Abstract: A machine for making cookies for removably mounted cylinders that spread the dough on a conveyor belt and the dough is automatically formed into cookies. Mechanism for sprinkling material are positioned so that the particulate material falls on the surface where the dough is going to be deposited and on the cookies themselves. A trap for the excess of the particulate material is provided by routing the conveyor belt appropriately. This allows using that particulate material again.

Abstract: An insulating foam and a process for producing insulating foam, wherein a foamable first component may be made of alkyl sulfate, half ester of maleic anhydride and acrylic resin in an aqueous solution is mechanically foamed with air, and to that foam is added an aqueous solution of magnesium oxide, dispersant, acrylic resin, perlite and/or precipitated calcium carbonate. To those components is added an aqueous solution of at least one of aluminum chloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, zinc chloride, sulfamic acid, sodium silicate, zinc oxide, barium metaborate, vinyl alcohol, magnesium carbonate, calcium chloride and vinyl acetate. In another embodiment a polyvinyl alcohol and dispersant first portion is foamed with air and mixed with a second cementitious portion comprising magnesium oxide and barium metaborate.

Abstract: An apparatus for the application of coating material onto elongated food products wherein the applicator nozzle and nozzle opening portion of the apparatus correspond to the side surfaces of the elongated food product. The food product to be coated is passed before nozzles discharging impelled coating material from a coating material supply source that meters desired amounts of coating material to the blower device.

Abstract: A dispenser for distributing food seasoning and other cohesive solids includes a rotating auger enclosed by a tube which is fed via a hopper. The auger is divided into two sections, each with a different pitch. In a first metering section, the pitch is narrow to facilitate accurate metering of the seasoning. This is followed by a distribution section of higher pitch which reduces the bulk density of the seasoning so that it passes easily through a series of apertures in the tube. A sleeve is slidably secured to the tube and has a series of apertures registerable with the apertures in the tube. By adjusting the degree of register, the seasoning can be distributed evenly along the entire length of the distribution section. The tube contains a second set of apertures located about 180.degree. from the first set, and which are used for distribution of non-cohesive, small particle size material, such as salt.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for metering, sifting and feeding powder comprises a vertical duct with a single, screen-covered outlet at the bottom and a rotary agitator having solid fingers separated by radiused notches on a vertical shaft above the screen. The fingers, which do not contact the screen, are one-twentieth to one-tenth inch thick with square edges. The agitator is driven by a sealed motor mounted at the top of the duct in line with the shaft. Powder is fed to the screen through a downwardly sloping branch duct.

Abstract: Snack food product in which a piece of cake is coated with a fruit jelly or a creme bonding layer and with a sticky icing over the bonding layer. The process for making the product includes applying a pressure bearing member to the icing to press it into intimate contact with the bonding layer and to press the bonding layer into the cake. The pressure bearing member and cutting knives may be heated to avoid sticking.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a viscous slurry of seasoning or flavoring material to a moving tumbling bed of snack food and a tumbler drum utilizes a slurry pipe with a plurality of space nozzles and a companion air manifold with a plurality of corresponding air nozzles positioned adjacent the slurry nozzles to direct and atomize the slurry. The pipe and manifold are adjustable together, both axially and rotatably to direct and position the atomized spray of slurry.

Abstract: An oiler for depositing oil, in the form of a fine mist or fog, on articles traveling on a conveyor belt, and more particularly eggs in an in-line egg processing apparatus. The oiler is in the form of an enclosure disposed above the conveyor. A nozzle disposed within the enclosure sprays a fine fan-shaped spray of oil impinging upon the bottom floor of the enclosure. An air blower supplies a flow of turbulent air to the interior of the enclosure for slightly pressurizing the interior of the enclosure and creating a fine oil mist or fog which is exhausted from the enclosure through slots at the bottom of the enclosure for coating the shells of the eggs traveling below the enclosure on a conveyor belt.

Abstract: A device for applying a flowable fat composition to objects, especially chocolate compositions on candy, baked goods, etc. The chocolate composition is kept in a container, which has at its lower end an outlet opening above the objects to be coated. A roller rotates at relatively high speed in the opening. That part of the surface of the roller, which is immersed in the container, picks up chocolate composition and releases it at approximately its lowest point. The thickness of the chocolate composition film, transported on the roller, is determined by an edge fixed to the container. The separation of the composition film from the roller is aided by a doctor blade. The thickness of the composition film on the roller, the rotational speed of the roller, and the distance between the roller and objects to be coated are selected, so that a bubble-free composition film is transported on the roller and new bubbles do not form in the chocolate composition on the way from the roller to the objects to be coated.

Abstract: An improved rotating tumbler drum for use in a snack food seasoning apparatus contains, along at least a portion of its length, a plurality of interior wall segments, each of which is constructed of a material having a coefficient of friction with the snack food items different from that of the segments with which it is contiguous. Snack food items such as potato chips are passed through the drum while the drum is rotated, resulting in a random tumbling motion due to differential friction with the various wall segments. Seasoning material is dispensed onto the randomly tumbling snack food items, so that the seasoning material is uniformly distributed.

Abstract: A popcorn popping and coating machine comprising a hot air popcorn popper having a discharge chute in communication with a rotary driven receptacle. The device includes a pivoting gate which blocks passage through the chute until the popper becomes filled with popped kernels so that the kernels continue to be heated until their introduction into the coating receptacle. The coating receptacle includes a cap which is rotatably secured within a yoke and frictionally engaged against a drive wheel which is rotatably driven by a motor within the housing. A confectionary preparation receptacle is secured to the chute so that the popcorn is coated as it falls into the receptacle and tumbles against both the sidewall and bottom wall of the coating receptacle. The receptacle and the chute are positioned so that the receptacle receives every kernel as well as the confectionary preparation, passing along the chute from the popper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for covering foodstuff with granular and/or powdery material comprising a frame, a bunker supported by said frame receiving a supply of granular and/or powdery material and means for displacing the foodstuff along a path extending below an outlet port of the bunker, whereby below the outlet port a sieve plate having a plurality of apertures is arranged and the device comprises means for displacing the material flowing out of the bunker in a direction opposite the direction of displacement of the foodstuff during operation.

Abstract: A breading machine for selectively dispensing flour breading or free flowing breading and wherein the machine has a frame and conveyor means supported in the frame defining a conveyance path having a product inlet end and a product outlet end, and a hopper pivotally attached to the frame at the inlet end and movable between a breading dispensing position and a hopper cleaning position, frame support means pivotally attached to the frame at the outlet end and selectively adjustable to provide for flour breading of a food product wherein the said product is flipped over at the outlet end of the conveyor means or for free flowing breading to be applied to the food product wherein the said product exits from the conveyor means in the same manner in which it is initially introduced to the conveyor means, and wherein the frame support means is also adjustable between a conveyor means supporting position and a cleaning position above said conveyor means, and breading pumping slot means pivotally attached to the fram

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controllably applying a liquid substance to the surfaces of a plurality of discrete fruit moving along a path at a selected rate of speed and in accordance with the quantity of fruit on said path, the application of liquid substance to the fruit being by more than one nozzle movable transversely over the path at a selected rate of speed. The apparatus includes sensors for determining the speed of advancement of the fruit, that is the speed of the conveyor, a plurality of fingers engageable by the fruit to determine, by absence of engagement of fruit, the quantity of fruit moving along the path, and a control system for regulating the amount of liquid discharged from the nozzles and to correlate the amount of liquid discharged to the speed of advancement of the fruit and the quantity of fruit being advanced. In the method, an optimum effective volume of liquid substance is applied at selected pressures to the sensed quantity of fruit on the path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for enrobing frozen novelty confectionaries, such as ice cream products. The products are passed beneath a waterfall of the enrobing material, with the conveying mechanism separating rows of confectionaries and aligning them with dams in the waterfall to avoid covering the stick portion of the novelty. Conveying apparatus for the novelties is also disclosed.

Abstract: Articles such as fruit on a conveyor are spray coated with liquid wax from a transverse row of sequentially pulsed spray nozzles controlled by microcomputer signals to solenoid nozzle valves. The computer is programmed to receive inputs from operator controlled panel switches which can be set to select the number of nozzles in the row; an excursion time during which all nozzles in a row spray and a pulse time during which one nozzle sprays. The computer limits the nozzle pulse time to dwell time equal to the quotient of the number of nozzles and the pulse time. The nozzles are automatically cleaned out by compressed air if the supply of fruit to the conveyor is interrupted for a predetermined period of time.

Abstract: A dragee-making drum, whose axis of rotation is at least approximately horizontal, has an at least approximately cylindrical shell and two at least approximately frustum-shaped end wall portions adjoining either end of the shell. These end wall portions extend into the space enclosed by the shell and terminate in annular zones whose axial distance from one another is considerably smaller than the axial length of the shell. It is thereby achieved that the dragee-making material is spread between the frustum-shaped end wall portions. This gives rise to frictional forces which, in addition to the frictional forces that are caused by gravity and are the only forces having effect in known dragee-making drums, tend to entrain the dragee-making material in an upward direction as the drum rotates. Consequently, at a given speed of rotation of the dragee-making drum, the dragee-making material ascends further and above all more uniform, in order to then finally spill down again.

Abstract: An installation for coating baked products, such as wafer sheets, with a viscous, edible spreading mass, such as caramel, includes a transport installation for moving the wafers and a revolvable, generally cylindrical coating roll above the transport installation. An application reservior cooperates with the coating roll to spread a layer of the spreading mass on the surface of the coating roll. A coating roll squeegee controls the thickness of the spreading mass on the coating roll, and a coating roll blade removes the spreading mass from the coating roll in the form of a layer. This layer of spreading mass is then deposited on the wafers transported by the transport installation. The viscous material of the spreading mass will be continuous and will tend to join the separate wafer sheets together when the layer is deposited on the wafer sheets. In this regard, a separating device is disposed downstream of the coating roll.

Abstract: Apparatus for the uniform and complete surface coating of individual kernels of pourable materials including a container of either a circular or polygonal configuration whose upper portion constitutes a body of increasing diameter having thereto attached at the bottom part a funnel-like body with an opening towards the top portion. The apparatus is equipped at the upper and lower end with a screen whose change in diameter from the lower screen closure to the top of the lower funnel forms an angle of 20.degree. to 50.degree. perpendicular to the axis and wherein the diameter ratio of the upper part, measured from the low end to the top screen closure may be in a ratio of 1:1.5 to 1:4.5, and whose upper and lower screen closure consists of exchangeable screens of maximum free area with a mesh size smaller than the smallest particle of the material to be coated.

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: An apparatus to distribute discrete particles and, while distribution is occurring means to coat the particles, uniformly with a liquid. The apparatus provides feeding the particles to a rotating plate which rotates at a speed such as to distribute the particles and to cause them to move outwardly to the edge of the plate from which they fall and a liquid distributing means comprising an annular skirt coaxial with and below the plate, the skirt receiving liquid internally thereof and rotating at a speed sufficient to expell the liquid outwardly from its lower edge towards the particles falling from the plate thereby coating these articles.

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: A machine for extruding dough, typically of the bagel variety, about a food, such as a frankfurter, is disclosed. Typically, the frankfurters are loaded into a magazine. The magazine feeds a star wheel at the bottom. The star wheel singulates, rotates and discharges the frankfurters into a chute. Once the frankfurters are deposited in the chute, an endless chain with propelling pawls propels each sequential frankfurter through the chute concentrically to an extruder. The extruder continuously dispenses bagel dough concentrically around the frankfurters and is supplied with bagel dough under pressure by an auger flight extruder or other propelling mechanism. Extrusion occurs from an extrusion head having a frankfurter passageway centrally thereof. Dough is extruded into first and second extrusion chambers and out first and second immediately concentric extrusion annuluses about the frankfurter passageway.

Abstract: In a typical breading machine for automatically coating the exterior surfaces of edible products such as for example seafoods, poultry, red meats and vegetables, a method and apparatus for distributing and sifting what is defined in the art as Japanese style bread crumbs which display a wide variation in crumb sizes. The typical breading machine provides for the conveyance of the product to be coated along a conveyance or coating path on a bed of breading placed on the conveyance means at a first location whereby the surfaces of said product which engage said bed are coated with breading. A separate quantity of breading is subsequently presented to the product being conveyed at a second location along the conveyance path whereby the remaining surfaces of the product are coated with breading.

Abstract: An agglomerization system for intermixing edible ingredients comprising a chamber wherein various different edible ingredients are intermixed with steam, the latter of which is provided into the chamber through one or more manifolds. Such manifolds are horizontally disposed pipes having a plurality of openings for directing the steam in substantially the same direction as the edible dry ingredients are forced into the chamber from a hopper. A movable belt catches the fused ingredients to carry the product out of the agglomerization chamber.

Abstract: A nozzle for spraying food ingredients including an inner orifice for the ingredients and an outer orifice for spray air. A piston is reciprocable in a cylinder within a housing above the orifices. Attached to the piston is a clean-out plunger that extends through an ingredient delivery tube into the inner nozzle orifice as the piston reciprocates, thereby cleaning and unclogging the inner orifice. Displacement of the piston is caused by compressed control air supplied through two air ports in the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston. Reciprocation of the piston can be initiated by a timer or by a manual override.

Abstract: A thermally-insulating, non-flammable, air-permeable insulation for installation in the field, for example, in closed cavities between the walls of a house. A multitude of individually preformed, foamed plastic particles are initially entrained in a carrier stream, and thereupon drenched with a settable film-forming, non-flammable, liquid substance, such as a sodium silicate solution. The liquid substance sets to form a film which covers and adheres the particles to one another to form a thermally-insulating dense structural aggregate mass having structural integrity, resistance to fire, and venting capability. A method of making and installing the insulation, and a preferred apparatus therefor, are disclosed.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing metered quantities of a particulated material such as, for example, seasoning materials including salt, pepper or the like, in which the particulated material is discharged in the form of a substantially uniform curtainous stream and the articles or foodstuffs are transferred through the curtainous stream, a plurality of times to assure substantially uniform coating of the surfaces thereof. The apparatus includes slinger means for dispersing and propelling the articles through an upper section of the curtainous stream from the upstream to downstream side thereof and deflector means for intercepting and redirecting the articles back through the curtainous stream through an intermediate section thereof to the upstream side thereof.

Abstract: A food product in the form of an elongated strip is provided with a coating of seeds by directing it upon the loading end of a conveyor belt, passing it through a wetting station and thereafter directing it from the discharge end of the conveyor belt onto a grooved drum. A quantity of seeds carried by a hopper is directed onto a surface of the drum in the area just prior to the contact point of the food product with the drum. The seed is received upon the bottom of the grooves in the drum and around the sides and top of the food product. A pressure roller in contact with the periphery of the drum urges the seeds into firmer contact with the food product. Excess seeds are recaptured and the seeded food product is directed from the apparatus.

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: A particulate material dispenser for use with a conveyor system wherein particulate material is applied to a plurality of substrate receiving bases carried on the conveyor system; comprising a hopper mounted on a frame over a portion of the conveyor system and having a front wall, a rear wall, a pair of spaced vertical side walls, and a reduced bottom wall. The bottom wall is provided with a plurality of spaced and aligned openings for allowing the passage of particulate material therethrough. An agitator shaft is disposed horizontally above the openings and has opposite ends journalled in the side walls. A plurality of tines are mounted on the agitator shaft and extend downwardly therefrom so that their lower ends are adjacent the openings. A motor is connected to the agitator shaft through intermediate collar rods, links, etc. to oscillate the shaft so to cause the tines to swing in an arc above the openings thereby urging the particulate material through the openings.

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: Multi-cell fluidization and atomization apparatus for the continuous production and/or coating of granules, for example in pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical industries, comprises a series of upright cylindrical cells through which the particulate material moves sequentially having inlet and outlet openings at various heights and rotary agitators therein. The material is fluidized in the cells and may also be contacted by an atomized liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus for printing an indicium on objects, fruits and the like with an ink which may or may not be water soluble, but which is preferably of a type which may be readily consumed by humans without damaging effect, the fruit being successively pre-oriented and delivered by a conveyor to a printing station where inked printing dies carried by a printing roller are utilized to apply the indicia, after which the fruit is then discharged from the conveyor in a free-fall trajectory path onto a receiver, an air-brush type nozzle being utilized to jet-spray the indicium with a quick drying sealant coating as the fruit is moved through the trajectory path. The spray nozzle is directed towards a collecting opening having a connection with a suction source. Also, a selector valve is provided to permit disconnection of the coating material supply to the nozzle, and connection of the nozzle to a supply of cleaning solvent.

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: An apparatus and method for applying condiment, say salt to pretzels, wherein the pretzels or other articles are conveyed beneath a condiment dispenser for receiving condiment therefrom on the upper side of the article while condiment passes beneath the article to a collector, and the article is transferred to the collector onto collected condiment for application of the condiment to the under side of the article. The apparatus is selectively operable to apply condiment to only a single side of an article by feeding the article to the collector before deposit of condiment on the collector.

Abstract: A pizza topping device to apply ingredients to a pastry shell including first apertured conveyer means to receive a pre-formed pastry shell and convey the shell in a selected direction, applicator spray means including nozzle means disposed at a selected location above the first conveyer means to spray a selected, fluid, sauce-like material onto the pastry shells traveling on the first conveyer where the sauce-like material which oversprays the pastry shell flows through the apertures of the conveyer to sauce accumulator means, hopper means disposed above the first conveyer means to receive selected particulate topping substances to be applied to the sauce carried on the pastry shell where the hopper means includes a second conveyer means which is imperforate and is disposed in the bottom of the hopper where the topping material is carried on the second conveyer means in the same direction of travel as the direction of travel of the first conveyer, topping retention and mixing means disposed in the hopper to

Abstract: A readily sanitizable spraying apparatus particularly suited for applying an ingredient coating to food products in which the products to be sprayed are carried past spray heads by a conveyor. The heads are formed by interlocking members that are freely separable once removed from a cradle in which they are nested thus exposing delivery chambers within the heads for cleaning. The conveyor may include an endless belt that circulates on a conveyor frame which is pivotably mounted on a base so that it can be removed to expose interior portions of the apparatus, also for cleaning purposes. Since the belt has openings through which the ingredient can be sprayed onto the bottom surfaces of the food product, spray heads can be located below the belt as well as above.

Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of powdery and granular substances, which provides for cooling or heating and/or spraying the substances with liquid or molten addition or treatment elements in a vessel rotationally symmetrical to its vertical axis. The substances to be treated are introduced into a vortex flow at the head of the vessel and then carried along by a substantially axially parallel, downward-moving gas stream and are conducted through a spraying zone in which the liquid or molten elements are sprayed thereon. This flow, after a movement undisturbed over a certain interval, strikes upon a counterflow rising from underneath, the velocity adjustment of which is determined by the sifting effect and/or the staying time. The gases, preferably air, enter the vessel in a tempered state in correspondence to the desired result of the process.

Abstract: Chopped food such as ground beef or ground pork or sauce is cooked and maintained at an elevated temperature. An agitator is provided to stir up and dispense solid food pieces uniformly in the liquid phase. A pump connected to the agitator expells the uniform dispersion at a constant rate to a vibrating tray feeder. The feeder advances the food product as a fluid sheet which is allowed to fall from the edge of the feeder as a uniform continuously descending curtain onto the food base. Material that falls beyond the edges of the food base is recycled.

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: An improved storage apparatus for produce stored in an enclosed storage structure. The apparatus provides a cooled airstream having a relative humidity above 95% which is forced around the produce. Water is pressurized by a pump and sprayed into the airstream to create a mist which cools and humidifies the airstream. Chemicals to retard spoilage of the produce can also be included in the water. The water may also be sprayed directly on the produce. Savings are realized and water accumulation in the storage structure is minimized by recirculating condensate from the air distribution system through the spray apparatus. Prolonged equipment life is also obtained by locating the motor for the pump exteriorly of the water spray.

Abstract: To a breader conveyor there is added a plurality of restrained flow cascading tumbling conveyors positioned to produce roughness of the breading. Slip plates at the terminal portions of the conveyors act to restrain the free flow of the battered and flour breaded chicken until pushed off onto a following conveyor. The breaded chicken in excess flour tumbles from one conveyor to another to produce a rough, flaky breading texture. The breaded chicken is then separated from the excess flour by an output wire conveyor and is fried or cooked in the conventional manner.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying liquid to one side of a substantially flat article includes a power-driven, rotatably journaled drum having a perforate, cylindrical surface. Within the interior of the drum is disposed a roller. The roller includes a resilient, absorbent surface which engages the inside surface of the drum such that rotation of the drum imparts relative rotation to the roller. The roller is rotatable through a liquid reservoir and a pressure member is selectively operable to press or urge the perforate surface against the roller such that liquid picked up by the roller is squeezed through the perforations. An article contacting the drum surface will thereby have liquid applied to one side thereof.

Abstract: The improved food roasting and basting device of the present invention includes a fire box with spit spaced above it and a basting unit spaced above the spit. The non-clogging basting unit includes a hollow, preferably elongated and cylindrical container with spaced aperture extending therethrough and means, such as a motor, for rotation of the container around an axis generally parallel to the spit. The spit can also be rotated, if desired, and a separate motor can be used, or a belt and pulley assembly can be employed, to rotate both the spit and basting container at the same or different speeds. The apertures in the basting container can be arranged in a spiral pattern and can be partially or fully closed, and the container can be divided internally into separate compartments for dispensing separate basting materials.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for adding salt or seasonings to food being cooked in a steam cooker cooking vessel having a cooking chamber. The apparatus includes a separate collecting vessel for accommodating a salt or seasoning solution, a supply line attached to the collecting vessel for connecting the collecting vessel to the cooking vessel, and a conveying and turnover pump for conveying the salt or seasoning solution from the collecting vessel to the food in the cooking chamber through the supply line.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for coating the under side of a food product with a batter material of intermediate viscosity so as to eliminate substantially all bare spots.

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: A method of coating a surface of an article of food with a granular material at a selected density by transporting the food along a preselected path at a preselected speed, enclosing and agitating the granular material with a rotating auger, metering the granular material with height adjusting augers, while adjusting the height of the agitating auger, the orifice for metering the granular material and rotating the distributing auger at selected speeds to meter a selected quantity of food onto the food surface; reclaiming excess granular material and reconveying the excess back to the enclosed quantity.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating an article of food with a granular food product at a selected density which apparatus is formed of a distributor having a wedged-shaped elongated hopper for enclosing granular material to be metered and coated on the surface an article of food transported thereunder by a conveyor, which housing defines a pair of aligned elongated slots of sufficient dimension to pass the granular material, a pair of orifice plates one moveably mounted adjacent each elongated slot at the bottom of the hopper for setting the opening size, a pair of contra-rotatable distributing augers positioned one above each elongated slot and rotationally mounted in the housing in adjustable eccentric bearings with the height of the distributing augers being adjustable relative to the slot therebelow, an agitating auger rotationally mounted in the housing above the distributing augers in adjustable eccentric bearings for adjusting the height of the agitating auger in spaced parallel alignment to and above the