초록 ▼

An enrober (100) for applying a topical coating to an exterior surface of multiple pieces of a food base is disclosed having a marked decrease in the amount of build-up upon the internal surface of the drum (102) allowing for reductions in cleaning service requirements and its concomitant losses in

An enrober (100) for applying a topical coating to an exterior surface of multiple pieces of a food base is disclosed having a marked decrease in the amount of build-up upon the internal surface of the drum (102) allowing for reductions in cleaning service requirements and its concomitant losses in production capacity and for reductions in undesirable product agglomerates. In the preferred form, the drum (102) is formed by a thin wall in a generally cylindrical shape and formed of hydrophobic material in the form of high-density polyethylene having low-stick characteristics with the topically coated food base. Moisture, in addition to any present in the topical coating, is added to the drum (102) to prevent or practically eliminate build-up on the drum (102). The topical coating in the form of a slurry can be co-sprayed with steam in an atomized intermixed spray onto the food base by a nozzle (10, 80). Also, a renewable barrier between the continuous inner surface of the drum (102) and the food base can be formed by spraying water or steam by nozzles (116) as a thin film of water onto the inner surface of the drum (102) above the food base.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] Method of applying a topical coating to an exterior surface of multiple pieces of a food base, comprising the steps of: delivering a quantity of the food base to a tumbling vessel; dispensing the topical coating onto the food base in the tumbling vessel, wherein the dispensing step

[ We claim:] [1.] Method of applying a topical coating to an exterior surface of multiple pieces of a food base, comprising the steps of: delivering a quantity of the food base to a tumbling vessel; dispensing the topical coating onto the food base in the tumbling vessel, wherein the dispensing step comprises the step of dispensing the topical coating as a slurry in the form of a water-based solution; providing moisture in addition to the topical coating in the tumbling vessel; and tumbling the food base in the tumbling vessel simultaneously as the topical coating is being dispensed and as the moisture is being provided to form a topically coated food base; wherein the delivering step comprises the step of delivering the quantity of the food base to a thin-walled, generally cylindrical tumbling vessel having a continuous, generally cylindrical internal surface formed of hydrophobic material in the form of high-density polyethylene having a low coefficient of friction obtaining a low-stick characteristic with the topically coated food base.