| 摘要 |
1,174,485. Coating apparatus. S. P. LIPOMA, H. E. WATKINS, D. L. WARD, P. C. MURRAY, H. R. ROBERTS and J. T. HOURIGAN [trading as LIPOMA ELECTRONICS CO.]. 6 Feb., 1967 [7 Feb., 1966], No. 5627/67. Heading B2L. [Also in Division A2] In a method and apparatus, Figs. 1, 3 and 4, for distributing particles of an edible, solid substance on to food products, the latter are conveyed, by a conveyer C comprising a travelling or reciprocating belt 11, beneath a feeding member 12 extending across the conveyer, and the particles are fed, by means such as a hopper 37, 38 made of electrically insulating, preferably transparent, plastics material to the member 12, so that they drop from through a high potential electric field, e.g. ranging, in potential difference between 3,000 and 50,000 volts which is established between the feeding member 12 and the conveyer to enhance evenness of distribution of the particles. The feeding member 12 may be a rotating roller or hollow cylinder, as shown, or an endless belt passing around a roller. A screen 41, Fig. 3, e.g. of stainless steel, may be located in the upper part of the hopper to break up any caked particles which may be among those supplied to the hopper. The particles may leave the hopper through a series of holes or slots 45, Fig. 4 and may be guided over the roller 12 by a flexible wiper 46, e.g. made of electrically non-conducting plastics material, which is attached to the hopper and engages the roller 12. The hopper and feeding member 12 may be located within a housing H, Figs. 1 and 3, having a removable, transparent front wall 32, a removable rear wall 33 and a removable cover 31. This housing is open below and forwardly of the roller. The walls 32 and 33 and the cover 31 may each be associated with a safety microswitch, which switches off the high potential field when the associated wall or cover is removed. Sugar may be distributed on to sweet rolls, salt or particles of cheese on to potato crisps, and flour, cinnamon, pepper, garlic or barbecue sauce powder on to food products. The potential difference may be varied according to the type and size of the edible particles; the smaller the particles the less the potential difference. |
