Automatic Food Product Breading Apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for coating or breading food products, such as chicken parts, includes a rotating drum with end caps closing the loading and discharge ends of the drum. Apertures are defined in the end caps for the passage of the food product, in which the apertures are situated along the central axis of the drum. A spiral grate inside the drum receives the food product and conveys it toward the discharge end. The spiral grate supports the food product proximate the central axis so that the product is more fully and uniformly coated with the particulate material. The spiral grate is configured with a gap at the discharge end so that a portion of a discharge ramp may be disposed within the gap to receive the prepared food product for discharge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food coating apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a top view of a drive mechanism for use with the coating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a top view of an alternative motor housing for use with the coating apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the drum assembly and drive mechanism of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drum assembly of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the loading chute, support stands, and drum assembly of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the discharge ramp and support stands of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a side view of one embodiment of a tumbling grate used with the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the tumbling grate shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a tumbling grate according to an alternative embodiment incorporating tumbling wings, for use with the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the tumbling grate shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an end perspective view inside a drum assembly with the end plate removed to visualize the tumbling grate of FIG. 9 and the orientation of the discharge ramp of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a typical installation at a food preparation facility incorporating the automatic breading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of an alternative tumbling grate for use with the food coating apparatus of FIG. 1.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coating a food product comprising: a drum configured for rotation around a longitudinal central axis of said drum and having a loading end for receiving a food product and a discharge end for the discharge of coated food product therefrom;a generally spiral grate extending within said drum from adjacent said loading end to adjacent said discharge end, said spiral grate having a center rod extending substantially along said longitudinal central axis of said drum; anda drive mechanism for rotating said drum and said spiral grate.

2. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 1, wherein said spiral grate is removably engaged with said drum to rotate therewith when engaged.

3. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 1, wherein said spiral grate includes a plurality of radially disposed rods supported by and spaced along said center rod.

4. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 3, wherein ends of said plurality of rods are fastened to said drum.

5. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 3, wherein said plurality of radially disposed rods are angularly offset relative to each other so that said rods form a spiral configuration.

6. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 5, wherein said plurality of radially disposed rods are angularly offset by about between four (4) and eight (8) degrees.

7. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 6, wherein the angular offset is about 5.5 degrees.

8. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 3, wherein said plurality of rods are spaced along said center rod by a distance of less than one (1) inch.

9. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 8, wherein the spacing along said center rod is 11/16 inch.

10. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 1, further comprising a loading ramp disposed adjacent said loading end and configured to guide food product placed on said loading ramp into said drum.

11. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 10, wherein said loading ramp is supported at a downward angle toward said drum relative to said longitudinal central axis of said drum.

12. The apparatus for coating a food product of claim 1, further comprising a discharge ramp adjacent said discharge end of said drum and configured to convey food product discharged from said drum away from said drum.

13. The food coating apparatus of claim 12, wherein said discharge ramp is supported at a downward angle away from said drum relative to said longitudinal central axis of said drum.

14. The food coating apparatus of claim 12, wherein said discharge ramp is a wire grate.

15. The food coating apparatus of claim 12, wherein: said spiral grate defines a radial gap relative to said longitudinal central axis adjacent said discharge end of said drum; andsaid discharge ramp is supported so that a portion of said ramp is disposed within said radial gap.

16. The food coating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising end caps closing said loading and discharge ends of said drum, each of said end caps defining an aperture for the passage of food product therethrough.

17. The food coating apparatus of claim 16, wherein said aperture in each of said end caps is centered on said longitudinal central axis.

18. A food coating apparatus comprising: a drum configured for rotation around a longitudinal central axis of said drum and having a loading end for receiving a food product and a discharge end for the discharge of coated food product therefrom;an end cap closing the end of said drum at said discharge end, said end cap defining a discharge opening centered on said longitudinal central axis having a diameter less than an inner diameter of said drum;a spiral auger extending within said drum from adjacent said loading end to adjacent said discharge end and configured to convey the food product along said drum as it rotates toward said discharge opening; anda drive mechanism for rotating said drum.

19. The food coating apparatus of claim 18, wherein said spiral auger is a spiral grate.

20. A method for coating a food product comprising: introducing the food product and a particulate coating material into a loading end of a drum rotating about a longitudinal central axis of the drum;conveying the food product from the loading end to a discharge end of the drum while supporting the food product immediately proximate the longitudinal central axis of the drum; anddischarging the food product from the drum at a discharge opening immediately proximate the longitudinal central axis of the drum.