Batter and breading machine

Abstract

It consists in a bedplate (1) in whose upper part two areas are distinguished (1a and 1b), the first of them (1a) with a tank (4) for food agglutinating, while in the second area (1b) there is a strangling for throwing the battered or breaded ingredient of the product, which areas are each provided with endless bands (5 and 6), driven by a plurality of rolls, to submerge the product in tank (4) and for taking the product with agglutinating under the mentioned breaded strangling respectively, which endless bands (5, 6) are driven by a motor with speed variator and each have over them organs that they remove, respectively, the excess of breaded and battered agglutinating, and because second endless band (6) is fitted on an own chassis (7) that, at the same time, is included in the chassis of the bedplate (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention is directed towards a batter and breading machine, where meat products and other prepared foods are battered. With the present invention, the mechanical and hygienic characteristics of the machine are improved in that the components are streamlined and power consumption reduced.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Breading machines are known that include a bedplate in which two areas are distinguished; a first area that forms a tank which it fills of glue or food agglutinating and where the product in question is introduced in order that it receives a bath and is impregnated of said food agglutinating, and a second area which upper part shapes a strangulation capable of driving the batter ingredient, such as breadcrumbs, which goes to the meat product or other prepared.

[0003] The first mentioned area has a first endless band, formed with metallic rods, suitable to take and to immerse the meat product or another one in the mentioned tank, as the first band ends at a second endless band, with a constitution similar to the first, arranged partially below the second area and leading to the product in question, already battered or breaded, towards the exit of the machine.

[0004] The first endless band has a configuration, substantially, in “V” appropriated, to enter in the own tank container of the agglutinating or similar, while the second band forms a substantially horizontal section towards the exit. Both endless bands are driven by a driven member, with speed variator, through respective power chains.

[0005] The same machine has two air blower organs driven by the same motor: an air blower located at the exit of the first band and the other one located on the second band in order to clear, respectively, the excess of battered and agglutinating from the meat product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The machines previously described have several disadvantages. In the first place, the fact that the mentioned endless bands are driven by chains requiring a complicated detachment of such chains. Therefore, there is difficulty in the periodic disassembling of the same ones in order to carry out a good cleaning of these bands. Such operation is compulsory in components that continuously are in contact with food products which are susceptible to ferment if the due and precise cleaning is not observed.

[0007] There is an additional disadvantage, resulting from the fact that the second endless band is fitted on an only chassis, the one of the machine, which also makes difficult its periodic disassembling.

[0008] Another factor that represents an increase in the price of the machine is the need for two air blower organs to clear the excesses of battered and agglutinating and from the treated product.

[0009] All the mentioned disadvantages are solved in the present batter and breading machine. Indeed, in the batter and breading machine of the present invention, the advantage that the second endless band is fitted on a double chassis, makes it easier for the cleaning of the same one. Also the mentioned endless bands are driven by means of a gear system from which it is very easy to detach them in order to disassemble the corresponding band and to proceed with cleaning precisely and periodically.

[0010] The second endless band, instead of being invariably horizontal like in known machines, is capable of experiencing certain variations of layout in the exit zone of the machine, which it gives a certain versatility in the form to unload the treated meat product.

[0011] Another advantage of the present machine is economy of cost and electrical consumption, wherein the second air blower organ is replaced by rods that remove the leftover battered of the treated product. This, as well as it contributes the same effectiveness that in the previous machines, supposes the saving of mentioned the second air blower, which allows that the motor that drove both air blower can be of reduced power and, therefore, of smaller consumption.

[0012] These and other advantages will be appreciated better in the detailed description that it follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 represents a general view, and in perspective, of the present machine.

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates, also in perspective, is an extended detail of the connection through gear means to drive the two endless bands, with one of them separated to the machine.

[0015] FIG. 3 is another perspective view that belongs to second endless band fully out of the machine.

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a view of a tensor device of the first endless band.

[0017] FIGS. 5 a , 5b, 5c correspond to other diagrams that give a scheme of several settings of the circuit of the second endless band.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The improved batter and breading machine of the present invention (FIG. 1) comprises a body of bedplate 1 with legs 2 equipped with wheels 3 for possible movement, it being possible to distinguish in the same bedplate a rear area of gluing 1a and a front area of battered 1b.

[0019] In the area 1a or rear part of the machine, from where the meat or food product is introduced to be treated, there is a tank 4 that it is filled, like it is well-known, of glue or food agglutinating; and in that same tank 4 is housed a first endless band 5 that forms a general layout in “V” in order to enter the mentioned product in the same tank 4.

[0020] In the area 1b or front half of the machine there is a second endless band 6 that is fitted in an own chassis 7 that, as well, it is included in the chassis of bedplate 1 of the machine.

[0021] Both endless bands 5, 6 are made of meshy constitution, like it is well-known, and are equipped with a plurality of support rolls 8, one of which 9, 10 respectively, is laterally finished by a corresponding lateral pinion 11, 12 (FIGS. 2 and 3) that gears with a gear wheel 13 that, as well, receives the drive of the corresponding motor with speed variator (non visible, but of conventional type). This, doubtlessly confers to referred 5, 6 bands a remarkable ease to remove them from mentioned wheel 13 and to separate them from the machine in order to proceed to its cleaning, as it is illustrated in the same FIG. 2 where it appears the first endless band 5 totally separated, and in FIG. 3 that it shows the second band 6 separated too along with its own chassis 7.

[0022] Returning to the FIG. 1, and like it is well known, at the exit of the first endless band 5 there is an air blower tube 14 driven by a corresponding ventilator (not visible but like it is well known) whose air impulsion clears the excess of agglutinating that it is deposited over the product to be treated, while in the halfway area of the upper part of the machine, at the beginning of the second band 6, there is something similar to a “bridge” 15 whose upper part 16 is opened in order to be able to throw, through itself, the batterer or breader ingredient, as breadcrumbs, with the distinguishing feature that from the front part, or exit of this “bridge” 15, series of rods 17 are hanging, forming a curtain appropriate to touch with the product already battered (not illustrated) and to clear it the excess of battered or breading. This saves to install a second tube or air blower element, as well as to envisage a more powerful ventilator and a greater consumption.

[0023] On the other hand (FIG. 4) in order to maintain the mentioned configuration in “V” and its due tension of the first band 5, a pair of tensor elements has been envisaged in the present machine, one in each end of the edge of the dihedral angle that it forms the same band 5, constituted each one by a piece in “U” 18, as a horseshoe, in which piece is supported the respective trunnion 19 of a cross-sectional runner 20 to the same endless band 5, at the same time that the curved lower portion of each mentioned element 18 presses on the repeated band 5. And in order to regulate said pressure, the outer lateral rims of said tensor 18 are grooved and are capable of running by a corresponding wheel 21 installed in the respective lateral of that tank 4. Therefore, going up or down the same tensor in “U” 18 the tension granted to the band 5 is regulated.

[0024] Finally, and returning again to the FIG. 1, it is possible to appreciate that the second endless band 6 is capable of adopting, in its front portion, several curves in order to influence the exit of the treated product, as it is outlined in the FIGS. 5a, 5b, and 5c, all this taking advantage of one turning points and putting out of action another turning points of the rolls 8 that go with the circuit of the same band 6. Therefore, the FIG. 5a outlines an exit example of the treated product in which this one, after running by a first section, substantially horizontal, falls to a second section of a lower level and equally horizontal, in order to cause in said falling an overturn of the mentioned product; in the FIG. 5b, however, the product runs by a first horizontal section and later it runs to a second inclined and remarkably descendent section. Finally, in accordance to the FIG. 5c said treated product leaves by a continuously horizontal section, all of them in accordance to the unloading necessities and the type of receiving organ of the same product (that it is not illustrated because it can be any of well known type and because, in addition, it is not an object of this invention).

[0025] The nature of the invention as well as its intrinsic advantages having been described, it is pointed out that the present batter and breading machine could be constructed in the most suitable form, in the most appropriate size and with the most convenient materials and more convenient means, being all of this within the spirit of the following claims.

Claims

1. An improved batter and breading machine, applicable to the treatment of meat products and other food products, and of the type that consists in a bedplate in whose upper part two areas are distinguished (1a and 1b), the first of them (1a) shaped as a tank (4) that can be filled of a food agglutinating, while at the beginning of the second area (1b) there is a strangling with the intention to throw the battered or breaded ingredient of the product to be treated, which areas are each provided with endless bands (5 and 6), driven by a plurality of rolls, to submerge the product to treat in that tank (4) and in order to take the same product with agglutinating under the mentioned breaded strangling respectively, which endless bands (5, 6) are driven by a motor with speed variator and each have over them organs that they remove, respectively, the excess of breaded and battered agglutinating, characterized in that the second endless band (6) is fitted on a chassis (7) that, at the same time, is included in the chassis of the bedplate (1).

2. A machine in accordance to claim 1 characterized in that in addition to the plurality of rolls, each endless band is supported and driven by respective rolls (9, 10) finished off in an end by a corresponding lateral pinion (11, 12) that meshes with the driven member with speed variator through at least one gear (13).

3. A machine in accordance to claim 1 characterized in that said strangling includes something similar to a cross-sectional bridge (15) which upper part (16) is opened in order to be able to throw, through itself, the battered and breaded ingredient, with the distinguishing feature that from the front part, or exit of said bridge (15), hangs a series of rods (17) that constitute an appropriate curtain to brush with the already battered product and remove it the battered excess.

4. A machine in accordance to claim 1 characterized in that it includes an adjustable tensor means (18) to provide an adjustable tension to the mentioned first endless band (5).

5. A machine in accordance to the claim 4, characterized in that the tensor means consists of a pair of pieces (18) in “U” like horseshoes, each one to each lateral side of the tank (4), inside of said pieces (18) is supported the respective trunnion (19) of a cross-sectional runner (20) to the same endless band (5), at the same time that the curve lower portion of each mentioned element (18) presses on the repeated band (5), being grooved the outer rims of said pieces (18) and being susceptible to run vertically by a corresponding wheel (21) installed in the respective lateral of that tank (4).

6. A machine in accordance to at least one of the previous claims characterized in that the rolls (8) that guide the front portion of the mentioned endless band (6) are capable of fixing in several pivoting points of the own chassis (7) giving several curves, as it is convenient, to said front portion of the band (6) for the exit of the treated product.