Abstract: A breading machine has first and second combination battering/breading units positioned in close proximity to each other. Certain features of the invention have utility with machines having only a single battering/breading unit. Each of the combination units 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.

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.

Abstract: A breading machine has first and second combination battering/breading units positioned in close proximity to each other. Certain features of the invention have utility with machines having only a single battering/breading unit. Each of the combination units 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.

Abstract: A breading machine has first and second combination battering/breading units positioned in close proximity to each other. Certain features of the invention have utility with machines having only a single battering/breading unit. Each of the combination units 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.

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.

Abstract: A breading machine has first and second combination battering/breading units positioned in close proximity to each other. Certain features of the invention have utility with machines having only a single battering/breading unit. Each of the combination units 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.

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.

Abstract: A food product breading machine having a battering unit supported by a breading unit. A battering unit conveyor system delivers food products to the breading unit. The breading unit has a breading reservoir, a breading station and a breading unit conveyor system. The battering unit conveyor system propels the food products in a generally horizontal direction to the breading unit. The breading unit conveyor system propels food products toward the breading station in a generally opposite direction. The breading unit conveyor system has first and second sections, one adjacent and below the battering unit conveyor end that conveys food products downwardly and horizontally toward the breading station, the other delivering food products from the first section through the breading station and discharging the breaded products. The second section has two tiers with breaded products from the first tier falling onto the second tier before being discharged from the machine.

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.

Abstract: A food product breading machine is disclosed that comprises a breading unit and a battering unit. The breading unit includes a breading material reservoir, a conveyor for moving food products and breading material along a travel path to a breading application station, and a breading material flow controlling system for creating a standing wave of breading material at the breading application station. The breading material flow controlling system comprises food product engaging elements movable toward and away from the conveyor to enable food products to pass through the standing wave and the application station while continuing to restrict the flow of breading material from the station. An adjustable plow projects into the breading approaching the application station to facilitate breading lateral sides of food products approaching the station.