Abstract: A dispenser delivers a pourable material onto the outside of a receiving vessel, for example, a flavorant like granular salt or sugar onto the rim of a beer bottle or margarita glass, or a glue, sealant, or lubricant onto the external threads of a chemical bottle. An external casing containing the pourable material has an opening at the bottom that is normally sealed by a retractable encloser held in place by a closer spring inside the casing. To dispense pourable material, the bottom of the encloser is pressed against the rim of the receiving vessel, lifting the encloser from its normally-closed position and opening an annular path through which the material is released onto the outside of the rim, but not into the interior, of the receiving vessel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for grasping, retaining, inverting, coating and transporting a plurality of frangible conical confection shells. The present invention also relates to a modular and reconfigurable manufacturing system for producing frozen cone confections and the like.

Abstract: A continuous coating process 30 for chewing gum and bubble gum materials. Small cores or pieces of gum material 20 are introduced into inclined rotating drums 34, 34? in which heated air 52 is circulated and a coating solution 50 is applied (liquid or powder). The coating material is dried on the pieces of material, and a plurality of thin layers are formed on each of the cores or small pieces of material. A series of rotating drums can be provided to provide the requisite number or thickness of coating layers. In an alternate embodiment, initial coatings of material can be provided on the cores by a batch-type process before the materials are introduced into the continuous coating drums. The formulas for the coating solution can also be adjusted at different stages of the coating process in order to provide a more consistent and uniform coating.

Abstract: The invention provides a nozzle assembly for spraying a food product. The nozzle assembly includes a first sprayer disposed along an axis defining, at least in part, a path of movement for a food product. The nozzle assembly also includes a second sprayer disposed along the axis. The second sprayer is axially and radially spaced from the first sprayer. The nozzle assembly also includes a cavity operable to receive edible ink. The cavity communicates directly with the first and second sprayers disposed along the axis. The first and second sprayers concurrently spray the edible ink from the cavity to the axis.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatuses, and systems for coating food items, such as dough-based products, with sugar-based toppings such as glazes, icings, chocolate coatings, and the like. The present invention, in one embodiment, provides a gentle transfer of sugar-based coatings from a first container where the coatings are maintained in a fluid form suitable for coating, to a second container which comprises an applicator for coating the food product. Also described are systems for making freshly prepared food products at the point of sale comprising having the first steps of production take place at a manufacturing unit, and the final steps of production take place at the retail setting.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for depositing flowable solids onto articles located on a moving conveyor. A flowable solid is placed on a vibrating trough and dispensed to an article on the moving conveyor through a slot in the trough. A third planar surface placed beneath the slot receives the flowable solid from the slot and provides an even dispersing pattern of the flowable solid onto the articles.

Abstract: A device and a method used when coating a wafer is described. The fluid coating is provided by an inside coating as well as an edge coating. The fluid chocolate in a container is stirred by displacing a vat up and down. During this displacement, the vat will be brought in contact with the wafer, so the chocolate substance, which is provided in there, provides an edge coating. Displacement of the first vat provides a repression of the chocolate substance, which through a nozzle is injected into the wafer in order to provide an inside coating. By repression, a pumping occurs, which is interrupted substantially simultaneously with the edge of the wafer getting in contact with the surface of the chocolate in vat, when it is elevated up towards the wafer, which is suspended in a commonly known apron conveyor (not shown).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for grasping, retaining, inverting, coating and transporting a plurality of frangible conical confection shells. The present invention also relates to a modular and reconfigurable manufacturing system for producing frozen cone confections and the like.

Abstract: A drum-type coating apparatus for applying breading material to food products is configured to eliminate, in most circumstances, a hard cylindrical drum, to be replaced by a U-hanging belt, the belly of which provides all the operative utility of a cylindrical hard drum, but better than that, provides more clearance for cleaning operations, since the upper hemi-cylinder of a hard cylindrical drum provides no utility for tumbling purposes and only, to make matters worse, obstructs cleaning operations.

Abstract: An improved seasoning system 10, 11, 13 uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors 26, 34, 108 and 110. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum 36 or a deflector 98 and a second seasoning unit 112, 114 between linear conveyors 94, 96. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum 16 which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray 14. An improved seasoning tray 123, 144, 148 has a planar floor 122, 138, 162 with an angled discharge edge 124, 137, 182 for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Abstract: A food breading machine includes a lowerable cage carrier grate of two grids between which the cutlet resides. The cage supports a meat, fish or vegetable cutlet thereon, which descends into a first basin having a bath of raw egg fluid. The egg saturated product is then lifted and horizontally rotated in a plane to an adjacent basin having bread crumbs. The device can have a manually rotatable knob at the top to control flipping, or it can be automated. A protective transparent domed hood is also included. The parts are disassembled so that they can be washed.

Abstract: A system for creating a decorative edible item from a selected image. The system includes at least one image source, such as a scanner and/or a library of stored images, a controller unit and a printer. An edible media is inserted into the printer. The user then selects the image source, such as the scanner for scanning in a photograph reminiscence of a person or event being honored. The size of the printed image is then selected as well as the number of copies to be printed from the image. The print sequence is then activated. The controller unit applies color correction to the digital image and converts the digital image into printer control signals to operate the printer. The printer then prints a rendition of the image with edible inks as the edible media travels through the printer. A high-quality pictorial rendition of the image is thus created. The printed edible media can then be applied onto a product, shipped to a separate location or eaten as is.

Abstract: A tool used to sculpt the icing on a baked good. The tool includes a handle having opposing inner sides with a channel formed in at least one inner side. The inner sides of the handle define a cavity therebetween. The tool also includes at least one blade with a protrusion that is sized and shaped to engage the channel in the inner side of the handle so that the blade is removably positioned within the handle cavity. The blade also includes decorative tips that extend from each end of the blade. The tool further includes a clip that secures the opposing sides of the handle together to form the tool.

Abstract: A drum breader and coating recirculation system that includes a spreader positioned at an end of the drum, the spreader having a plurality of angled surfaces to distribute coatings evenly; a screening platform positioned downstream of the spreader having a drive device for imparting straight-line angular displacement to the screening platform; and a drum feed conveyor positioned downstream of the screening platform, the drum feed conveyor having a belt extending at least partially along an upward angle.

Abstract: Seasoning for use with snack chips can be recovered and recycled. A seasoning permeable conveyor transports snack chips through a seasoning application. The seasoning applicator deposits seasoning onto the snack chips. The conveyor allows the seasoning not adhered to the moving snack chips to substantially pass through and by toward a seasoning recoverer. The seasoning recoverer, which is positioned beneath the conveyor, collects the seasoning for purification and blending with fresh seasoning. After blending, the seasoning mixture is transported to the seasoning application for use.

Abstract: A batter and breading machine including a bedplate with an upper arm including a tank for food agglutinating, and a second area with a strangling to throw the battered or breaded ingredient of the product. The first and second areas have respective endless bands, driven by a plurality of rolls, to submerge the product in the tank and to take the product with agglutinating under the breaded strangling. The endless bands are driven by a motor with speed variation and each remove, respectively, the excess of breaded and battered agglutinating. The second endless band is fitted on its own chassis that is included in the chassis of the bedplate.

Abstract: Seasoning for use with snack chips can be recovered and recycled. A seasoning permeable conveyor transports snack chips through a seasoning application. The seasoning applicator deposits seasoning onto the snack chips. The conveyor allows the seasoning not adhered to the moving snack chips to substantially pass through and by toward a seasoning recoverer. The seasoning recoverer, which is positioned beneath the conveyor, collects the seasoning for purification and blending with fresh seasoning. After blending, the seasoning mixture is transported to the seasoning application for use.

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.

Abstract: A system for creating a decorative edible item from a selected image. The system includes at least one image source, such as a scanner and/or a library of stored images, a controller unit and a printer. An edible media is inserted into the printer. The user then selects the image source, such as the scanner for scanning in a photograph reminiscence of a person or event being honored. The size of the printed image is then selected as well as the number of copies to be printed from the image. The print sequence is then activated. The controller unit applies color correction to the digital image and converts the digital image into printer control signals to operate the printer. The printer then prints a rendition of the image with edible inks as the edible media travels through the printer. A high-quality pictorial rendition of the image is thus created. The printed edible media can then be applied onto a product, shipped to a separate location or eaten as is.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a rotary sauce dispensing apparatus for applying a sauce on a receiving surface such as a pizza dough. In one embodiment, a system for producing a flow of a sauce to a dispenser comprises a rotating table configured to support and rotate the receiving surface thereon around an axis generally perpendicular to the receiving surface for receiving the sauce, and a sauce dispensing member having a dispensing outlet disposed above the rotating table to dispense the sauce on the receiving surface disposed on the rotating table. The sauce dispensing member is movable between an edge position above an outer edge of the receiving surface and a center position above a center of the receiving surface. A sauce pumping device is configured to deliver a flow of the sauce to the sauce dispensing member.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) is used for producing particles of a foodstuff with a fat content of at least 50%, a sugar content of not more than 20% and a water content of not more than 10%. The foodstuff which is present in liquid form can be applied by means of a dosing device (2) in the form of a film or in the form of a strip onto the moved surface of a cooling device (5) with which the foodstuff is at least partly hardenable. In order to enable the production of particles under clean room conditions in an economically viable manner it is proposed that the dosing device (2) comprises a permanently opened pass-through cross section and an elastically deformable membrane (15) which is in contact with one surface with the liquid, sterilized or pasteurized foodstuff. The membrane (15) can be reversibly deflected in a direction approximately perpendicular to its plane, as a result of which the volume of a conveying chamber for the foodstuff can be changed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a seasoning apparatus (20) capable of evenly seasoning each individual article, without seasoning any too heavily or too lightly. Therein, a screw (23) having a helical blade (21) is installed in a tube (24). The helical blade (21) provides partitions that are provided upright between an article supply port (A) and a discharge port (B). An article group, before seasoning, is accommodated in a section partitioned by the partitions, the motor (26) rotates the screw (23) in that state, and the article group in the section is thereby transported from the supply port (A) to the discharge port (B). Therein, each article group is transported to the discharge port (B) separated from other article groups, and each and every individual article in the article group is seasoned evenly with the same seasoning processing time and the same seasoning supply ratio.

Abstract: A tool used to sculpt the icing on a baked good. The tool includes a handle having opposing inner sides with a channel formed in at least one inner side. The inner sides of the handle define a cavity therebetween. The tool also includes at least one blade with a protrusion that is sized and shaped to engage the channel in the inner side of the handle so that the blade is removably positioned within the handle cavity. The blade also includes decorative tips that extend from each end of the blade. The tool further includes a clip that secures the opposing sides of the handle together to form the tool.

Abstract: A glass frosting and container device is provided for coating a rim of a glass with a frosting substance. The frosting and container device includes a wetting medium, a tray for storing the wetting medium a distance above a frosting substance, and a lid for enclosing the wetting medium and frosting substance within the tray.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating hams is provided. Sugar is uniformly dispensed on an inclined plate that is heated to melt the sugar. The sugar flows into a reservoir from which it is poured onto hams passing below the reservoir on a conveyor. Spices are poured onto the melted sugar that sticks to the ham to form a glaze. Jets of water can cool the glaze to increase retention on the ham. The process can be repeated.

Abstract: Method of coating a substrate which is a belt, sheet, film, or tape, comprising applying an active coating material to the substrate to form an active coating layer, the active coating material comprising biologically active material. The active coating material is applied electrostatically as a powder and, after the active coating material is applied, the active coating material is fused to form an active film layer. The active coating material is removable from the substrate as a wafer comprising the active film layer.

Abstract: An improved seasoning system 10, 11, 13 uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors 26, 34, 108 and 110. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum 36 or a deflector 98 and a second seasoning unit 112, 114 between linear conveyors 94, 96. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum 16 which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray 14. An improved seasoning tray 123, 144, 148 has a planar floor 122, 138, 162 with an angled discharge edge 124, 137, 182 for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying glaze to warmed doughnuts includes a base, an oven supported on the base, a food finishing area located below the oven, and a discharge area at an output of the food finishing area. A drive mechanism includes first couplings positioned in the food finishing area and discharge area. Supports, fixed to the base, project outward adjacent to each of the drive mechanism first couplings. Two conveyor units are included, each conveyor unit including a chassis and a driving component having a second coupling and supporting belt. Each conveyor unit chassis is mounted on the supports so that the second coupling engages one of the first couplings to provide power from the drive mechanism to the conveyor units' driving components. The conveyors are releasable as a unit from the supports to facilitate cleaning of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is a device facilitating both rapid and efficient assembly of handmade pizzas. The invention consists of a ring placed within a pan over a pizza shell thereby restricting toppings to the central region of a pizza. In one embodiment, the circular ring has a solid structure. In preferred embodiments, the circular ring is hollowed thereby reducing weight and facilitating space efficient stacking of two or more rings. Exemplary sectional structures include square, rectangle, trapezoid, and trapezoid-like shapes. In yet other embodiments, one or more grips are provided facilitating placement and removal of ring from pan.

Abstract: A split-pan for a panning apparatus, a panning apparatus incorporating a split-pan, and a method of coating two distinct masses of centers simultaneously with the split-pan are described. The split-pan is formed as a hollow drum, having first and second ends, an interior volume, and at least one partition, positioned between the first and second ends. The partition divides the interior volume into a plurality of coating vessels that allow the simultaneous coating of a plurality of masses of centers in the respective coating vessels.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for treating particulate material with a coating medium, in particular for sugarcoating or film-coating pharmaceutical or food preformed pieces. The apparatus comprises a container drivable to rotate about a rotation axis, a spraying device for spraying the material with the coating medium and supplying means for supplying process air. The container comprises a bottom and an upstanding wall where the rotation axis of the container is substantially vertical and where an inclined return surface is arranged in the container. The return surface extends from an upper region of the container in the direction of an inner diameter region of the bottom.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying liquid coating to pellets in a flowing feed stream are provided. An incoming bulk material feed is conditioned to produce a ribbon-like agglomerated flow pattern, and the bulk material is passed through a first spray section which coats an exposed surface of the pellets flowing therethrough. The flow direction is reversed in a second spray station, which operates to expose an opposite surface of the pellets, such that the second spray section coats substantially the remainder of the outer surface of the pellets.

Abstract: The method for applying dry toppings to baked goods includes the steps of pre-treating a surface of the baked goods, after baking, with an adhesive substance such as a pregelatinized wheat starch suspended in a solution and thereafter applying the dry toppings to the treated surface. Such an application has been shown to decrease wastage of such items as sesame seed topping from as much as 50% to as little as 5%.

Abstract: A pizza-topping apparatus for dispensing automatically various toppings for pizzas at a pizzeria. The pizza-topping apparatus includes a conveyor assembly. including a housing having side, back, and bottom walls and also having an open top, and also including a conveyor belt movable through and along the open top of said housing; and also includes a storage assembly including a cabinet being mounted in the housing; and further includes a condiment dispensing assembly being securely mounted above the conveyor belt and including a plurality of dispenser members; and also includes an assembly for cleaning the dispenser members.

Abstract: A particulate metering and alignment apparatus and to a method of producing a plurality of parallel streams of nested particulates for distribution onto a substrate at a desired discharge rate using the apparatus of the invention. The apparatus puts a product feeder in functional communication with a vibrating bed feeder. The discharge rate of the apparatus is controlled by adjusting the angle of tilt of one or more nozzles that distribute particulate material from the product feeder onto the vibrating bed feeder portion of the apparatus.

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.

Abstract: A pizza-topping apparatus for dispensing automatically various toppings for pizzas at a pizzeria. The pizza-topping apparatus includes a conveyor assembly including a housing having side, back, and bottom walls and also having an open top, and also including a conveyor belt movable through and along the open top of said housing; and also includes a storage assembly including a cabinet being mounted in the housing; and further includes a condiment dispensing assembly being securely mounted above the conveyor belt and including a plurality of dispenser members; and also includes an assembly for cleaning the dispenser members.

Abstract: A pizza sauce dispenser simultaneously dispenses and spreads a precisely controlled amount of sauce onto a pizza dough base without manually handling the sauce or the dough during operation. The dispenser includes a selectively rotatable disc and an arm that selectively extends over the disc. At lease one nozzle is supported by the arm and selectively dispenses the sauce onto the dough. A control mechanism controls: (1) a selected rate and direction of disc rotation; (2) a selected pivot rate and direction of the arm; and/or (3) a selected rate of dispensing sauce through the nozzle. In use, with pizza dough placed on the disc, the disc is rotated and the arm pivoted over the dough so that the nozzle traverses a path from the outside edge of the dough to the center of the dough or vice versa. Sauce thus is deposited in a spiral or other desirable pattern.

Abstract: An improved seasoning system 10, 11, 13 uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors 26, 34, 108 and 110. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum 36 or a deflector 98 and a second seasoning unit 112, 114 between linear conveyors 94, 96. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum 16 which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray 14. An improved seasoning tray 123, 144, 148 has a planar floor 122, 138, 162 with an angled discharge edge 124, 137, 182 for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Abstract: An improved seasoning system 10, 11, 13 uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors 26, 34, 108 and 110. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum 36 or a deflector 98 and a second seasoning unit 112, 114 between linear conveyors 94, 96. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum 16 which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray 14. An improved seasoning tray 123, 144, 148 has a planar floor 122, 138, 162 with an angled discharge edge 124, 137, 182 for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a rotary sauce dispensing apparatus for applying a sauce on a receiving surface such as a pizza dough. In one embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing a sauce on a receiving surface comprises a rotating table configured to support and rotate the receiving surface thereon around an axis generally perpendicular to the receiving surface for receiving the sauce. A sauce dispensing member has a dispensing outlet disposed above the rotating table to dispense the sauce on the receiving surface disposed on the rotating table. The sauce dispensing member is movable between an edge position above an outer edge of the receiving surface and a center position above a center of the receiving surface. A controller is coupled with the sauce dispensing member and configured to control a speed of movement of the sauce dispensing member between the edge position and the center position to form a layer of sauce on the receiving surface.

Abstract: The variable geometry seasoning tumbler is an adjustable tumbling device that allows for the uniform application of seasoning of snack food product such as potato chips, tortilla chips, corn chips, and the like. With the adjustable tumbling device, uniform application of seasoning can be achieved while minimizing snack food product breakage. The tumbler has adjustable upper and lower rolls that support a belt that receives and processes the snack food product. The belt has a catenary region wherein snack product is processed in a tumbling bed. By adjusting one or both rolls, the dimensions of the tumbling bed and the inclination of the belt can be easily modified. Thereby, the tumbling parameters can be optimized for each type of snack product being seasoned.

Abstract: The seasoning applicator applies seasoning onto snack food products such as potato chips, corn chips, tortilla chips, and the like in a two-dimensional seasoning pattern. A two compartment sifting assembly has a first top layer having a screen where seasoning is initially deposited. Upon vibration, the seasoning is passed through the top layer screen into a lower compartment. Therein, the seasoning is further distributed across the surface of the lower layer screen, which generally has a screen with smaller openings than the top layer screen. This promotes the even distribution of seasoning through the lower screen. Thereby, a two-dimensional seasoning pattern is created for depositing on a moving bed of snack food products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating hams is provided. Sugar is uniformly dispensed on an inclined plate that is heated to melt the sugar. The sugar flows into a reservoir from which it is poured onto hams passing below the reservoir on a conveyor. Spices are poured onto the melted sugar that sticks to the ham to form a glaze. Jets of water can cool the glaze to increase retention on the ham. The process can be repeated.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading particles, such as seasoning, on both sides of products conveyed in a product stream includes first and second conveyors arranged at different elevations, and a particle dispensing device arranged above a vertical overlap between the two conveyors such that particles dispensed by the spreading device falls on the product stream on the first conveyor and the product stream on the second conveyor. A turning apparatus is arranged between an outlet of the first conveyor and an inlet of the second conveyor such that the product stream is turned over as it is being deposited from the first conveyor onto the second conveyor. The turning apparatus includes a discharge lip on the outlet of the first conveyor, and a curved turning wall arranged spaced from the discharge lip.

Abstract: An improved seasoning system 10,11,13 uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors 26, 34, 108 and 110. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum 36 or a deflector 98 and a second seasoning unit 112,114 between linear conveyors 94, 96. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum 16 which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray 14. An improved seasoning tray 123, 144, 148 has a planar floor 122, 138, 162 with an angled discharge edge 124, 137, 182 for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Abstract: The continuous batch seed coating system of this invention includes a coating unit, liquid and dry treatment metering systems, a seed metering system, and a PLC controller. The coating unit includes a substantially unitary bowl, which is rotated to cyclically rotate seed being treated. The bowl is rotated within an enclosure, then evacuated after being treated. A peristaltic pump and a hopper-auger unit provide liquid and dry seed treatment formulations to the coating unit. The automated seed metering system pre-weighs seed to be conveyed into the coating unit. The PLC controller controls the retention time in the coating unit, the amounts and timing of seed treatment formulations, conveys seed to the coating unit, and optionally sounds alarms when one of the treatment formulations is not available or when seed is not present in the seed metering system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for depositing flowable solids onto articles located on a moving conveyor. A flowable solid is placed on a vibrating trough and dispensed to an article on the moving conveyor through a slot in the trough. A third planar surface placed beneath the slot receives the flowable solid from the slot and provides an even dispersing pattern of the flowable solid onto the articles.

Abstract: The interface between a moving conveyor belt and a work piece can be lubricated using an air driven stream of finely divided droplets of a lubricant composition. Droplets of a preferred size are directed by the air stream onto the conveyor with little waste of lubricant off the conveyor. The lubricant provides a very low coefficient of friction and little or no stress cracking in the containers. Using a low pressure and low flow rate air stream in conjunction with a low flow rate liquid lubricant attains the useful particle size in the lubricant add on spray. The liquid lubricant is sheared by the effect of the air flow creating the desirable droplet size and pattern of lubricant on the conveyor.

Abstract: A food material dispensing apparatus for adding a topping to a target food is described. The apparatus comprises a first hopper and a first food distributing system. The first hopper is adapted for receiving the food material at an inlet and delivering the good material through an outlet toward a target location. The first food distributing system is designed for spreading the food material over the target food. The food distributing system includes a motor positioned a horizontal distance from the inlet of the first hopper, a curved conduit, and a flexible, rotary shaft. The curved conduit has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is releaseably connected to the motor, and the distal end is adapted for insertion into the hopper. The flexible, rotary shaft is for stirring and/or mixing the food material. The flexible, rotary shaft passing passes through the curved conduit and is operatively connected at a first end to the motor and at a second end to a distributing blade.