow characteristics of the curtain. The layer of air permits a curtain of even thickness to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Cadbury Schweppes PLC
    Inventors: Nigel Hugh Sanders, Anthony Gregory Smith, David Michael Thomas
  • Patent number: 7007594
    Abstract: A vacuum tumbler for marinating food products within a liquid. The vacuum tumbler comprises a container having an interior wall, the interior wall defining a chamber for containing the liquid. A rib extends inwardly from the interior wall at least one-quarter of the distance across the chamber. A drive moves the container so that the rib brings the food products into and out of contact with the liquid, and a vacuum source creates a partial vacuum within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Inventors: Edward Thornton, Billy Groves
  • Patent number: 6912969
    Abstract: A device for gel-coating seeds includes: a plurality of nozzles into each of which a gelling agent is filled and a seed is charged and held in the gelling agent to form a gel-coated seed; a pair of upper and lower nozzle casings joined with each other through a joint surface; galleries for the gelling agent formed on the junction surface; and passages formed in the lower nozzle casing which extend from the respective galleries to the respective gel-filled portions of the nozzles below the galleries. The nozzles vertically penetrate the upper and lower nozzle casings which may be comprised of a bottom plate and nozzle sleeves. The joint surface is arranged higher than a gel-filled portion of each nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Agritechno Yazaki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazushi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 6698379
    Abstract: An installation for coating food products with a layer of coating substance, such as for coating a meat product or a vegetable product with a batter, comprises a container in which the coating substance can be accommodated, two endless conveyor belts located one above the other, those parts of which that face one another extending through the container enclosing a gap for feeding the food products through the coating substance, as well as adjustment means for moving the conveyor belts apart or towards one another in connection with adjustment of the width of the gap. The adjustment means have a central control for adjusting the width of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: CFS Bakel B.V.
    Inventors: Petrus Johannes Van Duijnhoven, Nick William Boeijen
  • Patent number: 6631691
    Abstract: A device for gel-coating seeds having a structure in which a gelling agent is filled into a nozzle, and seeds are charged into and held in the gelling agent to form gel-coated seeds which are then allowed to fall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Agritecno Yazaki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazushi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 6616968
    Abstract: To provide superior anti-agglomeration, or tackiness-reducing, properties, one aspect of the invention is directed to coated polymeric particles, with each of the coated particles comprised of a polymeric substrate particle and a block-reducing coating on the surface of the substrate particle. The coating includes polymeric coating particles which advantageously may be in the form of a micro-fine powder. Also disclosed herein is a process for applying the polymeric coating particles onto the polymeric substrate particles, as well as equipment which is especially useful in producing the coated polymeric particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventors: David O. Bostrom, William K. Shumake, Paul H. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6517887
    Abstract: The method relates to a disposable device for the application of a coating (2) on a tablet, a capsule or a pill. The coating (2) is applied enclosing the tablet, capsule or pill (3) during its passage through a bowl formation (4) with a coating mass (5) and through an elastic diaphragm (12) located in the bottom (11) and provided with a centrally disposed, conveniently penetrable opening (13). During the passage of the tablet, capsule of pill (3) the opening (13) encloses the tablet, capsule or pill and simultaneously shapes a film of coating mass (5) thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Inventor: Fredrik Robin Lechard Lilieblad
  • Patent number: 6510810
    Abstract: A convertible, combination batter-mixer and -applicator machine combines mixing and applying functions in one machine as well as affords conversion among at least three modes of use. In a first mode, the batter is preferably handled by mixing up one batch at a time from materials whose input quantities are specified in terms of defined weight-ratios, and then the batch is used up completely until depleted. In a second mode, the batter is preferably handled by mixing up one batch at a time from materials whose input quantities are adjusted in order to meet a defined-viscosity, and then the batch is used up completely until depleted. The third mode involves re-circulating the batter stock and calls for continuous re-stocking of batter by mixing in the input materials at varying intervals to the existing stock and in input quantities that are adjusted in order to meet the defined-viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Inventors: Robert G. Nothum, Sr., Robert G. Nothum, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020068119
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for applying to confectionery or ice cream products whereby the coating dispensing devices moves in a path along or between one or more rows of ice cream or confectionery products, thereby applying a patterned coating that is preferably reproducible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Edward M. Kuehl, Robert W. King
  • Publication number: 20020020343
    Abstract: A convertible, combination batter-mixer and -applicator machine combines mixing and applying functions in one machine as well as affords conversion among at least three modes of use. In a first mode, the batter is preferably handled by mixing up one batch at a time from materials whose input quantities are specified in terms of defined weight-ratios, and then the batch is used up completely until depleted. In a second mode, the batter is preferably handled by mixing up one batch at a time from materials whose input quantities are adjusted in order to meet a defined-viscosity, and then the batch is used up completely until depleted. The third mode involves re-circulating the batter stock and calls for continuous re-stocking of batter by mixing in the input materials at varying intervals to the existing stock and in input quantities that are adjusted in order to meet the defined-viscosity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Robert G. Nothum, Sr., Robert G. Nothum, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6183792
    Abstract: A food product breading machine comprising a breading material reservoir, a breading station, a food product loading location, a discharge location from which breaded food products are discharged from the machine, and a perforate conveyor belt extending through the reservoir, the loading location, the breading station, and the discharge location. Breading material exiting the breading station falls through the conveyor and a reservoir intake opening below the conveyor belt between the breading station and the discharge location. Breaded food products remain on the belt and are conveyed to the discharge location. A breading support member is movable to a position beneath the conveyor belt between the breading station and the discharge location for preventing breading material from falling from the conveyor through the reservoir intake opening so that breading material is conveyed to the discharge location and the reservoir is emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bettcher Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lane Bettcher, Jeffrey A. Whited
  • Patent number: 6126987
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the gelatin coating of medicaments which includes a continuous conveyer system to advance a plurality of pallets through a loading station, at least one dipping station, at least one dryer station, a reorientation station and an unloading station. Medicaments to be coated are loaded into pallets at the loading station and advanced to the first dipping station where a vacuum is applied to secure the medicament to the pallet. The pallet is inverted and a first portion of each of the medicaments is dipped into a coating mixture. The pallet is then returned to its upright position, the vacuum is removed and the coating is dried. The medicaments are then transferred from the first pallet to a second pallet by a reorientation mechanism. The second pallet is then advanced to a second dipping station which operates in the same manner as the first dipping station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Boyer Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Brehaut, Linn C. Hoover, Thomas Kucharski, Thomas C. Reiter, David J. Revelle, Daniel A. Slater, Luis R. Torres, Patrick Vo
  • Patent number: 6113960
    Abstract: A method for coating food pieces with powder material. The apparatus includes a drum having a pair of opposing side openings, and engaging members mounted on a cylindrical inner surface thereof. Powder material is sifted by the engaging members as the drum is rotated. An inlet member extends through one of the openings and deposits food pieces into the drum such that one food piece is deposited onto the powder material located between each adjacent pair of engaging members at a bottom portion of the drum. Rotation of the drum causes the food piece to roll on the powder material, thereby completely coating the food piece, and causes the engaging members to lift the coated food pieces to an upper portion of the drum until the coated food pieces roll or slide off of the engaging members. An outlet member is positioned to receive the coated food pieces as they roll or slide from the engaging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Tashiro, Kazuyoshi Kurasawa, Masaki Hosoya
  • Patent number: 6058877
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sprinkling food pieces with powder material. The apparatus includes a drum having a pair of opposing side openings, and engaging members mounted on a cylindrical inner surface thereof. Powder material is sifted by the engaging members as the drum is rotated. An inlet member extends through one of the openings and deposits food pieces into the drum such that one food piece is deposited onto the powder material located between each adjacent pair of engaging members at a bottom portion of the drum. Rotation of the drum causes the food piece to roll on the powder material, thereby completely coating the food piece, and causes the engaging members to lift the coated food pieces to an upper portion of the drum until the coated food pieces roll or slide off of the engaging members. An outlet member is positioned to receive the coated food pieces as they roll or slide from the engaging members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Tashiro, Kazuyoshi Kurasawa, Masaki Hosoya
  • Patent number: 6048571
    Abstract: An apparatus for encapsulating seed by gel of the present invention, wherein seed are drawn from a hopper of a seed supply portion into a stocker, are absorbed by an absorption head from a stocker, and are conveyed by move of the absorption head. The stocker comprising a vibrator and a vibratory plate, wherein one side of the vibratory plate forms a recess for storing the seed thereon, and the other side of the vibratory plate is connected with the vibrator, so that the seed on the vibratory plate are suspended by vibration of the vibrator. Thrust pins exsertably inserted into end nozzles of the absorption head and connected with an actuator, so that the thrust pins project at the period of casting the seed from the end nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Agritecno Yazaki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kohno, Kazushi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 6042885
    Abstract: Application of a release agent onto the interior surfaces of a commercial bakery trough is accomplished by a system for dispensing a gel having two spray head assemblies. While the trough is stationary, each head in turn descends into the trough and propels the release agent onto a portion of the interior surfaces including side walls, an end wall, and the bottom wall of the trough. Each head includes a disc that spins to distribute the release agent. An edge on the disc defines a predetermined spray pattern. Waste of release agent due to overspray is minimized by controlling a release agent valve in the head, controlling disc rotation, and monitoring position of the head in the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: ABITEC Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Woollard, John H. Sharrock
  • Patent number: 6033702
    Abstract: A coating of drystuff particles on the outside of an ice dome projecting from a cone is effected by pressing down the inversed cone against a spherical resilient membrane having a overlying layer of a particulate material. The invention proposes to coat the domes projecting further from the cone with the use of compressed air for pressing the membrane against the dome surface and by arranging for a vertical movement of the membrane relative to the overlying layer of the particle material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Food Hoyer A/S
    Inventors: Ulrik Pedersen, Ole Krener
  • Patent number: 6012412
    Abstract: Apparatuses are disclosed and claimed for coating egg-yolks, natural or artificial, preferably in the form of disks. The apparatuses comprise a vessel for containing a first coating liquid, in which the egg yolk disks are dispensed. A preferably continuous belt is synchronized with the dispenser so that the back part of the belt is immersed in the liquid when the egg-yolk is being dispensed, while it rises during the period of time that the dispenser is getting ready to dispense a new egg-yolk, thus transferring the yolk out of the liquid. The belt has preferably perforations in its middle portion and it is pivoted in the vicinity of the front end of the vessel. The apparatuses of the present invention are useful for coating articles other than egg-yolk disks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: Eustathios Vassiliou
  • Patent number: 5942034
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the gelatin coating of medicaments which includes a continuous conveyer system to advance a plurality of pallets through a loading station, at least one dipping station, at least one dryer station, a reorientation station and an unloading station. Medicaments to be coated are loaded into pallets at the loading station and advanced to the first dipping station where a vacuum is applied to secure the medicament to the pallet. The pallet is inverted and a first portion of each of the medicaments is dipped into a coating mixture. The pallet is then returned to its upright position, the vacuum is removed and the coating is dried. The medicaments are then transferred from the first pallet to a second pallet by a reorientation mechanism. The second pallet is then advanced to a second dipping station which operates in the same manner as the first dipping station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Brehant, Linn C. Hoover, Thomas Kucharski, Thomas C. Reiter, David J. Revelle, Daniel A. Slater, Luis R. Torres, Patrick Vo
  • Patent number: 5895679
    Abstract: An novel egg holder is claimed. The egg holder is used in combination with a tray and dye containing liquid for coloring eggs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Schering-Plough HealthCare Products, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Pender, Charles Wood Saunders, Jr., Daniel Robert Williams, James S. Mandle
  • Patent number: 5868846
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly is provided with a valve to enable the coating of low aspect ratio items such as tablets. In a preferred embodiment a valve is disclosed such that the vacuum forces acting on the surfaces of the valve are equal to the weight of the valve. This balancing of the weight of the valve and the vacuum forces allows gravity to be the primary motive force for actuation. The weight of the valve is used to detect a tablet, such that when a tablet is missing, the valve prevents any coating from being pulled into the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: McNeil-PPC, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry S. Sowden
  • Patent number: 5866193
    Abstract: An apparatus for encapsulating seed by gel comprising a seed supplying portion and a processing portion, wherein seed has fallen from a hopper of a seed supplying portion are carried to a plurality of processing nozzles of a processing portion, for encapsulating seed by gelling. A supplying portion comprising the hopper filled with seed, a carrying device disposed below the hopper for arranging seed in correspondence with the number of processing nozzle of the processing portion, and switching devices disposed respectively at the end portions of seed carriage lanes formed by the carrying device so many as the processing nozzles. The carrying device comprising a box-shaped trough, partitions disposed at the upstream portion of the trough for restriction of the height of the flowing of seed, partitions for dividing the flowing of seed into streams so many as the processing nozzles, and a vibrator disposed below the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Agritecno Yazaki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Kohno, Takamichi Maejima, Kazushi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 5840121
    Abstract: A suction tip is moved between a seed-attracting position and a seed-releasing position when a rotary member is rotated by a drive source. The suction tip is moved upwardly and downwardly by an actuator attached to the rotary member. A gel-discharging mechanism disposed in alignment with the seed-releasing position includes a reciprocatable piston. When the piston moves front, a pressure is applied on gel, by which a hollow nozzle plunger opens a valve to allow the discharge of the gel. When the piston moves back, gel is supplemented. A portion of the gel discharged drops by its own weight, while the remainder forms a gel layer that closes the lower end of the hollow nozzle plunger. At the seed-releasing position, the suction tip is driven by the actuator to be lowered into the hollow portion to release the seed on the gel layer. Extremely small seeds can be reliably supplied on the gel layer at the lower end of the hollow portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Kohno
  • Patent number: 5800613
    Abstract: A hollow needle catches each seed in a seed vessel by suction, and a nozzle section receives the seed to form a gel film. An air blow-out nozzle opens toward the tip of the hollow needle. The mechanism includes an air cylinder for elevating the seed vessel, a lowering pipe line and a lifting pipe line each connected to the cylinder, a cylinder operating solenoid valve by way of which the pipe lines communicates with an air pressure source, and a branch pipe line communicating the lowering pipe line with the air blow-out nozzle. Further, air blows out from the air blow-out nozzle as synchronizing with the descent of the seed vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Ido
  • Patent number: 5783250
    Abstract: A gel-coated seed processing method and an apparatus therefore capable of easily accommodating increased capacity of the apparatus to carry out a series of gel-coated seed processing consisting of coating seeds with gelatinization agent and curing the gelatinization agent to produce gel-coated seeds. The gel-coated seed processing method comprises the steps of: substantially linearly transporting seeds to be processed; coating the seeds to be processed with gelatinization agent at a destination to produce coated seeds; substantially linearly moving the coated seeds in curing agent while being immersed in the curing agent such that a direction that the coated seeds is transported in the curing agent when observed from above coincides with a direction that the seeds to be processed are transported when observed from above to harden the coated agent through reaction with the curing agent and obtain gel-coated seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yasushi Kohno
  • Patent number: 5728216
    Abstract: A machine for tumble-coating food or other product with a coating material comprises a product conveyor belt and a carrier conveyor system, which underlies and supports at least a portion of the upper run of the product conveyor belt in a tumble or processing zone. The product conveyor belt and the carrier conveyor system work in conjunction with one another to allow the product conveyor to sag between a pair of adjacent, spaced-apart support rollers on the carrier conveyor system, forming a tumble chamber. Products captured in the tumble chamber are coated with a charge of coating material introduced into the tumble chamber. The formed tumble chambers are moved along as the product conveyor is driven, and products within the chambers are continuously tumbled and moved within the coating material to achieve excellent coating or breading characteristics and appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Stein, Inc.
    Inventor: Eugene J. London
  • Patent number: 5728217
    Abstract: The covered seed hardening apparatus of this invention has a construction suited for performing simultaneous parallel processes of hardening the gelling agent of seeds. The seeds covered with the gelling agent are dropped from the valves (73b) of the gel covering section (7) into the liquid hardener in the front half of the feed liquid tank (111a) on the reaction tank (111b) side of the flow regulating barrage (111g) in the hardening tank (111) of the gel hardening section (11). The covered seeds immersed in the hardener are moved through the hardener in the guide direction Y by the guide paddles (113b) after the guide paddles (113b) dip into the hardener in the reaction tank (111b) on the feed liquid tank (111a) side until the guide paddles (113b) move to a point in the reaction tank (111b) near the inclined surface (111m) of the hardner stopping barrage (111k) and come out of the hardener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Yasushi Kohno, Yoichi Ido, Kazushi Nakatsukasa
  • Patent number: 5725662
    Abstract: A processing section in a gel coat processing unit for seeds to uniform the coating amount of seeds with gelatinizer to change a grain diameter of coated seeds without taking plenty of time and labor nor cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kazushi Nakatsukasa, Yasushi Kohno
  • Patent number: 5718768
    Abstract: Each suction tip on a support member is moved between a seed-sucking position and a seed-supplying position by a drive source (20) at a supplying unit, and a seed vessel is moved up and down by a drive source (40). A pressurizing plunger is moved front by a drive source (50) at a nozzle unit and pressurizes the gel inside a gel flow channel to move a cutting plunger up and open a valve to allow gel to be discharged. A part of the gel discharged drops, and the remainder forms a layer on which a seed is supplied. A counter of a controller counts the number of unsuccessful seed-sucking operations, and when the counted value reaches a predetermined number of times, the running of the apparatus is stopped. If a suction tip does not suck a seed at the seed-supplying position, instead of moving the pressurizing plunger front, another suction tip is moved to the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Ido