Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for coating egg-yolk disks containing egg-yolk materials. The egg-yolk is initially produced in the form of a cylinder, which is cut into disks, which disks after being encapsulated into an edible membrane, are used in combination with egg-white to form egg-products which may be fried or poached in a similar manner as real eggs. The methods and apparatuses of the present invention are useful for coating articles other than egg yolk disks.

Abstract: Substantially uniform distribution of a particulate composition such as a seasoning or spice, on both the top and bottom surfaces of baked good or snack pieces is achieved by applying the composition as a curtain or sheet from within a housing as the substrate pieces are transported and tumbled by counterrotating brushes. The curtain or sheet extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal cavity through which the substrate pieces are transported. The apparatus includes a housing having a raised portion for enclosing and permitting the curtain or sheet to disperse in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the housing cavity as the composition descends towards the baked good or snack pieces. A lowered portion, downstream of the raised portion of the housing prevents escape of airborne particulate composition to the atmosphere through the baked good or snack piece outlet.

Abstract: A device and method for applying a coating material to a solid medicament. The device comprises a reservoir which contains the coating material, and a platform mounted with an actuator above the reservoir for holding the medicament. The medicament is placed in the platform, which is moved into and out of the coating material in the reservoir upon depression and release of the actuator.

Abstract: Uniform distribution of materials over a predetermined area of a receiver is assured by a multipurpose applicator wherein a gauging or metering device contacts materials on a conveyor to ensure that the materials are uniformly spread along the conveyor so that incremental movement of the conveyor results in a predetermined portion of the materials entering a distributor wherein it is agitated to form a cloud that will fall evenly over the predetermined area defined by a mask on the receiver. An electronic weighing device between the conveyor and the distributor may be used to achieved exact weight of portions.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding and subsequently releasing a solid compact medicament, such as a caplet. The apparatus has a first and a second member each having an upper and a lower surface. The first and second members each have at least one notch opposed to each other and correspondingly aligned and extending beyond the respective upper and lower surfaces of each member. The first and second members have chambers adjacent to each of the notches, and each of the notches is moveable in the respective chamber of the opposing member so that the opposing notches form a gripping jaw that can move between a first and a second position. When the gripping jaw is in an open first position, it can receive a solid compact medicament, and in a closed second position, the gripping jaw can grip the medicament.

Abstract: An apparatus for dipping tablets into gelatin coating material and for spreading and setting the coating immediately after dipping is provided. Carrier plates having a plurality of tablet holders are transported from a tablet loading station to a dipping station along a transport guide. At the dipping station, a carrier plate is mounted to a vacuum chamber. A set of vacuum tubes in the vacuum chamber are extended through the tablet holders to contact and lift the tablets off of the holders and secure the tablets to the tubes. In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum chamber is rotated 180.degree. and a second carrier plate is mounted onto the housing and a second set of tubes secure the tablets to the plate. The carrier plates are alternately dipped and returned to the transport guide where new plates with uncoated tablets replace the plates with coated tablets. Immediately after dipping the carrier plates enter a rotating station where the plate is rotated 360.degree.

Abstract: The present invention includes a first coating section, a second coating section and a device for transferring products from the first to the second sections. The first section includes a feeding and loading station for depositing products onto product holders retained in product carrier plates. The products are advanced to a first dipping station in the first section to coat a first portion of the product. The plates are then advanced to a first rotating station in the first station and rotated at least one revolution for spreading the coating over that first portion. The plates are then advanced to a dryer that extends over the first section of the coating apparatus and the coating is dried. The transfer device transfers the products to the second section of the coating apparatus in such a manner to expose the uncoated portion of the products. The plates are then advanced to identical dipping and rotating stations and dryer as in the first section.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for coating a product such as a medicament in the shape of a tablet. The apparatus includes a plurality of plates for receiving and retaining the products and means for advancing the plates on a conveyor to various processing stations. At a dipping station, a dipping means lowers and raises at least one plate into a first coating tank for coating at least a portion of the product. At a rotating station, a rotation means rotates one of the plates containing the product for spreading the coating on the product. After rotation, a first elevator transfers the plates from the conveyor to a dryer disposed above the conveyor. A second elevator transfers the plates from the dryer back to the conveyor for further processing. The dryer includes complementary acting pusher bars for transporting a plurality of plates horizontally along a plurality of vertically spaced guides.

Abstract: A coating machine for the processing of chocolate and similar masses having a frame and a circularly driven grating belt supported thereon for the reception of the articles to be coated. The grating belt is guided by deflectors and has a tensioning device. Coating machine components are arranged below the upper run of the grating belt. The tensioning device has an extended travel enabling the lifting of the grating belt. A plurality of supports are provided to support the lifted grating belt, the supports including carriers on the frame of the coating machine.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating products with two colors including a first coating section, a second coating section and a side to side transfer device for transferring products from the first to the second sections. The transfer device includes a pair of plate grippers each having a movable upper jaw and a movable lower jaw. The upper and lower jaws are each adapted to receive and retain a product carrier plate. The transfer device includes a cam follower that precisely closes the upper and lower jaws so that carrier plates located in the jaws are positioned in registration with each other in order to clamp product between the plates and to maintain the product clamped in the plates while the grippers are transferred between the first and second conveyor guides. An unloading station includes breaker pins for breaking a seal that may be formed between the coating material applied in the first coating section and the carrier plates.

Abstract: A capsule-like medicament, method for producing such medicaments and apparatus. Such medicaments are achieved by individually dipping and drying first one end, and then the other end, of each caplet to provide a coating which is another and easier to swallow than an uncoated caplet. The production of these capsule-like medicaments is readily facilitated by simple and inexpensive modifications which can be made to existing empty gelatin capsule making equipment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for applying coating to products such as medicaments are disclosed. The present invention provides a apparatus comprising product holders and plates which interact with vacuum tubes to retain the product being coated in place while inverted and dipped into a tank of coating material. The vacuum tubes may be designed to hold product of nearly any shape or in any orientation. In a preferred embodiment, methods and apparatus for creating a two-color gelatin coating on a tablet are disclosed. In certain embodiments, additional apparatus are provided whereby the vacuum tubes rotate about their longitudinal axes and are placed in contact with a coating applicator, thereby applying a band or stripe of a coating material to a specified section of the product.

Abstract: Particles are enrobed or coated by introducing, to a spinning cup having an outwardly upwardly extending inner surface with an upper edge, a liquid coating material and particles of greater density than the coating material. The coating material and particles are introduced inboard of the peripheral surface, perferably in separate streams. The speed of rotation of the spinning cup is controlled to cause the coating material to climb up the surface but to stop short of the upper edge, and at the same time to cause the particles to travel through the coating material, be enrobed with the coating liquid, climb out of the liquid coating material, and be ejected over the upper edge. The spinning cup is symmetrical about a central vertical axis. It has a peripheral surface sloping outwardly upwardly, which surface can be stepped outwardly upwardly, and a control device is provided for controlling the speed of rotation of the spinning cup.

Abstract: A caplet dipping machine includes a caplet holding plate including sets of caplet gripping collets on both sides thereof so that caplets can be dipped on one end, pushed through the plate and dipped at the other end. The collets on one side are mounted back-to-back with the collets on the other side in apertures formed in the holding plate. Caplets are fed into the collets on one face of the holding plate by a loading plate which receives the unfinished caplets from a hopper. A plurality of loading transfer pins push the caplets through the first set of collets to the second set of collets on the bottom face of the holding plate. The caplets are then dipped in a first gelatin bath, flipped by a first plate flipping mechanism and dried in a first drying section. The caplets are next pushed through from the second set of collets back to the first set of collets by a second set of transfer pins before passing through a second gelatin dipping bath.

Abstract: A novel capsule-like medicament and method for producing such medicaments are disclosed. The method provides a procedure for coating solid cores, such as caplets, with a first gelatinous coating on one end, and then with a second gelatinous coating on the other end which is thicker than the first, to simulate the interlocking halves of a hollow capsule. The second, thicker gelatinous coating can be provided with a single gelatin coating from a bath having a higher viscosity than the bath used to provide the first gelatinous coating. Alternatively, the second gelatinous coating can be provided by double dipping to provide layers of gelatinous material or gelatin.

Abstract: A low labor, highly efficient process and system for manufacturing chocolate coated ice cream cookie sandwiches is achieved by incorporating conveyor means for transporting the ice cream cookie sandwich through the various stages of its manufacture along with uniquely constructed ice cream brick slicing machines and a unique chocolate coating machine. In addition, a pass-through freezer is preferably employed prior to the chocolate coating, in order to assure a high quality, tasty product. The ice cream slicing machine of the present invention employed in the process and manufacturing system of this invention is constructed for receiving a plurality of ice cream bricks and cutting each brick into a plurality of slices in an efficient, automatic, integrated operational procedure and presenting each ice cream slice to a holding zone for placement on a cookie moving along the conveyor means.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for sealing a body and a cap of a capsule which comprises successively dipping a gelatin hard capsule containing drugs one by one in a mixed solvent of water and ethanol whose volume ratio to water is 50-55%, thereafter taking said capsule out of this solvent and drying each capsule separately.

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 is disclosed for providing a very light pre-dusting coating on a food piece intended for batter-coating. The apparatus includes a movable belt on which is provided a preliminary coating of breading material on which the product pieces are placed. A series of drag plates are then provided across the belt supported from above in a position to engage the breading material on the belt and to provide a standing wave of breading material pushed up by contact with the drag plates. These plates then distribute the standing wave of breading material over the top of the product while the plate lower edges remove a majority of the top coating.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying a liquid coating to food products, including a continuous dipper chain which submerges the food products in the coating liquid. A restraining mechanism in the form of a pressure plate or chain acts upon the tops of the products to maintain them in submerged position during travel through the liquid. In one embodiment the dipper chain is driven intermittently to allow excess liquid on the food products to drain off. A continuous drying chain is provided to carry coated food products along a drying run, a transfer system being employed for moving the food products from the dipper chain to the drying chain. The drying chain is flexible and supported at relatively great intervals to allow the chain to form into peaks and valleys. The food products tip forward and backward in negotiating these peaks and valleys, breaking away the bottoms of the food products and the drying chain and preventing adherence.

Abstract: A conveyor system including a wetting station having a container adapted for holding a wetting agent; a slack conveyor belt having at least its transfer path portion extending through the container and at least a part of that portion dipping below the level of the wetting agent; and a ballast roller, at least partially submerged in the wetting agent and bearing on the part of the transfer path portion of the conveyor belt which dips into the wetting agent, for compelling conveyed objects to pass submerged in the wetting agent between the ballast roller and the conveyor belt; and a rotating conveyor station including a hollow drum open at one end; means for rotating the drum about a generally horizontal longitudinal axis; and a plurality of pick-up elements extending generally radially inwardly from the inner surface of the drum for picking up items accumulated in the lower position in the drum and carrying them to the upper position in the drum for release onto an intermediate conveyor; and a self cleaning co

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: An automatic breading machine for coating food stuffs with flour, or other dry coating materials which includes an elongate hopper mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and having agitator blades for thoroughly moving the food objects within the flour to completely coat the objects. The food objects are ejected from the hopper onto a screen which permits excess dry coating material to drop therethrough. The dry coating material supply normally moves out of the hopper through ports at one end of the hopper and through a screen sifter which separates dough balls from the flour to prevent the dough balls from returning to the system or from being delivered with the food stuffs. The flour passing out of the cylinder is collected in a hopper and conveyed to the intake chute of the hopper for reuse. A pair of flour collecting hoppers and a pair of conveyors are used so as to provide the automatic breading machine with selectivity of flour.