Apparatus and method for dosing a pattern of food material

摘要

The invention relates to an apparatus (10) and a method for dosing a pattern of food material onto an object e.g. a tray or other food material continuously moved. The apparatus (10) comprises a dosing assembly (12) comprising a substantially cylindrical tube element (13) having a plurality of circumferential openings (14) defining the pattern and being mounted rotatably; and a hollow core element (16) with at least one supply inlet and at least one discharge orifice (17), the core element (16) being positioned substantially in the tube element (13) with the discharge orifice (17) facing downwardly, so that when the tube element (13) is rotated about its longitudinal axis the openings (14) are in turn aligned with and brought adjacent to the discharge orifice (17) allowing food material introduced into the core element (16) to be discharged through the opening created. The apparatus (10) further comprises supply means (19) for the supply of the food material to the core element (16) and supply controlling means (19) for controlling said supply, drive means (18) for rotating the tube element (13) about its longitudinal axis, and control means for controlling the rotation of the tube element (16) so that the pattern is correctly dosed onto the moved object.