Coating machine and method for coating a food product in a coating machine.

Description

/ 31 Coating machine and method for coating a food product in a coating machine. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present invention relates to a coating machine adapted for coating food products with a particulate coating material and to a coating method. The device comprises a food product conveyor assembly adapted to receive food products to be coated at an inlet of the machine and to discharge coated food products at an outlet of the machine in a food product conveying direction. A coating device is arranged between the inlet and outlet of the machine and is adapted to be supplied with particulate coating material and to subject the food products to a coating treatment in which part of the particulate coating material adheres to the food products.A top particulate coating material supply unit is mounted above the food product conveyor, wherein the top particulate coating material supply unit comprises an upper filling opening for filling the top particulate coating material supply unit with particulate coating material and a lower particulate coating material supply opening for supplying particulate coating material to the food product conveyor. An excess coating material separation station is configured to cause the excess coating material to be separated from said coated food products in order to recover said excess coating material for reuse.

[002] The machine has a conveyor for recovering excess coating material comprising: - a bed support made of excess lining material Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 11 / 118 / 31 recovered adapted to receive, on the same, at a receiving location, said excess coating material recovered from said separation station to form a bed of excess coating material recovered from said excess coating material separated on said bed support of excess coating material recovered, - a recovery conveyor section above said recovered excess coating material bed support and mobile relative to said bed support and configured to transport said excess coating material bed over said recovered excess coating material bed support,

[003] The machine has a particulate coating material elevator device comprising a plurality of pockets adapted to receive a portion of said excess coating material from said recovery conveyor and to supply said excess coating material to the upper particulate coating material supply unit for reuse of the particulate coating material.

[004] In particular, the invention relates to an in-line coating machine that is designed to be used in an industrial-scale food processing system. FUNDAMENTALS OF THE INVENTION

[005] Food coating machines for coating with a particulate coating material are well known from the prior art and widely available in the field. When handling particulate coating material, inevitably a particle size distribution will be present in the coating material, comprising relatively coarse and relatively fine particles. In general, it is desirable in this type of device to have a homogeneous particle size distribution, so that the products Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 12 / 118 / 31 food products should be uniformly coated. However, an operator of these devices may also desire other particle size distributions, for example, a different distribution between the top and bottom of a food product or vice versa.

[006] A coating device for particulate coating material, as described above, is described, for example, in European patent application EP3727041. This device focuses on controlling the particle size distribution, in particular controlling particle sizes between the lower and upper coating supply.

[007] Another example of such a device is described in the document EP1591023, which describes a known in-line coating machine comprising an elevator wheel filling assembly arranged along the lower recovery conveyor section downstream of the receiving location and configured to fill pockets of the rotating particulate coating material elevator wheel with excess recovered coating material.

[008] This type of coating machine employs a particulate coating material elevator device, such as an elevator wheel comprising pockets to collect reused particulate coating material and elevate it towards an upper particulate coating material delivery unit mounted above the food conveyor. Because this elevator device in operation is normally in continuous motion and because this elevator motion normally also implies a horizontal velocity component at the location of the elevator device where the coating material is deposited into the upper particulate coating material delivery unit, the particulate coating material may not be homogenized during its deposition into the upper particulate coating material delivery unit due to Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 13 / 118 / 31 differences in moment and / or friction effects for different size fractions of particulate coating material. This non-homogenization effect of the particulate coating material size distribution in the upper particulate coating material supply unit is even more significant for larger machine / process widths, at higher lifting device speeds, and with a greater difference between small and large particles, as is typically the case in coating applications where very coarse and / or large particles, such as corn flakes, are applied to food products.

[009] Therefore, an objective of the present invention is to mitigate non-homogenization above the size fractions of the particulate coating. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In a first aspect of the invention, a coating machine adapted for coating food products with a particulate coating material is provided according to claim 1.

[0011] The first and second sliding plates are mounted on an incline, wherein the direction of inclination of the first sliding plate is opposite to the direction of inclination of the second sliding plate, so that the particulate coating material that is released on the first sliding plate on a first lateral side of the upper particulate coating material supply unit slides down towards a second opposite distal lateral side and the particulate coating material that is released on the second sliding plate on the second lateral side of the upper particulate coating material supply unit slides down towards the first opposite distal lateral side.

[0012] By providing such a sliding plate configuration within the upper particulate coating material supply unit, non-homogenization or segregation of size fractions within the unit Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 14 / 118 / 31 of the supply of top particulate coating material is attenuated or at least reduced. A size fraction of the particulate coating material that falls more than another size fraction, for example, due to a difference in momentum and / or air friction effects, moves back to the opposite side of the top particulate coating material supply unit, where it mixes with the size fraction that was deposited on that side of the top particulate coating material supply unit directly from the lifting device.

[0013] The first and second sliding plates are mounted inside the upper particulate coating material delivery unit and arranged under the deposit area where the elevator device deposits the particulate coating material. The first and second sliding plates are mounted on an incline. The incline is inclined relative to the horizon, or more precisely, inclined so that gravitational forces pull the particulate coating material down the incline to the other lateral side of the upper particulate coating material delivery unit.The tilt direction of the first slide plate is opposite to the tilt direction of the second slide plate, so that the particulate coating material that is dropped onto the first slide plate on one lateral side of the upper particulate coating material delivery unit slides down towards an opposite distal lateral side and vice versa. As a result, coarser particles falling onto the first slide plate are moved, for example, to the left side, while finer particles falling onto the second slide plate are moved to the right side or vice versa, depending on the configuration. This results in a more homogeneous distribution of particulate coating particles.

[0014] In a practical embodiment, the first and second sliding plates are each perpendicular to the direction of transport of Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 15 / 118 / 31 machine food.

[0015] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the plurality of pockets of the elevator device is configured in a variety of pocket configurations, wherein the pocket configuration is defined by at least the shape and / or angle of the pocket relative to the elevator device, wherein each of the variety of pocket configurations initiates the release of particulate coating material at a different lateral location above the upper filling opening to fill the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

[0016] The pocket is mounted on the lifting device or may be an integral part of it.

[0017] It will be recognized that the angle of the open end at which the particulate coating material enters the pocket at the lower position of the lifting device and exits the pocket at its upper position above the upper filling opening to fill the upper particulate coating material supply unit is one of the determining factors for the time it takes for the particulate coating material to slide out of the pocket into the supply unit. The angle may be set by the angle at which the entire pocket is mounted on the lifting device and / or be defined by the angle of an end plate at the pocket opening. A steeper angle may retain the coating material longer than a shallower angle, and a small curved edge may, for example, slightly delay the deposition of the coating material onto a completely flat end plate.

[0018] By varying the configuration in terms of angle and / or shape of subsequent pockets, the time and therefore the (angular) position of the particulate coating material deposition varies in subsequent pockets and therefore the quantities and size distribution of the coating material on the slip plates also vary with each variation of Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 16 / 118 / 31 pocket configuration, contributing to lateral homogenization within the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

[0019] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the particulate coating material elevator device comprises an elevator wheel mounted rotationally at least partially around the food product conveyor belt, such that the elevator wheel can collect reused particulate material at its lower angular position and release its contents at its upper angular position above the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

[0020] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the particulate coating material elevator device comprises at least three different pocket configurations. By releasing the contents of the pockets at three individual drop locations above the upper particulate coating material supply unit, the variation in sizes falling onto the sliding plates is able to homogenize the size distribution of the resulting coating material assembly. A pocket configuration is defined by any specific angle and / or shape or other property that influences the release time and / or position above the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

[0021] In another embodiment according to the present invention, the particulate coating material elevator device comprises at least two unique alternating groups of pocket configurations, wherein each group of pocket configurations comprises at least five, preferably eight, pocket configurations. It has been considered advantageous for the distribution of coating particle sizes along the width of the upper supply unit to provide at least two unique groups of pocket configurations that alternate around the elevator device, particularly in the case of an elevator wheel. As an example of a group of five pocket configurations from three configurations of Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, p. 17 / 118 / 31 exclusive pockets, a group can be described as ABCBA or AACBB, etc., where each letter (A, B, C) would represent a pocket configuration with a unique release point on the upper supply unit. As an example of a group of eight of the 5 exclusive pocket configurations (A, B, C, D, E), a group can be described as DBADCAE B.

[0022] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the pocket configuration, as defined by at least the shape and / or angle, varies along the width of the pocket so that the timing of the deposition of the particulate coating material onto the upper particulate coating material delivery unit varies in the direction of food product transport. The shape and / or angle of each pocket can vary along its length, i.e., along the width of the elevator device. In this way, a single pocket can release its contents at different (angular) positions above the upper particulate coating material delivery unit. With this configuration, the variety of the distribution on the sliding plates increases, which contributes to a more homogeneous final distribution. The pocket configuration can vary in discrete steps that fluctuate continuously along its length and width.The variations can be adapted in sync with the location of the sliding plates.

[0023] In another embodiment according to the present invention, the pocket configuration, as defined by at least the shape and / or angle, varies along the width of the pocket in at least two, preferably three discrete lateral regions of the pocket, wherein each subsequent lateral portion of the pocket is configured to have a different deposition time of particulate coating material in the upper filling opening to fill the upper particulate coating material supply unit than a neighboring lateral region. The variations may be adapted in synchrony or alignment with the location of the plates. Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 18 / 118 / 31 sliding.

[0024] In another further embodiment according to the present invention, the pocket configuration, as defined by at least the shape and / or angle, varies in a continuously floating shape with a floating deposit time of particulate coating material in the upper filling opening to fill the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

[0025] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the top particulate coating material supply unit comprises an additional third sliding plate that is shaped or configured to receive particulate coating material substantially from the entire side width of the top particulate coating material supply unit and to cause the received particulate coating material to flow toward the center of the top particulate coating material supply unit.Through cooperation between the sliding plate locations and the pocket release locations, the size distribution control can be influenced to achieve a more homogeneous final assembly of the particulate coating material within the dispensing unit, so that the coating material can be supplied to the food products to be coated in a homogeneous manner, both in terms of top and bottom, but also in a lateral direction.

[0026] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the pockets are configured so that the particulate coating material is deposited on all the sliding plates in the upper particulate coating material supply unit. Through cooperation between the locations of the sliding plates and the release locations of the pockets, the size distribution can be influenced to make a more homogeneous final assembly of the particulate coating material within the Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, p. 19 / 118 / 31 supply unit, so that the coating material can be provided to the food products to be coated in a homogeneous manner, both in terms of top and bottom, but also in a lateral direction.

[0027] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the upper particulate coating material supply unit comprises a ramp, for example, an inclined lower part of a hopper of the unit, to guide the particulate coating material towards the lower particulate coating material supply opening. In one embodiment, an agitator is mounted adjacent to the ramp so that the particulate coating material being guided towards the supply opening is agitated. When the distribution of different sizes of particulate coating material slides down a ramp towards the lower supply opening towards the food products, further non-homogenization may occur due to the smaller particles sliding down the pile more easily than the larger ones.By applying an agitator to the sliding path of the coating material stack, for example, implemented as one or more rods mounted on both sides of the frame in the sliding path, the coating material stack is agitated and therefore homogenized in a more optimized way before reaching the food conveyor.

[0028] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the perforated sieve plate is mounted on the lower particulate coating material supply opening, for example, wherein the sieve plate comprises rows of lateral holes, and wherein the hole size of the holes increases from the smallest at the supply opening to the largest at the distal end of the sieve plate. In particular, in applications where food products need to be coated with a wide variety of sizes Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, p. 20 / 118 / 31 of coating, such as corn flakes and smaller crumbs, it is important that the larger crumbs adhere to the product first, before the smaller crumbs fill the remaining holes. If smaller crumbs adhere to the product first, it increases the chance that larger flakes or crumbs will not adhere to the food product, which can result in a loose coating, which can result in a less optimized final product and / or if the product is, for example, fried, it can result in the release of the larger coating material into the frying oil, which results in oil filtration problems and potentially health problems due to reduced oil quality. Therefore, the sieve plate retains the larger fraction of the coating material on the sieve plate while the smaller particles pass through the plate.As food products are transported from the distal end (with the larger holes) towards the dispensing outlet (with the smaller holes), the larger flakes or coarse crumbs will adhere first before the spaces are filled with the smaller crumbs.

[0029] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the pockets are configured so that the pockets transition into the particulate coating material elevator device in a substantially perpendicular manner. In the food industry, it is of utmost importance that construction elements, such as metal plates that form the pockets within the elevator device, do not have sharp angles, as these sharp angles can absorb coating material that will not be easily released during machine cleaning. This can cause food safety problems for users. As the angle of the pockets varies along the circumference of the elevator device in the case of an elevator wheel, the risk of these sharp angles is real. Therefore, the pockets are mounted in the elevator device by means of a construction element, such as a curved plate piece that defines the bottom plate of the Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 21 / 118 / 31 pockets, whereby the curvature is such that the connection between the pocket and the lifting device does not comprise acute angles that could trap food particles and, preferably, a shallow angle, such as a perpendicular connection between the pocket and the lifting device.

[0030] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the distance between the inflow opening of the elevator wheel pockets is distributed substantially equidistantly. Although the angles and shapes of the pockets may vary, the distance between the end plates of the pockets, i.e., the edges where the lining material enters the pocket and where it is released again, is distributed substantially equidistantly, i.e., with equal distances between subsequent pockets, so that filling the pockets in the lower (angular) position of the elevator device fills each pocket substantially equally for a given supply of lining material.

[0031] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the direction of supply of particulate coating material at the lower particulate coating material supply opening is opposite to the direction of transport of the food product. The flow dynamics of particulate coating material at the location where the coating is applied to the food products may be different if it is in the same direction as the food product conveyor. Homogeneous distribution is better maintained when the direction is opposite to the direction of transport of the food.

[0032] In one embodiment according to the present invention, the device further comprises a filling chute for supplying fresh particulate coating material which is combined with excess recovered coating material from the upper particulate coating material supply unit before supplying the coating material to the food product.

[0033] The invention also relates to a method for coating Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, p. 22 / 118 / 31 food products, in which a coating machine is used as described herein.

[0034] Reference is made to details and advantages in the description of the corresponding elements and functionality of the food processing line in the description above. The additional scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given only by way of illustration, since various alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a practical embodiment of the invention, but which should not be considered limiting, in which: Figure 1 schematically shows, in side view and cross-section, an example of an in-line coating machine according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a larger scale of a part of the machine from Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the elevator device filling assembly and the machine segregation enhancement assembly of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the upper coating device of the machine in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the machine in Figure 1, having a segregation enhancement assembly acting on the excess coating bed support; Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the machine. Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 23 / 118 / 31 figure 1, having an adjustable diversion opening device; Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the upper particulate coating material supply unit and of a lifting device according to the invention; Figure 8 shows a schematic side view of the top particulate coating material supply unit according to the invention; Figure 9 shows a schematic perspective view of the top particulate coating material supply unit; Figure 10 shows a schematic perspective view with a partial cutaway of a first alternative of the elevator device according to the invention; Figure 11 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the elevator device in Figure 10; Figure 12 shows a schematic perspective view with a partial cutaway of a second alternative of the elevator device according to the invention; Figures 13 and 1f show pocket configurations of the elevator device from Figure 12; Figure 14 shows a schematic perspective view with a partial cutaway of a third alternative of the elevator device according to the invention; Figures 15 and 1f show pocket configurations of the elevator device from Figure 14; Figure 16 shows a schematic perspective view of a perforated sieve plate according to the invention; Figure 17 shows a schematic perspective view of the top particulate coating material supply unit with a partial cutaway view. Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 24 / 118 / 31 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES

[0036] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numbers have been used to identify the same or similar elements throughout the various views.

[0037] Note that the drawings are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and that details not necessary for understanding the present invention may have been omitted. The terms “up”, “down”, “below”, “above” and the like refer to embodiments as directed in the drawings, unless otherwise specified. In addition, elements that are at least substantially identical or that perform at least substantially identical functions are indicated by the same numeral, when useful individualized with alphabetic suffixes.

[0038] With reference to figures 1 to 4, an exemplary embodiment of an in-line coating machine according to the invention will be discussed. Machine 1 is adapted for coating food products 2 with a particulate coating material, such as breadcrumb material.

[0039] The coating machine 1, in general, has a food conveyor assembly that is adapted to receive the food products 2 to be coated at an inlet 3 of the machine and to discharge the coated food products at an outlet 4 of the machine. For example, the food products have already passed through a beating machine and / or a pre-dusting machine. Here the products 2 are fed to inlet 3 by a conveyor 5, for example, from another machine.

[0040] In the embodiment shown, the machine has a single or main conveyor belt 8 with a single endless belt 9, preferably with a mesh belt, for example, a mesh belt. Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 25 / 118 / 31 wire mesh (of stainless steel), as is quite common in the art. A motor drive 8a, for example, of variable speed, is provided to move the belt 9.

[0041] An upper section of belt 9 here forms the food conveyor assembly of machine 1 and also forms a lower lining material bed that extends as conveyor section 10 of the machine. Below, a portion of the length of conveyor section 10 of the machine has an associated lower lining material bed support 11.

[0042] During machine operation, the lower coating material bed support 11 supports a lower coating material bed 15 on top of it.

[0043] The advance conveyor section 10 transports this lower coating material bed 15 over the lower coating material bed support 11. As shown here, the lower coating material bed 15 receives food products to be coated in the vicinity of the machine 1 inlet 3.

[0044] The machine also has an upper coating device 30 which is supplied with particulate coating material and discharges the particulate coating material from above onto the food products 2 received by the lower coating material bed 15 and transported by the lower coating material bed which advances with the conveyor section 10.

[0045] As shown in Figure 4, the top coating device may comprise a top particulate coating material supply unit 30 having a front wall 31 facing away from the direction of food product transport, a sloping bottom wall 32 forming a ramp and adjacent to the front wall at a lower corner portion 33 of the material supply unit. Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 26 / 118 / 31 of upper particulate coating and inclined upwards from said lower corner portion in the direction of food product transport, as well as side walls of the upper particulate coating material supply unit 34a, b which delimit with said front wall and the inclined lower wall the upper particulate coating material supply unit. The upper particulate coating material supply unit is open at its top 36 to receive therein the particulate coating material fed by gravity from the excess coating material elevator device 40, here discharged directly from the device 40 to the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

[0046] The upper particulate coating material supply unit 30 has an outlet opening 37 in the lower corner region 33 from which the coating material is discharged, here an outlet opening 37 controlled by an outlet gate 38.

[0047] As is common in the field, the operation of the in-line coating machine 1 causes some of the particulate coating material to adhere to the food products 2.

[0048] Downstream of one or more coating devices, here downstream of the support bed 11, an excess coating material separation station 25 is provided, which is configured to cause the excess coating material to be separated from the coated food products in order to recover the excess coating material for reuse. In the very simple and practical embodiment shown, the station 25 is nothing more than the rear end of the support bed 11, which causes the excess material to fall through the mesh belt 9 while the coated products 2 remain on the belt. In another embodiment, for example, in addition to the rear end of the bed 11, one or more blowers, air knives, etc. may be provided to cause or enhance the removal of Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 27 / 118 / 31 excess coating particles, for example, by blowing said excess down through the mesh belt 9. In the embodiments, the separation of excess material is enhanced by the presence of a belt agitator device at station 25, so that the excess material is dislodged from the belt and / or the food products.

[0049] As illustrated here, belt 9 also forms a conveyor for recovering excess coating material 20 from the machine.

[0050] Here, the conveyor 20 comprises a recovered excess coating material bed support 21 adapted to receive thereon, at a receiving location 22, here vertically below the station 25, the recovered excess coating material from the separation station 25 and forming a recovered excess coating material bed 24 of excess coating material separated on said recovered excess coating material bed support 21. A recovery conveyor section 23 of the belt 9, effectively the lower section of the belt 9, extends and moves above the recovered excess coating material bed support 21 and relative to the bed support 21. In operation, this section 23 conveys the excess coating material bed over the recovered excess coating material bed support 21.

[0051] As preferred, belt 9 extends just above beds 11, 21 or, as preferred, belt 9 rests on each of the beds and slides over said beds. This provides good transport of the bed of lining material.

[0052] As illustrated, machine 1 comprises a particulate coating material elevator wheel 40 which is adapted to supply a portion of the excess coating material to the upper coating device 30 for reuse.

[0053] The machine also includes a filling assembly for Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 28 / 118 / 31 elevator wheel 50 arranged along the lower recovery conveyor section 23 downstream of the receiving location 22 and configured to fill pockets of the rotating particulate coating material elevator wheel with excess recovered coating material.

[0054] As can be seen, exemplary machine 1 is incorporated to transfer recovered excess coating material remaining in the excess coating material bed 15 downstream of the elevator wheel filler assembly to the lower coating material bed advancing with the conveyor section 11. In this embodiment, a front roller 13 guiding the belt 9 is partially surrounded by a curved deflector 14 that forms an extension of the bed 21, so that the excess coating material is moved around the roller 13 to an inclined upward portion of the bed support 11 that joins a substantially horizontal portion of the bed support 11.

[0055] Elevator wheel 40 comprises: - a ring wheel body 41 adapted to rotate around a geometric axis of rotation and having a central opening; - a circumferential array of 45 pockets in said annular wheel body, the pockets being open towards the central opening of the elevator wheel.

[0056] The wheel 40 is rotatably supported in a machine frame 1, here on rollers 46, to rotate around a substantially horizontal geometric axis of revolution. A motorized drive 47, for example, of variable speed, is provided to drive the wheel 40, in this example a wheel having a circular toothed rack and the drive 47 having a corresponding pinion.

[0057] As depicted, the lower lining material bed that extends with conveyor section 10 and the lower recovery conveyor section 23 extend through the central opening of the body of the Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 29 / 118 / 31 annular wheel, with the lower recovery conveyor section 23 below the lower lining material bed that advances with the conveyor section 10.

[0058] It is also represented that the elevator wheel 40 passes over the upper coating device 30 so that the particulate coating material is gravity-fed from the pockets 45 to the upper coating device 30.

[0059] The elevator wheel filler assembly 50 comprises: - one or more adjustable discharge opening devices 51 adapted to control one or more discharge openings 52, here a single elongated groove through the bed support 21, in the bed support of recovered excess coating material, allowing to discharge at an adjustable rate a portion of the bed of recovered excess coating material passing over one or more discharge openings in pockets 45 of the particulate coating material elevator wheel 40.

[0060] Here, the effective space or passage for the coating material through the groove 51 is controlled by a sliding gate 52 positioned along the bottom of the bed support 21. A manual or electric controller may be present to move the gate 52 to a desired position. Instead of such a simple embodiment, more elaborate designs are also provided for, for example including a direct-pass rotary dosing valve, etc.

[0061] The elevator wheel filler assembly also includes: - an adjustable top layer diverter device 60 that is configured to engage a top layer 61 of the recovered excess coating material bed passing over the recovered excess coating material bed support 21, with a layer Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 30 / 118 / 31 lower 62 passing under the diverter device 60, and to divert at least a portion of said upper layer at an adjustable rate into the pockets 45 of the particulate coating material elevator wheel 40.

[0062] The machine is further provided with a particle segregation enhancement assembly 70 adapted to subject the bed of recovered excess coating material passing over the recovered excess coating material bed support 21, upstream of the elevator device filling assembly 50, to a segregation enhancement action to cause the top layer 61 engaged by the top layer diverter device 60 to be composed of a relatively coarse fraction of particulate coating material and to cause a bottom layer 62 of the bed of excess coating material to be composed of a relatively fine fraction of particulate coating material.

[0063] In the embodiment represented in figures 1 to 4, the assembly 70 comprises one or more passive members, herein rods, extending above the recovery conveyor section 23. As shown herein, one or more rods 70 may extend for at least part of the width of the excess material bed, so that said excess material is agitated by the passive members, enhancing segregation. It is shown herein that one or more rods, possibly straight rods, extend horizontally parallel to the conveyor section along the width of the excess material lining bed.

[0064] As can be seen in Figure 3, the support for the recovered excess coating material bed 21 has first and second opposite lateral sides 21a, 21b. The top layer diverter device 60 is adapted to divert a first flow of excess coating material from the top layer onto the first lateral side 21a and into the Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 31 / 118 / 31 particulate coating material elevator device 40 and to divert a second flow of excess coating material from the top layer onto the second side 21b and into the particulate coating material elevator device 40.

[0065] The top layer diverter device 60 herein comprises at least one diverter blade 65a, 65b engaging the top layer and diverting at least a portion thereof onto one of the lateral sides 21a, 21b and into the particulate coating material elevator device 40.

[0066] Here, the two blades 65a, 65b are arranged in a V with the tip opposite the direction of transport of the excess recovered lining material when viewed from above. The blades 65a, 65b may meet at the point or may have, as shown here, spaced ends to leave a space between the ends. For example, each of the blades is fixed, for example, movably in height and / or in angular orientation, to a raised side wall of the housing 29a, 29b on each side of the bed 21.

[0067] In the embodiment represented, the top layer diverter device 60 has a first set of one or more diverter blades 65a, b at a first location along the path of the lower recovery section 23 and a second set of one or more diverter blades 66a, b at a second location, downstream of the first location. Herein, the first set comprises two blades 65a, b arranged in a V with one end opposite to the direction of transport of the bed of excess recovered lining material when viewed from above, and with ends spaced to leave a space between said ends, and a second set of two blades 66a, b arranged in a V with one end opposite to the direction of transport of the bed of excess recovered lining material when viewed from above, and with ends joined at said V. Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, p. 32 / 118 / 31 point.

[0068] It is represented here that the machine further comprises angle adjustment mechanisms, integrated into mechanism 67a, adapted to adjust the angular orientation of the top layer deflector device 60, here blades 65a, b in relation to the transport direction of the recovered excess coating material bed when viewed from above. Here, each deflector blade 65a, b is pivoting around a vertical geometric axis of rotation. For example, the mechanism allows the angular orientation to be defined, thus covering an adjustable width of the lower recovery section by means of the top layer deflector device or part thereof.

[0069] As shown, the machine has a housing with a pair of housing side walls 29a, b, between which the lower recovery conveyor section 23 moves and is raised to extend above said conveyor section 23 and the lining material bed 24.

[0070] One or both of the side walls of the housing 29a, b have an opening 29c, d through which the diverted cladding material is passed.

[0071] As shown herein, preferably, one or more of these side wall openings of the housing are located vertically above a lower section of the elevator device 40, for example, a lower section of an elevator device comprising a movable array of pockets 45 adapted to receive particulate coating material therein. For example, the elevator device has a rotating elevator wheel, arranged in such a way that the diverted coating material falls directly into the pockets of the wheel.

[0072] In figure 5, to improve the layered segregation of the excess material bed 24, the particle segregation enhancement assembly 70 comprises a vibratory device 80 that acts on the support of Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 33 / 118 / 31 excess recovered coating material bed 21, for example, in a portion thereof, thus inducing or enhancing particle segregation ahead of the assembly 50. For example, device 80 is adjustable to achieve adjustable intensity of vibration to which the bed is subjected, for example, an eccentric mass is rotated at an adjustable speed to induce vibrations in a (part of) bed 21.

[0073] Figure 6 represents an alternative embodiment of the machine of Figure 1, having an adjustable diversion opening device 90 adapted to control one or more diversion openings 91 in the lower coating material bed support 11. This allows discharging an adjustable portion of the lower coating material bed 15 passing through one or more diversion openings 91 into the recovered excess coating material bed 24, downstream of the filling assembly of the elevator device 50, so as to divert from said filling assembly of the elevator device 50 and be transferred to the lower coating material bed advancing with the conveyor section 23. The provision of this arrangement further increases the machine's control functionalities with respect to the composition of the coating that is passed to one or more coating devices of the machine.

[0074] Figure 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the upper particulate coating material supply unit 30 and of a lifting device 40. The lifting device is a lifting wheel comprising a plurality of pockets. The wheel has an annular body adapted to rotate around a geometric axis of rotation and having a central opening. A circumferential array of pockets is mounted on the body of the annular wheel, the pockets being open towards the central opening of the wheel.

[0075] It is shown that both the food product conveyor system and the recovery conveyor system each extend Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 34 / 118 / 31 through the central opening of the annular wheel body of the elevator wheel, the recovery conveyor section below the food conveyor assembly. The elevator wheel passes below the filling assembly of the elevator device, allowing excess material to be gravity-fed into the pockets.

[0076] A part of the top particulate coating material supply unit 30 is mounted under the elevator wheel release location 40.

[0077] At the outlet of the top particulate coating material supply unit, a 116 sieve plate was mounted to control the larger and finer fraction of the particulate coating material exiting the top particulate coating material supply unit.

[0078] Figures 8, 9 and 17 show a schematic view of the top particulate coating material supply unit 30.

[0079] To supply fresh, unused particulate coating material to unit 30, the unit comprises a filling chute 120 extending outward from the elevator wheel 40.

[0080] To deposit the recovered particulate coating material into unit 30, unit 30 has top filling opening 36 to fill the top particulate coating material supply unit with particulate coating material.

[0081] To supply particulate coating material to the food conveyor, unit 30 has a lower particulate coating material supply opening 115.

[0082] The particulate coating material collected in unit 30, generally represented here as a hopper, slides down along the inclined lower wall or ramp 32. To facilitate the flow of the coating material, for example, to avoid bridging and / or to Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 35 / 118 / 31 to combat the segregation of fractions, one or more agitator members, for example, rods 101, may be mounted on the unit, for example, along the inclined lower wall.

[0083] As preferred and shown, a partition wall in unit 30 generally separates the unit into a portion that receives fresh cladding material and a portion that receives reclaimed cladding material. The two flows of cladding material are combined just upstream of opening 115.

[0084] The upper particulate coating material supply unit 30 is provided with two transversely inclined sliding plates 110, 111, as well as a third sliding plate 112. These sliding plates 110, 11, 112 are mounted in a deposit area where the recovered particulate coating material released from the pockets of the rotating wheel 40 is deposited and dumped onto them.

[0085] It is illustrated that at least the first and second sliding plates 110,111, here also the third sliding plate 112, are offset from each other, when viewed in the direction of transport of the food product from the machine. This can also be defined as the sliding plates 110, 111 being offset from each other, viewed in the direction of the width of the elevator wheel pockets 40.

[0086] It is illustrated that the first and second sliding plates 110, 111 are each mounted on an incline. It is also illustrated that the direction of inclination of the first sliding plate 110 is opposite to the direction of inclination of the second sliding plate 111, so that the particulate coating material that is deposited by the elevator device and falls onto the first sliding plate 110 on a first lateral side of unit 30 slides down onto the plate 110 towards a second opposite lateral side, and the particulate coating material that falls onto the second sliding plate 111 on the second lateral side of unit 30 slides down. Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, page 36 / 118 / 31 towards the first opposite side.

[0087] It is illustrated that the first and second sliding plates 110, 111 are mounted, each one, perpendicular to the direction of food transport.

[0088] If the elevator wheel 40 rotates clockwise, when viewed in the direction of transport of the food product, the larger fraction of the coating material has a greater momentum when released from the elevator wheel. Therefore, the larger fraction will fly farther and land more on the right side of the supply unit 30, that is, on the higher side of the first sliding plate 110 (see Figure 9) and on the lower side of the second sliding plate 111. The smaller fraction will, analogously, land more on the left side of the supply unit, that is, on the higher side of the second sliding plate 111 and on the lower side of the first sliding plate 110. Under the influence of gravitational forces, the particles will slide from the higher side of each of the sliding plates towards their lower side.

[0089] The sliding plates 110, 111 may have a flat top face, as shown here. The flat top face may have a slope only in the transverse direction, also as shown here. Other designs of sliding plates are also provided for, for example, the flat top face being also, for example, slightly sloped in the machine transport direction and / or the top face being non-flat, for example, with a curvature, etc.

[0090] The unit's optional third sliding plate 112, arranged behind the first and second sliding plates 110, 111 when viewed in the machine's transport direction, will receive particles from both the left and right sides and guide the received particles towards the centerline of the supply unit.

[0091] Figures 10 and 11 show a schematic view of a Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 37 / 118 / 31 first alternative of the elevator device. In this example, the elevator wheel 40 comprises a plurality of pockets. These pockets are in a circumferential array on the wheel 40. The pockets are defined by curvature plates welded to the structure of the elevator wheel.

[0092] As shown in the illustrative cutout of Figure 10, the connecting edge 131 where the pocket is welded to the annular wheel body of the elevator wheel 40 is bent so that no acute angle occurs after welding for food safety and hygiene reasons. The plate is further bent into a transport portion in the middle and a release portion at its free end, where the particulate coating material enters and exits the pockets. This example comprises five different pocket configurations in two groups of four configurations alternating with each other on the circumference of the elevator wheel 40. The distance between the edges of the end plate is equidistant, while the mounting locations are not equidistant due to variations in the angle and shape of the pockets.

[0093] Figure 12 shows a schematic perspective view with a partial cutaway of a second alternative of the elevator device. This alternative is similar to the example in Figures 10 and 11, but each plate that defines the pocket and determines the pocket configuration is now shaped into multiple, here three, discrete transitions 141, 141', 141'' as shown in Figures 13 af. As preferred, these transitions of each pocket are located synchronized or aligned with the sliding plates 110, 111, 112, i.e., each region of the pocket plates is aligned with one of the sliding plates 110, 111, 112 in the upper supply unit 30. Due to the different angles of the discrete shapes, a variety of release times result when the elevator wheel is in its upper angular position.

[0094] Figure 14 shows a schematic perspective view with Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 38 / 118 / 31, a partial cutaway of a second alternative of the elevator device. This alternative is similar to the example in Figures 10 and 11, but each plate that defines the pocket and determines the pocket configuration is now shaped so that the shape and / or angle varies in a continuously fluctuating format with a fluctuating deposit time of particulate coating material in the upper filling opening to fill the upper particulate coating material supply unit, as shown in Figures 15 af. Due to the different angles of the shape, this results in a variety of release times along the width of the pocket when the elevator wheel is in its upper angular position.

[0095] Figure 16 shows a schematic perspective view of a perforated sieve plate. A perforated sieve plate 116 is mounted on the lower particulate coating material supply opening, wherein the sieve plate comprises rows of side holes, and wherein the hole size of the holes increases from the smallest 161 at the supply opening to the largest 161' at the distal end of the sieve plate. In particular, in applications where food products need to be coated with a wide variety of coating sizes, such as cornflake crumbs and smaller crumbs, it is important that the larger crumbs adhere to the product first, before the smaller crumbs fill the remaining holes.If smaller crumbs adhere to the product first, it increases the chance that larger flakes or crumbs will not adhere to the food product, which can result in a loose coating, potentially leading to a less optimized final product and / or, if the product is fried, for example, it can result in the release of the larger coating material into the frying oil, leading to oil filtration problems and potentially health problems due to reduced oil quality. Therefore, the sieve plate retains the larger fraction of the coating material on the sieve plate while the smaller particles... Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, p. 39 / 118 / 31 pass through the plate. As food products are transported from the distal end (with the larger holes) towards the supply outlet side (with the smaller holes), the larger flakes or coarse crumbs will adhere first before the gaps are filled with the smaller crumbs.

[0096] Detailed embodiments of the present invention are described in this document; however, it should be understood that the embodiments described are merely illustrative of the invention, which can be implemented in various forms. Therefore, the specific structural and functional details described in this document should not be interpreted as limiting, but only as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in various ways in virtually any appropriate detailed structure. In particular, the features presented and described in the separate dependent claims can be applied in combination, and any advantageous combination of such claims is described in this document.

[0097] Furthermore, the terms and phrases used in this document are not intended to be limiting; rather, they are intended to provide a comprehensive description of the invention. The terms “a” or “an,” as used in this document, are defined as one or more of one. The term plurality, as used in this document, is defined as two or more of two. A plurality may also indicate a subset of two or more, of a larger multitude of items. The term other, as used in this document, is defined as at least one or more of a second. The terms including and / or having, as used in this document, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used in this document, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly.

[0098] The elements and aspects discussed for or in relation to a specific modality can be appropriately combined with the Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, p. 40 / 118 / 31 elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. The invention, as described herein, can obviously be varied in many ways. Such variations should not be considered a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all modifications that would be obvious to one skilled in the art should be included within the scope of the following claims. Petition 870260037483, dated 04 / 22 / 2026, p. 41 / 118

Claims

1 / 6 CLAIMS 1. Coating machine adapted for coating food products with a particulate coating material, the machine comprising: a food product conveyor assembly adapted for receiving food products to be coated at an inlet of the machine and for discharging coated food products at an outlet of the machine in a food product conveying direction, a coating device arranged between the inlet and outlet of the machine and adapted for being supplied with particulate coating material and for subjecting the food products to a coating treatment in which part of the particulate coating material adheres to the food products, the coating device comprising: an upper particulate coating material supply unit (30) mounted above the food product conveyor assembly,wherein the upper particulate coating material supply unit comprises an upper filling opening for filling the upper particulate coating material supply unit with particulate coating material and a lower particulate coating material supply opening for supplying particulate coating material to the food product conveyor assembly, an excess coating material separation station configured to cause excess coating material to be separated from said coated food products in order to recover said excess coating material for reuse, an excess coating material recovery conveyor comprising: a recovered excess coating material bed support Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 42 / 118 2 / 6 adapted to receive on it, at a receiving location,the said excess coating material recovered from the said separation station to form a bed of excess coating material recovered from the said excess coating material separated on the said bed support of excess coating material recovered, a recovery conveyor section above the said bed support of excess coating material recovered and mobile relative to the said bed support and configured to transport the said bed of excess coating material over the said bed support of excess coating material recovered,a particulate coating material elevator device (40) comprising a plurality of pockets adapted to receive a portion of said excess coating material from said recovery conveyor and to supply said excess coating material to the upper particulate coating material supply unit for reuse of the particulate coating material, characterized in that the upper particulate coating material supply unit comprises a first sliding plate (110) and a second sliding plate (111), wherein the first and second sliding plates are each mounted on an incline and wherein the direction of incline of the first sliding plate is opposite to the direction of incline of the second sliding plate,so that the particulate coating material that is deposited by the elevator device (40) on the first sliding plate on a first lateral side of the upper particulate coating material supply unit slides down towards a second opposite lateral side and the particulate coating material that is dropped onto the second sliding plate on the second lateral side of the upper particulate coating material supply unit slides down towards the first opposite lateral side, for example, wherein the first and second sliding plates (110, 111) are arranged offset from each other, viewed in the direction of transport of the food product.

2. Coating machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of pockets of the lifting device is configured in a variety of pocket configurations, wherein the pocket configuration is defined by at least the shape and / or angle of the pocket relative to the lifting device, and wherein each of the various pocket configurations initiates the release of the particulate coating material at a different lateral location above the first and second sliding plates.

3. Coating machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the particulate coating material elevator device comprises at least three different pocket configurations.

4. Coating machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the particulate coating material elevator device comprises at least two unique alternating groups of pocket configurations, wherein each group of pocket configurations comprises at least five, preferably eight, pocket configurations.

5. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a pocket configuration, as defined by at least the shape and / or angle, varies along a pocket width such that the moment of deposition of the particulate coating material in the upper particulate coating material supply unit varies in the direction of conveying the food product.

6. Coating machine according to claim 5, Petition 870260037483, dated 22 / 04 / 2026, page 44 / 118 4 / 6 characterized in that the pocket configuration, as defined by at least the shape and / or angle, varies along the width of the pocket in at least two, preferably three discrete lateral regions of the pocket, wherein each subsequent lateral portion of the pocket is configured to have a different deposition time of particulate coating material in the upper particulate coating material supply unit than a neighboring lateral region.

7. Coating machine according to claim 5, characterized in that the pocket configuration, as defined by at least the shape and / or angle, varies in a continuously fluctuating shape with a fluctuating deposition time of particulate coating material in the upper filling opening to fill the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

8. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper particulate coating material supply unit comprises an additional third sliding plate which is configured to receive particulate coating material substantially from the entire side width of the upper particulate coating material supply unit and to cause the received particulate coating material to slide towards the center of the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

9. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pockets are configured so that the particulate coating material is deposited on all the sliding plates of the upper particulate coating material supply unit.

10. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the upper particulate coating material supply unit comprises a ramp for guiding the particulate coating material towards the lower particulate coating material supply opening, and wherein an agitator is mounted adjacent to the ramp so that the particulate coating material being guided towards the supply opening is agitated.

11. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a perforated sieve plate is mounted in the lower particulate coating material supply opening, wherein the sieve plate comprises rows of lateral holes, and wherein the hole size of the holes increases from the smallest at the supply opening to the largest at the distal end of the sieve plate.

12. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the pockets are configured in a substantially perpendicular manner in the particulate coating material elevator device.

13. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the distance between the inflow openings of the pockets is distributed in a substantially equidistant manner.

14. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the direction of supply of particulate coating material at the lower particulate coating material supply opening is opposite to the direction of transport of the food product.

15. Coating machine according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the upper particulate coating material supply unit further comprises a filling chute for supplying fresh particulate coating material that is combined with excess recovered coating material before supplying the coating material to the food product.

16. A method for coating a food product in a coating machine as defined in any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the reused particulate coating material is partially collected in the elevator device, which raises it towards the upper filling opening to fill the upper particulate coating material supply unit, and wherein the pockets are configured so that the particulate coating material is deposited onto the sliding plates and subsequently supplied to the food products in the food product conveyor assembly. Petition 870260037483, dated April 22, 2026, p. 47 / 118

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