Abstract: A fluidized bed apparatus and method are disclosed for coating, granulating and/or drying particles. The particles are circulated within a chamber by means of circumferential air flow. A first gas stream moves upwardly through the chamber. A second gas stream enters the chamber through openings in the side wall of the chamber. The openings extend generally horizontally and tangential to the side wall so that the second gas is directed circumferentially in the chamber for three-dimensional rotation and circulation of the particles.

Abstract: A sanitary customer attended food dispenser for dispensing individual servings of food with desired amount of sauce (e.g. nachos with molten cheese) involving a windowed enclosure containing a carousel of individual food servings and a centrally located heated reservoir of sauce (molten cheese) actuated by an external pump plunger handle. The enclosure is further equipped with a door for withdrawal of the food serving which indexes the carousel through a rotation equivalent to the advancement by the relative position of one food serving for each time the door is opened and then closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating edible food containers with flavored barrier coatings. The coating material is allowed to flow into the interior of the container to coat the same. The containers are then manipulated to remove the excess and dried. A coating is then flown onto the exterior of the container which is subsequently dried.

Abstract: A drum rotating about a horizontal axis, designed to coat dragee pellets or other granules with a hardenable substance, has a polygonal--preferably nine-sided--peripheral wall and corresponding frustopyramidal end walls. The peripheral wall consists of angularly adjoining panels and has an access aperture extending partly over two such panels, this aperture being sealable by a gabled flap hinged to the drum at its trailing edge and adapted to be locked in a closed position by a sliding bolt coacting with a latching cylinder and an unlatching cylinder in a certain angular position of the drum whereby the unlatched flap will swing open on leaving that position and will swing closed on reapproaching it.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for coating particles, particularly particles of medicinal drugs. The apparatus has a rotating drum provided with a perforated cylindrical center section. Particles to be coated are introduced into the interior of the drum and form a layer in a lower quadrant of the cylindrical section during rotation of the drum. A spraying device is located in the interior of the drum for coating the particles with an appropriate mixture or solution. A device is positioned adjacent the portion of the drum containing the particles for introducing gas through the perforations into the layer of particles so as to dry the particles. A device also is provided for removing gas from the drum through the perforations. The device for introducing gas can be separated from the device for removing gas by a central partition, with both devices being carried by a common support. Also, it is possible to introduce gas into a portion of the interior of the drum that is spaced from the layer of particles.

Abstract: A seed coating machine comprising an upper mixing drum wherein a liquid adhesive coating is applied to seed and where the rate of application is regulated by a valve controlled by the seed feeder. Coated seed is dried to a state of tackiness and passed to a second, lower mixing drum. A variety of powders are applied onto the tacky seed after being mixed and sifted in a screen distributor. The resulting coated seed has an outer powder layer which adheres to the inner adhesive coating.

Abstract: In a drum which is rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, inlet and outlet lines for a gas, for drying a material contained in the drum, are connected to an immersion body. The immersion body has inlet and outlet openings for the gas and is disposed within the drum to be immersed in the material. The immersion body contains a tunnel through which the material can flow and has arranged in its interior at least some of the inlet and outlet openings for the gas.

Abstract: Seasoning is applied uniformly to an edible snack product and excess seasoning is reapplied by directed streams of air. A rotary helical wire feeder in a tube having a variable width slotted outlet is provided with a chamber for directing an air flow along the outside of the tube on opposite sides of the outlet to control the distribution of a curtain of seasoning falling from the tube outlet. Seasoning which misses the snacks on an open conveyor is collected underneath the conveyor and reapplied to the bottom of the snacks by air flowing over the surface of collectors.

Abstract: A dragee-making drum cooperating with a partition wall in order to promote cleanliness, particularly during the manufacture of medical preparations, by increasing the isolation between the clean "grey" zone in front of the partition wall and the dirtier "black" zone behind it. This increased isolation is accomplished by providing a flanged rim at the mouth of the drum to fit within a corresponding U-shaped seal disposed at the opening of the partition wall. An opening is provided at the bottom of the seal for removal of debris.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for coating the outside surface of a length of tubing comprising the steps of coating the outside surface of the tubing with an initial layer of coating liquid, transporting the coated tubing along its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertically upward direction; passing the coated tubing through a constriction of predetermined width to reduce the thickness of the initial layer and form a thin layer of desired thickness on the outside of the tubing; leveling the thin layer without reducing the weight per unit area of the thin layer to form a layer of uniform thickness; and exposing the tubing to heat of a sufficient temperature to solidify the coating liquid and form an uninterrupted film of uniform thickness on the outside of the tubing.

Abstract: In a rotary drum type device for coating granular solids of the type having a rotary drum with a perforated cylindrical wall section, a supporting ring surrounding the cylindrical wall section of the drum for rotatably supporting the same, and inlet and outlet duct means defined within the supporting ring and opening to the perforated cylindrical wall section of the drum in such a way that the hot air or the like is directed from the top of the drum toward a tumbling bed of granular solids formed within the drum, the perforated cylindrical wall section is so divided that the area which faces the opening of the inlet duct means will not face the opening of the outlet duct means and vice versa, whereby the coating agent which is deposited on the walls of the small holes of the cylindrical wall section facing the opening or inlet of the outlet duct means can be prevented from being separated and falling into the drum by the hot air or the like flowing through the opening of the inlet duct means into the drum.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for forming an uninterrupted coating of uniform thickness on the inside of a length of tubing which comprises the steps of forming a loop of tubing with a downwardly inclined portion and an upwardly inclined portion; filling the cavity of the tubing forming the loop with a coating liquid; transporting the tubing along its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertically upward direction to coat the inside of the tubing, above the level of the coating liquid, with an initial layer of coating material; constricting the tubing to lay partially flat along a narrow zone running transverse to the direction of transportation above the level of the coating liquid to retain the greater part of the coating liquid in the constriction zone and form a thin layer of coating liquid of desired thickness on the inside; of the tubing issuing from the constriction zone; filling the cavity of the tubing issuing from the constriction zone with support gas; and exposing the tubing to the action of heat at a s

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for coating the inside of a length of tubing comprising the steps of forming at least one loop of tubing with a downwardly inclined portion and an upwardly inclined portion; filling the cavity of the tubing forming the loop with a coating liquid; transporting the tubing along its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertically upward direction to coat the inside surface of the tubing above the level of the coating liquid with an initial layer of coating liquid; constricting the tubing adjacent to and above the level of the coating liquid with a metering device having a constriction zone which flattens a portion of the tubing passing therethrough to substantially eliminate all of the initial layer thereon and partially flattens the remaining portion of the tubing to allow a desired quantity of coating liquid to remain on the tubing issuing from the constriction zone; filling the cavity of the tubing issuing from the constriction zone with support gas; and, exposing the tubing to the acti

Abstract: A process is disclosed for coating the inside surface of a length of tubing comprising the steps of forming at least one loop of tubing with a downwardly inclined portion and an upwardly inclined portion; filling the cavity of the tubing forming the loop with a coating liquid; transporting the tubing along its longitudinal axis in a substantially vertically upward direction to coat the inside of the tubing above the level of the coating liquid with an initial layer of coating liquid; constricting the tubing adjacent to and above the level of the coating liquid along a constriction zone transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubing, the constriction zone progressively diminishing in width in the direction of travel of the tubing to reduce the thickness of the initial layer and form a thin layer of desired thickness on the inside of the tubing issuing from the constriction zone; filling the cavity of the tubing issuing from the metering device with support gas; and exposing the tubing to heat at a sufficien

Abstract: A rotary drum type apparatus for applying a coating to tablets including a rotary drum supported by a support frame for receiving a body of tablets to be coated by spraying with a solvent. The drum is inclined through about 10-20 degrees in such a manner that its front surface is turned upwardly, and an air inlet tube and an air outlet tube are connected to the support frame in positions slightly displaced toward the rear surface of the support frame from the center line of the support frame extending perpendicular to the center axis of the drum. The support frame cooperates with an outer periphery of the drum to define an air suction duct disposed on the front side of the support frame and an air exhaust duct disposed on the rear side of the support frame so that a smooth flow of hot blast through the drum can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating apparatus comprising a coating vessel rotatably supported at one end and connected to a vacuum source by a coaxially arranged and co-rotatable tube containing a spray nozzle. The tube is supported separately from the coating vessel and is arranged for movement along the axis of rotation of the coating vessel. The coating vessel includes a discharge opening closable by a cover which is carried by the tube. The tube is preferably guided for movement along the axis of the coating vessel within a piece of pipe which is rotatably supported within a bearing box which is pivotable away from the coating vessel.

Abstract: A granulated meat applicator deposits granulated meat onto a series of pizza shells. A shell or crust conveyor is located beneath a meat conveyor to transfer sauce covered shells beneath the meat conveyor. Frozen shredded meat is deposited onto the infeed end of the meat conveyor and discharged therefrom onto the shells carried by the shell conveyor. A meat recovery conveyor means receives shredded meat which falls through the shell conveyor and returns it to the meat conveyor. The total assembly is enclosed within an outer enclosure having side walls and a top wall with appropriate conveyor openings. A pair of cooling means are alternately operated and defrosted to create a continuous flow of cool air upwardly to the top of the enclosure and then downwardly over the conveyors and the meat and the shells. Auxiliary cooling plates may be located adjacent to the meat conveyors to further insure that the granulated meat remains frozen.

Abstract: In a device for coating granular solids of the type having a double-cone rotary drum which is perforated so as to permit the flow of air or gas into and out of the rotary drum and which is tiltable about the axis at right angles of the axis of rotation of the rotary drum so that in the case of the discharge of product solids, the discharge opening of the rotary drum may be directed downwards, axially annular insulating covers are provided which ensure the effective thermal insulation of the rotary drum when the hot air or gas is blown thereinto. The present invention further provides means which are very effective in gas-tightly sealing the gas supply and exhaust passages defined in the duct around the rotary drum and the annular covers attached thereon so as to provide the air thermal insulation layers.

Abstract: An automatic food basting and display apparatus and method for basting a pre-cooked food such as corn-on-the-cob and maintaining the food at serving temperature up to serving time, comprising a display cabinet with a food support means having a rotary carousel means for periodically dipping the food in a basting liquid and thereafter draining at a predetermined rate to maintain the food palatable and prevent degradation of the food caused by over basting.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for coating frozen portions of a foodstuff with a granulated product with a conveyor carrying plates for supporting the portions and adapted to advance stepwise and sequentially to:depositing the granulated product on the plates,positioning the portions on the plates,supplying heat to the surfaces of the portions,coating the portions with granulated product anddischarging the coated portions from the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus useful for spray coating discrete particles, such as pharmaceutical tablets, with liquid coating compositions which are essentially free of organic solvents, the apparatus having at least three spaced spray nozzles mounted on a spray manifold having a conical surface design which is located within a vertically disposed two-zone coating chamber, having a gas inlet at the chamber base adapted to project the particles to be coated through a coating zone for recirculation through a drying zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for spray coating discrete particles while the particles are suspended in a gas flow, the apparatus including a vertically disposed coating chamber; a gas receiving, compressing and accelerating enclosure open at the top and bottom, such as a truncated hollow cone, within the chamber and including therewithin coating and drying zones and forming on the outside thereof therebetween it and the inside wall surface of the coating chamber an annular storage zone for a load of the discrete particles; one or more gas shaping or aerodynamic structures centrally disposed in spaced relation below the truncated hollow cone defining therebetween with the apparatus inside wall surface an annular nozzle for a Coanda flow of upwardly moving gases substantially into the truncated hollow cone; a particle supporting screen between the truncated hollow cone and the aerodynamic structure(s); at least one spray nozzle extending above the central aerodynamic structure and projecting through the particle supporting screen

Abstract: A machine for sugar coating articles of confectionery, or pharmaceutical or like products, comprises an annular receptacle having an upwardly open channel section which is resiliently mounted on a support structure so that it can be vibrated with respect to the support structure by means of a vibration generator. The articles to be sugar coated are loaded into the receptacle and vibrated together to spread the sugary substance subsequently sprayed over them. In one embodiment the annular receptacle has a mesh structure so that drying air can be blown upwardly through the articles being coated to accelerate the drying process. In another embodiment the annular receptacle is imperforate and has an arcuate auxiliary container attached thereto, which auxiliary container extends to either side of a discharge aperture of said annular receptacle and is provided with a mesh floor and its own discharge apertures.

Abstract: An apparatus for enrobing discrete objects. The device includes a perforated drum adapted to receive and tumble a charge of discrete objects to be coated and which is rotatable about its horizontal axis. The tumbling charge is periodically wetted with coating material and is dried by a stream of selectively conditioned air passed through the charge. During the initial phase of each drying operation a high velocity conditioned air stream employing a high percentage of reconditioned air is employed that effects rapid drying without deleteriously affecting the surface of the coated objects. During the final phase of each drying operation velocities are reduced and higher percentages of unrecirculated conditioned air is employed to assure continuity of drying with a concomitant production of an optimum surface of coating material thereon.