Method and apparatus for electrostatically applying an edible coating to a food product item
US6312740A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Nov 6, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB05B5/1683
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and apparatus, for applying electrostatically charged particles of an edible coating material to a surface of a food product to be coated, incorporates a fluidizing hopper for containing the material. The hopper includes an agitating system including an agitator blade and lifting blades to stir and lift the material while air is forced through a microporous fluidizing plate into the material. The fluidized material is withdrawn from the hopper through a venturi pump and supplied to an application gun. The application gun includes a corona discharge through which the fluidized material is forced to create charged particles of the fluidized material. The fluidized particles are directed to a food product item to be coated. The quantity of coating material is predetermined and is precisely controlled by shutting off the air pressure supply to the venturi pump to avoid excessive overspray of the particles. Particle size and material specific gravity are chosen to permit effective coating of the food product item; prefluidizing hoppers are used to prefluidize the coating material and to be substituted for hoppers in the food processing room to facilitate the continuation of the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.