Abstract: The present specification relates to a dough line for processing dough, specifically sheeted dough, having a conveyor, for conveying the dough, a sensor, for detecting the beginning of a dough piece at a detection point in the dough line, a controllable flour sifter, arranged above the conveyor, for depositing flour on the conveyor or on dough on the conveyor, a controller, for controlling the amount of flour deposited by the flour sifter based on the sensor signal, wherein the controller is configured for disabling the flour sifter when there is no dough piece on or to be placed on the conveyor at the location of the flour sifter, enabling the flour sifter to deposit a first amount of flour per amount of displacement of the conveyor when there is a dough piece on or to be placed on the conveyor at the location of the flour sifter.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automated decoration of a food product, the apparatus includes: a transporter configured to move the food product to a decoration area of the apparatus; a detector configured to detect the food product in the decoration area; a deposition mechanism disposed above the decoration area, the deposition mechanism comprising a sliding plate disposed between a first fixed plate and a second fixed plate; wherein, in a first position of the sliding plate, cavities extending though the sliding plate are aligned with cavities extending through the first fixed plate, and in a second position, the cavities extending through the sliding plate are aligned with cavities extending through the second fixed plate.

Abstract: With a device for applying a coating agent onto a cyclically moved substrate, a uniform coating thickness may be achieved, although the rate of advance is not constant. At least one spray valve is provided which is permanently supplied with coating agent and the nozzle opening of which being adjustable with regard to the size of its effective discharge area in case of change of the rate of advance of the substrate according to the dependency, for a constant layer thickness of the coating agent, on the discharge rate of the coating agent out of the spray valve on the rate of advance of the substrate.

Abstract: A food product depositor system utilizes a food product depositor device. Preferably, the food product depositor device includes at least one food product depositor module. In an embodiment, the food product depositor module may include mating features and a plurality of food product depositor modules may be assembled by the mating features to form the food product device. Preferably, the food product depositor module includes a supply port, a rotor positioned within a cavity, at least one sliding vane, and a discharge port. In an embodiment, the food product depositor module includes a cutoff device. Additionally, the present invention is also directed to methods of processing food products by way of such an apparatus.

Abstract: A particulate, such as grated cheese, distributor for breaking up and distibuting clumps of cheese over a defined surface of a tiltable conveyor (30, 31). The distributor includes a housing (10, 11) with a throat axle (22, 23), with a plurality of radial paddles (21), is positioned at the lower end of the throat to strike and break up the clumps of cheese in the charge and distribute the cheese over a wide area. The cheese particles follow trajectories that include a plurality of downwardly extending stationary rods (44, 45) spaced radially outwardly of the axle, and a shroud (42, 43) spaced radially outwardly of the stationary rods.

Abstract: A cream depositor assembly has a depositor body in the form of a rotatable cylindrical stencil (11) provided with axially-spaced sets of circumferentially-spaced outlet ports (12). A recirculatory cream supply to the depositor body has a cream feed duct (27) fed by a pump (25), and a cream return duct (28). A cream diverting means (14) is housed within the interior of the stencil (11) and is operative to divert part of the cream flow from the feed duct (27) to an outlet passage (28), to supply the stencil. The illustrated diverting means (14) employs a flexible impeller (36), mounted eccentrically within a cylindrical rotor chamber, but a gear pump may be used.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a coating apparatus for coating articles with chocolate masses and the like with hot water includes the steps of: filling water into a tub of the coating apparatus, wherein the coating apparatus includes a driven grating conveyer belt for receiving the articles to be coated including an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the coating apparatus includes at least one aggregate being arranged in the upper region of the tub; pumping water out of the tub with at least one pump; and directing the substantially unpressurized water onto the grating conveyer belt and onto the at least one aggregate to be cleaned, the water having a temperature being higher than the melting temperature of the mass, the water flowing over the grating conveyer belt and the at least one aggregate and back into the tub in a substantially unpressurized manner.

Abstract: A food material dispensing apparatus for adding a sauce to a target food is claimed. The dispensing comprises a pump, a supply manifold, and a dispensing manifold. The pump draws a quantity of sauce from a source into the supply manifold and forces the sauce through the dispensing manifold to the target food. The supply manifold receives the sauce from the source. The sauce is transferred to the dispensing manifold through which the sauce material is transferred to the target food. A baffle suspended in the dispensing manifold. The baffle has a peripheral edge and a central portion displaced a distance from a substantially horizontal plane defined by the peripheral edge by a positioning portion which connects the central portion to the peripheral edge. A pattern plate is positioned downstream from the baffle and has a plurality of apertures for delivering the predetermined quantity of sauce in a predetermined pattern to the target food.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for preparing chocolate coatings having a marbled appearance, and confectionery products having a component provided with a chocolate coating having a marbled appearance thereon.

Abstract: A process for producing a material for sealing and/or healing wounds fills a liquid composition into a container having two or more plates. At least two of the plates are perforated with one or more flow-through holes. At least one of the perforated plates is movable relative to another of the perforated plates. A suitable carrier is transported below the container in transport direction. The perforated plates are then continuously moved relative to each other so as to allow the liquid composition to drip onto the carrier being transported below the container. The liquid composition can thus be substantially evenly applied to the carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a material to a substrate. A material application station includes a shutter assembly having at least one horizontally extending blade which is rapidly displaceable from a closed configuration in which an outlet path of the shutter assembly is obstructed to an open configuration in which the outlet path is open. While the blade of the shutter assembly is in the closed configuration, a coating material is applied to a first predetermined area on an upper surface of the shutter assembly. A substrate is located beneath the shutter assembly in the outlet path. The blade of the shutter assembly is rapidly opened so that the coating material falls onto the substrate over a second predetermined area on an upper surface of the substrate. The second predetermined area is substantially equal to the first predetermined area. The resulting deposit is of a controlled diameter. A rapid opening of the blade allows the deposit to fall a short distance onto a substrate such as a pizza base.

Abstract: In cooler used for coating a product such as food with a uniform layer of a liquid coating material, the mass of the product is measured either in the cooling chamber or just before it is introduced into the cooling chamber; the mass of a liquid cryogen which will suffice, when introduced into the cooling chamber and into contact with the product, to reduce the temperature of the mass of product to a first predetermined temperature below the melting point temperature of the coating material is calculated; the introduction of the calculated mass of liquid cryogen into the cooling chamber is controlled and the product is thereby cooled to the first predetermined temperature prior to application of a predetermined mass of coating material onto the cooled product to provide a coating thereon.

Abstract: A cream depositing machine including a rotatable stencil drum (2) having first and second stencil ports (3, 4), a device (5) for rotating the drum (2), a first and second cream supply device (12, 13) for supplying first and second cream material separately to the ports (3, 4), a cream control device (10, 16) within the drum (2) and operable, in time sequence, to initially cause the first cream material to issue from the first stencil port (3) and thereafter, after angular movement of the drum (2), to cause the second cream material to issue from the second stencil port (4) whereby deposits of the first and second cream material co-exist on the drum (2), and a device (15) for simultaneously removing the co-existing deposits.

Abstract: A process for the production of a material for sealing and healing wounds comprises the even application of a suspension to a collagen carrier. An elongated container, into which the suspension is filled, is provided with a base frame (1) and a set of two perforated plates (2,3) as its bottom. The upper plate (3) is movable and is continuously moved back and forth during the process at a right angle to the transport direction of the collagen carrier, which allows the suspension to drip on the collagen carrier which is transported underneath the container.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for producing seasoned food products where seasoning is performed at individual packaging lines. The product is conveyed from the preparation area to a packaging area in an unseasoned condition. Upon reaching the packaging lines, which are disposed in packaging departments in the packaging area, the product can be selectively seasoned independent of other packaging lines. After seasoning, the product is packaged and prepared for delivery. At each packaging line, a volumetric feeder includes a feed head that cooperates with a tumbler having helical flights to produce continuous controlled product portions. A seasoning dispenser is positionable within the tumbler and can be adjusted to dispense a given weight of seasoning at a given rate, based on the amount of product passing through the tumbler, to obtain consistent seasoning levels and coverage.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for use in consistently depositing relatively thick and lumpy materials onto receiving surfaces which employs a supply path to a plurality of pump/valve combinations and a feedback pressure line to assure an adequate pressure at the point of deposit. There are positive displacement pumps which operate continuously through the plurality of valves with an additional feedback path to assure constant flow of the material.

Abstract: A cake decoration system employing an integrated work surface having integral cake positioning guides in a first portion of the surface, a flat bed image scanner in a second portion of the surface, and an operator interface with display and entry keys incorporated in a third portion of the work surface provides an efficient self-contained cake decorating station. A motion control system using a traveling arm extending over the work surface to carry a colorant cartridge with a drop on demand colorant expulsion system all under the control of a central processor allows transfer of images obtained on the scanner to the surface of a cake to be decorated by use of a pixel map. Use of a multiple orifice drop on demand colorant expulsion system allows one pass three color printing on the article being decorated.

Abstract: A fluid dispenser for use in consistently depositing relatively thick and lumpy materials onto receiving surfaces which employs a supply path to a plurality of pump/valve combinations and a feedback pressure line to assure an adequate pressure at the point of deposit. There are positive displacement pumps which operate continuously through the plurality of valves with an additional feedback path to assure constant flow of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for production of a layered extruded article has an extrusion nozzle positioned for extruding an extrudable composition in a vertical downward direction. The nozzle has a fixed upper part, a joint member and a lower mobile part having a slot extrusion die. The joint member connects the upper and lower parts so that the lower part is rotatable about a central vertical axis of the lower part so that upon rotation of the lower part and extrusion of the extrudable composition, a helical ribbon is formed. A spray nozzle is positioned for spraying a sprayable composition into the passage of the helical ribbon between helical peak flights, and a support, which may be advanced continuously or step-by-step, is positioned beneath the extrusion and spray nozzles for receiving the sprayed, extruded composition.

Abstract: An apparatus which is intended to apply butter from a mass thereof in solid condition to a slice of bread. A housing contains a transfer member connected with the housing by connecting structure which supports the transfer member for sliding motion. A plurality of openings extends through the transfer member. The transfer member and the mass of butter are moved into contact to cause a portion of the butter to enter the openings. The transfer member and the mass of butter are separated to sever the butter within the openings from the mass of butter to leave the openings at least partially filled with butter. The slice of bread is supported with a surface thereof to be buttered spaced adjacent and facing toward the openings in the transfer member. Gas under pressure is directed through the openings to propel the butter within the openings outwardly therefrom into contact with the surface of the slice of bread.

Abstract: Viscous flowable material dispensing apparatus for dispensing viscous flowable material such as food material. The apparatus is provided with a supply manifold for receiving and distributing the viscous material with air actuated reciprocating pump connected to the manifold to force the material therethrough, facilitated by one way inlet and outlet valves in the manifold. A pattern plate adapted to receive the material from the manifold into a flat chamber with a dispersing pattern plate supported in the chamber to disperse the material throughout the chamber. A pattern plate covering the plate chamber to receive the dispersed material and dispense same in a pattern over object to receive the material. Pneumatic control valves are utilized for operating the pump to continuously provide repeated movement of material through the apparatus.

Abstract: A tempering and coating plant for different masses has at least one, preferably two subassemblies (3 or 8 respectively), consisting of a tempering machine (4 or 9 respectively) and a coating machine (5 or 10 respectively), arranged on the left and the right of a driven conveyor belt (1) for the articles to be coated, whereby the tempering machine or tempering machines (4, 9) are fixed in position, and the coating machine or coating machines (5, 10) are provided such that they can move transversely to the running direction of the conveyor belt (1). A connecting line (11) is provided between the tempering machine (4 or 9 respectively) and the coating machine (5 or 10 respectively) of each subassembly (3 or 8 respectively). A flow pipe (12) is located between each tank for the respective mass and the associated tempering machine and/or coating machine of each subassembly unit. A return pipe (13) can be provided between the coating machine (5 or 10 respectively) of each subassembly (3 or 8 respectively).

Abstract: A pasta cooking apparatus includes a generally rectangular cabinet including an upright cooking tank and a sauce heating chamber with a common wall, with an opening permitting water flow therebetween. The cooking water temperature and the sauce heating water are separately temperature controlled for heating thereof. A sauce chamber abuts the heating chamber and includes various sauce containers. Transfer hoses extend from the containers, through the heating chamber into nozzles located above the cooking tank. A self-contained conveyor unit within the cooking tank has an endless chain with equi-spaced pasta baskets. The cover has a top run above the tank. The baskets are pivotally mounted. The baskets are inverted in the upper run and then reset. A dish table rotates beneath the horizontal run and successive baskets drop the pasta into an aligned dish which then rotates beneath the nozzles. The unit has a 34 inch width to allow it to move through conventional doorways in small fast food restaurants.

Abstract: A device for charging a filling material (6) with respect to pieces of dough (1) transferred on a transfer conveyor (2) comprising detectors (3) mounted on the transfer conveyor, the detectors being adapted to detect transverse shifts of the pieces of dough on the transfer conveyor and to generate signals representative of the amounts of the shifts; a filling-charging mechanism (4) disposed downstream of the detectors, the filling-charging mechanism having discharging nozzles (48) mounted movably in the transverse direction; and a control device (7) for receiving from the detectors the signals representative of the amounts of the shifts and controlling the discharging nozzles to move transversely amounts equal to the respective amounts of the shift.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for spreading a material on an object. The apparatus includes a continuously moving conveyor for moving the object in a downstream direction, and a dispenser for applying the material to the object. The apparatus also includes a carriage located above the conveyor, and a spreader coupled to the carriage for engaging the material applied to the object by the dispenser to spread the material on the object. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for moving the carriage in the downstream direction over the continuously moving object as the spreader engages the material, and another mechanism for providing movement of the spreader relative to the carriage from an first position in which the spreader engages the material to a second position in which the spreader disengages the material.

Abstract: A pasta cooking apparatus includes a generally rectangular cabinet including an upright cooking tank and a sauce heating chamber with a common wall, with an opening permitting water flow therebetween. The cooking water temperature and the sauce heating water are separately temperature controlled for heating thereof. A sauce chamber abuts the heating chamber and includes various sauce containers. Transfer hoses extend from the containers, through the heating chamber into nozzles located above the cooking tank. A self-contained conveyor unit within the cooking tank has an endless chain with equi-spaced pasta baskets. The cover has a top run above the tank. The baskets are pivotally mounted. The baskets are inverted in the upper run and then reset. A dish table rotates beneath the horizontal run and successive baskets drop the pasta into an aligned dish which then rotates beneath the nozzles. The unit has a 34 inch width to allow it to move through conventional doorways in small fast food restaurants.

Abstract: A dispensing device for automatically dispensing measured amounts of particulate material which includes supply means for supplying a quantity of the particulate material and a chute for receiving the particulate material from the supply means. A reciprocating pusher means is positioned in the chute for controlling the amount of particulate material dispensed from the supply means and for discharging the dispense particulate material from the chute. A distribution hopper receives the particulate material from the chute and discharges it to a reciprocating measuring plate having a plurality of removable measuring inserts therein whereby the particulate material is received in cavities in the inserts. As the measuring plate is moved forwardly, the particulate material passes through a control plate having a plurality of slots therein and is deposited in a plurality of mask hoppers for ultimate dispensing.

Abstract: In a coating apparatus for applying a coating composition to substantially flat baked pieces, particularly cookies or the like, which apparatus includes a supply container (15) and a metering device (14) succeeding that container, it is proposed to provide between the supply container (15) and the metering device (14) a substantially horizontal screw conveyor (13), which serves to transpsort the coating composition to the metering device (14) and which at its discharge end opens into the metering device (14), which includes a cylindrical coating head (14) having a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis. The metering body of the coating head (14) consists of a cylindrical drum (21), which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the coating head (14). That drum (21) is provided with radial discharge nozzle passages (28). A pressure sensor (36) for controlling the velocity of conveyance of the screw conveyor (13) is provided in a stationary part of the coating head (14).

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a flowable material, such as a pizza sauce, onto an object, such as a pizza shell, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a source of the flowable material having a source outlet port and a chamber having an chamber inlet port and a chamber outlet port. The apparatus further includes a piston and cylinder for moving the flowable material from the source to the chamber and a flow control gate disposed at the chamber outlet port. The apparatus further includes an arm responsive to actuation of the piston for opening the flow control gate, thereby permitting a substantially uniform application of the flowable material onto the object.

Abstract: A pizza making machine for applying selected ingredients to a pizza crust comprising a number of side-by-side dispensing stations, one station for each of a number of topping ingredients, with each station including means for storing and delivering on command a preselected amount of selected topping ingredient to a crust and means for supporting and sequentially moving the crust under the dispensers so that the topping ingredients are dispensed sequentially on the crust. The custom pizza is then selectively deliverable to a customer uncooked, or to an oven where it is baked in accordance with the selected ingredients and delivered to the customer.

Abstract: A housing forming an internal powdering chamber in which an article support tray is removably supported. A hopper located on the exterior top of the housing is structured to dispense a metered amount of powder onto a powder distributor and sifting screen located in the top interior of the housing. An electric motor powering a wheel with an eccentrically connected actuator arm and linkage are connected to the powder distributor and sifting screen in order to supply an oscillatory movement thereto. The powder distributor also includes powered shuttered apertures to allow the powder to be distributed evenly on the powder distributor before being opened to allow the powder onto the sifting screen. The powder distributor and sifting screen are structured to evenly distribute a fine coating of powder vertically downward toward the article support tray. Power actuated lifting arms are located one on each interior corner of the housing slightly below the article support tray.

Abstract: A device for distributing a liquid in the form of a thin layer on a surface is housed in a cylinder and is provided with a freely displaceable spring-loaded piston for ejecting and distributing liquid from a chamber formed by the piston and a base plate member having a plurality of bores. The base plate member bores are opened and closed by nozzle needles which extend through bores disposed in the displaceable piston to a support plate to which the needles are affixed and which is adapted for moving the needles towards and away from the base plate member bores for closing and opening the base plate member bores for regulating distribution of the liquid.

Abstract: A conventional apparatus for dispensing ice-cream of the type having a lever-operated vertically-disposed and downwardly-directed dispensing nozzle, is combined with one or more syrup applicators, each having lever-operated dispensing nozzles disposed below and substantially normal to the ice-cream nozzle. After or during dispensing of ice-cream into a cone, one or more selected syrups are applied to the ice-cream discharged in the cone, while the latter is rotated by hand.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically dispensing a flowable material, especially an edible flowable material, especially an edible flowable material such as a sauce on an object such as pizza dough preparatory to making the end product. The apparatus includes air-pressure actuated reciprocatable piston means associated with valve means for channeling a flowable material from a source thereof to dispensing means provided in the apparatus. Piston stroke limiting means, as well as sealing means for the dispensing means, are provided to selectively control the amount of flowable material dispensed by the apparatus. The apparatus advantageously is associated with conveyor means and meat dispensing means to enable a product such as pizza to be prepared on a continuous, mass production basis.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for heating a liquid and solid material 101 by means of water (100) in a jacket (14) around a reservoir 12 for the material is described. The temperature of the water is regulated by a thermostat (31) and a heater (30). A predetermined level (100a) of water is maintained by a switch (65) controlling a valve (37) from a source (36) of water. The heater only operates when the water is at the predetermined level and is controlled by sensor 32 connected to a double pole double throw switch 65. The apparatus is particularly adapted for dispensing bean paste or frijoles.

Abstract: In a machine for manufacturing multi-layered decorative ice cream cake and pie products. The machine frame supports a plurality of ingredient dispensing stations including ice cream dispensing stations. A conveyor simultaneously conveys products between the respective stations for indexing and positioning the products. The ice cream dispensers are mounted on lift positioning devices for lowering and raising the ice cream dispensers between a raised standby position and a lowering dispensing position. Ice cream dispensing valves on the ice cream dispensers open and close between a valve open position for flow of ice cream through an ice cream dispensing head from a continuous pressurized source of ice cream and a valve closed position for blocking the dispensing flow of ice cream. An index timer actuates the conveyor to convey products between stations and index products at each station for a selected dwell period.

Abstract: A coating die is adapted to apply a number of materials onto a web from a single coating slot by the use of a movable cam in the die to alternately connect the coating slot to one or the other of a pair of inlet ports and seal the other port. A rotary cam facilitates rapid change of materials from the coating slot onto a continuously moving web.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus particularly suited for dispensing oil and oil-flour mixtures in the baking industry includes a hopper for holding a quantity of the liquid to be dispensed and a plurality of positive displacement piston pumps. Separate inlet passages extend from the hopper to each of the pumps. Separate outlet passages also extend from each of the pumps. A discharge nozzle manifold having a plurality of discharge nozzles is connected to the pumps by a removable and replaceable plate-like gasket. The gasket is provided with connecting passages for connecting selected ones of the nozzles with selected pump outlet passages and diverting flow from other pump outlet passages and returning it to the hopper. The arrangement thus allows the number and pattern of dispensing nozzles in operation to be changed merely by changing the gasket without deactivating or changing the setting of the individual pumps.

Abstract: Improved method and apparatus for use in sealing gelatin capsules filled with medicinal ingredients wherein each capsule has a generally cylindrical cap and body arranged with the side wall of the body telescopically within the side wall of the cap to contain the medicament therein comprising an economical and compact wetting device for automatically conveying filled capsules from a capsule-filling machine by pneumatic pressure conveyance through one or more passageways to a wetting location where each capsule is maintained in a generally cap-upright position and metered amounts of a wetting liquid are applied to side wall portions of the body of the capsule adjacent the seam of the cap and body to pass by capillary action into the space between the overlapping cap and body side walls, and the capsules are released from wetting positions in the passageways for further pneumatic conveyance to a point of heat treatment for final sealing of the body and cap portions of the capsule to prevent their separation and

Abstract: Apparatus for intermittently dispensing either fragile particulate material, such as sesame seeds, or flaky material, such as bran, through openings in a tube to spread material over an array of spaced rows and columns of a food product in a pan. The dispensing apparatus comprises a hopper from which fragile particulate material is dispensed through a dispensing tube in which a mandrel driven by a reversible variable speed motor is rotatably disposed. The mandrel has spaced spline teeth formed on its outer surface in dispensing sections separated by blocking collars spaced longitudinally of the mandrel such that rotation of the mandrel causes particulate material to be dispensed in parallel columns and such that intermittent rotation of the mandrel causes the columns to be divided to form rows.

Abstract: Biscuit creaming apparatus (1) comprises a stencil tube (2) rotatably mounted on a rotatable stencil sleeve (3), the stencil sleeve having spaced-apart outlet ports (5) alignable with discharge orifices (6) in the stencil tube. Alignment can take place with both the tube (2) and sleeve (3) stationary whereby cream supplied to the stencil sleeve is caused to discharge from the discharge orifices of the stencil tube at an angle, (preferably between about 45.degree. and 120.degree.), to the vertical, during air purging operation, such that a tray (47) can easily be placed in position to collect the cream for reuse. Alternatively, alignment with the stencil sleeve (3) stationary and the stencil tube (2) rotatable thereabout, causes cream supplied to the stencil sleeve to discharge downwardly and sequentially from orifices (6) in the stencil tube on to biscuit shells carried by a conveyor band 44.

Abstract: This invention relates to the impregnation of small spheres of sugar with an aqueous liquor. Driven in rotation by rollers, an inclined bottle lies opposite the suction of a ring. By its programmed nozzles, a flask may spray a jet of liquor, blow air or remain at rest. Programmation is effected from a control desk. The invention is more particularly applicable to the mass-production, in sterile manner, of granules or pellets for homeopathy, such manufacture being on an industrial scale and eliminating the risks of errors.

Abstract: A sandwiching machine for use in applying a semi-frozen comestible such as ice cream, to a row of cookies traveling along said sandwiching machine. The sandwiching machine includes stencil means on the frame for applying the semi-frozen comestible to the cookie in a uniform manner. The stencil means comprises supply means for supplying semi-frozen comestible, return means for the semi-frozen comestible, and shut-off and by-pass valve means for controlling the flow of semi-frozen comestible to a cookie when the valve means is open and for diverting semi-frozen comestible from the supply means to the return means when the valve means is closed. Preferably, the stencil means are fed from each end and a stationary central valve seals the supply means and return means at each side of the stencil means from one another, whereby two adjacent rows of cookies may be supplied with ice cream.

Abstract: Apparatus for intermittently dispensing fragile particulate material, such as sesame seeds through openings in a tube to spread material over an array of horizontally and vertically spaced rows and columns such as upper surfaces of buns in a pan. The dispensing apparatus comprises a hopper from which fragile particulate material is dispensed through a dispensing tube in which a mandrel driven by a variable speed motor is rotatably disposed. The mandrel has spaced spline teeth formed on its outer surface in dispensing sections separated by blocking collars spaced longitudinally of the mandrel such that rotation of the mandrel causes particulate material to be dispensed in parallel columns and such that intermittent rotation of the mandrel causes the columns to be divided to form rows.

Abstract: A system which dispenses sauce or the like onto selected areas of plates moving in a train beneath a dispenser. The areas upon which the sauce is to be dispensed may for example be those containing meat portions of non-uniform width in directions normal to the direction of motion of the plate or the conveyor. A slot-shaped dispensing aperture on the lower side of the dispenser is automatically opened and closed progressively by a movable closure in such manner that the length of the open portion of the slot matches the corresponding dimension of the areas to be dispensed upon as they move beneath the dispenser. This enables complete coverage of these areas with the sauce, without dispensing it upon other portions of other areas where it is not desired.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for the non-contact application of letters or symbols to the exterior surfaces of uncoated tablets or uncoated tablet cores, which comprises dotting color solution or suspension by means of an ink-jet printer in specific quantity in the form of discrete droplets of specific volume onto the exterior surfaces of the uncoated tablets or uncoated tablet cores.

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: 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: Viscous flowable material dispensing apparatus for dispensing viscous flowable material such as food material. The apparatus is provided with a supply manifold for receiving and distributing the viscous material with air actuated reciprocating pump connected to the manifold to force the material therethrough, facilitated by one way inlet and outlet valves in the manifold. A pattern plate adapted to receive the material from the manifold into a flat chamber with a dispersing pattern plate supported in the chamber to disperse the material throughout the chamber. A pattern plate covering the plate chamber to receive the dispersed material and dispense same in a pattern over object to receive the material. Pneumatic control valves are utilized for operating the pump to continuously provide repeated movement of material through the apparatus.