Product feeding and cooking apparatus

摘要

Apparatus for feeding and cooking raw product, such as shellfish and the like, in a continuous process. A preferred version of the apparatus includes a feed tank with raw product immersed in a bath. A conveyor follows an inclined path starting in the feed tank and exiting the surface of the bath to convey raw product out of the tank and through a cooking chamber. A feed control mechanism is provided to allow for accurate setting of product flow. The mechanism includes a rocking paddle extending just above the conveying surface of the conveyor. The paddle is linked to a rotary drive train by a linkage consisting of two pivotally attached arms. Rotation of the drive train causes the paddle to rock and deposit product on the conveyor during each stroke. The drive train is mounted on a slidable support that is pivotally attached to an adjustment rod. The other end of the adjustment rod includes an adjustment handle and a micrometer-style adjustment with clearly visible indicia for adjusting product flow. As the adjustment rod is rotated, the drive train translates and changes the reference angle between the two arms of the linkage, which moves the paddle closer or farther from the conveying surface to adjust the amount of raw product deposited on the belt during each stroke. A cover over the feed tank provides a seal to prevent cooking steam from escaping the cooking chamber through the feed tank.