Arrangement for applying a flavoring to snack foods

Abstract

Conveyor arrangement (10) for delivering a flowable granular substance, comprising: an elongated bowl (23) with a longitudinal axis (30) and a bottom (25), which is intended to receive the substance and slopes downwards from a substance receiving section (26) to a substance delivery section (27), an actuator (19) for shaking the tray to cause the substance to move from the substance receiving section to the substance delivery section (27), where the substance is delivered from the floor (25), moved along the floor (25), and wherein the substance delivery section (27) has an edge (28) of the floor (25) so that the substance falls from the floor (25), and the actuator (19) shakes the floor (25) at a frequency with an amplitude with a vertical component, the frequency being at least 20,000 Hz.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to conveyors which convey a flowable substance in granular (including powder) form, and particularly, but not exclusively, to conveyors which deliver the flowable substance for coating products on another conveyor to which the substance is delivered. Background of the invention

[0002] In the snack food industry, many snack foods are coated with a flavoring agent. There are machines that coat the snack foods, such as the machine described in US Pat. No. 7,878,142 B2.

[0003] A disadvantage of some popular machines is that they do not coat the snack foods evenly and / or produce a lot of waste.

[0004] Another disadvantage of some popular machines is that they can be complicated and therefore unreliable.

[0005] Another disadvantage of some popular machines is that they are often difficult to clean.

[0006] Additional prior art documents include GB 2 397 863 A, JP 2001- 165 757 A and JP H02- 206 727 A. Object of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to overcome or significantly mitigate at least one of the above disadvantages. Brief description of the invention

[0008] Disclosed herein is a conveyor assembly for delivering a flowable granular substance, comprising: an elongated bowl having a longitudinal axis and a base intended to receive the substance and sloping downwards from a substance receiving section to a substance delivery section, an actuator for shaking the tray to cause the substance to move along the tray from the substance receiving section to the substance delivery section where the substance is delivered from the tray, and wherein the substance delivery section has an edge of the floor so that the substance falls from the floor, and the actuator shakes the floor at a frequency with an amplitude with a vertical component, the frequency being at least 20 000 Hz.

[0009] Preferably the frequency is less than 70 000 Hz.

[0010] Preferably the frequency is between 30 000 Hz and 40 000 Hz.

[0011] The preferred frequency is between 36,000 Hz and 38,000 Hz.

[0012] Preferably, the amplitude effectively has a negligible horizontal component.

[0013] Preferably, the horizontal component is approximately zero.

[0014] Further disclosed herein is a conveyor assembly for delivering a flowable granular substance, comprising: an elongated bowl having a longitudinal axis and a base intended to receive the substance and sloping downwards from the substance receiving section to a substance delivery section, an actuator for shaking the tray to cause the substance to move along the floor from the receiving section to the delivery section where the substance is delivered from the floor, and wherein the floor at the delivery section has an edge so that the substance falls from the floor, and the actuator vibrates the floor at a frequency with an amplitude extending perpendicular to the axis, the frequency being at least 20 000 Hz.

[0015] Preferably the frequency is less than 70 000 Hz.

[0016] Preferably the frequency is between 30 000 Hz and 40 000 Hz.

[0017] The preferred frequency is between 36,000 Hz and 38,000 Hz.

[0018] Preferably the amplitude is between 1 µm and 130 µm.

[0019] Preferably the amplitude is between 2.5 µm and 5 µm.

[0020] Preferably, the amplitude effectively has no component parallel to the axis.

[0021] Preferably, the amplitude has approximately zero components parallel to the axis.

[0022] Preferably, the actuator is attached to the shell via a coupling element, which has a bottom surface to which the coupling element is directly attached.

[0023] Preferably, the shell and the coupling element have a resonant frequency that approximately corresponds to the frequency provided by the actuator.

[0024] Preferably, the edge is generally linear so that it has a direction of extension transverse to the axis and parallel to the axis.

[0025] Preferably, the edge has a length in the direction of extension parallel to the axis and a length in the direction transverse to the axis that is shorter than the length in the direction of extension parallel to the axis.

[0026] Preferably, the bowl is inclined by 1° to 10° to the horizontal.

[0027] Preferably, the bowl is inclined by 3° to 5° to the horizontal.

[0028] Further disclosed herein is the above arrangement and a further conveyor means, wherein the edge extends generally transversely to the further conveyor means so that the substance is spread transversely across the further conveyor means. Short description of the drawings

[0029] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 a schematic plan view of the machine from above, Fig. 2 a schematic elevation of the machine from the front and Fig. 3 a schematic rear elevation of the machine. Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

[0030] The accompanying drawings schematically show a conveyor assembly 10. The assembly 10 supplies flavorings to a conveyor carrying a product to be coated. The flavoring would be in granular form; it may also be powdered. As a particular example, the assembly 10 may supply a flavoring to a snack food conveyed by the conveyor. While many different types of conveyors may be used, typically the conveyor would be a slip conveyor having a longitudinally extending tray having a pair of longitudinally extending side walls with a tray bottom extending between them. The tray would reciprocate in the direction to convey the product longitudinally. Typically, the snack foods would be distributed across the tray.

[0031] The assembly 10 includes a conveyor 17 consisting of an elongated bowl 23 that is vibrated by an actuator 19. Preferably, the actuator 19 is electrically operated and provides vibration in the frequency range of 20,000 Hz to 70,000 Hz, most preferably in the frequency range of approximately 36,000 Hz to 38,000 Hz. The bowl 23 is supported by a shaft 20 attached to the bowl 23. The shaft 20 is supported by a collar 21 mounted on a bracket 22. The actuator 19 is also mounted on the bracket 22 and supported by it.

[0032] The actuator 19 vibrates the tray 25 such that the tray 25 has an amplitude with a vertical component, and most preferably with a vertical component and a substantially negligible horizontal component, or with zero horizontal components. In an alternative preferred form, the actuator 19 vibrates to vibrate the tray 25 such that it has an amplitude with a component perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 30, and most preferably with a component perpendicular to the axis 30 with a substantially negligible component parallel to the axis 30, or zero components parallel to the axis 30. When the flavorant delivered to the tray 13 is vibrated at the above frequency, it is essentially "swirled." Preferably, the actuator 19 is an ultra-high frequency (ultrasonic frequency) "sonotrode" actuator.Typically, the actuator 19 would be a piezoelectric motor with a vertical amplitude (or an amplitude perpendicular to the axis 30) between 1.0 µm and 130 µm, preferably 2.5 µm to 5 µm.

[0033] Preferably, the floor 25 is inclined at an acute angle between 1° and 10°, preferably from approximately 3° to 5°, to the horizontal.

[0034] The shell 23 has a pair of longitudinally extending sides 24, between which a longitudinally extending bottom 25 is arranged. The sides 24 extend upwardly from the shell bottom 25. The shaft 20 is attached to the bottom surface of the shell 23.

[0035] The tray 23 has a receiving section 26, to which the flavoring agent is delivered, and a delivery section 27. The delivery section 27 has an edge 28 of the base 25, wherein the edge 28 extends at an acute angle 29 to the longitudinal axis 30 of the tray 23. The edge 28 has a main extension direction running parallel to the axis 30 and an extension direction running transversely to the axis 30, which is inclined at an angle 29. The length of the edge 28 is greater in the longitudinal direction than the length of the edge 28 in the transverse direction.

[0036] By shaking the tray 23 (base 25), the flavoring agent moves in direction 31 from the receiving section 26 to the delivery section 27, while the base tilts downward at an acute angle from the receiving section 26 to the delivery section 27. Finally, the product moving along the tray 23 reaches the rim 28 and then falls from the rim 28 onto the product to which it is to be applied, on the base 25 of the tray 13. The product is coated with the flavoring agent. Since the rim 28 extends essentially across the entire width of the base 25, the product scattered across the base 25 is coated.

[0037] Preferably, direction 31 is generally perpendicular to direction 16.

[0038] The flavoring agent is delivered to the tray 23 from a flavoring agent delivery assembly 32. The assembly 32 includes a hopper 33 in which a volume of the granular or powdered flavoring agent is stored. The hopper 33 communicates with a screw conveyor assembly 34 that delivers the flavoring agent to a pipe 35, via which the flavoring agent is delivered to the tray 23 at the delivery section 26. The screw conveyor assembly 34 would include a screw conveyor passing through or communicating with the lower end of the hopper 33 and driven by a motor and gearbox assembly 36.

Claims

[1] Conveyor arrangement (10) for delivering a flowable granular substance, comprising: an elongated bowl (23) with a longitudinal axis (30) and a bottom (25), which is intended to receive the substance and slopes downwards from a substance receiving section (26) to a substance delivery section (27), an actuator (19) for shaking the tray to cause the substance to move from the substance receiving section to the substance delivery section (27), where the substance is delivered from the floor (25), moved along the floor (25), and wherein the substance delivery section (27) has an edge (28) of the floor (25) so that the substance falls from the floor (25), and the actuator (19) shakes the floor (25) at a frequency with an amplitude with a vertical component, the frequency being at least 20,000 Hz. [2] Conveyor arrangement (10) for delivering a flowable granular substance, comprising: an elongated bowl (23) with a longitudinal axis (30) and a bottom (25), which is intended to receive the substance and slopes downwards from the substance receiving section (26) to a substance delivery section (27), an actuator (19) for shaking the tray (23) to cause the substance to move along the tray (25) from the substance receiving section (26) to the substance delivery section (27) where the substance is delivered from the tray (25), and wherein the base (25) has an edge (28) at the substance delivery section so that the substance falls from the base (25), and the actuator (19) vibrates the base (25) at a frequency with an amplitude extending perpendicular to the axis (30), the frequency being at least 20,000 Hz. [3] Conveyor assembly (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frequency is less than 70,000 Hz. [4] Conveyor assembly (10) according to claim 3, wherein the frequency is between 30,000 Hz and 40,000 Hz. [5] Conveyor assembly (10) according to claim 4, wherein the frequency is between 36,000 Hz and 38,000 Hz. [6] Conveyor arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the amplitude is between 1 µm and 130 µm. [7] Conveyor arrangement (10) according to claim 6, wherein the amplitude is between 2.5 µm and 5 µm. [8] Conveyor arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the amplitude effectively has no component parallel to the axis. [9] Conveyor arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the amplitude has zero components parallel to the axis (30). [10] Conveyor arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the actuator (19) is attached via a coupling element to the tray (23) which has a bottom surface to which the coupling element is directly attached. [11] Conveyor arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the shell (23) and the coupling element have a resonant frequency which corresponds to the frequency provided by the actuator (19). [12] Conveyor assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the edge (28) is generally linear so that it has a direction of extension transverse to the axis (30) and parallel to the axis (30). [13] Conveyor arrangement (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the edge (28) has a length in the direction of extension parallel to the axis (30) and a length in the direction transverse to the axis (30) which is shorter than the length in the direction of extension parallel to the axis (30). [14] Conveyor assembly (10) according to claim 13, wherein the tray (23) is inclined by 1° to 10° to the horizontal. [15] Conveyor assembly (10) according to claim 14, wherein the tray (23) is inclined by 3° to 5° to the horizontal. [16] A conveyor assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 15 in combination with a further conveyor assembly, wherein the edge (28) extends generally transversely to the further conveyor assembly so that the substance is spread transversely across the further conveyor assembly.

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