초록 ▼

A system and apparatus for producing seasoned food products where seasoning is performed at individual packaging lines. The product is conveyed from the preparation area to a packaging area in an unseasoned condition. Upon reaching the packaging lines, which are disposed in packaging departments in

A system and apparatus for producing seasoned food products where seasoning is performed at individual packaging lines. The product is conveyed from the preparation area to a packaging area in an unseasoned condition. Upon reaching the packaging lines, which are disposed in packaging departments in the packaging area, the product can be selectively seasoned independent of other packaging lines. After seasoning, the product is packaged and prepared for delivery. At each packaging line, a volumetric feeder includes a feed head that cooperates with a tumbler having helical flights to produce continuous controlled product portions. A seasoning dispenser is positionable within the tumbler and can be adjusted to dispense a given weight of seasoning at a given rate, based on the amount of product passing through the tumbler, to obtain consistent seasoning levels and coverage. The ability to produce separate product types at each packaging line yields superior plant scheduling flexibility due to more packaging possibilities than a system which delivers already seasoned product to the packaging lines.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for dispensing material, comprising: a feed chute for conveying material, said feed chute having an upper end and a lower end; a feed head in communication with the lower end of said feed chute and being rotatable with respect to the feed chute, said feed head having a first opening int

An apparatus for dispensing material, comprising: a feed chute for conveying material, said feed chute having an upper end and a lower end; a feed head in communication with the lower end of said feed chute and being rotatable with respect to the feed chute, said feed head having a first opening into which material passes from the feed chute and a second opening out of which the material passes from the feed head; a rotatable tumbler connected to the feed head; and a device for rotating the tumbler; whereby rotation of the tumbler causes rotation of the feed head and rotation of the feed head to a first extent causes material to pass into the feed head and rotation of the feed head past the first extent dispenses the material from the feed head into the tumbler.