Tumbling Particulate Work (i.e., Rumble) Patents (Class 118/19)
  • Patent number: 11917935
    Abstract: A seed treater includes a baffle which includes a fin that is selectively movable to adjust an extent to which the fin extends into a mixing chamber during mixing of seeds and a seed treatment within the mixing chamber to facilitate mixing of the seeds and the seed treatment within the mixing chamber. The fin defines an internal flow passage configured to deliver forced fluid through the fin and into the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Richard Bailey, Damien Douglas Brewer, Vallabh Makadia, Michael Francis Migliazzo, Daniel James Seyer
  • Patent number: 11896045
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and method for automated food preparation systems. An example apparatus includes a body defining a first end configured to receive a food item, a second end opposite the first end, and a flow channel defined by an inner surface of the body extending between the first end and the second end. In an instance in which the food item is directed into the body via the first end, the flow channel is configured to distribute a coating material about the food item before the food item exits the body via the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: CFA Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Chris Halford, Scott Herdic
  • Patent number: 11731157
    Abstract: A drum coater device (10) for coating tablets, comprising a mixing drum (18) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (20) and which has an interior (24) for arranging a tablet batch to be coated, further comprising a spraying device for introducing a coating material into the interior, wherein the mixing drum has a hollow-cylindrical, perforated wall which delimits at least part of the interior of the mixing drum, wherein mixing elements for mixing the tablets of a tablet batch are arranged on the inner side, which faces the interior, of the wall, wherein pairs (36) of mixing elements (34a, 34b) form legs which are oriented with respect to one another in a V shape, wherein the distance between the legs of a pair widens from a central annular region, as seen along the axis of rotation, of the wall in the direction of lateral annular regions adjacent to the central annular region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Hüttlin GmbH
    Inventors: Christopher Pfanstiel, Ian Warr, Norbert Zerrer
  • Patent number: 11666509
    Abstract: The disclosure encompasses systems and methods for performing high temperature and high humidity curing of tablets using air flow delivered from a recirculating air handler to a pan coater of a tablet coating device. The recirculating air handler may be integrated into a preexisting tablet coating device so that the air flow may be delivered by the preexisting air handler or by the recirculating air handler as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SpecGX LLC
    Inventor: Greg Bengard
  • Patent number: 11612868
    Abstract: A granular coating conveyor system for coating granular particles carried in compartments along a tubular conveyor member. Coating fluid is fed over the granular particles through radial nozzles located inside a co-axial rotating blender with tubular member upstream discharge port and tubular member downstream return ingress port for the granular particles. The blender is a drum having a helicoidal spiral screw integrally mounted to an interior peripheral wall face of the drum and extending therealong radially outwardly of the tubular member mixing in the drum in tumbling fashion the granular particles with coating fluid and guiding same therealong, so as to dynamically form a kidney shape mass of granular particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: LUXME TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Navam Jagan
  • Patent number: 11540552
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for continuously coating food pieces. The methods include a steps of directing and uncoated food stream through an enrober to apply a first coating to at least a portion of a surface of each food piece to form a coated stream and continuously redirecting a portion of the coated stream back through the enrober along with the stream of uncoated food pieces to apply at least one additional coating to the portion of the coated stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R Green, Jekaterina Severova-Epp, Thomas M Jarl
  • Patent number: 11517928
    Abstract: A coating apparatus and a method are disclosed for coating tablets in a rotating drilled container at the outlet of which a rotating annular element operates that is coaxial with the container, in which in an initial transition phase the annular element rotates in a direction that is opposite the rotation direction of the container to retain the tablets inside the container, forming a bed of tablets until a desired level is reached, and in a stationary phase the annular element rotates in a direction that is the same as the rotation of the container to permit the exit of the tablets, until the quantity of tablets entering the container is the same that the quantity exiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Nicola Gandolfi, Gjergj Darragjati
  • Patent number: 11425920
    Abstract: Methods and systems for producing cocktail ice cubes are provided. One method includes setting a temperature of an interior surface of a tumbler below a desired temperature for an ice structure loaded into the tumbler; executing a sauce coating cycle for coating the ice structure with a sauce; executing a freeze cycle after the sauce coating cycle, by spraying nitrogen on the ice structure; alternating between the sauce coating cycle and the freeze cycle for applying sauce on the ice structure; and executing a water cycle for applying water to the ice structure coated with the sauce to produce a frozen cocktail ice structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: DRINKWELL LLC
    Inventor: Michael Benton
  • Patent number: 11375735
    Abstract: A popcorn seasoning machine is disclosed. The popcorn seasoning machine includes a receptacle having a forced air system. A user then inputs a selected seasoning and popcorn into the device and depresses a control button for injecting air into the interior of the container for mixing popcorn and the seasoning. As a result, the seasoning is evenly distributed on the popcorn to facilitate an enjoyable popcorn eating experience. The device further includes an air pump therein which manually provides are to a vent platform to a top end of the receptable. The top end also includes a hingedly attached dome which seals the top end of the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Inventor: Nicholas Joyner
  • Patent number: 10966450
    Abstract: The invention relates to an in-line multi-mode coating machine adapted to coat food products with a particulate coating material, the machine comprising in-line with each other and in succession: an infeed conveyor assembly, a rotary tumbling drum, an elevator device and a discharge conveyor assembly. In a drum-mode, the rotary tumbling drum is adapted to be supplied with particulate coating material and to tumble the food products and particulate coating material together. In a conveyor-mode of the coating machine the infeed conveyor assembly and the discharge conveyor assembly are arranged to adjoin each other whilst extending through the rotary tumbling drum, so that food products bypass the rotary tumbling drum and the elevator device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: MAREL FURTHER PROCESSING B.V.
    Inventors: Tihomir Tubic, Johannes Martinus Meulendijks, Stephanus Andreas Bouwman, Thomas Willem Dekker
  • Patent number: 10913095
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to systems and methods for combining ozone and water to deliver ozonated water in a rinse stream. The ozone rain pan finds particular use for rinsing food products traveling along a conveyor line with ozonated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: GUARDIAN MANUFACTURING, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Smith, Thoram Charanda
  • Patent number: 10905145
    Abstract: An enhanced sweetener made from granules of a carrier, such as sucrose, embedded with molecules of a high potency sweetener, such as stevia extract. The process for making the enhanced sweetener involves dissolving the high potency sweetener in warmed water and mixing the resulting solution with the heated carrier. The resulting slurry is then dried, optionally under reduced pressure. The apparatus for producing the enhanced sweetener includes one or more heated agitators connected to a heated, airtight blender, which can be evacuated with a vacuum pump. The result is an enhanced sweetener with a homogenous distribution of high potency ingredients that retains the functionalities of sugar necessary for food preparation, improves the spreading of the sweetness throughout the food, and reduces aftertastes. Other high potency ingredients and carriers may also be used in the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NutraEx Food Inc.
    Inventor: Li Li Zou
  • Patent number: 10588822
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating pharmaceutical particles such as drug dosage forms or pellets is provided which includes a drum assembly mounted for rotation about a cylindrical axis of the drum and which includes an outer drum section and an inner perforated drum section mounted concentrically on an interior of the outer drum section such that an annular chamber is formed between the perforated inner drum section and the outer drum section. Two or more baffle plates are attached between an outer surface of the inner perforated drum and an inner surface of the outer drum which are configured to act as baffles to restrain or regulate the flow of air which define two or more compartments depending on the number of baffle plates. One end of the drum assembly includes an end plate with a central aperture for use in loading pellets into the drum and provide access to coating constituents that are pumped into the drum interior during the coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: NINGBO WESTON POWDER PHARMA COATINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jingxu Zhu, Yingliang Ma, Qingliang Yang, Yunhan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10466088
    Abstract: A method of metering the energy applied to a downstream process employing a cryogenic fluid, comprising the following steps: a) separating the liquid and gas phases of the cryogenic fluid before the cryogenic fluid reaches the downstream user process. b) Measuring the mass flow rate of the gas phase. c) Calculating the energy flow rate associated with this gas flow rate by taking into consideration the variation in enthalpy of the gas between its vaporization temperature and the gas temperature recorded at the outlet of said downstream process in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Didier Pathier
  • Patent number: 10265838
    Abstract: A tool for removing a component from a turbomachine is provided. The tool includes a body having a connection portion for engaging the component. The tool additionally includes a force section connected to the body and configured to transfer a force to the connection portion in a direction at an acute angle relative to longitudinal axis of a dovetail slot of a rotor wheel adjacent to the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Sandra Beverly Kolvick, Stuart Craig Hanson, Wayne David Sullivan
  • Patent number: 10245604
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a liquefied fluid including a housing, a main reservoir at least partially disposed within the housing, wherein the main reservoir is adapted to receive a substance, a heating element positioned to melt the substance into liquefied fluid, a second reservoir in fluid communication with the main reservoir, and a nozzle in fluid communication with the second reservoir, wherein the substance is dispensable from the nozzle as liquefied fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: BREVDA INC.
    Inventor: Doug Foreman
  • Patent number: 10195601
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for limiting self heating of activated particle catalysts wherein the catalyst particles are placed in motion inside a hot gas flow that passes through them and a liquid composition containing one or several film forming polymer(s) is pulverized onto the particles in motion until a protective layer is obtained on the surface of said particles containing said film forming polymer and having an average thickness of less than or equal to 20 ?m. The invention also provides the use of this process to reduce the quantities of toxic gases that may be emitted by the activated catalysts, as well as an activated catalyst for the hydroconversion of hydrocarbons covered with a continuous protective layer that are obtained by this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Eurecat S. A.
    Inventors: Pierre Dufresne, Pauline Galliou, Mathieu Baffert, Sharath Kirumakki
  • Patent number: 9955721
    Abstract: A flavoring apparatus for flavoring each of a plurality of popped popcorn is provided. The flavoring apparatus may include a delivery apparatus and control mechanism that selectively steers the plurality of popped popcorn to a conveyor belt housed in the flavoring apparatus. A plurality of spaced-apart cutout recess along an outward facing surface of the conveyor belt are adapted to temporarily retain the conveyed popped popcorn in a spaced-apart arrangement. A plurality of spray nozzles may be positioned adjacent to cutout recesses so as to spray a liquid flavoring onto each of the plurality of spaced-apart popcorn from various spray angles as the popcorn is conveyed to a receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Inventor: Dominique Lee
  • Patent number: 9950333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating device for small parts, in particular for lacquering mass produced small parts, like e.g. bolts, small plastic parts and similar, and it relates to a method for this purpose with a movable receiver element for receiving and moving the small parts, and a dispenser device, located at the receiver element for continuous or portioned dispensing the coating material into the receiver element, wherein a radiation emitter device is provided in the receiver element for emitting radiation for drying and/or hardening the coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Special Coatings GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Gerhard Brendel
  • Patent number: 9861026
    Abstract: A seed treater comprises a rotatable bowl positioned in a bowl containment, the containment closeable with the rotatable bowl therein and having ports or inlet for seed and seed treatment chemicals, the containment having a containment base and a cover. The containment base having a generally cylindrical wall portion, a bottom wall portion below the bowl, and a corner wall portion connecting the cylindrical wall portion and the bottom wall portion. The containment base having access ports for cleaning and the corner wall portion is a curved wall portion having a radius of curvature of at least one inch with no sharp interior corners between the planar bottom wall portion and the cylindrical wall portion. A liner, such as a polymer liner, may be installed on the cylindrical wall such that it is adjacent the upper edge of the bowl and extending upwardly on the cylindrical wall. Whereby a batch seed treater is provided with enhanced cleaning and maintenance capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Bayer CropScience, LP
    Inventor: Kurt Mehrkens
  • Patent number: 9839926
    Abstract: A Wurster processor and a powder feed system are coupled via an eductor so as to supply dry powder through the air diverter sleeve of the Wurster for discharging onto the circulating particles during operation of the Wurster. Agglomeration and aggregation of the particles is eliminated or minimized by isolating or separating the liquid spray by the spray gun from the dry powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Freund-Vector Corporation
    Inventors: Larry A. Maher, Brian K. Jensen, Shawn M. Engels
  • Patent number: 9808025
    Abstract: The invention relates to a film-coating apparatus (1) for coating foods with a coating material, more particularly with sugar solution or with a solution based on sugar substitute, having a housing (2), a coating chamber (9) within the housing (2), in which a delivery means (6) for delivering the coating material can be placed, and having a circulating belt (3) which in sections forms part of the walls of the coating chamber (9) and is provided as a bearing surface for the foods. The invention relates more particularly to a film-coating apparatus in which the belt (3) has a multiplicity of gas ports (30) which are designed for the accelerated solidification of the coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lothar A. Wolf Spezialmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Lothar Wolf, Jorg Kutschke
  • Patent number: 9700057
    Abstract: According to the present invention new isolates of Bradyrhizobium japonicum have been isolated and possess unique properties. These Bradyrhizobia are plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), possess superior tolerance/resistance to desiccation, and enhance the overall performance of leguminous plant growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NOVOZYMES BIOAG A/S
    Inventors: Yaowei Kang, Anh Tran, Shawn Semones
  • Patent number: 9609891
    Abstract: An apparatus to apply seasoning to a foodstuff comprising a plurality of individual food portions comprises a rotatable drum supportable in a generally horizontal position and having an inlet at a first end, an outlet at a second end and a bore extending through the drum from the inlet to the outlet, with a substantial portion of the bore having a generally frustoconical interior with a larger diameter end of the frustoconical interior disposed proximal to the inlet and a smaller diameter end of the frustoconical interior portion disposed proximal to the outlet. In one embodiment, the frustoconical interior portion extends substantially from the inlet to the outlet and converges in that direction. In another embodiment, the generally frustoconical portion extends from a generally cylindrical interior portion, that is intermediate the inlet and the frustoconical interior portion, to the outlet and converges in that direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Paul A. Svejkovsky
  • Patent number: 9511939
    Abstract: The transport device of the noria type includes a drive chain having links and being wound around two deflection wheels so as to describe a loop circuit. There is a first, ascending vertical chain strand and a second, descending vertical chain strand. One link of the chain holds a support arm extending in a direction perpendicular to the chain. The support arm is attached laterally to a link by a mount. The mount has a support surface at each of its ends. At least across one of these support surfaces, the mount rests on another, contiguous mount of another support arm attached to another link of the chain, on the ascending strand and descending strand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Mecatherm
    Inventor: Bernard Zorn
  • Patent number: 9451789
    Abstract: A food coating apparatus includes a drum assembly with an input end for receiving coating material and food product, a hollow body for mixing the coating material and the food product to form coated food product and used coating material, and an output end for allowing coated food product and used coating material to exit the drum assembly. A basket is arranged adjacent to the output end of the drum assembly to retain the coated food product and pass the used coating material that exit the drum assembly. A funnel pan collects and funnels the used coating material passed by the basket into a sifter which separates the used coating material into refuse and reusable coating material. A reclamation receptacle receives the reusable coating material from the sifter and is removable from the food coating apparatus to enable pouring the reusable coating material from the receptacle into the drum assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: AyrKing
    Inventors: Chad Harned, James Bell, Donald King
  • Patent number: 9370197
    Abstract: An apparatus for applying coating to food products including a drum assembly that includes a drum with one or more conical flights, wherein food products and coating are received at a drum intake end, and the coating is further applied to the products using a conical and rotational motion of the drum, and wherein the food products and coating are discharged at a drum discharge end. A method for applying coating to food products including receiving products and coating at an inlet end of a feed assembly, discharging the products and coating from the feed assembly into a drum assembly, applying coating to the products inside the drum assembly using a conical and rotational motion, discharging the coating and products from the drum assembly, and conveying the coating and products using vibratory motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Vibratory Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: James Karpinsky, James Bakos, Scott Rose, Adam Smith
  • Patent number: 9266142
    Abstract: A partition portion includes a proximal portion fixed to the outer periphery of the peripheral wall portion and a sealing member mounted to the proximal portion in a manner that the sealing member is allowed to move in inner and outer circumferential directions of the peripheral wall portion. When receiving a force toward an outer circumferential direction, the sealing member is moved in the outer circumferential direction, and a distal end portion thereof is held in press-contact with a sliding contact portion of a ventilation member with a force generated along with the above-mentioned force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA POWREX
    Inventors: Koji Hasegawa, Yasuhiro Hotta, Naotoshi Kinoshita, Tarou Endou, Shuichiro Fukuda, Kazuhiro Uchida, Yosuke Tomita, Hitoshi Kamada, Kazunori Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 8978576
    Abstract: The invention is directed to apparatus and methods for contacting gas and solids in the manufacture of edibles, and particularly in connection with coating edible particulate solids. A drum is positioned around an inner tube so that an annular space is defined between the drum and the tube. A rotatable spiral element defines a gas pathway in the annular space, such that rotation of the spiral pushes particulate solids through the drum while the solids are contacted with gas in the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert Otto Brandt, Jr., Peter Thomas Kashulines, Jr., Thomas C. Britt, K. Ressie Cavenaugh
  • Patent number: 8960119
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Robert G. Nothum, Jr., Robert M. Nothum
  • Patent number: 8869736
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a powder spray apparatus for preparing a food product having an edible pearlescent coating, comprising: a spray zone having a spray device positioned proximate to at least one food product located in the spray zone for application of an edible pearlescent powder to the food product; a chamber for holding the edible pearlescent powder that is in fluid communication with the spray device; and a vibrator and/or a continuous forced air supply that assists in fluidizing the edible pearlescent powder in the chamber for delivery to the spray device. A method of using this apparatus and an edible pearlescent powder composition adapted for use in this apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Mars, Incorporated
    Inventors: Lucille M. Scudieri, Kirk Hisashi Fujioka, Rodger Dale Ellis, Michael S. Wozniak, Alfred V. Camporini
  • Publication number: 20140299049
    Abstract: The present invention is a handheld device for flouring/breading foods comprising two chambers that are capable of removably connecting together each chamber having a sieve. The foods chamber can connect to the flour chamber in a screw-like fashion, using grooves and channels, using buttons and snap fittings, using magnets, hook and loop tape, wing nuts, or the like. Preferably, the openings in the food chamber sieve are greater in size than the openings in the flour chamber sieve which is removable. The device further comprises a lid hingedly connected to the top of the food chamber and a handle for grasping the device with one hand. The lid is preferably spring hinged such that when opened, the lid is maintained open preventing the lid from closing when the device is tilted. The present invention also includes the above device with more than two sieves decreasing in opening size from the top down in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: John Constantino, JR., John Constantino, SR.
  • Patent number: 8807065
    Abstract: In a pan coating apparatus including a rotary drum which rotates about a horizontal rotation axis, an air supply chamber having a larger sectional area than that of an opening portion is arranged on a front stage with respect to the front-surface opening portion of the rotary drum. The air supply chamber is formed in a chamber door attached to a front of a casing, and has one end side communicating to the opening portion and another end side connected to an air supply duct via an air supply hole. The air flowing into the air supply chamber from the air supply duct is reduced in flow rate in the air supply chamber and supplied from the opening portion into the rotary drum with the air flow thereof in a stable state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Freund Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutoyo Fusejima, Takuya Nakamura, Takashi Terada, Shigemi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8776716
    Abstract: A device for spraying a biological substance onto a biocompatible implant. The device includes a housing that defines a sterile chamber. A spray head is within the chamber and proximate to a first end. A first conduit is configured to direct the biological substance into the chamber through a first spray tip of the spray head. A second conduit is configured to direct an activator into the chamber through a second spray tip of the spray head. A third conduit is configured to direct compressed air to the chamber through a third spray tip of the spay head. The spray head is configured to direct a coating of the biological substance as activated by the activator to the implant seated within the chamber at a second end that is opposite to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Biomet Biologics, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Swift
  • Patent number: 8689725
    Abstract: A process device for coating particles in which, on the inside wall (1), there are one or more units installed. Each unit includes a swirl flow generator (4) around which a straight or curved perforated plate (3) and draft tube (5) are located in cross-section. A single or multi-phase spraying nozzle (6) is installed centrally through the swirl flow generator (4) with a conduit (7) for dispersion for coating and a conduit (8) of compressed air. The swirl flow generator (4) has at an angle from the vertical adjacent grooves (18) that open outwards, with the angle of grooves (18) to the vertical line are between 10 and 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Inventors: Matjaz Perpar, Slavislav Savic, Matija Gregorka, Rok Dreu, Stanko Srcic, Rok Sibanc, Matevz Lustrik, Iztok Zun
  • Patent number: 8671872
    Abstract: A coater for coating a material with a solution or a suspension includes an access door and a process port separately openable within a housing. A rotating coating drum is removably connected with respect to the coater and the coater is configured for exchange of drums having a wide range of production capacities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Thomas Engineering Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Pilipauskas, Shawn Garcia, Jean Y. Le Floc'h
  • 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: 20140000510
    Abstract: A spray gun (31) is attached to a multi-function unit (32) movable in a horizontal direction and a perpendicular direction. The spray gun (31) is mounted to a support holder (33), and the support holder (33) is connected to a support arm (35) of the multi-function unit (32). The support arm (35) is attached to a unit cover (36) which is openable/closable with respect to a casing (2). The support holder (33) and the support arm (35) can hide and house a liquid hose and an air hose therein so that the hoses and the like are arranged in an apparatus in such a state as to be completely free from being exposed. An installation position of the spray gun (31) can be finely adjusted by the multi-function unit (32) during a coating process, thereby enabling a control for keeping constant distances between tablet surfaces and the spray gun (31).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: FREUND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutoyo FUSEJIMA, Takuya NAKAMURA, Takashi TERADA, Shigemi ISOBE
  • Patent number: 8555805
    Abstract: A spray gun (31) is attached to a multi-function unit (32) movable in a horizontal direction and a perpendicular direction. The spray gun (31) is mounted to a support holder (33), and the support holder (33) is connected to a support arm (35) of the multi-function unit (32). The support arm (35) is attached to a unit cover (36) which is openable/closable with respect to a casing (2). The support holder (33) and the support arm (35) can hide and house a liquid hose and an air hose therein so that the hoses and the like are arranged in an apparatus in such a state as to be completely free from being exposed. An installation position of the spray gun (31) can be finely adjusted by the multi-function unit (32) during a coating process, thereby enabling a control for keeping constant distances between tablet surfaces and the spray gun (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Freund Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutoyo Fusejima, Takuya Nakamura, Takashi Terada, Shigemi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8359995
    Abstract: A hybrid apparatus for applying coating to product is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first vibratory frame assembly in communication with a first pan assembly, wherein the first pan assembly receives a product and a coating and applies the coating to the products using vibratory motion. The apparatus further includes, a drum assembly that having a drum, wherein products and coating are received from the first pan assembly and the coating is further applied to the products using a rotational motion of the drum, and a second vibratory frame assembly in communication with a second pan assembly, the second pan assembly having at least one of a separator tray assembly and an alignment tray assembly, wherein the second pan assembly receives the products and coating from the rotating drum and at least one of separates and aligns the products using vibratory motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Vibratory Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: James Bakos, James Karpinsky, Travis Renkly
  • Patent number: 8342117
    Abstract: There is provided a coating apparatus capable of continuously producing coated rice having powdered coating material adhered to the grains and including a drying process to prevent the grains from being bonded to one another and make the grain surfaces smoother upon drying of the grains. The coating apparatus comprising a binder coating unit for applying liquid binder to the grains being conveyed through a coating and stirring chamber to coat the grain surfaces with the binder; a adhering unit for adding powder material to the grains conveyed through a adhering and stirring chamber to adhere the powdered material to the grain surface by the binder; and a drying unit including a drying and stirring chamber through which the grains are conveyed while being stirred, a blow passage for blowing hot air into the drying chamber to dry the grains, and an exhaust passage for exhausting the hot air from the drying chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Satake Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukumori, Shigeharu Kanemoto, Hidenori Mizuno, Syuji Morito, Hiroyuki Maehara, Keishi Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20120263864
    Abstract: The drum coater comprises a substantially cylindrical drum (11) with a peripheral wall and a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The method comprises providing a coating zone within the drum, feeding tablets into the drum, spinning the drum containing the tablets at a rotational speed such that a substantially annular bed of tablets is created, providing means for creating a cascade (19) of tablets at least in a part of the coating zone and spraying the tablets in the coating zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: Michel Simon Waldron
  • Patent number: 8181592
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for coating products is disclosed herein. An exemplary apparatus comprises a vibration generating portion and a product coating portion. The product coating portion can include a coating application portion, a sifting portion, and an aligning portion. The exemplary apparatus can include a coating recycle portion as well. The vibration generation portion further comprises a motor vibration assembly secured to a frame wherein the frame is in communication with the product coating portion, such as a pan assembly, by springs that move the pan assembly with a vibratory motion. The product coating portion includes a series of angled steps that guide the coating and vibrating product upwards and forward, while simultaneously allowing the product to be agitated against the coating resting on the step surface. Additionally, the product coating portion can include a moveable wire belt conveyor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Vibratory Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: James Karpinsky, James Bakos, Scott Rose, Travis Renkly
  • Patent number: 8161904
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dry coating solid dosage forms. The method includes the steps of placing solid dosage forms in a rotatable, electrically grounded housing, and spraying a film forming polymer powder composition into the housing during rotation thereof to form a polymer coating on the solid dosage forms, the polymer powder composition being sprayed using an electrostatic spray gun, and curing the coated solid dosage forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Jiangxu Zhu, Yanfeng Luo, Ying Liang Ma, Hui Zhang
  • Patent number: 8142828
    Abstract: Tumble breading assemblies, systems, and methods for applying breading material to food are described herein. In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a rotary tumbling breading assembly for applying a breading material to a food generally includes a first rotary tumbler having a first channel for accepting the food and breading material and for rotating the food with the breading material, a second rotary tumbler offset beneath the first tumbler and having a second channel arranged to accept the food and the breading material from the first channel of the first rotary tumbler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: John Bean Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Dean Brady, Sr., Quentin Duane Pendergrass
  • Publication number: 20120015085
    Abstract: A method and a machine for continuous coating of cores of products, in particular confectionery products, in which a hollow drum rotating about an axis of its own carries, stably connected inside it, a body wound axially in a helix or a spiral, with which it delimits a plurality of treatment chambers, each adapted to house a mass of cores to be treated; in at least part of the chambers, the mass of cores is sprayed with a coating material during rotation of the drum in a first direction of rotation about its axis, and impinged upon by a flow of process air during rotation of the drum in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, before feeding the coated cores into an adjacent chamber causing the drum to perform a complete rotation in one of the two directions of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventor: Mauro Liberatore
  • Publication number: 20120015101
    Abstract: A system for coating tablets and other small articles is provided. The system is comprised of an elongate housing containing a drum journalled for rotation about a horizontal axis. The drum has two open ends that receive and discharge a supply of tablets respectively. The drum is rotated about the axis by a drive means to tumble the tablets and advance the tablets through the drum. The system also includes a system for delivering a selected amount of coating to the tablets while they are being tumbled and a feeder for continually feeding tablets at a first end of the housing. The system employs a weir plate for maintaining a depth of tablets within the drum and for controlling the time that the tablets remain in the drum. The system has a tablet discharge region for receiving tablets for discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: O'Hara Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: David O'Hara, James Marjeram
  • Patent number: 8096259
    Abstract: Apparatus for coating food products with breading material has an excess breading-material circulation/re-circulation system, which itself has a main, central product-intake conveyor scraping across an up-sloping bottom panel flanked by left and right elevators that course through up-sloping gutters astride the central conveyor's bottom panel. The central conveyor is relatively broad but shallow for only carrying a relatively light load that becomes a bottom bed of breading material for conveyance of food product thereon. In contrast, the elevators are relatively deep but thin in order to carry relatively-substantial streams of breading material, and disproportionate to their thin width, which are ultimately elevated to a topcoat-applicator and becomes a top-coating of breading material. One or more plows are arranged in the overhead space above the central conveyor to divert a main stream of excess breading material into one or more diverted streams aimed at the flanking elevators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventors: Robert G. Nothum, Jr., Robert M. Nothum
  • Patent number: 8065974
    Abstract: Apparatus for coating an item with a dry particulate material. An electrically operated sifter in a dry coating assembly generates a shower of the dry particulate material which coats the items held in an open mesh basket. A collector recovers residual material which can then be returned to the sifter. Extraneous clumps formed from the dry particulate material and any liquid coating can be readily removed from the sifter. An optional wet coating assembly allows an operator to coat the items with a batter before the application of the dry particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Howard M. Rome
  • Publication number: 20110256305
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a turbine coating apparatus and a spray gun assembly therefor. More specifically, the present invention relates to a spray gun assembly comprising a gun support mountable to the turbine coating apparatus and at least one spray gun mounted to the gun support. The spray gun is adapted for providing a spray of a coating substance onto a cluster of solid forms to be coated in the apparatus, where the spray defines a spray angle of less than 90 degrees relative to the coating plane defined by the cluster of solid forms in movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicants: HARMONIUM INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Wilfrid Jacques, Francine Mondou